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Shaquille
O'Neal: "When you are 60, hang out with 60-year-olds, not 20-year-olds.
That is all I got to say about Jerry Buss."
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HoopsHype.com Interviews Jiri
Welsch: "I'm comparable to Brent Barry"
It is said that your draft stocks are rising. Why do you think is that happening? Jiri Welsch: I guess the reason is the trip to the USA I made in the middle of the May to have four workouts for Houston, Phoenix, Utah and Toronto. I think I did a good job - although it was very short trip - and the rumors spread about that. New people started to talk positively about me. How does it feel like to be scrutinized by GMs and coaches in workouts? Any especial pressure? JW: As basketball players, we have to be used to that. I think I am used to that. During the season, lots of scouts came over to Europe to see our games - at one game game at the end of the March there were scouts from 17 NBA teams in Ljubljana - so the pressure was there already. Being observed by so many people during workouts didn't bring extra pressure. Anything that really shocked you or impressed you about the way those workouts are carried? JW: I wasn't surprised, maybe a little bit at the first workout in Houston. Otherwise, we did most of the drills we are also doing here in Europe, especially shooting drills. When did you exactly realize that you had a chance to go to the NBA? JW: Playing in the NBA has always been my dream, of course, but it seemed to me so far from Czech Republic... I really realized this dream could come true in January this year, when my name started to appear in different NBA Mock Drafts. Now is June, my name is still there and I am really happy about that. Are you going to play in the NBA next year no matter what is the position in which you are selected? JW: If I get drafted in the first round as I hope, I would be probably coming over next season. The only case would be to get drafted by a team that wouldn't see room for me in their team right now and would be willing to keep me one more season in Europe to work on my game there. Have you talked with your former teammate Primoz Brezec about what is like to adjust to NBA life? JW: I talked with him a little bit about NBA. One of the things he told me was that playing in NBA is one of the best jobs in the world. But there are lot of guys who want this job, so you have work really hard to keep it for yourself. Some people say you are a point guard. Others think you fit better at the shooting guard position. What do you say? JW: I think of myself as a shooting guard who can play some point and small forward too. I'm an all perimeter player, but I feel the most comfortable at the shooting guard position. What do you think
you have to improve the most in your game? JW: The biggest difference between NBA and Europe is how much more physical NBA game is, so this would be my problem also. If I should have to point one thing I would really need to improve, I'd say I have to get more physical. Which NBA player do you think you resemble the most? JW: I think I'm comparable to Seattle's Brent Barry. I can shoot as well as penetrate, like Brent does. And the NBA player you admire the most? JW: I admire Shaquille O'Neal for his absolute dominance, I admire Jason Kidd for his versatility and for the way he lifted the Nets this season (with help of others). But I am big fan of European players like Nowitzki, Stojakovic, Gasol, Parker... I played against these guys and I'm happy to see them succeed. Finally, sell yourself in a few words. JW: I don't
like to sell myself with words, I better let my game speak instead of
that. Jorge Sierra is the editor of HoopsHype.com Tell us what you think about this interview. E-mail us at HoopsHype@HoopsHype.com _____________________ |
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