Basketball: Kyshawn George’s dream takes shape

If everything goes normally, Kyshawn George should become the third Swiss to play in the NBA. It will be on the night of Thursday to Friday with Washington facing Boston, the defending champion.

He had announced since elementary school that he would be the third Swiss to play in the NBA. Kyshawn George made this childhood dream come true. This confidence in him even emanates over the phone. The tone is set, without great flights. There is in his answers a sort of humility mixing with a necessary confidence, for those who aspire to play in the best league in the world.

Because playing in the NBA remains a major accomplishment with 30 teams and around fifteen players per franchise, a total of around 450 athletes for a sport that is played on all continents.

A busy summer

Drafted by the New York Knicks in 24th position last June, the Chablaisien was immediately transferred to Washington. So what has happened since that crazy evening? “I went directly to Washington,” he confided to the Keystone-ATS agency. I stayed there for a month while playing in the Summer League. After that I returned to Switzerland for ten days before leaving for the United States with a camp in Los Angeles, then stays in Washington and Toronto.”

Like Clint Capela, Kyshawn George very quickly understood that work was essential in a world where talent is found in each team: “I trained a lot so that the team saw my intentions.” In Washington, Kyshawn George is lucky to be able to count on the support of his parents. The 20-year-old rented them an apartment in which they should spend the year. His father Deon, a former Canadian-Swiss basketball player, took a year off to follow one of his two sons.

“It’s a bit to make up for lost time,” says Kyshawn with a smile. Because I have lived alone since I was 15 (ed: in Châlon then in Miami). It’s important to have them around me. They offered and it happened naturally. They will be able to help me with certain administrative tasks.” And what does his big brother Jamal, who is currently shining at Pully-Lausanne Foxes, think? “He lives in Lausanne. I think it still did something to him, but he’s proud of me.”

Not a fan of comparisons

Integrating a basic five in the NBA is really not an easy thing. Clint Capela had to go through the D-League, now G-League, before winning in Houston. Kyshawn George should not experience the same journey. Very good in preseason, Montheysan is one of the players expected to compensate for the injury absence of Malcolm Brogdon. For his second preseason game, on October 10 at Madison Square Garden, George dazzled with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 blocks and an interception.

Not enough, however, to make his head swell: “I knew they had drafted me and that it was a good team, but it was a match like any other. I always give my all, regardless of the opponent.” Regarding Brogdon’s injury, the young player indicates that “there are minutes to be taken.”

And when his teammate Kyle Kuzma likes to compare him to Knicks star Mikal Bridges, in relation to his qualities on both ends of the field, Kyshawn George does not lose sleep. “I’m not a fan of comparisons, each situation is different,” he replies calmly. I don’t try to be like anyone but to be myself. That said, it’s still a compliment.”

A complete player

And does having your father, a former pro basketball player, at your side change anything? “From a basketball point of view, no. He doesn’t tell me much, he knows how to do the scales well.”

According to him, one of Kyshawn George’s strengths is his defensive mentality. “You have to have the will to play defense, to come and get back on track,” he explains. It all starts there. I think I’m pretty good defensively and know how to read the game well.” One of George’s great strengths is his versatility. In theory and depending on the opponents, he can defend four out of five positions. “A big quality that the coaches like,” he emphasizes.

After dreaming of the NBA, what is Kyshawn George’s ambition for the coming season? “A successful season on a personal level would be to join the + All rookie team +. And from a team point of view, we are in the rebuilding phase. We must lay the foundations for the future. I was very well received by the veterans and I hope that with my two other teammates drafted at the same time as me, we will be able to create a solid young group.

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