By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Kyle Hines has accomplished a lot in his six-year term in the Euroleague! It’s not just the two titles with Olympiacos, his presence in 5 (!) consecutive Final Fours, or the very… fresh award of best defender in the Euroleague!
Above all, what counts and what is of great value is the fact that a player who is 1m.98 (with his shoes on…) is the best and most consistent center in the competition these past years, consolidating the trend of undersized big men on European courts!
This year, in his third year in CSKA’s colors, he has exactly the same role as the one he had when we admired him in the 2012-13 season with Olympiacos and does exactly the same thing: dominates in defense and in offense! Kyle speaks to Eurohoops about everything.
About the reasons CSKA is the best team this year, about Olympiacos who will always occupy a big part of his heart, about the coaches that he’s had in his career in the Euroleague, about Giannis Antetokounmpo, about Milos and Diamantidis, whom he respects and is happy for in regards to everything he’s experiencing in his final season this year.
– You’ve had a great season. You’re scoring with the best percentage ever in two-point shooting and only in Bamberg did you have a higher point average than you have this year. What is the key for such a productive season?
“We had many injuries in the big men positions and that’s how I got a more important role. I play more. It’s the second season playing under the same coach and we’ve built better chemistry.”
– This year, the roster is built in such a way that you have a key role. It’s similar to the role that you had in your second season with Olympiacos. Is that the most important element in order for you to play at the level we’ve grown accustomed to?
“My role this year does look a lot like my second season in Olympiacos, you’re right. I had a lot of responsibilities when Joey left the team, which needed me more. I try to respond. I like having responsibilities. The experience I had with Olympiacos also plays a part as well and this is how I can respond to the demands that CSKA has of me this year.”
– Which are the biggest differences compared to the CSKA teams of the previous two years and what do you believe was the biggest problem or the reason that you didn’t make it in the previous Final Fours?
“The biggest difference is that now we have much clearer roles. Coach Itoudis is doing a great job and is helping us a lot. In the previous seasons everyone said that we had amazing players, but it also matters how you distribute the ball, how you function as a team. We’re more humble and that’s an advantage. What the biggest problem was?
Probably our mentality, our frame of mind. We would play well for 35 or 39 minutes and in the end something always went wrong. Therefore, the biggest key is to remain efficient to the end. These are single games of one night in the Final Four, it’s a completely different story from the other games of the season. Every detail counts. A single possession can decide everything, a rebound, a turnover, a shot on target.”
– Which is the best and which is the worst moment that you’ve had so far in a Euroleague Final Four?
“The best moment was definitely in Istanbul! The way we came back and won was unbelievable! With the second title, I enjoyed that more, I felt our dominance in London. The worst was last year’s semifinal against Olympiacos. We were the better team, we felt that it was our chance. We had the lead in the final minutes and we lost in the end. It was very hard, a very tough feeling.”
– Trinchieri, Fleming, Ivkovic, Bartzokas, Messina, Itoudis! Tell me the most characteristic feature of each one of them.
“Fleming is a very good coach and he likes giving freedoms to his players and at the same time making their lives easier with his plays. Trinchieri’s passion and his intelligence are great! He’s capable of doing great things even in not so top teams. Ivkovic is so experienced and so wise. Whenever you talk to him, you feel different. He’s very intelligent and whatever he says is of great value. Mesina pays great attention to detail. He pays attention to everything, as if he’s a scientist!
He understands everything about the game, anything a basketball mind can imagine. Bartzokas is a quiet force. He’s excellent in building teams, getting the best out of his players and has good ideas about basketball. He’s definitely one of the top up-and-coming coaches in Europe. Itoudis is very smart, has confidence and a great passion for basketball. He helps us a lot and he knows how to get the maximum out of each one for the benefit of the team.”
– You know Lokomotiv well from the VTB as well. Which are the keys for the semifinal?
“They are a very special team. They distribute the ball so well, they shoot very well from the perimeter, they create very well. In defense they’re capable of switching on the screens in any situation. The biggest key is to stay focused and just play our game, like we’ve been doing throughout the whole season. They’re good at ruining their opponent’s game, we have to be careful of that. They’re not just a typical team.”
– Who are the best players in the Euroleague this year, not counting your teammates in CSKA!
“If you see the teams in the Final Four, they all have players who have had super seasons. Delaney is having a great season, as is Randolph. Bourousis is having an unbelievable season, I’ve lost count of the MVP titles he’s won so far! Also, they have very powerful guards that can do a lot of damage. Fenerbahce have Vesely, Bogdanovic. Udoh is also having an impressive season. He has the quality, he made the record in blocks and he’s very efficient in every aspect of the game.”
– Dimitris Diamantidis completed his career in the Euroleague leading many statistical categories and with many successes. What was your experience of him as an opponent?
“I have great respect for Diamantidis as a player but as a person too. He’s perhaps the player I’ve played more against than any other opponent in my career! We might’ve played 25-30 times against each other! Whenever I have the chance I talk to him and we’ve had good conversations. I admire him as a player and for the impact he’s had on basketball. It’s sad that he’s stopping, but everything he’s done will go down in history. He’s one of the most important players in the history of the Euroleague, he deserves every honor and award, all the beautiful moments and the recognition he’s experiencing this season.”
– Has there been any interest from your former team or at least any kind of communication since you left Olympiacos in the summer of 2013?
“Whenever we play against each other, we always speak with the people of Olympiacos. I always show respect for everything I’ve experienced with the team and everything they have given me. Olympiacos will always occupy a big part of my heart. They gave me a chance to play at the top level when no other team would. Olympiacos will forever be in my heart.”
– I know that you know Giannis. What is Kyle’s opinion of the Greek Freak?
“Giannis! He’s such a unique situation and case! I watched him play in the second division and now I see what he does in the NBA… His potential has no limits. How good is he going to get? As good as he wants to! There’s no limit for this kid. It depends on him! He can play in every position, he can pass excellently, he can do everything on the court. He’s so young. Furthermore, he’s a very humble guy and he works hard. I’m so happy for him and the whole family as well. God has given him everything! He’s an incredible talent.”
– What’s better in modern basketball, being a 1m.98-tall center or a 2m.11-tall playmaker?
“Haha (lots of laughter)! Man, it’s far better to be able to play as a playmaker and be 2m.11 than to be at my height and play as a center, believe me!”