"He hasn't exactly played like one lately, but Gordon Hayward gave a refreshing reminder Monday that he indeed is still a rookie.

Only 2-1/2 years removed from high school, the Utah Jazz guard's young eyes light up after the morning shootaround as he talked about playing against Tracy McGrady and the Detroit Pistons for the first time.

"From my perspective, you've got T-Mac and Rip Hamilton coming off the bench, and my whole life those are like superstars," the 20-year-old Hayward said. "They obviously have some talented guys."

The wide-eyed Hayward, who's just in the third month of his NBA career, admitted to still being a bit awed by the competition he faces on the court.

"It is fun because growing up you watch them and kind of idolize them a little bit and in the backyard calling their name out," Hayward said. "So, being able to play in the same league and compete against them, it'll be a lot of fun."

Veteran Raja Bell can understand where his younger teammate's coming from. The 34-year-old got extra excited to play one particular player when he entered the NBA in 2000.

And no, it wasn't Quincy Lewis.

"MJ was still in the league then," Bell said. "I caught him at the end of his career, so he was special for me."

Bell spent a year and a half in the CBA after his college career at Florida International, so he said that helped him from being too starstruck.

"I wanted a piece of everybody. That was just me, though," Bell said. "I was so hungry to prove I belonged that I was ready every night, just ready to prove somebody wrong. … It wasn't like I was in awe anymore. I was hungry."

Jerry Sloan said he was mostly excited to simply see action as a rookie when entered the league with the Baltimore Bullets in 1965, so the opponent didn't matter."