Shane Larkin had butterflies Monday

DALLAS -- When he entered Monday's game against Philadelphia for the first time as an NBA player, Dallas Mavericks rookie point guard Shane Larkin admits he was a bit nervous.

He also admits he thought coach Rick Carlisle was testing his mettle.

"When coach called me in that first quarter I had butterflies,' Larkin said. "But I think that was kind of like a test from coach to see if I was ready, to see if I was going to go inside of my shell and be scared and go out there and play scary, or if I was going to step up to the challenge and go out there and try to prove myself.

"I think I did a good job of going out there. I got a steal, went to the free throw line and he kept me in there at the beginning of the second quarter, so that was great. It was a great feeling and it was just a great night.''

Larkin finished the game with three points, three assists and three steals in only nine minutes. It was his first game after recovering from July 16 surgery on his fractured right ankle.


(star-telegram.com)