[ITW] - Xabi Zusperreguy : "Some african players struggle to play like typical american leader.."
Personnal trainer since 4 years, Xabi Zusperreguy is working daily with african players such as Serge Ibaka, Didier Mbenga or Desagana Diop. He accepted to answer our questions about their seasons.
First of all, could you introduce yourself ?
I'm a personnal trainer since 4 years.I'm working with Serge Ibaka, Emeka Okafor, and Didier Mbenga in the USA .
With which players are you working out ? Since when ?
I'm working with Serge Ibaka, Emeka Okafor or Desagana Diop in the NBA. In France, I worked with Malick Badiane who is playinng in Nancy.My first african I worked with is Desagana Diop, 3 years ago.
Is there any difference between african players and european or US players ?
Yeah sure. Mentality it's only te same thing. African players have less experience than the others. They need some time for reaching the maturity. They're not le leader in their team like european or american. When they arrived in NBA, they can't be the leader. African are often recruit for their phisicall abilities because there's no structures or arenas . So it's difficult to gauge their technical qualities.
You worked a lot with Serge Ibaka this offseason, what's your opinion on his season ?
He makes a good season (10pts-8rbds/game). He's shooting more, he's more consistent. I think he will take another step this season. He's defitively a power forward, he's too small for playing center.Offensiely, he's better at 4 .
Mbenga signed with the Hornets as a back up of Emeka Okafor. This is a new start for him ?
Yes that's sure. He has to get some playing time for showing his qualities. He showed some good stuff in LA for 2 years. He's currently playing 10min per game and he has o find his rythm on this team.
He can help Emeka Okafor to develop his offensive game ?
Yes. I mean Didier is a specialist of defense. When you're training against a guy like Mbenga who is a tremendeous defender, you can just amelioraite your offensive skills.
Emeka has a strong season. What do you think about that ?
In my opinion, he just has more experience in the system. He has more connexions with Chris Paul, sometimes they didn't find each other on the court in the past. Now, it's great to watch them on the court and we can see that the trio Paul-Okafor-West work very well.
Emeka scored a lot of his points on dunks. He can ameliorate his mid range game ?
In fact, Chris Paul is a guy who penetrate a lot.He goes far inthe paint and dished the ball after the free throw line. So when you have that kind of player, naturally you're points will come on dunks. It will not work if Emeka moove away of the basket. I'm not sure that with a big center in the paint, it will be as effective for them. Besides, David West or Jason Smith can shoot at mid range.
What can we expect from Desagana Diop this season ?
It's difficult to say. His playing time isn't regulary. Since 2006, he can't find a place on the rotation. I think that he can contribute to the Bobcats. Generally, Charlotte doesn't find their identities … Some players aren't playing well in the system.
Who will be the best african in 5 years ?
Serge Ibaka whithout doubts. At 21, he's in the starting five for the Thunder, he will progress a lot.
How can you explain that there's no african point guards or guards in the NBA ?
In my mind, there's 2 things. First of all, the competition is more important in USA or Europe than in Africa. We can find 1000 great point guards on the NBA. Then, we miss structures in Africa. It's tuff to ask something to a player if he doesn't have a basketball court or great balls. That's why the majority of african who are recruit in the US are power forward or center.
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