Drexel product Battle hopes to catch on with Sacramento Kings
It could turn out to be one of the best investments Robert Battle has ever made.
The former Drexel star's journey to become a professional player has taken him to a few tryouts with NBA teams, and to many successful seasons overseas.
But it was a fascination with a wristwatch that may ultimately land the former Northeast High star on the premier basketball stage.
"I was vacationing in Las Vegas last month, at the Palms, and I kept passing this watch store, looking at a Breitling watch," he said Monday night. "I kept going in and looking until I finally did buy the watch. I had been in there so much that I got to be friends with the owners. We got to talking and they asked what I did for a living and I told them I was trying to get an opportunity to play in the NBA. They told me they knew the owners of the [Sacramento] Kings and for me to give them my cell number and they would pass it along. One thing led to another . . . "
The Maloof brothers, who own the Kings, got in touch with Battle and there was a lunch meeting. Battle, however, returned to Philadelphia and was actually at Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., when he got a call that the Kings were interested in him.
Early yesterday morning, Battle, 28, got on a flight and returned to Las Vegas to be a member of the Kings in the NBA Summer League, which begins Friday.
"It really is a funny story," he laughed. "I've been trying to get into the NBA since I left Drexel and now it might happen because I wanted to buy a watch and found out about it when I was getting ready to go on a ride at Great Adventure."
The 6-8, 240-pound Battle has been honing his skills overseas since last playing for the Dragons in 2003, and has had much success. He has played in Mexico, Turkey, Argentina and Spain. He was instrumental in leading Valladolid to the Spanish League title this past season, averaging 12.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and two blocks a game.
After being named the Colonial Athletic Association's defensive player of the year as a junior and senior, as well as a first-team all-conference player, Battle said he had workouts with the Knicks and Sixers before he decided to go overseas.
"You know, for some players, going to Europe is a no-brainer," he said. "You could hang in the NBA and be a 12th man and make the minimum [salary]. Or you can go over there, make even better money and get a lot of playing experience.
"I've learned an awful lot in my years playing over there. I think I've become more of a complete player. Teams over there are truly teams. You don't have one guy jacking up all the shots. There is a lot of ball movement. I've learned to play the game better. I've become very good at playing the pick-and-roll and I've developed a good midrange shot. I can handle the ball much better than I did at Drexel and I'm much quicker at getting off the floor for rebounds."
Before this year, his summers were mainly spent in the city where he first learned his basketball skills.
"I would always come back to Philly and work out with the strength and conditioning coach at Drexel, Mike Rankin. I'd also play a lot at La Salle, where a lot of guys go to work out."
This summer will be different for Battle, and maybe his most memorable. All because of a fascination with a piece of jewelry.
"It's always been a goal of mine to play in the NBA," he said. "Maybe this is the start of something, who knows? But I'll go out there and do my best and we'll see."
