Information overload, Hoosiers uniforms, and Scrabble: While We’re Waiting…
July 22, 2015C-Cap Recap: Out-Brewed By the Crew
July 22, 2015In an interview with Franklyn Calle of SLAM, Cleveland Cavaliers center Timofey Mozgov explained how he started playing the game of basketball, among other things, most of which he started a bit later than his peers. Following an offseason that has already included the Cavaliers picking up Mozgov’s $5 million team option for next season and knee surgery that will sideline him for six weeks, Mozgov decided to give Calle an understanding of how he started to play the game.
So I was in fourth grade. Just to let you understand, sports works a bit different in Russia. Like, in the US, every school has a team. Over there, schools don’t have teams, but they have special schools. So I was in fourth grade in the middle of the class and some ladies come in and ask, “Uh guys, you have some tall dudes?” I was taller than everybody but shy, so I stayed quiet. But then my friends and everybody was like, “This dude is tall! This dude here!” And the lady said, “Can we get you for a second?” I said OK, so I go out and she asked me to jump, sprint and whatever. I do all this stuff and then she says, “You know what? We got a basketball school and we want you to join.” They took my number and I forgot about it. Two weeks later, my dad says, “Why didn’t you tell me they wanted you to play basketball?” I said I just forgot. He said, “OK, pick up your shoes, we go to this school.” That was the first time I picked up a ball. Funny, right?
Other items discussed include playing soccer, the adjustment from Russian to the United States and his infamous endorsement deal with The Brew Garden.
After being traded to Cleveland (from Denver) halfway through the season, Mozgov averaged 10.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 25 minutes in 45 starts (46 games), including shooting 50 percent from the field and 71 percent from the free-throw line. Starting all 20 of the Cavaliers playoff games, he averaged 10.6 points and 7.3 rebounds, while shooting 50 percent (again) from the field.
Locked up for at least one more season, Mozgov will be the man in the middle both offensively and defensively.
1 Comment
Love me some Mozzy!!! Next up: Sasha Kaun. From Russia With Love! We must break the NBA! #Na zdorovje