Derrick Favors to get first NBA start

The time has finally come.

New Jersey Nets rookie power forward Derrick Favors will make his first NBA start on Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls, head coach Avery Johnson announced during his pre-game press conference with reporters.

"This has been planned for some time now for him to start his first game here in the new year at home," Johnson said. "He's had about 34 games to get some experience coming off the bench and he's played against the Bulls before so we thought this would be a good game for him to get his first NBA start."

The 19-year-old, the youngest player in the league, had come off the bench in his previous 33 games. He did not play on Dec. 9 against the Dallas Mavericks.

"I'm excited," said Favors, who is averaging 6.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and shooting .564 percent from the field in 18.7 minutes per game. "I'm pretty much just going to start the game with a lot of energy and just try to get myself going. Trying to just block shots, play defense, just play hard."

Johnson said he spoke with former starter Kris Humphries about the plan after the Nets took on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 29.

"He clearly understands what is going on," Johnson said of Humphries, who had flourished ever since the team inserted him the starting role on Nov. 10 and is averaging 7.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

"I still might get traded," Favors said. "You never know. The NBA is a business so I don't know."

Favors was asked if he felt more secure about his future in New Jersey now that he's going to be starting regularly.

"I don't feel that it does," Favors said. "The NBA is a business. Just because I'm starting now, doesn't mean they're not going to trade me."