Apart from basketball and music ties, Rony Seikaly talked about NBA trending topics in an interview with TalkBasket.net.
The GOAT debate, the Luka Doncic phenomenon, the NBA Europeans, and the extinct post-players were some of the main themes of the debate.
In particular, it’s interesting that Kobe Bryant’s words “Revlon resembles Magic Johnson” seem to resonate with Cycary’s thoughts on the basketball identity of the 36-year-old superstar. Singing has become a common practice over the past few months on the occasion of Luka Doncic’s unimaginable NBA season. But no one has gone so far as to call the Slovenian Wonder Kid an extended version of Larry Bird. Seikaly, an early Pau Gasol teammate in Barcelona, has made no reservations regarding the prospects of Dallas Mavericks guards.
In addition, a retired player refers to some of his best and worst experiences he was able to experience as an athlete. The final match of the 1987 NCAA tournament falls into both categories when Syracuse loses one point (74-73) to Indiana in New Orleans. Despite the fact that he couldn’t play as a championship candidate, Seikaly wished he enjoyed the opportunity to join an ambitious team like the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz. I am.
Overall, I first touched basketball in 9th grade and had never heard of the screen before arriving at Syracuse, His trajectory definitely exceeded all expectations. Troublesome for NBA veterans who couldn’t win the title, or even the all-star nod, was the starting center for some teams and had to deal with the paint-dominated Hakeems, Ewings, Robinsons, and Shaqs. There is a possibility of an accident. But Ronnie had a great time in Miami – he stayed for almost half of his professional career – I can’t complain about this.
Q: What was your best moment as a player or DJ? Which one do you call a nightmare?
A: Some of the best years of my life were the years I spent in Greece when I was young. Takis Coroneos let me play in Panathinaikos. I haven’t seen him in the last 3-4 years, but he’s always in my mind. He is the one who took me to where I am. For me, practicing with the team at such a young age and gaining that experience helped me prepare for the college and NBA years. Those years were great. After that, I proceeded to the final battle with Syracuse. It was a bittersweet taste to lose on the last second shot, but the road to getting there was one of the greatest times of my life.
At the NBA, my year in Miami was great and I saw the franchise grow and went to the playoffs with Michael Jordan and the Bulls. My worst year was when I was in the Golden State Warriors and everyone was injured. For all the injuries, it was a waste of two years of my career. The lowest point in my basketball career was when I broke my leg during the Orlando Magic-Miami Heat match. I intended to play in the NBA for another 6-8 years, which was an injury that ended my career.
Q: Is there really a GOAT debate, or does Michael Jordan win all the competition by default?
A: The GOAT debate is something people enjoy, but when comparing two great players from two different eras, it’s very difficult to make a phone call. We’re talking about two very talented players and you can go back and forth between which is better, depending on whether you’re a fan of the 90’s or a fan of today. .. If you’re the latter, you probably don’t know what Michael Jordan did in the 90’s and you’ll automatically think LeBron James is the best player. If you grew up looking at Kobe Bryant, you would think he was a goat.
The debate is endless, but the only reason he nods to Michael Jordan is because he had an assassin spirit. If he smells a little blood, he will come after you and you will be done. It’s always the same as Mike Tyson. He was like a shark. Lebron is a very talented player as talented as Michael, but he can also be like Magic Johnson when he has the ball. Like Michael Jordan, he is a facilitator, not a finisher.
Q: Have you ever approached a deal from Miami to the Chicago Bulls?
A: Yes. That was exactly when Phil Jackson took over (1989). If I went to Chicago, I would have won six championships just by being on the same team as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. I had a great time in Miami and I don’t regret it, but in retrospect I wish I could join the championship team.
Q: In February 1998, the trade from Orlando to Utah seems to have been sealed. What happened next? at that time, You said Utah stopped trading due to an injury to your legThey said you retreated.
A: I had a broken leg and knew the damage I had suffered. I knew they couldn’t give them what they were looking for, so I told them I lost almost 0.5 seconds in timing. That’s a lot. I couldn’t physically help them. If not, I would have gone there. But I didn’t want to fool them. That was my decision.
Q: What made you so attracted to Miami, apart from your lifestyle?
A: The fact that it was a new franchise, the weather, everything related to Miami. Sometimes you go to the city and everything feels great. I had a connection with the city and wanted to be there. It reminded me to be next to the water in Athens. I love living near the sea.
Q: Which NBA or overseas player reminds you of yourself?
A: (sighs) To be honest, I don’t know. No one is playing with their backs to the basket anymore. I played when the big guys played that way and you became a double team. Now it’s all pick and roll and face baskets and jump shots. The only big players to play with their backs to the basket are DeMarcus Cousins and Joel Embiid. My specialty was not to settle for jump shots, but to eat up the guys inside. I wanted to foul or win a basket. For me, the jump shot is for the guards. Hopefully the game will return to those who dominate the inside and pass it on for the three wide open, instead of the big guys shooting.
Q: Do you think Luka Doncic is a player who can change the story of the NBA’s Europeans?
A: Luka Doncic is one in a million people. Whether he’s European or not, I think he’s the best white player I’ve ever played a game with. Limit. He is Larry Bird 2.0. For me, LeBron James is Magic Johnson 2.0 and Luka Doncic is a more modern version of how Larry Bird plays. I’m talking about him as a basketball player, and as a pure talent, not in terms of victory or championship. Now, to be the best player, you need to back it up in multiple championships, like Larry Bird. To get into a conversation with him, you’d better have a 4-5 championship under your belt. It will make him a staple as the best player in the world. I think Luka is a combination of Bird and Pete Maravich.
Q: Is his story an example of how GMs, TV commentators, professionals, scouters, etc. can underestimate or overlook talent abroad?
A: This is understandable for all European players who are superstars in the league, but not so effective in the NBA. Pau Gasol was effective in both Europe and the NBA, but he is not mentioned as one of the best basketball players in the world in the same category as Larry Bird. Even when he heard that Luka Doncic was playing for Real Madrid, his first thought was “he’s playing in Europe”. When he won the EuroLeague in Madrid, I was: What will he do in the NBA? “
Then he came in and started playing exactly as he was playing in Europe. The game is very easy for him. He intends to launch himself, regardless of who is guarding him. If Luka wants to score an average of 30 points in the EuroLeague, I believe he will. In Europe, it’s another brand of basketball. You’ll need to create a couple of passes to get an open shot, but with the NBA you can do even more one-on-one.
Q: Who was the best European player of your time in the NBA?
A: (Drazen) I think it’s Petrovic. But he was a one-dimensional player and an incredible scorer who could shoot hell out of the ball. Luka, on the other hand, is an all-round player who has achieved multiple triple-doubles in the NBA. That’s insane!
In the final part of the interview, Rony Seikaly looks back on his international career at NT in FC Barcelona, USA and Lebanon, but not in his favorite teams Panathinaikos BC and NT in Greece.
