By Javier Molero/ info@eurohoops.net
Penning a three-year contract, Usman Garuba returned to Real Madrid in late August, three years after departing the storied club to display his talents in the NBA.
Sitting down with Eurohoops shortly before starting the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign, he opened up about his NBA experience and reuniting with Los Blancos.
“It was an easy decision,” he described his comeback, “I feel valued over here. Obviously, the NBA was my main goal. Due to certain things, I was not able to find the best situation and show what I was able to do. I do not want to use it as an excuse, but things happen for a reason and I am back home.”
Garuba, 22, was the 23rd pick of the 2021 NBA draft, after being named EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player. Over the next three years, he was featured in 106 NBA games between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors.
“I think my time was great. I learned a lot of things. I can not complain about it. Playing time, all that stuff was not what I expected,” he confirmed to Eurohoops, “Obviously, you go there with a lot of excitement. There are a lot of dark stories. I do not want to say it is a bad league or anything, but things are a little bit different over there.”
“I left as a kid and grew up. I had a lot of ups and downs and learned a lot of lessons over there. I got traded, I got cut, I saw a lot of things, the dark side of the business. I think that made me mature a lot as a player,” he expanded.
“I think I would be more selfish,” added Garuba, “That is what I learned over there, you got to be more selfish.”
“Winning the whole thing”
Moving forward, the Madrid native is excited for the next challenge, helping his side win trophies at the continental and domestic levels.
The interview with Eurohoops spills into the differences between the NBA and EuroLeague combined with the established motto “Every Game Matters”.
“I played a lot of EuroLeague games before I left. And I think every EuroLeague game matters. In the NBA, especially me, I have been playing in one of the worst teams in that time, the Houston Rockets in the 21-22, 22-23 seasons,” he said.
“I will not say we were playing to lose games and all that, but the mentality was a little bit different. They were trying to develop some guys and stuff like that,” continued Garuba, “Here teams are trying to win right away.”
“Apart from winning the whole thing, I am trying to have fun as a player,” he shared goals for the next season, “When I have fun as a player, I think I am very hard to stop. I have fun because for me, the main key is having fun and after that, everything comes.”
“It is not a priority”
Another chance to play in the NBA might emerge, but focusing on Madrid overshadows such considerations.
“Right now, I am not thinking about that,” he told Eurohoops, “I am trying to win games. I’m trying to win the EuroLeague. I am trying to win a lot of titles here before thinking about it.”
“It is not a priority. Obviously, I am still young. It is an option. But right now, I’m focusing on my team, Real Madrid, the team that valued me this summer,” he added, “Winning is very important for me. Being valuable, having fun also.”