Which was the motive for your decision to continue your career in a Project like the Sassari one?
I never played in Italy, and playing there would be me trying something new. So when the opportunity came up I took the job.
This season in Sassari, your numbers have increased in rebounds and points on average in comparison with your numbers in the Joventut of Badalona, what has Sachetti impregnated on you in order to recover your numbers from Turkish seasons?
He gave me the freedom for me to show my talent , and I also had the ball more in my hands more this season.
This year you have shared roster with the Diener’s cousins (Drake and Travis), what have you learned about them?
There both jokesters, all the time. But vet passionate about the game of basketball.
A team in the island of Cerdenya, like Sassari, that still continues growing and that is setting the bases of his future, what can you say about the city’s environment with respect to basketball?
It’s a very good environment, the fans are extremely adamant about the sport of basketball. They are very supportive. Whenever they see they speak and want to get to know you on a personal level.
You have played in the Turkish, Spanish and Italian league, what differences can you find among these leagues?
As just as much as there different, there all pretty much the same. I enjoyed playing in every one of the three leagues. In the Turkish and Italian league I was able to play more freely then the Spanish league.
With respect to the semifinal, Siena won you 3-0, do you think that the result reflected the true difference between the two teams?
Siena is a very tough opponent, they won the Italian championship the last couple of years.There a very deep team, and I think we just ran out of gas.
What Italian player could be the next one to make the jump for the NBA (as Belinelli, Gallinari or Bargnani did before? Maybe Apollonara, Alessandro Gentile, Nicolo Melli?
I really don’t know I’m not a scout, but I wish them all the best.
The last year you played in Joventut of Badalona. You and the team had a god beginning of the season. What happened then in the second half of the season that the team and you began to lose confidence and worsening the performance?
We was plagued with injuries and financial difficulties. And I think those two factors weighed in on our performance. An not playing up to our full potential.
You began in basketball in Fresno State. During you first season in Europe you played in Turkey (Pinar Karsikaya), where lots of American young players arrive to play their first European season. Why do American players choose turkey in order to start their European adventure?
For me I can’t speak for every one else it was the right fit for me at the time. The coach gave me a lot of responsibility, and I felt a first year being a pro I had a lot to prove.
Then you go to Real Madrid. Do you think it was correct to sign so soon for this a big European team? How was that experience? Why do you believe that you didn’t succeed in Real Madrid?
Yes I think it was correct, it was a testament to show the hard work I put in, in turkey. It didn’t turn out the way I expected but you learn from your mistakes. I don’t regret anything that happen in my past. It very was tough, from me being the dominance part of the offense, then just being a roll player in Madrid. It wasn’t consistency sometimes I would start, sometimes I would come off the bench and I felt I couldn’t pay through my mistakes.
About your future, after your good campaign in Sassari, will you stay there or you think you have options to come back to the Spanish League?
I just got home, ill take some time to relax talk to my agent and will take it from there.
Zonadostres.com