Tyshawn Taylor on his NBA career: "So far, so good"

Tyshawn Taylor, a popular figure in Kansas, was back in the state Monday signing autographs at a local department store. The former Jayhawk sat down with a reporter from the Garden City Telegram and talked about his NBA career ... so far.

"So far, I'd say so good," Taylor said of his rookie season in Brooklyn. ""We were a playoff team. I'm a Jersey kid so I get to stay home, which is fun. I'm just going along for the ride and learning as much as I can."

Taylor said the biggest transition, the one that surprised him, was the constant travel.

"There's a lot of stuff, but mostly I think the travel," Taylor said. "You'd play two, maybe three games some weeks in college. In the pros, we'll play three sometimes four. You might finish a game at 11 o'clock (p.m.) and have to go to the airport, catch a plane to the next city and play the next night. There's lots of hotels. You have to watch what you eat. I get to see the world and experience things that I otherwise wouldn't see."

Taylor admitted that he didn't get enough sleep this season.

"Young guys don't pay enough attention to that, and yeah, I didn't get enough (sleep)," Taylor said. "I'm on a team with a lot of veterans, and they're telling me about taking care of your body, eat well, get plenty of rest. The better you take care of your body, potentially the longer you stay in the league."

Taylor also recounted Draft Night when he was taken by the Nets with the Blazers' pick at #41..

"I thought I'd go sooner. I wasn't sure. Then, I finally got drafted and I was excited about that. Then I get traded to Brooklyn and I'm even more excited because I get to stay home. I was in New Jersey that night and I've got a lot of family, fans in the area that support me from that area."

• Right at home - Brett Marshall - Garden City Telegram