Thanks to a very high-level “sophomore” season, during which he revealed himself to the general public as an elite defender, Toumani Camara extended his contract with Portland at the start of the season, becoming the highest paid Belgian athlete, with a contract worth 82 million euros over four years. More exposed, the Belgian winger had a more timid start to the third season.
“I put pressure on myself. We want to show that we deserve this money. I have to learn to manage this pressure, it’s part of sport and the NBA.“
Less sharp defensively than usual, “The Box“, as it is nicknamed across the Atlantic, has, however, found some color in recent weeks, like his team, now ranked 9th in the Western Conference (17 wins – 20 losses) and currently in a play-in position, the qualifying tournament for the play-offs.
“Collectively, things are going very well. We have a lot of injured players, so a lot of young people are on the floor. We gain experience and it is beneficial for the future. Individually, I am not completely satisfied with my start to the season. There have been a lot of ups and downs, but I’m starting to find my rhythm. Seeing my family again did me good. I am gradually adapting to the new responsibilities in the field. My role hasn’t really changed: I remain a defensive player, but I have to create the game more in the absence of the leaders. I want to continue to learn and grow, especially as a leader. I need to be more vocal.“
Ajay Mitchell and I really take representing Belgium to heart
On the offensive side, although he scores more points on average than last year (12.8 compared to 11.3), Toumani, on the other hand, appears more clumsy, particularly at long distance, with 35.1% three-point success compared to 37.5% last year.
“Offensively, I improved shooting. I worked a lot this summer to perfect it. But I still have to get used to the new systems put in place. The staff and my teammates trust me and encourage me to take more shots.“
Toumani Camara also spoke of his impact in Belgium, particularly among the youngest.
“It’s nice to see more and more Belgians following basketball. Ajay Mitchell (OKC) and I really take representing Belgium to heart. If we can give hope to young people and make them dream, so much the better: this is also one of our objectives“, he concluded.
