Rating:

4.0 (5 votes)

If you were surprised that Daniel Orton was able to leave after one year to the big guaranteed bucks of the NBA, Larry Orton was not thinking one and done.

"No. No," says Daniel's father.

"I was looking at two years, but I know when Daniel committed to Kentucky, his mother and I told Daniel that this is a four year deal. So, no I didn't."

Larry is getting ready to leave Lexington and move to Orlando to be with his son who didn't have a very good first game in the NBA summer league for Orlando.

Daniel had 3 points on 1 for 8 from the field, picked up 5 fouls, four were offensive, and three came in Orlando's first five possessions. Throw in four turnovers, two rebounds, one block, and getting thrown out of the game for fighting. All in less than 14 minutes, his average at UK.

"Still can't believe I got ejected for fighting ha but it wasn't a good day at all for me," says Daniel in a tweet after the game.

But, it's only one game. And Larry Orton is really excited about his sons future.

"You could say that," says Larry.

"I'm just stunned how everything happened to fast. Everything happened really really fast for me and for Daniel."

"Here in the last two years everything has been going really really fast for Daniel."

Larry Orton has been around the block. He played, his son played for Eddie Sutton at Oklahoma State. He thought he had an idea of what to expect, but the great True Blue Fans surprised him."

"The fans. The fans. Kentucky basketball is unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it anywhere in the country."

"It's way more than I expected. I think it was way more than Daniel expected too. The fans remind me of basketball during my time when I grew up and the fans loved it."

At times it can be very difficult for a parent to watch their son, who played less than 15 minutes a game for Calipari last year, sit on the bench. Especially when you are used to being the man. Larry has patience.

"Daniel was only a freshman. I was willing to be patient. I'm not one to rush through anything or rush anyone when they are young. If he was a junior or senior it would be different. I never had any problem with it."

Talk to players from the 1940's until today. So many thought about leaving UK or going to their second choice. As great as it can be playing at UK, at times, it can be tough. Who knows what really was said, but Daniel allegedly said he thought about what if he went to Kansas. That comment caused the 6-foot-10 center to get ripped by some UK Fans. He took plenty of heat.

"He did, but that's all just a part of it. It's part of what you go through and you learn from it. But, I don't read Internet."

Larry believes his son, when his game matures, will take him to a special level.

"I would think Daniel would be more or a Tim Duncan guy. That's what I have always said. More of a Tim Duncan guy."

"I see more of a Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan kind of guy. Doing both of what they do. I think Daniel can do both of what they do. Shot blocker, he can dunk. Daniel can shoot the ball off the glass and go to the hole. There is a lot of Daniel's game that nobody has ever seen."

"I think he is very happy. I think he was very happy to be drafted by the Orlando Magic. I thought it was a very very good fit. A perfect fit."

Larry believes Orlando is a great place for his son, but it's not Oklahoma City.

"The top choice would have been to go back home. But, that didn't work out."

"I've always said, I've always prayed that God put Daniel where he wants and he put him down there with Dwight Howard and Patrick Ewing and I think it's going to be great."