Kobi Simmonsdue to the urgency with which he arrived and the calendar, he is the only Baskonista who did not have a presentation press conference. Therefore, it doesn’t hurt to know something better about one of the revelations of the season in the Kosner Baskonia. A man whoaction to play basketball.
Why did you wear the number ‘two’?
On the one hand, for the two main reasons why I dedicate myself to this, which are my mother and my sister, but also because when I was young some of the best players in my area wore the number two, so since I was little it has been a number that I have wanted to wear.
Who were those players?
One of them was Lorenzo Brown, who played in my same region. He has also carried the of the in Europe.
When and why did you start playing basketball?
From a very young age, he would have been three years old. My whole family played basketball. My uncles, my mother, my brothers… They all played basketball. I was always surrounded by basketball and I loved it.
His name is good proof of this…
Yes, Kobi Jordan, a very basketball name (laughs).
What do you like to do when you’re not playing basketball?
I am really a very calm person. I like to spend time with my family and my friends. In the summer, when I’m not playing, I love to play golf, I do it a lot. I also like to read, enjoy nature… In short, be at peace with whatever I am doing.
Have you already visited any of the golf courses in Álava?
I’ve taken a look, yes, but I haven’t been to any yet. I hope to go when the weather improves.
If I hadn’t played basketball, I probably would have dedicated myself to something related to law.
What would you have done if you weren’t a basketball player?
That’s a good question, I don’t think I can answer it right now. My thinking and my perspective would be totally different if I knew that I was not going to be able to dedicate myself to basketball. When I was young I thought about being a lawyer, so it would probably be something related to that. I think I could have done a lot of different things, although I still have time for that once I finish my degree. At university I was going to choose between law and business, but I only played one year at university.
There in Arizona he met Lauri Markannen. Did you expect him to become an All-Star?
Absolutely. As soon as we started the preseason in the summer, his talent began to reduce. A 2.13 meter player who can score from all positions. He is a great friend of mine, we were roommates and I knew he would continue to grow and improve. We have also faced each other a couple of times in the NBA.
Who is the most difficult player you have had to defend?
Probably Stephen Curry. I’ve also played against LeBron James, but to defend Curry you have to overcome a lot of blocks from Draymond Green and other players and continually chase him down the court. It’s very difficult to stay ahead of him and you can’t lose concentration. If you rest for a second, you’ve already lost it. He’s coming off a block and pulling for when you want to react.
Now that you know it better, what do you like most and least about life in Vitoria?
I am a calm person and Vitoria seems like a calm place to live. I really don’t have many bad things to say about her. I have really enjoyed the cafes, which are much better than where I come from, and I have also visited many good restaurants. It hasn’t been bad so far.
