“Surreal” – this word is used again and again. A week before the draft, Tristan da Silva calls everything surreal. He is sitting in his room in Miami and speaking to BR24Sport in an exclusive interview via video call. The Munich native was preparing for the draft in Miami at the time. Da Silva’s agency has set up a kind of camp there where the 23-year-old trains and from where he travels to the workouts of interested NBA teams, for example the Los Angeles Lakers, the Cleveland Cavaliers and also the Orlando Magic.
From Schwabing to the big basketball world
Of course, the Munich basketball player doesn’t yet know that he will end up exactly there, in Orlando, in the draft at 18th place. But his mother Christine hopes so. She also finds it “a bit surreal and crazy”. She is standing in the gym of MTSV Schwabing in Munich, where Tristan matured into a college player. Christine da Silva thinks that the Magic already have two Germans, Franz and Moritz Wagner, and that they are also a young team, and Tristan would fit in well. “Plus, the east coast isn’t that far from Germany,” says the mother.
Oscar da Silva also finds the whole situation surrounding his younger brother Tristan “surreal”. Oscar also worked hard in the small hall at Münchner Freiheit, trained by coach Robby Scheinberg in the IBAM, the International Basketball Academy Munich. Oscar da Silva is currently fighting for a place in the Olympic squad of the German national basketball team. But just as important is where his brother will end up in the NBA.
This “surreal” thing all happens a week before the draft in Brooklyn. Then, on the big day itself, Tristan da Silva is standing a few meters from the stage in the Barclays Center. Only a few minutes left until the big show, in which NBA boss Adam Silver gradually announces which team will select which player.
The Munich child Tristan represents his homeland
The entire da Silva family has come, all in traditional costumes. His mother, originally from Marktoberdorf, is shining in a dirndl. His mentor Robby Scheinberg and two of his closest friends are also wearing lederhosen. Only Tristan prefers to wear his tailored suit and still represents his homeland. “So,” he says into his mother’s cell phone camera. “With my suit, I decided to represent Germany. The suit is half black and half red. Tristan points mischievously to his watch: “And we have a bit of gold too.”
He also represents Bayern and Munich. To be more precise, the lining of his jacket takes on this task. The left side of the jacket is full of white and blue diamonds and the right is in yellow and green, the Brazilian national colors. Father Valdemar comes from Brazil. There are also the coats of arms of his previous clubs, a frog for the DJK Sportbund München in Pasing, his first club. And the IBAM logo is also a must. It is a bit reminiscent of the Orlando Magic logo. Tristan da Silva also proudly points to the Munich city coat of arms, the Munich child. “As a Munich native, I naturally had to see how I could bring Munich into it.”
As 18th pick – da Silva moves to Orlando
He raises his eyebrows several times, seems to relax, and then says into his mom’s cell phone: “I’m excited to see which team will take me. Either way, I’m ready.” And: “It’s all very surreal.” What else? Immediately before the draft, his brother Oscar da Silva thinks that Tristan is the coolest of all the people from his home country.
When Commissioner Adam Silver announced a few minutes later that the Orlando Magic had selected Tristan da Silva from Munich, Germany, and from the University of Colorado with the 18th pick, the family jumped up in relief. Tristan first hugged his mom Christine, then his dad Valdemar. Then he hugged his brother Oscar, who was wearing a blue traditional jacket and white sneakers.
“Just crazy” – The NBA dream is suddenly real
Tristan bounces up the steps, elegantly grabbing the baseball cap of his new club Orlando on the way up and a few seconds later shaking hands with NBA boss Silver. He has arrived. Surreal becomes real. Dad Valdemar, now also wearing a Magic Cap, struggles for words: “A dream of all of us has come true. I probably need a few days to realize this. I am proud of my two boys.”
Youth coach and mentor Robby Scheinberg has the words: “This is an unforgettable event! A boy from Munich who is ranked 18th in the first round of the NBA Draft in Orlando is crazy. Just crazy! I don’t think there could have been a better draw. Half of the German national team is playing there now. This is a really cool story for all young basketball players in Germany. I can only wish Tristan all the best. Today we’re going to have a blast!”
Mom Christine beams and rests her hands on a golden basketball with “Tristan da Silva” written on it: “I’m very happy! It’s wonderful that our son is going to Orlando! There’s a small German department there now and I’m sure that he will not only work there, but also have a lot of fun.” The German brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner already play for Orlando. And from October onwards in the new season, Tristan da Silva from Munich will probably also play. The day after the draft, he flew directly to Orlando. It’s real.
2024-06-27 17:03:49
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