NBA draft: Sixers work out national champ Lamb

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Last time most people saw Doron Lamb, he was celebrating winning a national championship with Kentucky. The 6-4 sophomore guard was the man of the hour after dropping a game-high 22 points on Kansas. A few weeks later, he and four of his teammates were on top of the world when they announced their intentions to enter the NBA draft.

Yet after the glory of the confetti celebration comes the sweat of preparing for the next step. That means endless workouts and traveling across the country to be seen by NBA teams. Lamb was just in Houston working out for the Rockets and has Chicago on the horizon.

The Sixers had him on Sunday, when they worked out Lamb along with Syracuse's Scoop Jardine at their PCOM practice facility. This was the the 76ers first workout with only two prospects, and they got to know each other well.

"It was an okay workout, really" Lamb said. "It was the first time playing one-on-one the whole time."

After one-on-one, the Sixers tested the players' shooting, letting them take spot-up jumpers from all over the court.

"I think I did great," Lamb said. "I missed a couple shots but I know I can shoot the ball very well."

In his sophomore year at Kentucky, Lamb was second on the team in scoring at 13.7 points per game. His three-point shooting was especially impressive. Lamb finished his career at Kentucky as the top-3 point shooter in school history at 47.5 percent.

Not that scoring is all he does.

"I'm an energized player, playing defense, doing what I got to do to win, being a great teammate," Lamb said.

His did help Kentucky have an impressive two years in his time there. In Lamb's career, KU won 67 games, went to two final fours, and of course, won a championship.

Lamb's impressive career and skill set has him pegged as a possible first round pick, and Lamb intends to prove he should go early.

"I'm trying to go in the top 20," he said. "I want to go to a team that I can play for right away, and make an impact."

Questions do remain about where Lamb will fit in on an NBA roster. At 6-4 he is in the no-man's land between a point guard and shooting guard.

"I'm a combo guard," Lamb said, "my role is making open shots, playing both the one and two, be a backup or anything."

The Sixers are no stranger to combo guards, with players on their roster like Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, and Evan Turner who all fit that mold. Lamb seemed excited at the prospects of playing for the Sixers.

"I would be a great team and a great city to come to," he said. "They've got a great team and a great coaching staff, I would be happy to come here."

Perhaps Lamb can bring his knack for winning to Philadelphia with him if the Sixers pick him in the draft. Philly fans certainly wouldn't mind having a championship celebration of their own.

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