Photograph by Pete Newcomb
You might look at Zach Feinstein and see a slightly awkward guy who belongs in a math lab, but not us. We see a slightly awkward guy who dares to dream the impossible dream. After joking for months about declaring for the NBA draft, this Washington University junior who hasn't played organized hoops since the third grade finally did it, thanks to a loophole that allows anyone older than 19 and one year removed from high school to declare. His website, draftfeinstein.com, went up in April, and come June 26, he'll be waiting to hear his name called. So will we—and here's why.
1. HE KNOWS HOW TO MARKET HIMSELF. True, K-State's freshman phenom Michael Beasley doesn't need the Internet to make his case, but Feinstein has been working the media, and his buzz is building. "I thought a few blogs would post the link and joke about how ridiculous it was," he laughs, "but I've been on the radio in Houston, in a newspaper in Canada, on television in St. Louis— I've made it into all forms of media."
2. HE'D BE AN INSPIRATION TO UNATHLETIC PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. In this age of superstar athletes and superhero movie icons, little-guy role models have been in short supply—until Feinstein came along. "I do 50 push-ups and some sit-ups before bed, and if I have time, I go running," he says of his modest workout regimen. "But the weather has been pretty crappy lately, so I haven't quite been able to run much."
3. HE WON'T DEMAND A LOT OF PLAYING TIME—OR MONEY. Unlike a lot of his fellow NBA hopefuls, Feinstein is no prima donna. He'd be just fine with making the paltry league minimum of $275,000 and never stepping on the court. "I'd be more than happy to sit on the bench and get paid."
4. HE'S SELFLESS. In a world without basketball, the systems engineering major would probably go on to be a mathematics professor or do "financial stuff," but he would sacrifice those dreams for the benefit of the game. "And then after I finish my hopefully long basketball career," he says, "I can just go back to school to get my graduate degree."
5. HE'LL PUT BUTTS IN THE SEATS. Savvy marketer that he is, Feinstein knows his Everyman persona would make the game more accessible to the average fan who likes to root for the underdog. "I think I can draw people to the game just to see me in the pregame warm-ups," he says. And when the gimmick gets old? "I've considered that possibility, and at that point I feel I can easily be traded to another team that needs that little boost."
