By Stathis Trapezanlidis info@eurohoops.net
Gustavo Ayon, the Mexican center of Real Madrid, was sensational in the last FIBA World Cup which was held in Spain having 17,6 points, 7,6 rebounds and 1,4 assists per game for the national team of his country. After three years playing in NBA (New Orleans, Orlando, Milwaukee, Atlanta) he came back in Europe and the Spanish League.
This season playing for Madrid so far he has 7,9 points (62,9% 2p), 4,8 rebounds and 1,8 assist per game in Euroleague. The 29 years old center talked to Eurohoops about his new team, his adjustment in Madrid and the NBA which is not in his mind any more.
– I would like a comment about your new environment. What did you expect and what did you find in Madrid?
“I am in a team which wants to play finals and win championships. I am very happy being a part of Real Madrid“.
– How easy or not is for a new player the adjustment in a team like Real Madrid?
“It was not so difficult for me because of the language. Everyone in the team speaks Spanish so that makes easier my adjustment in Madrid. It is also very important that I have played some years ago in ACB, it is not something new for me”.
– What happened last season? Is something that the players talk about in the locker room?
“No no, it is not something we think or discuss about. What happened in the past is past. We focus on this season and we are looking to the next goals”.
– Your games in Madrid are not as dominant as those we watched in the World Cup, but is this normal because of the new environment?
“This is normal because my role on the court is different. There are a lot of good players in the team who play a lot of years together so I need some time to adjust to their game. It is a very different situation from the national team”.
– Is the NBA still in your mind or you left it back?
“At this moment I don’t think about NBA. I focus on Real Madrid and our goals”.
– Where is better to be, in a team like Real who wants to win titles or part of a NBA team who tries to be in playoffs?
“It is a very different situation. I can’t say, but at this moment I am here, I am happy and this is the only thing I think about”.