By Javier Molero/ jmolero@eurohoops.net
Valencia Basket is proving to be one of the best teams in all of Europe. Pedro Martínez’s squad returned to the EuroLeague with more determination than anyone else and has become a real headache for the other teams.
Kam Taylor, star of a roster brimming with talent, speaks with Eurohoops about his origins, what makes this Valencia Basket team special, and what their goals are… with the EuroLeague title as the ultimate objective for a team “that didn’t come here just to play.”
Accustomed to battling adversity and proving himself more than anyone else, Kam Taylor is a self-made man. Hardworking, talented, and guided by the principle of never giving up. That’s how he was raised at home.
“Honestly, I think I’ve been an underdog my whole life. I haven’t had enough opportunities to make choices, even in school and college,” said Taylor. “My mom made me chase and fight for things. She never let me give up, so I never even considered quitting. If I wanted to do something, I had to fight for it,” the forward added.
“When I went to D2 (Division II), I didn’t have the option of going to D1. But that’s how I got my start. I wanted to finish what I started in D2,” Kam Taylor told Eurohoops. “And that’s followed me throughout my professional career overseas. Long story short, from the lower leagues to the higher leagues.”
The importance of good coaches
He’s now being coached by Pedro Martínez, who seems to have brought out the best in him. The Spanish coach has found the key to managing roles and importance, and that multiplies Kam Taylor’s value on the court.
“Honestly, he just keeps things simple. I think I really had a great summer this season, too” ,Taylor expresed. “I knew what I had to work on, but for him, everything is simple. I know what I need to do, I know what I need to bring. And through that, I think it’s just been an easy fit.”
“I’m just going to play my basketball and do what I do best“, he made ir clear.
He comes from a Unicaja team where teamwork, a high pace, and the impact of multiple players were key to their success. This has helped him adapt more easily.
“Absolutely. Ibon (Navarro) is a very smart coach,” Kam commented about his former coach. “He has a lot of tactics. He’s helped me grow my game and understand it a bit more in different ways of attacking and defending against teams,” he added.
“Hats off to him. He’s helped me grow as a player. He’s prepared me for Valencia. To answer your question, yes, of course.”
The secret of success
Kam Taylor, among others, leads a Valencia Basket team that sits atop the EuroLeague standings. A team that has revolutionized basketball on the continent. A problem for which very few have a solution.
What is the secret of such a well-coached team that is capable of beating any opponent it faces?
“Honestly, there’s no secret,” said Taylor to Eurohoops. “We play a style that isn’t very popular across Europe. I think maybe us and maybe Paris are the only two to play this style.”
“But I think, first, you have to buy in. We have all the players who buy into the style of play. And it’s not just the style of play, it’s the minutes,” he added.
“How we quickly sub, how we defend… Everyone has a role.” Kam Taylor answered. “But yes, you have to buy into it. I think the quality of the players we have is deep. “
“I think when Paris was running it last year, they literally only ran through TJ Shorts and Nadir Hifi,” the forward said. “And after them, there was nobody. I don’t think there’s anyone else who could pick up the slack. Maybe Maodo Lo, but he got injured.”
“But anyway, for us, I think we have six guys who can take charge and have the responsibility to score and playmaking. So I think the fact that we have a deep roster and that we bought into the system is working for us,” explained to Eurohoops.
Especially with such a tight schedule, capable of overwhelming anyone, and in which there’s no time for even the slightest rest. Much less for doubts.
“I think we’re fairly young. There are a lot of young legs on the court. There’s a lot of energy,” Taylor said. “I think I’m the second oldest. And I think I have good legs. So, if I can do it, anyone can do it,” he added, laughing.
“I think everyone is excited to play. Everyone is excited to play in the EuroLeague. The energy is always there,” the forward explained.
No limits for Valencia
As one of the most veteran players in the group and becoming one of the best small forwards in Europe, Kam Taylor has a lot to contribute to a squad full of dynamic, scoring players with energy on the court.
“I think in this system, the wings are catch-and-shoot players who help with defense. But I add a level of playmaking, an extra level of defense,” Taylor said. “I can defend opponents better, I also add rebounding… a little bit of everything.”
Without dropping out of the Euroleague top 3, winning at the OAKA against Panathinaikos, in Piraeus against Olympiacos, and against teams like Real Madrid… there is only one question left to ask: Where is the ceiling for Valencia Basket?
“We have no ceiling. I feel like all these guys are young. Many of them are under 26, under 27,” he made it clear to Eurohoops.
“We have some guys who just turned 20, like Larry (Sergio de Larrea). But if we can stay together, I feel like there’s no ceiling for us. Because we love to compete,” Taylor added.
“We come to train hard every day. I love the guys’ mentality. Tough games, tough practices… we’re ready to keep going,” said about his teammates
“We’re not just here to play”
Perhaps they weren’t on many people’s radar, but Valencia is one of the best teams in the EuroLeague. Unafraid of the opponent’s magnitude and with a clear game plan, it’s difficult to put any limits on the orange-clad team.
Therefore, it was necessary to ask the American forward if the title is the goal in Valencia. Without hesitation, he sent a message to the rest of the competition.
“That’s why we’re here, to compete for the EuroLeague title. We’re not just here to play,” Kam Taylor said. “But honestly, we’re not thinking about that. We’re only thinking about the next game.”
“You know the EuroLeague schedule. You need one good double-week to get into the top 8 and one bad one to get out of it.“, he added.
“You can’t look too far ahead. You have to take it one game at a time because the EuroLeague season is very long,” Taylor concluded.