Winner of the Leader Cup in February then the Euro Cup in April, Paris Basketball remains on a series of twenty-four consecutive victories at the time of writing and asserts itself as a serious contender for the Playoffs of Betclic Elite. Only six years after its creation, the club is today experiencing a meteoric rise and seems to have the potential to put itself on the basketball map in France…and perhaps even soon in Europe! Arriving this summer from Bonn Telekom, Chilean fullback Sebastian Herrera is at the heart of this historic season and even plays a crucial role as a member of the starting five. A few hours before the reception in Roanne as part of the thirty-third day of the championship, he was kind enough to answer our questions.
Hello Sebastian! For readers who don’t know you yet, can you introduce yourself?
Good morning ! My name is Sebastian Herrera, I am a professional basketball player and I have been playing in Europe for almost ten years. I am Chilean and I play guard and am playing my first season with Paris Basketball.
What was your background before joining Paris Basketball?
I arrived in Germany at 17 to play with Trier in the under-19 category. At the end of the season, the club got relegated to the second division and they decided to play young players, which allowed me to have a lot of minutes. I stayed there for two years before joining Crailsheim, another Second Division team. That’s where I met Tuomas Lisalo who is now my coach in Paris. We were promoted to the First Division. I also stayed there for two years, then I moved to Oldenburg. Last season, I won the Champions League with Bonn Telekom where I played for a year and now here I am in Paris.
In a country where football is, by far, the most popular sport, how did you discover basketball and what is the culture around this sport?
It’s true that Chile is not a country where basketball is very popular. It was with my father that I discovered this sport. He often played basketball with his friends, and I went to watch his games when I was just a kid. I started playing with him, then I joined one of the biggest Chilean clubs, the Universidad Catolica. The trials with the club went very well and I loved it straight away. It was really my family who introduced me to this sport.
Basketball is probably the third sport in Chile… or the fourth, even the fifth (laughs). Chileans watch football or tennis a lot more. But in recent years, the popularity of basketball has started to grow. The Chilean championship is growing and more and more players are going to play in Europe in better championships. The national team always plays in full halls and there is more and more infrastructure. I really feel that the passion around this sport is growing in Chile.
Who was your role model when you started acting?
This is a question we are often asked. Obviously, first my father, who was my idol when he played. I would also say Manu Ginobili who comes from a neighboring country. Even though he’s retired now, he had an incredible career in Europe then with the San Antonio Spurs and now he’s in the Hall Of Fame…definitely one of my idols as well.
Legend of the San Antonio Spurs and Argentine basketball, Manu Ginobili marked Sebastian Herrera
What did you know about Betclic Elite before joining Paris?
I knew it was a difficult and very athletic championship…but I was still surprised when I arrived. This league is truly amazing! I have rarely seen so many players with such physical abilities. I already knew the big clubs that play in European competitions, notably Strasbourg against whom I had played in Bonn in the quarter-final of the Champions League. It’s a very competitive championship where everyone can beat everyone, probably one of the best in Europe.
What are the team’s ambitions? Is Paris Basketball planning to play the Euroleague next season?
For the moment, we are mainly thinking about the end of the season which is coming. I think the next step is above all the next match, it’s the most important. I will think about next season when this one is over, without regrets I hope. It’s been a very good season so far, but I think we can still do better. The team has the level to go far in the playoffs, so we have to stay focused and focus on each match. To be honest I don’t know if the club is planning to play the Euroleague next season, but it would be great. Many players on the team dream of it… Personally, I think it will happen.
Winner of the Eurocup last March, Paris Basketball is eligible for a place in the Euroleague next season.
Did meeting up with several former Bonn teammates help your integration into the team?
This obviously helps a lot, both for our integration and for that of others. There were a lot of transfers last summer, so having six players and a coach who already know each other allowed us to quickly have good cohesion. I also think that it made it possible to transmit the culture of winning and work that we had in Bonn in this club. The interweaving of all these pieces went very well and that plays a role in our good season.
In Paris, Sebastian Herrera found TJ Short and Tyson Ward with whom he played in Bonn
What do you think of the many young players playing in Betclic Elite today?
France has so much young talent, it’s just impressive! Almost every year, you have a Frenchman in the first choices of the draft. This is a great opportunity for the League, because it offers better visibility. Many players impress me with their ability to impact the level of their team while being extremely young. It’s something I respect. I think that Zaccharie Risacher and Tidjane Salaun will inevitably find a place in the NBA. They are serious and have impressive physical assets.
Expected among the first choices of the next draft, Zaccharie Risacher here tries to escape the Parisian defense
How do you find Paris? Do you plan to stay there long term?
The city is incredible! It’s one of the largest capitals in the world…but at the same time it’s sometimes chaotic. There are a lot of people and tourists, but you can find everything you want, we lack nothing. There are a lot of cultures and I really like life here. I feel very good there. It won’t just depend on me, but I’m enjoying the moment and if an extension arises, I will discuss it with my family. It’s a little early to predict, but it would be a pleasure!
Who is the best player you have faced?
I played against Jamal Murray. I faced him in the youth category during the Americup U-17. He was already a celebrity back then in high school and today he’s an NBA champion. It’s truly incredible to have played against him, even though we were only sixteen at the time.
Now I would definitely say Mike James. He is really very difficult to play against, even for the best defenders in Euroleague. I’m also glad I don’t have to defend on Nadir Hifi. It’s already very difficult in training (laughs).
During a match in the U-17 category, Sebastian Herrera was impressed by future NBA champion Jamal Murray
What is the impact of Street Culture on basketball today?
Basketball is known for being a sport played in the street, it has its origins there. There are also a lot of basketball clothes and shoes that have become elements of urban fashion like Jordans. The two have influenced each other for several years. Now it even goes unnoticed, people go to school or university in sneakers without even knowing that they were basketball shoes originally.
Is music part of your pre-match routine?
Yes of course ! Music is an important part of my routine. I don’t like to talk too much before matches to concentrate, and music really helps me get into my bubble. I have very varied tastes that change every day, so it’s quite funny, I think. I like new experiences. Obviously, I listen to reggaeton, trap, hip-hop, RnB and a lot of South American artists. Recently, I also started listening to country music…I don’t know why it makes me think of romantic Chilean music (laughs). As I lived there for a long time I also listen to German rap from time to time. My playlists don’t really have a guideline. I really listen to everything, regardless of the artist’s level of popularity.
Thank you very much for this interview, all that remains is for me to wish you an excellent end of the season!
Thank you so much !
Guilem Garot May 9, 2024
2024-05-09 16:20:50
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