Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/266614
IllustrateD volume 24, issue 4 67 f The game at the NBA level is very different. It's faster, obviously, and played by bigger, taller and lon- ger players. It's played by grown men. Moore has always been an improviser on offense, equipped with the ability to get good shots off no matter how difficult an angle he might face or what- ever obstacle might lie between him and the rim. He's needed that ability more than ever in the NBA. "The size at the rim. That's one of the hardest parts," Moore said. "You have to find a way to get your shot off, when you get to the rim or get in the lane. In college, you might have one 6-10 guy coming at you; in the pros you might have two. Even small forwards now are 6-10." Moore has been adaptable at the next level. "You just have to be mentally strong no matter what level you're on, because you're going to face challenges," Moore said. "In college you face chal- lenges with your schoolwork and balancing your time. Here, you're traveling all the time and you have to withstand that." When Moore was a freshman at Purdue cast into a leading scorer's role from Day 1 on a Big Ten team that won a lot of games that year, nothing seemed to faze him. There was no intimidation. Nothing's changed between then and now. "A lot of times he's guarding a bigger guy and he never backs down," Magic teammate Moe Harkless said. "He goes right at the guy. He's a tough player." Moore believes he's established in the NBA, that enough important people have seen him and liked what they've seen to give him a chance to stick in the league long-term. But he knows nothing is guaranteed in a profes- sion where thousands of good players out there are competing for a few hundred jobs. "It's definitely tough to make it here," Moore said, "and then once you make it here, you have to work just as hard to stay." Moore's contract with the Magic expires at the end of the season. He'd like to stay. For one thing, the East Chicago native is relishing living in Flori- da, especially in January and February, for obvious reasons. If he can't remain in Orlando, he'll look someplace else for a chance to stay in the league. "A lot of people didn't think I'd be here at all, so for me to still be here, still playing, I'm proud of myself so far," Moore said. "If I didn't play another day, I'd still be happy and proud that I had the chance to ex- perience it. I've given my family a lot to be proud of too, because a lot of people don't make it this far." j From Our Family to Yours... We Love the Boilermakers! WindowWorld.com Four Indiana Locations Lafayette Indianapolis Terre Haute Muncie Columbus New store 523 s. earl Ave. "If I didn't play another day, I'd still be happy and proud that I had the chance to experience (the NBA)." E'Twaun Moore