By Mete Budak/ info@eurohoops.net
Austin Daye has already a great career. The 28 years old forward has played for Khimki and Pesaro in Europe and also for the Detroit Pistons, the Memphis, Grizzlies, the Toronto Raptors, the San Antonio Spurs and the Atlanta Hawks.
He also has an NBA championship title ring from 2014 with the Spurs and now his ambitions in Euroleague can’t be lower. After signing with Galatasaray, Daye wants to go all the way to the top so expect a season to remember from him. Eurohoops talked with him and he is ready.
You got selected with the 15th pick in the NBA draft and you also won an NBA championship. How do you evaluate the importance of Euroleague in your career?
“It’s very important, I think. It’s the NBA and then the Euroleague. There is no better competition, there is no better basketball. For Europe, some players have even elected to stay in Europe instead of going back to NBA just based on money, fan experience in Euroleague and competitiveness. I think Euroleague is a great league, I can’t wait to get started.”
You have had some standing out performances so far during preseason games and looked to be the leading force for this team. Are you satisfied with your role within the team so far?
“Yes, of course. I don’t think the coach brought me along just to be a normal player. I think he wants me to have a big impact on games. The way that the team is set up, I feel like I’m able to do that. I just want to make sure that I’m still doing my job well, getting people involved and be a threat to score all the time and make sure that I shoot the ball at a high percentage. That’s important to me, being efficient. That’s what I want to do, be an efficient player and to have a great effect on the team.”
Let’s talk a bit about the expectations from this season. There is a widespread belief that this season’s Final Four will take place in Istanbul. How do you think this will motivate the team?
“Yes, sure. For Final Four to be here, it gives us more incentive to really try to get there because if we get there, there will be like a homecourt advantage and that’s what every team would be looking for. CSKA would love to have it in Russia, Barcelona would love to have it in Spain. For us, we need to try to be good as much as we can to take steps as a team to get to that level”.
You worked with Gregg Popovich. How does it feel?
“To play for the greatest ever coach? It feels pretty great. Especially being on that team because that team is probably one of the best teams of all time. Beating the two time reigning champions Miami Heat, it proved a lot to myself how team basketball and having a great coach really can make a difference. I learnt what little things it takes to win games because coach Popovich would require everyone whether it’s Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili or Tony Parker or the last player on the bench. He demands the same from everyone”.
Do you aim to go back to the NBA? How do you feel about your career going on?
“Everyone does want to go there but I have already been there and won a championship. Now my goal is to try to win a Euroleague title and advance as far as I can in Europe. I could have gone back there and made the team in the NBA but the stress of playing one night and not playing in the other, playing well one night and not playing well in the other because of rotations is tiring. I want to play and have a big impact on a good tea and experience to win over here”.