By Aris Barkas
On the night that Jordan Farmar made headlines in the NBA with an incredible buzzer beater (see the video), he got mail from Eurohoops.net. So when you add a shot like that with a call from Europe, where the New Jersey Nets guard had one of his best basketball experience as a Maccabi Tel Aviv player, is easy to answer, or even consider the fact a good omen.
Farmar still has a soft spot for European hoops and of course for his beloved Maccabi. We hope that he enjoyed answering our questions and we are sure that you will enjoy reading the answers.
– Do you miss Maccabi Tel Aviv and specially the passion of its fans and other Europeans about the game? Can you compere the atmosphere of Euroleague with the one of the NBA?
“I miss Maccabi Tel Aviv very much. My teammates and coaching staff were amazing! We created some close bonds very fast, and they helped me with my overall game in a very short period of time. The fans in Israel and all over Europe are incredible…it’s like the NBA playoffs all year round”.
– You have Jewish roots. That was your secret of adapting so fast to the European game, something that many NBA players fail to do in such a sort time?
“I don’t think it had anything to do with my Jewish roots. It was more so my basketball background. I’ve had the fortune of playing for some great coaches throughout my life and have been taught to play the game the right way. Coach Blatt was a continuation of the great coaching I’ve been fortunate to have received throughout my career”.
– Andrei Kirilenko said to us that the level of Euroleague is very high but for the next 20, or 30 years NBA will be by far superior. Do you agree with that?
“I’d agree that the NBA is ahead now, but I don’t know how far. The level of basketball IQ, in my opinion, is much higher overall in Europe. Aside from the superstar players, the game is very close. And there are a lot of European players who are very successful in the NBA now. I don’t think it’s 20+ years away from being even closer”.
– It’s already play offs time in Euroleague and Maccabi meets in the quarter finals the reigning champion Panathinaikos. Do you catch yourself thinking what could happen if there was still a lock out?
“I do think about it sometimes. I think the’ve done a great job so far and will be rooting for them all the way. I would’ve loved to get a Euroleague playoff experience for myself personally though”.
– Do you trade stories about European basketball with your Nets teammate and former Besiktas player Deron Williams? What is the strangest thing that had happened to both of you during your stay in Europe?
“We do trade stories all the time, but there wasn’t too many crazy stories. Maybe walking into the gym and seeing the fans smoking was one of the crazier things I’ve seen playing basketball”.
– Many fans in the States consider Euroleague games boring, without any spectacle. What Europe can do to change this perception?
“I think people who say things like that aren’t real basketball fans, and don’t understand the game. American fans enjoy highlight type plays, while true basketball fans enjoy smart and unselfish basketball. A good screen, good hustle, the extra pass, etc”.
– After your experience do you want to finish your career playing in Europe?
“I have thought about it since leaving Maccabi. I don’t have a set answer. I’ll just play it out and see what happens. But I know I’ll never say never”.