By Nikos Varlas / varlas@eurohoops.net
Malcolm Delaney signed to Guangdong Southeastern Tigers of Jonas Kazlauskas and will play basketball in China for the first time in his career! The American guard had a lucrative proposal to play in the same team in summer of 2016, but back then he preferred Atlanta’s two-year contract and the opportunity to play and establish himself in the NBA.
His first season in the Hawks was better than the second, during which nothing went well for Hawks overall. Malcolm became a free agent, had suggestions from EuroLeague, whilst he waited for the NBA, but the chance never came.
He decided to sign a one-year agreement in China and just a few hours after signing his contract, Delaney spoke exclusively to Eurohoops.net!
His priorities, the criteria of his decision, his view and his predictions for the NBA and Euroleague and the twitter interactions with European fans!
– Malcolm, what were your priorities in this Free Agency and why you chose to sign in China eventually? What went wrong with you to Hawks?
“In my first season, I played good. I found myself in a situation where there were two point guards, so I had to fight for minutes. Then, we signed José Calderón. I think I did what they asked me on the court. In the summer, I was told I had to shoot more threes and go to the basket. I worked a lot last summer and became a better player. When I started the second year I was struggling a little. I did not have the opportunities I wanted and so there were ups and downs.
Actually, I did not have a role in the team, I did not fit. Until some of my teammates were injured and used me in a different position. I started playing in the “2” without the ball in my hands. I did not like it. The man who brought me to the team, Wes Wilcox, was fired. I felt our coaches did not know what I could really offer, they did not understand me and did not help me. But I’m not a star player in the NBA, so that happens often. I am not complaining, I am saying that no one could make the situation easier for me. The season was over and I thought I could find a team that I would fit in. However, it turned out that the NBA market was dry this summer and that there were not many opportunities for me. ”
– Beyond the NBA, which were your proposals from Europe?
“When I realized I would not find what I was looking for at the NBA, I looked for EuroLeague deals. I had two offers, from Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahce. Fener‘s proposal came very early in the summer and I was asked to decide immediately. I was not in a position to do it because I expected to see if something good was coming for me in the NBA.
In Europe this is often the case, they make the proposal and ask you to take the deal immediately. Unfortunately, I could not respond positively to Fenerbahce, because I was expecting the NBA. Fener moved to other targets, and then I only had Efes‘ proposal. It was the best offer I had from Europe and the most intriguing. I talked to some players who have played in Efes, everyone shared positive feedback. I just wanted time.
People thought I had many suggestions from EuroLeague. But there were only two. I also spoke with CSKA‘s coach, Dimitris Itoudis, but they never offered me a deal and signed Daniel Hackett. Then came the proposal from China. The championship lasts for six months, so I will not have to stay away from my family for long. My friends know the situation with my family and especially with my brother (at the time he signed with the Hawks, his brother was shot and still faces health problems).
I have never played in China, the team that wanted me is a contender with tradition and many titles. It’s not a team that will ask me to put 60 points, they just want to play my kind of basketball. It is a good city near Hong Kong. Everyone thinks that the only criterion in my decision was money. Of course, I’m a professional, I do not play for free, it’s my career and my life. When you are a professional player, you must earn as much money as you can, because you never know if you will be able to compete the next day. It’s stupid to wonder why athletes are interested in money. Everybody works to get money”.
– Malcolm, you have a lot of Twitter chats with European fans. What is the difference in approach between American and European fans?
“People in Europe do not respect China. I did not expect them to respect or understand my decision. I do not really care about the opinion of people who do not know the real situations in my family. Wherever I play, I want to improve myself and win. Do what I love. For two seasons in Atlanta, I did not play well. The last time I enjoyed it was in Russia and Lokomotiv Kuban. Sometimes the circumstances make you hate what you love. That happened to me last season in the NBA.
Now I think I have a season in China to prove I am a winner and try to get the championship. I have six months to play good basketball and become a better player. Next summer I will see the choices I have. I will not hunt my return to the NBA. If there is an opportunity to have a good role and good money, it will be nice. If not, the most important thing is to be somewhere where I feel good. It does not matter whether it will be in the NBA, Euroleague or in China, where I’m going for the first time! I will have a leading role, responsibilities on my shoulders and I am a guy that really enjoys responsibilities and challenges. ”
– Is the NBA still a dream for you?
“I would not describe it as a dream. The NBA was my dream when I was growing up. When I played there I realized that all this was behind me and changed the way I see the league. My goal certainly remains to be in a competitive team, I thought it would happen with the Hawks. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m playing to win. Nobody had to say anything bad about me, or about how much I worked. When I had some opportunities, I always responded. I was told at some point that I was aggressive to claim things for myself. If you see, in two games I did not get a shot! I wanted to know that my teammates will find a pace. I am not selfish. Then they said I did not shoot.
If you have followed my career, you will see that whoever trusted me and gave me an important role, it always went well. In Europe wherever I played, I won championships. I was on a team with the third highest budget in Russia [Lokomotiv] and we went to the Euroleague Final Four! Of course, I want to play in the NBA and I think I deserve to be there. As a professional, however, my choices are mainly determined by being able to feel myself and be appreciated. The name of the league doesn’t matter, as long as I am happy with what I do and I feel like I’m appreciated. This is the basic criterion for my professional decisions and I have not been [appreciated] for the past two years. ”
– Your predictions for the NBA and Euroleague next season?
“Oklahoma will be better next season, same as the Lakers. LeBron will always find a way to get the job done. Of course, I think the Warriors will win the title again. If the Celtics are healthy, they can be really competitive. If Leonard is healthy, I also count on the Raptors. I will try to watch the NBA and the friends I made there, but it will not be easy. I want to dedicate myself to my goals in China. In the Euroleague, I do not know the teams so well at the moment. Surely CSKA, Fener, Real, are the favorites to go to the Final Four “.
– Is there something you want to add before we say good luck to your new challenge?
“I want to thank the fans in Atlanta, my coaches, and my teammates. What I will miss is Atlanta is that I always wanted to live in this city. I thought I could stay for years. I very much appreciate the support I received from the people of Atlanta, I made many friends and I will keep them. I thank everyone and above all Wes Wilcox who gave me the opportunity to live my dream and I will always be grateful.”