“Landing on a team that aims to win”: Noa Essengue before the NBA draft
“I train every day for that, to be the best player I can be, so I don't feel pressured by the draft predictions. The NBA is a little different from the game I know. There's more space on the court, different rules, but it's not that big of a change. The Washington Wizards? No, I haven't been in contact with them yet. I'd like to land on an NBA team that aims to win, and at the same time, I hope to get minutes on the court. If I can find the right balance.”
"I can defend many positions, from the opposing point guard to the center."
“My main asset is my defense. I can defend a lot of positions, from the opposing point guard to the center. Some of the things I need to improve are my dribbling and my shooting consistency. If you want to get playing time quickly in the NBA, you have to defend and be able to catch and shoot. I've been working on my shot since last year. And now I see that it's starting to pay off.”
“It’s always flattering to be compared to him. He’s a great player with a really good career, and really strong on both ends of the court. But I want to be known for my own name. When you’re young, you also look at guys like Paul George, LeBron (James) . They’re really tough players to play against, because they can do everything on the court.”
Joan Beringer, 18, center from Olimpija (Slovenia), expected in 15th position in the draft:
“I’m very happy to be in the position I’m in today. I discovered basketball late; I didn’t know anything about the NBA until two years ago. My main quality is my defense. I’m fast for my height (2.10 m) and I bring a lot of energy to the court. I have a similar style to Dereck Lively, the Dallas center, who brings both pace and verticality. I hope to shoot more often in the future. I’m also working on reading the game, my dribbling in the offensive phase… I still have a lot to learn.”
Nolan Traoré, 19, point guard from Saint-Quentin (France), expected in 25th position:
“In Saint-Quentin, I think we started the season better than we finished it. But I learned a lot from the older players, the coach... It was a good season. I'm just grateful for all of that. The French league is very tough, demanding. It's physical and it also requires a lot of basketball IQ. I hope to be ready for the NBA and end up with a team that really wants me. I think I'm capable of adapting to any environment. I can bring them my speed and my game intelligence. My favorite player? I always liked Kyrie Irving (Dallas) when I was young. I don't have a favorite team, but I watched LeBron (James) 's Cavaliers a lot on TV.”
L'Équipe
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