Prototype favorite player – that is the Swiss Kyshawn George

He can throw and defend and can be used flexibly: The Swiss Kyshawn George is every basketball coach’s dream. Now the 20-year-old from Valais is starting his first season in the NBA – fans and teammates are already excited.

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There weren’t many Swiss in the NBA yet. So far, only Thabo Sefolosha and Clint Capela have played a competitive game in the best basketball league in the world. The former reached the finals with the Oklahoma City Thunder and was at times one of the best defensive players in the world. The latter is entering his eleventh season in the NBA and is still a regular player for the Atlanta Hawks.

Nevertheless, interest in Capela in German-speaking Switzerland is limited. On the one hand, this is probably due to the fact that the 30-year-old is from Geneva. On the other hand, this also has to do with the center’s rather unspectacular style of play and the position itself. Capela’s big strengths are rebounding and defending at the basket, although he has become weaker in this regard.

Clint Capela is entering his eleventh NBA season.Bild: keystone

In the case of Kyshawn George, a lack of interest shouldn’t be a problem – as long as he can use his strengths from his college days in the pros. The 20-year-old from Valais will soon become the third Swiss in the NBA. In April, George was drafted with the 24th pick in the draft by the New York Knicks and immediately traded to the Washington Wizards. The new season starts on Wednesday night, with Washington only playing for the first time against champions Boston on Friday night (1 a.m. Swiss time).

It is unclear whether George will also be on the field. Sooner or later he will probably make his dream come true. Even as a little boy, he said he wanted to play in the NBA one day. “It’s always been my dream and my goal,” George told me RTS“I didn’t have a plan B.” How much he loves his sport is also shown by the fact that he always had a basketball in his hand during the interview with the French-speaking Swiss television station and at the draft. The flexible small forward from Monthey was able to impress during the preparation.

After the Summer League, in which NBA teams compete with their young talents, “SB Nation” praised the Swiss for his defensive work and his intelligent style of play. As a thrower he was just as convincing there as he was in the five test matches in October. Nine of his 20 three-point throws found their target, an excellent rate. In addition to his throwing strength and his basketball IQ, George sees his variability as a major strength. This means he can play and defend all four positions except center.

Therein lies the reason why he has the potential to become a favorite of not only NBA fans but also the experts. During his year at the University of Miami, the 2.03 meter man already shone as a strong distance shooter and defender. The so-called “3-and-D” players are highly regarded because they fit into every team and are very beneficial to success. If George can establish himself as such in the NBA, he should enjoy a long career.

His teammates were already enthusiastic about their new teammate, who is now Washington’s third first-round draft pick of this year behind Alex Sarr (2nd pick) and Bub Carrington (14th pick). Jordan Poole praised George’s “composure and the way he plays” as unusual for a rookie. Kyle Kuzma even compared the young Swiss to Mikal Bridges. The Knicks star is considered one of the best 3-and-D players in the NBA.

Kyshawn George should help his team as a long-range shooter and defender.Image: fxp-fr-sda-rtp

“I’m not a fan of comparisons,” says Kyshawn George in an interview with the Keystone-SDA news agency and explains: “I don’t try to be like anyone, but like myself. Still, that’s a compliment.” There are already compliments from the fans. A Wizards supporter wrote on Facebook: “I’m more excited about him than any other first-round pick.” Another replies: “Exactly! He’s a quick learner and looked great in preparation.”

His parents will support him so that he can make the jump to the professionals. George has rented them an apartment in Washington; his Canadian father Deon, who played professional basketball in Switzerland and France, is taking a special sabbatical for this purpose. “It’s a bit of a way to make up for lost time because I’ve lived alone since I was 15,” said Kyshawn George.

Kyshawn George’s dream came true at the draft.Bild: keystone

When he moved to Chalon (around 200 kilometers northwest of Geneva) five years ago, he was only 1.73 m tall. Then came the growth spurt – and with it pain and knee problems that forced George to take a break. Today he says: “I am glad to have had this difficult phase, because there will always be times like this. Now I’m prepared for it.”

He is aware that he will not be uprooting any trees with the Washington Wizards for the time being. The team from the capital was the second-worst team in the NBA last season with 15 wins. Not much is likely to change for the time being. “We are in a phase of reconstruction,” says George and explains: “We have to lay the foundations for the future.”

His goal is to be selected for the team of the best rookies. In any case, he will enjoy his time in the NBA: “I earn money playing the sport that I love. That’s the best thing about it. There are many people who always dream of something but never achieve it in their life. So I try to appreciate every moment and be happy to be able to experience this.”