With the 20th pick in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks picked Renaldo Balkman. The 6-8, 210-pound small forward from South Carolina has won Knicks fans over with his energic play. InsideHoops.com recently met with Balkman for an exclusive interview.

InsideHoops.com: Talk about bringing energy. You're doing it, just like Isiah Thomas and the team hoped you'd be able to do.

Renaldo Balkman: That was my goal, coming in. Work hard. Tough. Go out and do whatever so they can feel my presense out there on the floor.

InsideHoops.com: Do you feel like you have something to prove, as far as being drafted as high as you were?

Renaldo Balkman: Naw. The negativity has turned into a positive to me. All the negatives, talking about, who is this guy... it's positive, and now I'm here, showing them what I can do.

InsideHoops.com: The crowd loves you. Are you feeling their energy?

Renaldo Balkman: I love crowd energy. That makes me go. I'm a fan favorite. I come from a college where I was a fan favorite, and hopefully carrying that to the NBA.

InsideHoops.com: How does that happen for you, becoming a fan favorite?

Renaldo Balkman: As far as that goes, doing the dirty work. What I'm supposed to be doing. That's how you become a fan favorite.

InsideHoops.com: You move without the ball a lot. More than most players on the team and in the league. You and David Lee are terrific at moving and hitting the right spots at the right times.

Renaldo Balkman: It's just playing hard. That goes with playing hard. That's what me and David Lee do best, go out there and play ahrd.

InsideHoops.com: Any part of your game that you think will surprise the fans? Some skills you haven't gotten to show yet?

Renaldo Balkman: They'll see it in time.

InsideHoops.com: What current NBA vets do you think you might someday compare to? Or maybe compare to right now.

Renaldo Balkman: I can't really name nobody right now, but I just go out there and play my game. It's about me, not about comparing me to nobody else. When I was in college, when I was in high school I was comparing, but now, I'm here now. So they have to compare to me.

InsideHoops.com: So it's about just being Renaldo.

Renaldo Balkman: Just be me.

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