Santiago Aldama talks contract extension, new coach, and extra

Santi Aldama: That is the best way I wish to play. I’m extra used to what I used to do again house, simply being extra myself, participating with the teammates. So it’s been undoubtedly enjoyable. And I believe it’s solely going to maintain trending that means as I progress and get extra expertise. However it’s undoubtedly been a pleasant soar to have.

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SA: I believe one half is expertise. Like me simply having years beneath the belt, having time in the course of the summers to work on my recreation. I’m 24. I believe there’s going to be a gradual progress for the approaching years. The time with the Nationwide Crew and taking part in a special position gave me confidence and simply totally different appears to be like. So I believe simply all that put collectively and becoming it into the Grizzlies basketball has simply helped me turn into a greater participant and finally assist the staff study to win.

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SA: I do know it feels bizarre having a seven-footer to play the three. However for me, it appears like I’m taking part in in place. I grew up being a degree guard, and most of my life I truly performed the 2, three, 4. So it’s form of pure for me. I wish to be on the market. So name it the three to 4/5, no matter, positionless – I simply wish to be on the market. So simply attempting to do the very best to slot in the staff. And like I stated, the staff wins, and we’re all good.

SA: Having members of the family that performed, I received a variety of perception, which was good. However I didn’t really want to play. I by no means received to see them play. So gamers I truly received to see play—I might say Kobe [Bryant] and Pau [Gasol] have been, you realize, the primary massive duo I watched. Pau being Spanish and Kobe being top-of-the-line ever. However then additionally Marc [Gasol]. Numerous nationwide staff basketball gamers and humorous sufficient, Grizzlies gamers, too. After which Dirk Nowitzki. He’s simply, I don’t know, a man I’ve all the time preferred—how he performed, what he was about. So I believe these three, 4 guys are most likely my fundamental references in basketball. Like I stated, I don’t know, the sport has all the time been a part of my household and pure for me. So simply something—I believe the best recreation of basketball is one thing I get pleasure from.

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SA: Yeah, I spent an honest summer season with him. He went out to Spain. Ziaire Williams was there, too. We simply spent a ton of time collectively. Like I stated, summers are good for disconnection, however I take it extra as simply time to work. Through the season, now we have a bunch of video games. We get particular person cross-sessions, however I really feel like in the course of the summer season, you’ll be able to actually tune in to sure issues that you simply don’t have 5 years time in the course of the season. Work in your physique. And I’m fortunate sufficient to have the ability to play. So these three issues actually helped me progress yearly. And going into the summer season, taking part in with the nationwide staff.

SA: Not essentially change the model, however little tweaks within the guidelines, tweaks in the place you discover benefits throughout the recreation. So particularly my first 12 months with the nationwide staff was a bit of bit tougher as a result of I used to be a bit of bit extra of a basketball fan. I haven’t performed European-style basketball in 4 years. However on the finish of the day, it’s simply—I see it as added expertise. I get to expertise one thing that a variety of my teammates don’t. And I really feel lower than fortunate in a means, but additionally simply attempting to reap the benefits of the chance.

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SA: Yeah, it was nice. Enjoying to your nation is one thing that I don’t suppose you’ll be able to actually match with something. Enjoying basketball to your nation is one thing I’ve but to search out the phrases to explain. However for me, it’s simply enjoyable. So, taking part in a special position, having extra of that management kind position, despite the fact that I’m fairly younger, it’s simply placing me able to be higher and simply discover methods during which I can translate it right here after which translate the NBA basketball there, and simply discover methods to win. I’m extra about successful, and something that will get in the best way of that, I’m not taken with. So I’m simply looking for methods to win.

SA: Yeah, determine it out later. On the finish of the day, I wish to be someplace the place we’re successful and the place we’re preventing for the proper stuff. I believe right here, we received an excellent factor going. We have now an excellent relationship right here, so I might love for it to maintain that means. I’m simply specializing in taking it daily, getting higher daily. And that stuff will maintain itself.

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SA: It’s undoubtedly the primary time it’s occurred in my profession. So, tremendous grateful for Taylor [Jenkins], every little thing he’s given me. However with Thomas now I really feel like we get a bit of little bit of a contemporary begin. He has nice concepts. I’m form of aware of what he was doing again in Europe, and it was nice stuff. And humorous sufficient he’s talked about sure coaches that he’s used as reference, and I’ve pals that play for these coaches. So I truly watch them play basketball, and I see the similarities, but additionally the variations inside, the model of basketball. And it’s enjoyable for me to only see one other standpoint, be capable to discuss basketball with any person that is aware of it at a excessive degree, and simply get pleasure from—maintain having fun with basketball, I assume. And it’s undoubtedly totally different the best way the league is run, the best way the groups are run. On the finish of the day, basketball is basketball, and also you simply want gamers that wish to purchase in to no matter successful requires. And on the finish of the day, if in case you have that, it is possible for you to to succeed it doesn’t matter what.

SA: We’re tweaking stuff for positive. No massive modifications as a result of we actually—we’ve had a protracted observe in like, what, 4 or 5 days. In order a part of the NBA common season, I believe simply us realizing our roles, having a voice and simply understanding what are the non-negotiables and simply holding one another accountable at a really excessive degree, realizing precisely what we’re presupposed to do. And that means, there’s no grey space.

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SA: Oh, that’s a very good query. I believe simply my normal recreation IQ, realizing time and rating, offensively and defensively. I might not be the quickest, tallest, or strongest, however I’m in the proper spot on the proper time. And I simply really feel like simply me being on the market, I assist information the staff in a means the place it makes successful simpler.

SA: I don’t suppose there’s a single factor the place I’m at my peak but. So, just about every little thing. However I might say simply continue to grow my physique. I can tackle extra challenges defensively. And offensively, I simply wish to be extra bodily. I simply need to have the ability to beat guys to spots offensively. So I can get myself to positions I wish to be in—name it get a dunk, layup, or simply discover the open teammate in a means the place it’s simpler for me and my teammate will get extra time to shoot the shot. Or defensively, the place I’m simply going to be earlier in order that they don’t get a layup. I can shut out earlier to the man. So I’m simply extra of a presence.

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SA: I imply, European basketball, simply because, you realize, now we have a staff [Grand Canaria]—a really high-level staff—the place I’m from. And NBA basketball, having to remain up at two, three AM, that’s a really robust negotiation to have with my mother. In order that was not likely occurring. The one recreation I truly stayed up late whereas I had exams was Recreation 7, Cleveland in opposition to Golden State. So I’m truly glad I stayed. My mother didn’t know till the sport occurred. It was such a very good recreation that I needed to inform her.

SA: Yeah, undoubtedly. All through the years, that has smoothed out a bit of bit each methods. 20 years in the past, the American individuals have been like NBA or nothing. And the European individuals have been like EuroLeague or nothing. I believe now there’s extra of a mix. You see the video games getting—it’s globalized. Like, it’s tremendous simple to look at EuroLeague within the US and it’s tremendous simple to look at the NBA in Europe. Simply ’trigger even in case you don’t catch it that day, you’ll be able to see all of the highlights. So it’s fairly cool. However I believe it’s totally different types, totally different cultures. I believe there are methods during which coaches coach there that will not—wouldn’t sit nicely within the NBA. And that’s only a reality. I had teammates with the nationwide staff that—you simply inform me stuff, and it’s stuff that’s fully regular to me as a result of I grew up with them. And then you definately ask guys right here and so they don’t perceive why any person would act that means. However I believe it’s cool. It’s simply totally different cultures. And that’s why I really feel like I’m blessed to be right here simply because I see either side of basketball.

SA: Uh, I’ll get again to you on that.