Camera lights shine on D.J. White at NBA’s annual rookie photo shoot

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. – D.J. White mugged for the cameras. Light bulbs flashed as he palmed basketballs and threw behind the back passes to photographer’s assistants.
Not much can bring White down. Not injuries, not two coaching changes, not even a draft-day trade. White still grins.

The former Big Ten Player of the Year was all smiles Tuesday at the NBA’s annual rookie photo shoot inside the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Tarrytown, N.Y.

While a majority of his peers were decked out in their new stylish NBA threads, White was relegated to a generic black Oklahoma City jersey with his familiar No. 3 on the back.

White has taken this summer in stride, as hard as that may have been. On June 26, the Detroit Pistons drafted White with the 29th overall pick in the NBA Draft. Minutes later, the Tuscaloosa, Ala. native was traded to the then-Seattle Sonics.

“I wasn’t really surprised,” White said Tuesday. “It’s a business. I was just surprised it happened so quick, like five minutes after I was drafted. But things happen, and some things happen for the best.”

And some things catch you off guard. Just when White thought he’d be making his new home in the northwest, the Sonics announced they were moving their franchise to Oklahoma City.

White said he visited Oklahoma City for the first time last week in search of a place to live during the upcoming season. The former IU standout said he liked the new city, but not as much as the campus he called home for the past four seasons.

“It’s bigger than Blooming-ton, but it might not be better. I really liked Bloomington and enjoyed my time there. I went back about a week ago to move some of my stuff and I might be making another trip back there soon,” he said.

He has yet to meet all of his new teammates, but White has had the chance to meet a few, including Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, who was also in attendance Tuesday for the photo shoot.

“I’ve met Russell, Kevin and Jeff (Green) and they all are good guys,” D.J. said. “I like Coach (P.J. Carlesimo) and have had a chance to sit down and talk to him a couple of times. I’m going to enjoy playing for him.”

White also had the opportunity to meet some of IU’s incoming players when he came back to Bloomington last week.

“I had a chance to go back and play open gym with some of them,” White said. “I think they’ll be pretty good and surprise a lot of people this year.”

White admitted the Hoosiers would struggle some next season, noting, “They lost a lot of key players.” But the former IU player was quick to praise IU coach Tom Crean and added, “I’m sure those guys are going to work hard for him.”

To help the team through one of its biggest transitions in program history, White said he has talked to senior forward Kyle Taber about being “the man” next season.

“Taber’s the leader. All the guys are going to look up to him like they did to me last year,” he said. “He’s in a similar role to me that I was in last year with a lot of new guys around. But this is a whole new team. I think he’s up to the challenge and will do a great job and lead them in workouts and more. I think Taber will be a good captain.”

As for White, he is excited for the upcoming season. Most reporters ask him about the franchise’s lack of a nickname, but White said that doesn’t bother him. All White is focused on is getting ready for his rookie year.

“I’m just working on my body. I’m trying to keep my weight down; I’ve lost a lot. I’m just trying get strong,” he said.

With a smile.