Averaging 11.6 minutes, 2.80 rebounds and 4.6 points per game, former Wolfpack big man J.J. Hickson is making serious contributions to the Cleveland Cavaliers in his rookie season. Technician sports editor Taylor Auten spoke to Hickson after practice last week to see how he was adjusting to playing in the NBA. Technician: It’s always been your goal to play in the NBA. Now that you’ve made it, how does it feel?Hickson: It’s been really good. I accomplished another goal in my life, another step in my life. I can’t get comfortable — I’ve got to continue to get better and continue to work harder.  Technician: How do you see your role with the Cavaliers?Hickson: Right now, my role is to come off the bench and give my team instant energy — on defense or offense. My coach, Mike Brown, is more passionate on the defensive end. That’s how you earn wins, is by playing good defense. It’s proven itself time and time again, that the team that plays good defense is the team that usually comes out with the win. [I] just try to give my team a spark off the bench.Technician: Do you feel fortunate that you got selected by one of the NBAs most successful teams right now?Hickson: I think I had the best choice of the draft. I mean I went 19th — I was a top-20 pick. And on top of that, I am getting playing time on a championship contending ballclub. Players that went higher than me mostly went to teams that don’t have as good a record as we do or are not playing as good of basketball as we are.Technician: What is it like playing with a superstar like LeBron James?Hickson: It is really good. I am learning a lot from [Le]Bron to Mo Williams to Ben Wallace to Lorenzen Wright — who’s been in the league 13 years. I am learning a lot from those guys. Not only on the court but off the court.Technician: Has there been anyone on the team that has served as your mentor in your rookie season?Hickson: I would probably say LeBron [James] and Ben [Wallace]. But this team is more like a family. Everyone kind of put me and Darnell Jackson under their wings. Me and Darnell are very close, but we all have our certain people to talk to on the team when we have questions.Technician: How does the NBA game compare to the college game?Hickson: I would say the NBA game is more slowed down. It can get to a fast tempo, but for the most part, it is very skilled and it is more slowed down. There is more thinking that goes into it.Technician: Has the sheer number of games you play in the NBA begun to wear on you?Hickson: Not really. I would say that the practices in college are a little bit harder, but I think you practice longer in the NBA. NBA practices consist of going through your plays and just getting up a lot of shots. There is a lot of scouting involved in our practices too. Technician: What is it like, after being a poor college student no more than a year ago, being financially independent?Hickson: It’s pretty nice to not have to want for anything anymore — to say that I’m financially stable. I can go buy my grandmother that car or that house that she’s wanted. I can finally say that I’m the bread-getter in my family. I’m what makes my family grow. It feels good that I’m working, because if [my family] asks for something, I am able to give it to them, rather than me asking them. Technician: Are you happy with your decision to play professionally after only one year at N.C. State?Hickson: I am not going to lie, the first couple of weeks, I kind of missed college and my fellow teammates and just being in that atmosphere. It kind of wears off after a while. You have to focus on the task at hand, and the NBA was my task at hand.Technician: Do you still keep up with Wolfpack basketball?Hickson: Yeah, I watched the game against Duke, and I’ve watched a couple of other games. I keep in contact with [sophomore forward Tracy Smith] a lot. He keeps me updated on all the games. Technician: Did you attend the Davidson game?Hickson: Yeah, I was at the Davidson game. We played Charlotte that night.Technician: Anything else you would like to say about playing in the pros?Hickson: Just when you’re ready, you’re ready. If you think you’re ready, then you’re ready. As a basketball player, I think you know if you’re ready for the NBA or not. Then, once you get here, it’s a good experience because you know what you have to work on and you know what you’re good at. Don’t try to do a whole lot. Everybody in this league has a certain task that they are good at — whether it’s defense, shooting, blocking shots or just being a great ball handler. Everyone in this league has something that they’re just phenomenal at. Whatever you’re phenomenal at, just work on that task and everything else will come later.