Mason Plumlee says he has been on the road for a month. He’s worked out for NBA teams in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Utah and Washington D.C. Thursday night he’ll be at the NBA Draft in New York City with his family, and the Warsaw native and former Duke University standout will find out what city he’ll call home. “It’s been a busy month,” the 6-foot-11, 240-pound Plumlee said in a phone conversation Monday night. “I’m excited about Thursday night.” Plumlee, who grew up in Warsaw and attended Jefferson Elementary, Lakeview Middle School and went to Warsaw Community High School as a freshman before transferring to Christ School in Arden, N.C., averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds as a senior for Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils. Plumlee, whose brother Miles was the first-round pick of the Indiana Pacers in last year’s draft, shot 59 percent from the field this season, led Duke to a 30-6 record and received the Pete Newell Big Man Award as the top post player in the country. “Playing in the NBA has always been my dream,” said Plumlee. “Coming back to Duke and playing my senior year was really important and it helped better prepare me for the NBA.” Plumlee said that all the teams he worked out for have picks in the top 20. “They’re saying I could go anywhere from 10th to 20th,” Plumlee said when asked what kind of buzz he was hearing about his draft stock. “I only worked out for teams that pick in the top 20.” The most recent mock draft on nbadraft.net has Plumlee going to the Chicago Bulls with the 20th pick. Asked what his dream city would be, Plumlee said... “Chicago would be my dream city,” he said. “I’d be happy anywhere, but playing in Chicago would be awesome. I’ve lived in Chicago the past three summers...and the Bulls have this guy named Derrick Rose.” Asked what current NBA player, other than Rose, he would love to play with, Plumlee wasted no time in saying Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo. “Rondo is one of the best point guards in the league,” said Plumlee. “I’d also love to play with (Boston’s) Kevin Garnett. I don’t know if he’ll still be there, but Kevin Garnett would be awesome to play with.” In his four years at Duke, Plumlee started 100 games and played in 141. He was a member of 2010 national championship team and finished his career with 1,384 points and 1,085 rebounds. What does he have to offer an NBA team? “I’m an athletic big man that can get up and down the floor,” said Plumlee. “I can score inside, play defense and rebound.” TV coverage of the NBA Draft begins Thursday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
