A COFFEE WITH… DARRYL MIDDLETON

"I worked very hard in Gerona with Marc Gasol. This was the only way to improve our game."

Darryl Middleton, an old school of our basketball. He played 17 seasons in the ACB League, and still had time to win a Euroleague in Greece with the PAO. Today, he is assistant coach of CSKA Moscow.

If you want to read the interview translated into Spanish, please click the following link.

UN CAFÉ CON… DARRYL MIDDLETON

Q: Darryl, you’ve been a true basketball globetrotter. You have played in the United States, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Greece, Russia … Did you see many differences between the basketball of these countries?

A: There was a difference playing in Europe and in the States. The states will always be the best league to play, the basketball is much quicker, players are much stronger and more athletic. There are so much money there from sponsors and television so they have so many ways to help the players to improve there game, recuperate after games, so many different machines in there medical room and this gives them a big advantage over Europe and russia. How can players like Jordan and Lebron play 3-4 games a week if they didn’t take care of there bodies and take care of there bodies after the game, not just getting dressed and go home, no way they could be so good.

Spain for me will always be the toughest league in Europe. All the teams there can beat you on any given day so you must be prepared when you go on the road. Very organized league as well and the fans are always there for there team which is very important.

When I played in Panathinakos the basketball there was very different, low scores, very dirty, a lot of holding, hard fouls and the referee don’t call everything so I had to go there with a different frame of mind, to go there and from day one to show that they won’t push me around and to play on there level but be smart. The fans there are so different. They are loyal fans but on the road you must get use to the spitting, rocks throwing, bottles and coins so you must be able to still perform under these conditions (LOL).

When I played in Russia was different as well. Basketball was similar to Europe but the fans wasn’t really cheering the teams there, they seemed to serious at the games, more relaxed, nothing like greece or Spain but I enjoyed being there even though it was very very cold.

Q: In Spain you have developed most of your career as a player (17 seasons) where you became the highest scorer, rebounder and the oldest player to play an ACB game (44 years). What was the secret of your eternal youth?

A: Everyone always asked me how I played so long and what kept me motivated for so long.

First thing I would say is I kept my body in shape. I was so afraid of being out of shape after the season. I would just take a week of go to Houston and train from 8 in the morning until 3. I would run, then go to the weight room, go shoot for 1 hour to work on what I felt I needed to improve for the next season. Then I would go and play at the gym with NBA players or players over seas as well. It was so much competition there so I was able to do everything I needed, 5 days a week. I was determined to return to my team in shape and always ready to prove to everyone that I can play because I always felt that I had to prove myself.

I always ate well. I didn’t eat to much fried foods, I loved seafood and fish, I never been on a diet. I just watched what I ate and took care of my body because at the end of the day, thats how you will get to the next level so I owe everything to my trainer for 17 years that I had in Houston.

Q: As a player of F.C. Barcelona, happened one of the most curious anecdotes of our basketball, your auto basket after a jump. What happened?

A: That incident that happened in one game when I scored in the other basket. To tell you the truth, if I didn’t do that, I think we would have lost that game because we were playing bad that game. We had a jump ball and I just dunk really good in the other teams basket. Aito called timeout but didn’t mentioned it, just stared at me for a second to see if I was okay and I just started telling the players not to worry about that, to lets go out and play but deep inside i was unlike. I didn’t just dunk in the other basket but then the fans starting pointing at the other basket telling me to score another point and all that did was motivated me and I had a great game after and we won. Aito never mentioned that,I guess he knew things can happened on the court and plus we won.

Q: In 2008, and being a player of Gerona, the team is downgraded to LEB Bronce for economic reasons. Far from leaving the team, you get involved and continue with them 3 more seasons. Why did you make that decision instead of playing in better teams?

A: It was a sad moment for everyone in Girona when we went to LEB Bronze. I had a chance to leave and go to another team outside Spain but I decided to stay there to try and help the club return to the ACB. I didn’t stay for money because there wasn’t any money. I wanted to do something good for Girona because they were very good to me. We moved to LEB Oro the next season but the club couldn’t manage to get sponsors to help the club and after, the club disappeared.

Q: You are currently assistant coach of CSKA Moscow. Tell us a little how this possibility came about and what your role is in the club.

A: This was a huge opportunity for me to come to CSKA to be an asistant coach. I would have loved to have went to a big club in Spain but it’s difficult. For sure if Girona had a team in the ACB, I may be there. But by playing 5 years with Dimitris Itoudis in Panathinaikos, he knew what type of person I was and gave me this chance to learn from him. He’s one of the top coaches in Europe, we have great asistant coaches that has been around for some time as well. This has been a great learning experience for me to see the other side.

I have been playing 26 years so now I see what really goes on behind the scene. It’s a lot of work, videos, analyzing games. I really thought I knew a lot but I didn’t, there’s so many details especially preparing for a game but I am here, thanks to the club for believing in Dimitris and thanks to him for bringing me here because I would have never been here if it wasn’t for him.

Q: Milos Teodosic, a true leader of your team who tries luck in the NBA. Do you think his basketball will be able to adapt to the American style?

A: Milos Teodosic is a great player. He will do well in the NBA once he return from his injuries. The NBA is a great league for him, they will love his passes and his style of play.

Q: I don’t want to miss the opportunity to ask you about the phenomenon of the moment “Luka Doncic”. Do you think he is the best player and most projected of the last 20 years?

A: Luka Doncic will be a great player. He has everything and right know he’s dangerous because he has a lot of confidence now that he won the gold in the summer. The sad thing is that we won’t see much of him in Europe because for sure he will go to the NBA. I watch him and can’t believe he’s just 17, scary! (LOL). But Pablo Laso gave him an opportunity to play at a young age, not many teams would have done that and it paid off and now with Lull out, he will shine even more. Hopefully he stays humble and continue to get better.

Q: I would like to know if you have any projects in mind for the future, something that you would like to do and that you have not yet done.

A: Right now I am here in CSKA. I just want to continue to get better and help the players as much as I can. I don’t know where I will be in 2 years but hopefully still doing what I love to do.

Q: Some fight on the court that you can tell us…

A: I was a tough competitor, doesn’t matter if it’s a game, practice or in the summer, I always try to play 100%. I remember some practices, a lot of players hate morning practices but I love to practice and a couple of times me and Marc Gasol would battle because some mornings he didn’t want to practice but I would play tough against him. We would be battling for position, a lot of pushing and he would just kick the ball. No fighting but we both respected each other and knew that this was the way to improve our game and win games in Girona, it was good for both of us and especially for him.

Q: Darryl, thank you very much for taking your time and wish you good luck in the 2017/2018 season with CSKA Moscow.