Garuba: "If I go back to Europe, it would be to play for Madrid"

Usman Garuba has lived through a last year full of changes. And all have been for the better: the power forward has gone from being a simple youth squad to settle permanently in Pablo Laso’s rotation first and play his first Olympic Games, with only 19 years, later. And, to put the icing on the cake, the player has fulfilled his dream of reaching the NBA, where he will wear the Rockets jersey. From Pablo Laso and Sergio Scariolo, to Stephen Silas. From the European competition, to the North American one. From debuting in the Euroleague, to doing it in the NBA.

Now, and at a really precocious age, Garuba reaches the place where not everyone succeeds, but almost everyone has the opportunity, at least one, to do so. To the competition of public exposure, analysts, journalists and fans. To the place that almost nobody knows about, but everyone has an opinion. Before traveling to Houston to prepare for the season, Garuba attended Diario As in his presentation as an ambassador for Kellog’s, at the Museum of the Spanish Basketball Federation, and reviewed the last year of his sports career and spoke about his past, his present and, of course, his future.

How do you value all your evolution in this last year?

It has been a year in which I have improved a lot. I have learned many things as a player. I am very happy to play all the games that I have played. Some Euroleague playoffs that I did not play last year due to the pandemic, some Olympic Games that are an achievement at my age… I can collect more and in them I have mixed with all kinds of athletes. There has always been pressure, but like everything in the visa, it is managed.

What are your first impressions of the NBA? What have you talked to your new coach, Stephen Silas?

I was impressed on my arrival in Houston. Everyone is like a family. I was surprised that everyone was so close. With Stephen Silas I have discussed my role in the team.

What are your goals?

More than individual awards, the main objective is to improve day by day and remember in a few years that I suffered these days to be a better player today.

Do you rule out returning to Real Madrid?

It is a complicated question. My goal is to have as long a career as possible in the NBA. But if he came back, he would do it at Real Madrid. There is nowhere else I would go back. It’s the team I’ve been on all my life, the one that has given me everything. And if I go back, the only place would be, surely and totally, Real Madrid.

How important has Pablo Laso been in your career?

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Pablo is a great coach. It has helped me a lot more than people realize. I am very happy to have shared a dressing room with him.

In my first year, Pablo used to drop off his son at training and in the afternoons we used to go shooting, after dropping off his son. And he always told me to go with him to do individual training. He has always wanted the best for himself and I will be eternally grateful.

And Sergio Scariolo?

Another great coach, a natural competitor. I really want to go back next summer to share costumes and experiences with him. I really want to go back with the National Team.

Returning from Tokyo, we were sitting together and most of us were thinking about vacations. And Sergio was watching the game of defeat against the United States. I was listening to music and he picked me up and gave me details to improve. That shows the desire he has to win and to keep improving.

What do you take from your experience with the National Team?

I’ll stick with one thing: even the smallest detail counts. The hours of rest, the condition … For me, that was what marked me the most.

After triumphs like those of Peleteiro or Ray … have you felt discrimination for being black?

Yes, of course. Especially as a child. I was physically superior to others and they made a lot of comments to me. Not only on social media, but also in person. Over time, I learned to ignore those comments. These are people who don’t know me well and who would support me if they did. In general, I try to ignore this kind of thing.

How do you think your game can change in the NBA?

I think I will have more time on the ball. I have talked about this with Stephen Silas and the rest of the coaches. Getting the ball up as a point guard is something you could do in the NBA. I can’t tell you that in this League there are no positions because there are, but it is different. More variety of resources, more mobility … Today, there are very few pure centers in the NBA. I think I’ll be able to play 4 or 5 with him small ball.

Who do you think is the best player in the NBA right now? And the favorite?

The best, Kevin Durant. The one I like the most, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Is there a favorite for the title?

The Rockets (laughs). There is much ahead and there will be many movements, many things can still happen. We have to wait.

LeBron or Kobe?

Kobe. I really admire LeBron, but Kobe will always be my idol.

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