The Loko guard gave the interview to Gudok (The Whistle) – the newspaper for Russian railwaymen.
You may read this interview in Russian at the Gudok website. And here it is without translation:
- From your first days in Russia, you are showing top level in the league. What helped you to adapt so fast?
- My athleticism allows me to feel comfortable right away and just do what I do. I just play my own game no matter where I'm at. I think with me being fast and athletic and quick, I can play my game no matter where I'm at in the world.
- Do you think about your own stats when you play?
- I like to get steals and rebounds, so I feel like those are some things that you can control. I want to get some rebounds and get some steals. I hate when I have zero steals or zero rebounds, because I feel like I'm athletic, so I should always do those two things.
- For three times, you got into the top ten moments of the league. So, if you have a chance to score, do you try to do something really cool?
- Not really, I just play. My nickname was Mr. ESPN in college, because I always was on ESPN. I'm just a highlight player, man. Something you just can't teach. I'm just a highlight machine, you know what I'm saying?
- Comparing to Israel and Australia, what can you say about Russian league in terms of playing style, level, popularity?
- I think that the Russian locals, the Russian players are big and strong and from a physical standpoint, it's a physical league. Teams play fast, there's a lot of talent. I don't remember Russian league being too popular, I guess. But it does have a nice social media page, though. I knew about CSKA and Zenit and UNICS before.
- What was the hardest game of five that Loko have played in the league?
- The game against Avtodor, because it was a terrible gym, terrible facilities, freezing cold, the floor was dusty, slippery.
- What attracted you in Loko?
- I have friends in this league already. I've been knowing Patrick Miller for a while. So when Loko offered me, I called Pat asking how was it and he loved it and wanted me to come and I decided to come.
- Do you feel some language barrier?
- Yeah, but I'm kind of used to it. I've been playing overseas for the past three years. Everyone speaks a little English, so it forces me to work on my Russian language, I guess.
- Maybe you can say already something in Russian?
- Yeah, I can say a few things in Russian, but I'm trying to get better. I'm not learning a word today, so I've got to learn a new word today, so I'll figure it out today.
- What was the most unusual for you in Russia?
- The stray dogs, they're smart and they're good dogs. I don't know if it's just a lucky day, but I've seen three stray dogs wait to cross the street just like the humans do. Until the light turned green for them to walk, they stopped and then they walked across. I've never seen anything like that before. I don't know if it's just in Russia or just those special dogs, but me and my wife thought that was crazy.
- Have you seen Krasnodar already or are you just move from home to arena and back?
- I go out to eat. I take my kids to school, but I've seen a little bit, and I'm sure it's a lot more for me to see.
- Well, you know that Loko is a kind of railway man. Have you already tried Russian railways?
- Railways? Why do you ask? Oh, Locomotive! I haven’t thought of it that way! I’ve never rode a train here. That will be interesting.
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