Interview: Can Keyder, TrendBasket
Editing: Kemal Rutkay Özcan, TrendBasket
Last night, Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv could not come up with a performance that would prevent them from having a 22-point road loss to Barcelona Lassa. Before the game, Maccabi’s experienced guard Norris Cole gave an exclusive interview to TrendBasket.
You’re new for the EuroLeague, what are your first impressions of the EuroLeague?
It’s a competitive league, there are lot of competitive teams. Very talented players out here. I appreciate the fans, going to different countries, seeing the fans have pride for their team. I really appreciate.
How was the personal adjustments for you? I have seen your blog at the EuroLeague website and you’ve been talking about the rules, the game style, the pace of the game…
The game is slower than in the NBA, more of a half court dominant league, multiple paths in offense. Rules are a bit different, some of the rules, some of the fouls, what’s intentional foul, what’s not intentional foul. Not being able to call time out; that’s the biggest adjustment. You know, in the NBA, you can always call a time out, control it. Here, just the coaches can call. You know, just the small changes overall. I believe I’m adjusting well, my teammates my coaches are helping me understand some of the minor rules.
The first step for the traveling violation, that change of rule helped you?
That helped me because that’s the way it is in the NBA. You can get that what they call zero step, I’m glad I didn’t have to adjust to that.
Have you had any friends here in the EuroLeague, have you asked any of them before coming here, signing your contract with Maccabi?
Yeah I had some friends, couple of guys told me. Nothing but good thing to say, the beautiful countries, the culture, like I say different type of fans.
Very passionate…
Yeah, yeah very passionate.
Compared to the NBA.
I definitelly had a good understanding of what to expect, so I think that made my transition a lot easier.
How’s your life at Tel-Aviv? Apart from basketball, you do a lot of Europe trips, too.
Life in Tel-Aviv is nice. You got the beach, you got great food, fresh seafood, fresh seafood out of the Mediterannean…
Like in Florida, right?
Yeah, very similar to Florida. So I enjoy it, the restaurants man, so many good restaurants. I’m a foodie. I like to eat.
I’ve seen you talk about the fresh sushi [in your blog].
Ah they have a lot of food man, the steak, like you said sushi, kebab, shrimp, pastas… They got everything.
You still have a lot of time to explore everything.
I definitely have a lot of time to explore the restaurants.
2x NBA Champ @pg30_Cole on his experience playing for the @MiamiHEAT : ”It was a blessing, I was able to learn how to be the ultimate professional playing with legendary players.”#TBExclusive pic.twitter.com/IztNQxvGp4
— TrendBasketEN (@TrendBasketEN) November 24, 2017
I’m gonna be asking you about your seasons at Miami Heat, How would you describe your 4 seasons, a lot of success.
Ah man it was a blessing. I was able to learn to be the ultimate professional, playing with legendary players.
Big Three?
No, more than Big Three. You got Ray Allen, Juwan Howard, LeBron, D-Wade, Udonis Haslem, Chris Bosh, Mike Miller… You got a lot of talented guys, professionals. I learned from the best.
After you got traded, I’ve seen the interview with coach Spoelstra, he said it was a very tough moment for him and how was it for you after those years to leave Miami and go to new Orleans.
It’s always tough when you leave somewhere that you feel comfortable but it’s a part of the business. I always knew that was part of the business. You never hope that it happens to you but it does happen to a lot of players. I packed my things, talked to my family and took what I learned in Miami to New Orleans.
And the weather changed a bit
The weather changed a lot. Still warm though but not as tropical.
Not like Ohio, isn’t it?
No, New Orleans is nothing like Ohio. the South is nothing like Ohio.
I’ve seen that you have a Norris Cole Foundation. What can you tell us about that?
Norris Cole Foundation is about helping intercity youth from Dayton, Ohio, where I’m from. The focus is to help build community service, leadership, mentoring and also health. As a kid growing up, I was always into sports, I was healthy, I was strong academically, and I was always active in my community. So I wanted my foundation to represent that to help the youth, the next generation.
Since you’re from Ohio, and went to Cleveland State University, are you supporting the Cavs in the NBA?
I support Maccabi!
And also I wanted to ask you something else: your mother was an accountant, and your father was a nuclear med tech…
Man! You did some research, brother!
And you had great grades in high school, straight A’s and basketball was not your priority.
No, not at first. I played multiple sports, basketball, football, American football, baseball and long jump. So I played multiple sports, I didn’t know which one I wanted to do in college yet until my senior year, and I chose basketball but sports was a part of my life, academics, church, community. That was my main thing and sports was extra.
Our last question is, where does your nickname come from, “Cole Train”?
One of my mini nicknames in Miami. I had the “flat tops” that was my main nickname in Miami. Once I cut that off, I had my brand called “Cole Blooded”.
You got “Cole Blooded” t-shirts now, right?
Yeah. “Cole Blooded”, “Cole World”. Nobody out here calls me “Cole Train”. They all call me “Cole Blooded”.
Well, thanks a lot for your time.