EFEReading: 4 min.
The Utah Jazz player expressed that he wants to return to Mexico after he secured his place in the next FIBA World Cup
Immersed in a season NBA full of changes for him, Juan Toscano-Anderson has followed in the distance the success of Mexico when you get your ticket for the World Cup 2023 and expressed in an interview with the EFE Agency your wish”return to the Mexican National Team“.
The last season of Juan Toscano-Anderson It’s been a little roller coaster. After winning the ring with the Golden State Warriors and accepting the challenge of defending the Los Angeles Lakers jersey, he was unexpectedly transferred before the market closed to end up in Utah Jazz.
Despite having only been in Salt Lake CityHe is happy with his role and with his coach. He describes Will Hardy as one of the best technicians and he is clear about his future: “If I continue in Utah Jazz I will be happy”.
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Question: The first thing now is the NBA, but how much do you want to put on the NBA jersey? Mexico and defend your country in the next FIBA World Cup?
Answer: “First of all, I want to congratulate my teammates who got a place in the World Cup, hopefully I can return to the Mexican National Team. Now I want to focus on my career here because I have to take care of my family.”
How are you doing in a season with so many changes between the Lakers and Jazz, after having been stable and having finished as champion with the Warriors?
“It’s life. I’m taking it day by day, the truth is that thank God I have a job, I can play the sport that I love the most. That’s my perspective, I can’t be wondering about everything in life. I have my health, my family and work”.
Could the Utah Jazz be considered a complete opposite franchise to the Lakers in size and exposure?
“The change was good, a change of pace, a change of life too. Because life in San Francisco and Los Angeles goes by so fast. And here it’s calmer, I can focus solely on basketball. Every day the Lakers are in TV, the media there, a lot of noise around the team. You can’t even concentrate on basketball. It’s not because of you as a player, but the whole team. The staff, the managers, the owner… everyone. That brings something out of the team, energy. I like that in Salt Lake City everything is much calmer.”
At the wardrobe level, there are always things in common, but I imagine that comparing Warriors or Lakers with what you have found is like comparing two parallel dimensions…
“Here everyone is young, everyone is looking for their place in this league. They are not like Stephen Curry or LeBron James who are already superstars. The expectations are different here. In Los Angeles or San Francisco it is to win the championship or nothing. Here now they are improving day by day, they want to go year by year with this group. It’s a good team, it’s growing. In Miami we lost, but it was a good day from the experience. A rookie played the last shot, he missed but it’s part of the process “.
What have you learned from sharing a locker room with LeBron James and Stephen Curry?
“A lot, really. How to lead my professional life. And this entails many things. For example, how to attend to the media on a day-to-day basis, how to win… It’s not something you can do every day, being so close to the greats. I see them and I give thanks. Even they have problems, Curry has them, LeBron has his… And that doesn’t matter so much when you’re playing. I see them that every day they get on the court and think about basketball, that makes them great.” .
Contract ends this season. Do you like this more secondary role of helping your colleagues or do you think you could jump into a more leading role?
“I think so, that I can go one step further. But with time. The opportunities will be there. I like this group, I like this institution. I’m comfortable, there are a lot of good vibes here. There’s a lot of respect. It’s a locker room very close. I don’t know what will happen, but if I’m still here I’ll be happy.”
Tell me a little about Will Hardy, he doesn’t seem like a rookie on the bench even though he is…
“I have been playing basketball for a long time. I have done it in FIBA, in Mexico in Argentina, G League, NBA… Will Hardy is a top three for me in terms of coaches. He transmits a very good vibe, I think he has a great impact with the players, with the team. Also because of how he handles all things, the training, the trips… he is a great coach.”
