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HoopsHype.com
by
Jorge Sierra / May 30, 2002
Did you
ever dream of playing in the NBA before this season?
Nikoloz Tskitishvili:
I always dreamt of playing in the NBA. I think that this is a dream
for every player on Earth. I think I can try to go and play in the
NBA, for sure!
How did it
all start? I mean, when did you start playing basketball in Georgia?
How was it like living there?
NT: When
I was a kid, I started dancing in Georgia in a ballet group, but
few time later I couldn't keep on dancing because of my height,
so I tried to play basketball and found it really exciting. Living
in Georgia is not so bad,
even if I see that Italy and Europe in general is a different thing!
Are you
finally entering this year's Draft?
NT: I
hope so... I am in the NBA Draft Top 10 list now, and I want to
keep this ranking.
What it
depends on? Would money be a factor?
NT: It
is not a matter of money. It is really easy in fact: I want to enter
the NBA Draft, but I am not sure about the future in the NBA. If
I could be able to stay in the first ten positions in the draft
rankings, I think I am going to play in the NBA. Otherwise, it will
be better for me to spend a little bit more time in Italy with Benetton
Basket.
Don't you
feel it is kind of strange you could be playing in the NBA next
season when you spend most of the time on the bench in Treviso?
NT: It's
not so strange in my opinion. Look at players like Dirk
Nowitzki or Pau Gasol
-- they didn't play so much time in Europe but now they are NBA
tough players!
You have
been compared with both Gasol and Nowitzki and even with Kevin
Garnett? Who do you think you resemble the most?
NT: It's
really difficult for me to make a comparison with these players.
I really like Pau Gasol, but I think that each of them can be an
useful example for my future.
What do
you think is your natural position?
NT: In
Benetton Basket I usually play in several positions, from small
forward to center. But the one in which I feel more comfortable
is the 3 spot.
What do
you have to improve the most in your game in order to make a successful
transition to the NBA?
NT: Defensive
attitude and physical built. These are the features I want to care
about the most at the moment, but I generally want to be much more
skilled on the court.
Any favorite
team, player or coach you'd like to play with in the NBA?
NT: Oh,
I don't have any desire about it at the moment. Let's go step by
step. Playing in the NBA next season would already be a beautiful
thing for me.
Finally,
if you had to describe yourself as a player in a few words, what
would you say?
NT: I
like to play in every part of the court. I think I can rely on good
skills on offense since I can shoot from outside and play one-on-one,
but I have to improve my defensive attitude.
Jorge Sierra
is the editor of HoopsHype.com. Enrico Castorina, Benetton's media
officer, helped conduct the interview by translating HoopsHype's
questions and Tskitishvili's answers.
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