NEW YORK, June 26, 2008 -- Working the media circuit after being selected fourth overall in the 2008 NBA Draft, Russell Westbrook was in the middle of a TV interview when his former UCLA teammate Kevin Love, drafted one pick later, passed by the booth.

Love paused, and began pumping his fist silently, smiling wide as he unsuccessfully attempted to distract Westbrook. Upon the interview's completion, they shared a big hug, and Love exclaimed, "I told you!" ... and it wasn't hyperbole.

"I actually told him, 'Hey, I might be going to Memphis, I might be going to New York, I might be going to the Bucks -- I don't know. So if you get drafted before me, you've got to give me a big hug,' " Love said. "Just before it happened, I said, 'You're getting picked fourth, Russ, I can feel it.' He went fourth, I went fifth, and it looks good to have that UCLA logo back-to-back."

While Love was often touted as a probable top-five pick, Seattle tabbing Westbrook fourth was the culmination of a two-year journey from barely recruited high schooler. Westbrook thrived with the spotlight shining elsewhere, scoring a late scholarship to UCLA, and then playing only nine minutes per game as a freshman, all of which motivated Westbrook -- Love said that no matter when he went to UCLA's gym or weight room, Westbrook was already there.

That attitude carried him through workouts, where his status rocketed from mid-to-late first-rounder to fourth overall during the last several weeks. Despite the rise to Draft-day prominence, don't bet on Westbrook resting on his now-lofty status.

"I'll keep doing the same thing I've been doing: work twice as hard as anybody else, especially at the next level," Westbrook said. "Just continue to work to try to become the best player I can possibly become."

Seattle's hoping he develops into an enabler for last year's top-five tandem, Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, one able to run the floor and keep defenses honest when necessary. They hope that, because they know they'll be getting a ferocious defender, one who earned the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Award in his only full season as a starter.

That's no small feat, as the conference produced five lottery picks during this year's Draft, though only two from the same squad -- both Bruins.

"I'm loving that Kevin was right behind me, that's my boy," Westbrook said. "He's been with me the whole time I've been out here. I'm real proud for the Pac-10."

Westbrook's rise was emblematic of one of the night's overriding themes: the high quality of available "combo" guards. The UCLA product joined USC's O.J. Mayo (No. 3), Indiana's Eric Gordon (No. 7) and Arizona's Jerryd Bayless (No. 11) as lottery picks with the potential to play the point or operate off the ball, and each believes his varied skill set to be an asset.

Bayless doesn't even want to hear the doubters: "I think they're crazy, that's what I think," he said, only half-kidding. "I don't know. I think they're crazy."

He quite rationally cited the success of three-time All-Star Gilbert Arenas and 2006-07 Most Improved Player Monta Ellis in his defense. Gordon pointed out that it enabled them to fit the needs of multiple teams, whether they desired a shooter, a distributor, or -- better yet -- a talent.

Minnesota made the most obvious "best-player-available" pick, selecting Mayo despite having recently drafted guards Rashad McCants and Randy Foye. But their newest teammate wasn't worried about roles.

"They're great players," Mayo said. "You've got to be committed to the game. I just want to come in, learn from those guys and fit in where I can. I'll stay committed to this organization and be ready to go."

Though Mayo was later traded to Memphis, the attitude will serve him well in a similarly crowded Grizzlies backcourt. The positive outlook is shared by his fellow draftees.

"I think it's definite we can fit into the league," Bayless said. "You've just got to get into the right situation and play hard and everything will take care of itself."

After being selected only five picks apart, the Lopez twins sat side-by-side for an interview, and Brook (No. 10) wheedled Robin (No. 15) for not being able to fit his poofy hair underneath his Phoenix Suns draft cap. Brook removed his New Jersey Nets model, smoothing out his clean-cropped buzz and qupping, "That's why I wear it like this."

Siblings: Unable to avoid making a comment ever since man started to speak.

On the plus side, this pair makes a lot of positive ones as well. As Phoenix's time wound down, Brook, watching on a monitor alongside fellow Pac-10 alum Kevin Love, predicted Robin would be the next selection. David Stern proved Brook correct, and he embraced Love, who reeled off a cheerful string of conference praise.

"It was just a hunch," Brook Lopez said. "I thought he'd fit in really well there. Phoenix needs D, and he'll spend some years learning under Shaq. I don't think people should knock on his offense, but even if they do, he's got a great facilitator in Steve Nash, so it won't matter because Nash will create buckets and Rob can finish."

Playing alongside and learning from Shaq is an honor Robin Lopez is looking forward to, feeling he can slot in behind the Big Aristotle or Amare Stoudemire as need be. Robin's defense has been a calling card, but now that he's playing apart from his brother, he's primed to prove there's more to his game than hustle.

"I loved being a role player at Stanford; that's what the team needed me to do to win. But I do have some skills offensively that might surprise some people."

Meanwhile, Brook's polished offensive game earned him consideration as high as No. 3, but he's ready to step out of his brother's defensive shadow. Knowing that Robin won't be there to rely on for help means having to work harder, but it's a challenge he's ready for. He admits the thought of playing on separate teams entered his mind as the draft approached.

"it will be strange," Brook said. "We pretty much knew it was going to happen, so I've been bracing for it, and here it is. I'll have to tell you more after not playing with him for a while."

The hometown New York Knicks reached across the Atlantic for the first pick post-Isiah, with Donnie Walsh tabbing Italian 19-year-old Danilo Gallinari as the first franchise cornerstone. With explosive guard Jerryd Bayless and top-rated big man Brook Lopez each available, the pick was ... poorly received by the crowd.

But Gallinari is ready to work year-round to improve his game, and the 6-foot-9 forward will win over the fans if he follows up on statements such as: "I'm used to playing hard. I give all my effort and heart on the court, and I play for my teammates. That's it."

He's also excited to come to the Big Apple: "I live in Milan, and I'm leaving the best to find the best, because New York is the best city in the U.S. I'm happy to be here, and honored to play for this team, this city and this jersey."