Be Almansa He participated in the All Star Weekend in Indianapolis in the match between the players of the G-League, where he plays, and the rookies of the NBA. One of the great promises of Spanish basketball talks about his feelings and the promising future, with up to four Spanish players with the possibility of appearing in the Draft.
Q. Izan, we are going to start talking about the season, on a collective level we are going to leave it aside, on a personal level, what is your assessment of your performance in the G-League?
A. I would make a positive assessment because I have been improving as the weeks and months have passed. It has helped me learn a lot. We have played against very good people, very physical. I would make a positive assessment of the evolution.
Q. When I saw some matches I got the impression that the place was very good for the exhibition, but that each one waged war on their own, to show off and I think you came out losing.
R. I had to adapt to the fact that if you don’t look out for yourself, no one cares. I had to get used to that.
In the G-League I had to adapt to the fact that if you don’t look out for yourself, no one cares.
Be Almansa, ala-pivot Ignite (G-League)
Q. Outside of sports, how was the experience of living in Las Vegas?
A. I didn’t do much, I was quiet at home. Training, games and rest. Then when my family came we did go to a restaurant.
Q: Have you had the opportunity to see any Las Vegas shows?
A. Yes, we went with the team to see one of Michael Jackson and it was pretty cool. But other than that, I didn’t do much.
Q. You have a relationship with Baba Miller. I have the feeling that he is a little like you…
A. From time to time we talk, but here the pace of games is frenetic. We have many games. In the United States basketball is like that. In College it matters to win and here not so much. I’ve been with him since I started in Madrid when I was 14, he’s a great friend.
Q. How was the experience at the All Star?
A. I was nervous. It has been a very good experience, being in the same hotel with the All Star players. When the time came to play I had a good time.
On TV the All Star seems incredible and then you are here and it is something normal. Those who play are not superheroes, they are people. What surprises me most is the setup of everything, the cameras, the lighting…
Izan Almansa, G-League power forward
Q. What memories do you have of the All Stars?
A. I remember last year that I saw it, but it is true that watching it on TV is not the same as being here. On TV it seems incredible and then you are here and it is something normal. Those who play are not superheroes, they are people. What surprises me most is the setup of everything, the cameras, the lighting.
Q. Of the people you have met, who has surprised you?
A. After breakfast, we saw Durant and also Jokic.
Q. You saw players like Wenbayanma in the game, what did you think?
A. When you are outside and you say that they are NBA players, it seems that you are referring to people from another world, but then on the court you see that they are normal. I looked good playing against them. Wenbanyama is only a year older than me. He is a good reference.
Q. Is being in the All Star good for you to make yourself known, for example for the Draft?
A. Before the game we had a meeting with the second commissioner of the NBA and he made us see the importance of the game, the impact it had throughout the world. There is a lot of press here and it is true that they make you known.
Q. Did you talk to Pau?
A. Yes, we greeted each other and he wished me luck for the game. It’s an example. I got hooked on basketball because of him. The passion with which he played caught my attention.
Q. Does Wembanyama impress as much on the track?
A. Not to me, but it is very tall, yes. It has a very large wingspan.
I looked good playing against them. Wenbanyama is only a year older than me. It’s a good reference
Izan Almansa, Ignite power forward (G-League)
Q. You have other Spanish teammates who could be in the draft, Juan, Baba, Aday. Do you follow them?
A. Especially through networks. I’m finding out what they do. It’s easier for me to see Aday and Baba, who play here.
Q. Have you thought about that draft night?
A. It would be very exciting if all four of us appeared. Three of us have met in Madrid. We have shared a lot of time. And I have been with Aday since I was little in the national team.
Q. What is Baba like?
A. He can do everything on the court and is 2.10 meters tall. As a person he is serious, but only to those who don’t know him. I have played with Juan and he always sees on the court what others don’t see. He helped me a lot to adapt when I was in Madrid.
Q. Could Juan’s physique be a problem for the NBA?
A. It would be difficult for you to adapt but I don’t think it will be a barrier.
P. Y Aday?
A. How tall he is, how he moves. I like him very much, he is a great friend.
Q. Do we have reasons to be excited about the team of the future?
A. The national team always competes, now we don’t have Pau, but the European Championship that no one expected was won. What makes the national team good is being a team.
Q. Do you maintain contact with the FEB?
A. Yes, Sergio told me that he was going to be watching the games. They are looking out for me.
2024-02-21 05:17:36
#exciting #Spaniards #Draft
