Sitting in his Dayton, Ohio home with a large crowd of family and friends, former Cleveland State point guard Norris Cole couldn't have been happier when it was once announced he would be going to the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. Cole considers himself a fan of the Heat, rooting for them even as he played for Cleveland State.
"I've liked the Heat anyway," Cole said. "I was cheering for them. Some people didn't like the fact I was cheering for them, but they're happy for me and my success. Some people have bad comments to say about LeBron, but I ignore them."
Unfortunately for Norris, he won't be able to do much with the Heat right now, thanks to the inevitable NBA lockout lurking around the corner. Norris plans to keep working on his game as NBA players and owners try to figure something out.
Norris doesn't seem to be too concerned with the "hate the Heat" fad, and he's confident playing on the most hated team in the NBA won't be an issue with him.
"If they want to cheer for us, that's fine," Norris told reporters. "If not, that's fine."
Norris will definitely need all that mental toughness when he eventually gets on the court for the Heat. Averaging 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game in his senior year, there is a decent chance Norris will get significant playing time as the season progresses.
With the 31st pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, I never thought I'd be excited about Miami's draft pick, given the fact this year's draft class was considered weak. Yet, I have a good feeling about Norris, and I can't wait to see him on the court.
David is a Miami Heat fan that has followed the team for 15 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter.
Sources:
Associated Press, "Norris Cole didn't join LeBron hate train"
Player and game information from espn.com
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