Interview: Utkuhan Genç, TrendBasket
Indiana Pacers hosted and beat Houston Rockets 120-101 on Sunday. Before this encounter which we attended as TrendBasket, we did an exclusive interview with Rockets’ guard Bobby Brown.
You returned to the NBA after seven years. And now you’re a part of a winning team. What can you say about your performance so far this season?
It’s been great. We got great teammates, an MVP-caliber player on our team, who is also one of my best friends. This has been a great ride. To get any opportunity to go out and play, I’m trying to do my best, doing whatever is the best for the team, especially in practice, on and off the court. That’s just my job right now until something opens up but overall, it’s been great from training camp until now.
What do you think about James Harden’s performance this year?
I played with him in the Drew League* this summer. Also last year, we won it. He is now comfortable, he has guys who can make an open shot or a difficult shot. It just makes his job easier when you have guys like that on the team.
You were out of the NBA for several years. How was the adaptation process into the “new” NBA?
It was different. Because you were playing a whole game, scoring and getting others involved in it, with all the pressure. Now, you’re on a team that your role is to be a good teammate. When you’re given the chances, you can go out and perform. It’s been easy for me. I think coming here has made the transition easier.
Do you seen a difference in defences between the first time you have played in the NBA and now?
Oh, yes. Now, defences are way more athletic. The game is a lot faster. It’s hard to stop guys like James Harden, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James etc. What I can do is contain them and just try to make them shoot bad shots.
What is your favorite team outside of the NBA? Do you have any favorites?
The team I enjoy playing for the most is Siena, and also Beşiktaş. I always wanted to play in Turkey. Fenerbahçe tried to get me come and play there after my Siena season but I had chosen to play in China.
How do you like Turkey?
I like it a lot. It was fun. It was a great experience. I had great teammates, great coaches. The atmosphere was crazy, especially when we played against Galatasaray. It was a nice experience. I played in Greece, where we had a rivalry against PAOK. It was a similar feeling to that.
Are you still following the European basketball?
Everyday. I’m following the European basketball, the EuroLeague. I’m still checking on my former teammates in Italy. All the guys I’ve played with and against, I’m checking on them.
So, any favorites to win the EuroLeague this year?
I think I’d like Maccabi to win because I have a lot of friends on that team. But I think it’s either Real Madrid or CSKA Moscow.
This is my last question. What are your thoughts about the new All-Star voting system?
They changed it a lot. You saw Zaza Pachulia get voted as a starter. It’s different. But it comes down to getting the right guys to start, getting the right ones for reserves. It’ll be fine to watch James there.
*Drew League: Drew League | About