In the list of French players who have won an NBA title, there is Ronny Turiaf. The former interior has a very special career in the NBA, and also went through the France team box. Ronny is first and foremost a mind of steel… coupled with a heart of gold. Come on, let’s all sit down together to come back to the career of this great man.
Ronny Turiaf, a name that all basketball fans got to know from 2003. Then aged 20, the young interior was selected to compete in the world basketball championship with the France team. Only 14 minutes spent on the pitch, but 14 minutes full of promise. His journey ? INSEP of course, then Gonzaga’s faculty at the Zétazunis before officially committing to the Draft in 2005. Selected by the Lakers in 37th position, he gave it his all during the Summer League and obtained a guaranteed contract, the beginning of the dream… but also worries.
As is de rigueur in the NBA, players pass a whole battery of medical tests before putting their signature on the bottom of a contract. The tests passed by this dear Ronny make the doctors detect a heart defect in the aorta. In a second, everything seems to shatter. It will take open-heart surgery, fully supported by the Lakers, and five months of rehabilitation so that he can finally make his first appearance on the pitch. He will always remember the gesture of the Purple and Goldwho had no contractual obligation to fund his care.
“’Gratitude’ is the word I have for the Lakers. Once my physical tests were missed, they had zero obligation to pay for my operation. Zero. I hadn’t even met Dr. Buss at that time. But they did, and they were added to the list of people I had to honor when I returned to the field. […]
I don’t think a lot of people know this, but after every home game I played with the Lakers, I went to see Dr. Buss in his office. Just to make sure he knows I’m grateful. We had this implicit language. He knew why I was coming to see him, and he was looking at me like, ‘I’ve got you covered, son. You’re part of the family now’.” –Ronny Turiaf
The story is already wonderful, but wait until you read the sequel. In his first game with the Lakers, the Ron’ had the right to an exceptional welcome from all of his teammates, including Kobe Bryant. All this when he only played 52 seconds. A magnificent example of the best of what the NBA can produce.
“I don’t know if we’ll have enough time to talk about the impact Kobe has had on me and a whole generation of players…
I remember it very well, I think it was February 7 or 8, 2006. It was my first game, against the Rockets. I remember feeling that I was too slow, that everything was going very fast. But what I remember the most is after the game, when everyone jumped on me in the locker room.
They threw Gatorade on me, they threw powder on me, it just felt so good and they were like, ‘Welcome to the NBA, you’re officially an NBA player. I remember the excitement of my teammates, my peers and myself.
Seeing me six months ago having heart surgery I remember being so happy, so grateful, like, ok, all the effort I’ve made so far has been worthwhile to go through this. Even though I played 52 seconds” – Ronny Turiaf.
Transferred to the Warriors in 2008 then to the Knicks in 2010, Ronny’s career will be a bit like a bohemian in the Big League. He will also go through Washington then Denver, where his contributions will be minimal due to injuries. The consecration will come in 2012, when it will land in South Beach in the middle of winter. The NBA title, with the Heat of the Tres Amigos aka LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The supreme Grail in his pocket, he will join the Clippers for one season before ending his career with the Timberwolves in 2016.
The very unique career of Ronny Turiaf will have made him a darling of the Lakers public. A guy who has never given up, and who has invested a lot through the Heart to Heart association by financially supporting people with heart problems. A total commitment, like the one to the blue jersey he wore from 2003 to 2011. The situation of NBA players vis-à-vis the selection is always complicated, but nothing – apart from injuries – prevented Ronny from wear the jersey as soon as he could.
“People tend to forget, to find it normal that we come every summer to the rescue of French basketball. They don’t realize the sacrifices we make to be there. You have to understand the economic and sporting benefits that this entails for NBA clubs” – Ronny Turiaf.
Your favorite energizer’s favorite energizer turns 40 today ????
100 selections in Blue and this anthology dunk against Belgium in 2009. Happy birthday Ronny Turiaf ????#TeamFranceBasket x @Ronny_Turiaf | #PassionatelyBlue pic.twitter.com/vDSfyJUrJa
– French basketball teams (@FRABasketball) January 13, 2023
Ronny is now living his best life with his family, in addition to playing the role of NBA ambassador in Africa. He is also affiliated with associations and even a language program. A busy program, but which corresponds well to the temperament of the fighter of the man.
A life full of twists and turns but above all forged by determination, that’s what makes Ronny Turiaf’s strength! NBA champion, historic member of the France team… and above all very present in our hearts to all, basketball fans.
Sources : Fox News, Libération, EuroHoops, FFBB, ESPN
