By STEVE SERBY

Posted: 3:44 am
July 6, 2008

The Post's Steve Serby sat down with the Knicks' No. 1 draft pick.

Q: You're not afraid about the whole world watching while you play [the big stage]?

A: No, no, I'm not afraid.

Q: Why not?

A: 'Cause I like pressure. . . . Since I was 16 years old entering professional league, all the eyes were on me. And in Milan you have to win. . . . every game. So if you not win, that would be not easy. ... So there is a lot of pressure. ... I think it's a part of my job, so I like pressure. ... When I got to throw the [first] pitch [at Shea last weekend], when I practice here [Knicks facility] I was not throwing good pitches. Best one was when I get out of the court, and with 55,000 people, they give me power.

Q: That was your first baseball game. You had a hot dog?

A: Yeah, nice. Hot dog and hamburger also.

Q: Wash it down with a beer?

A: No, no, just Sprite, I like Sprite.

Q: Do you want to take the last shot to win the game?

A: I used to take that shot, so I hope that this year the team will trust me and trust in my abilities to get that shot.

Q: If they do trust you, you would want the ball?

A: Yeah.

Q: With a chance to win the game?

A: Yeah.

Q: Because you're not afraid to miss?

A: No, no, no.

Q: You were a point guard.

A: Last year in the starting five I play like small forward, but if the point guard needs some help because they pressure the ball, I got the ball.

Q: Could you play point guard if the Knicks needed you to?

A: If they need it, yeah.

Q: Is it fun?

A: Yeah, it's the position that I like most. 'Cause I like to settle the team, and try to beat the team in their weakness.

Q: Favorite childhood memory?

A: When my little brother was born.

Q: What's the age difference?

A: Nine years.

Q: Did you hold him at the hospital?

A: I hold him later when they clean him and put all the towels on him.

Q: What was that feeling like when you held him?

A: That was an incredible feeling.

Q: Do you have a girlfriend?

A: No.

Q: Describe the perfect girlfriend.

A: Like physically, or inside?

Q: Both.

A: Physically, has got to be so nice like [chuckle] I don't know, Adriana Lima, you know Adriana Lima? Inside, she's got to be intelligent, smart . . . and my time during the day, she's gotta respect these things.

Q: Does she have to be an Italian girl?

A: No, she could be from every country of the world.

Q: Did you get marriage proposals in the mail in Milan?

A: I remember two.

Q: Did you answer them back?

A: No.

Q: Why, they sent ugly pictures?

A: [Chuckle] No, because in that period, I was with my girlfriend. I was not seeing her so I was thinking about my girlfriend.

Q: Do you speak better English than Mike D'Antoni speaks Italian?

A: [Chuckle]. Is a great battle. Great fight, I don't know.

Q: Your first dunk?

A: In practice, I don't remember, in game, I remember well. I was 15 years old, and it was the final of a little tournament in Italy. . . . I was going on a fastbreak and I dunked, the first time.

Q: Best piece of advice your parents gave you.

A: Do the best of myself in everything I do and everything I do concentrate on what I'm doing, not thinking about other things.