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Authored by Erildas Budraitis - 7th December, 2010 - 5:36 pm
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The basketball career of J.R.Giddens has unquestionably been a rollercoaster ride. The 25-year-old guard was a highly recruited prospect when he arrived at Kansas, but subsequently transferred to New Mexico after he started a fight outside a bar.
Giddens was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 30th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and spent two years in the NBA. However, this fall Giddens decided to try his luck in Europe and accept Asseco Prokom Gdynia offer.
After a brilliant personal start in the Euroleague, Giddens? numbers slightly feltl down, but it didn?t prevent Asseco Prokom from winning last two games and regaining hope to make it to the Top 16.
Giddens, who is averaging 11.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in 28 minutes so far, sat down with RealGM to talk about his life in Poland, European experience, Allen Iverson and future plans.
RealGM: Why you decided to leave the USA and come play in Europe?
Giddens: I had the same agent as Bobby Brown and it seemed like Asseco Prokom was a good place to come, because they play in the Euroleague. I wanted to come over here and expand my game. Euroleague is the number one league in the world under the NBA, so why not to come play here for a team that is competitive in the Euroleague.
RealGM: Asseco Prokom made it to the Top 8 in the Euroleague last season and this year they can?t find their game. Why do you think Asseco Prokom?s game has been struggling so far?
Giddens: Right now we just need to get better as a team. Little things are hurting us. We just need to have better chemistry. Sometimes little things matter like switching on screens. I feel like early on we lost some games that we shouldn?t have and we lost some that we (deserved to lose). I feel like we can turn things around this season because we have a good team and we just need to go out and win those games.
RealGM: Do you believe your team can win the last three regular season games?
Giddens: I do believe that and you can never say that this ship is sinking. If I can?t go with a lot of confidence, as well as my teammates, like we can win, there?s no reason to even play a game. We know what we need to do to win and we need to show people that we?re here to play and we can compete.
RealGM: Could you tell me more about your European experience? It?s probably different from life in the States.
Giddens: Europe is way different than America and NBA. It?s an interesting experience I learn something new everyday. I just need to continue to adjust and try to get better. Also I need to help my teammates to become better and help Asseco Prokom win. I am just trying to learn from European basketball and take it back to the America and make myself a better player whether I?m in Europe or in the NBA in the upcoming years.
RealGM: What do you like to do in your free time in Gdynia?
Giddens: I love food, so I like sushi places and places which have great seafood. Also Facebook, BBM, Twitter and just hanging out with my teammates, watching DVD movies, going bowling. We do whatever we can to past the time and have a great European experience at the same time.
RealGM: In your opinion, what are the biggest differences between European and the American basketball?
Giddens: There?s a big difference. You can knock the ball off the rim and I have to say being a right-handed player being able to rip the ball through and take one dribble and try to get to the basket ? that?s a travel over here. And being a right-handed player and definitely your go-to move, you cannot second guess yourself when you catch the ball because you can?t just rip it through to take off to take a long step in and try to get to the goal and finish, that?s a travel over here.
RealGM: Could you, as a former D-league player, evaluate playing in Europe in comparison?
Giddens: In Europe, I feel like teams are more organized and more stable. You have older guys who have been over here for years, some of them have been in the NBA and then they came back to the Euroelague. I feel like Euroleague is a higher level than the D-League, but both leagues are very good. Euroleague is very competitive. I?m really impressed with the Euroleague so far.
RealGM: You are one of the former NBA players that decided to move to Europe. As you already have this kind of experience, what do you think about Allen Iverson and his choice to sign with Besiktas?
Giddens: Allen Iverson is a great player and he did what is best for his career. I support him because I?ve been his fan for years since I?ve been a young player. He only had a few points in his second game and I think it shows how competitive Europe is. There?s no defensive three seconds and offensively you have to dribble the ball a lot differently. It shows how European basketball set a very high level and when American basketball player comes over here, it?s actually a big adjustment.
We really don?t know a lot about European basketball (in America), but as a man you have to provide for your family, you have to do whatever you can to put food on a table. I think financially he made his best choice by coming here to Europe and playing in the Eurocup. I think it was a smart decision. As a positive, you get more money and as a negative, you?re not in the NBA and it isn?t as good.
RealGM: As you probably know, sometimes, American players agree to get European country passport and play for that country?s national team. Would you ever consider this type of offer?
Giddens: Right now, I haven?t considered that yet because my focus is Asseco Prokom and Poland, and just helping this team out the best way that I can but it?s life. If things happen and my plans changes I would probably consider other offers but right now that?s not on my mind.
RealGM: Is your main goal to get back to the NBA?
Giddens: My main goal is to be the best person I can be and secondly to be the best basketball player that I can be. Situations in basketball are so up in the air. They could cancel my contract today, or I could get hurt and get sent home, while NBA teams could want me to come play for them. Whatever situation your life puts you in you have to feel like you can make the best decision. For right now I just have to focus on my next game and try to become better.
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