Exclusive Interview With Hassan Adams
After being a second round pick by New Jersey in the 2006 Draft, Hassan Adams started eight games his rookie season and played in 61 games in total. Despite shooting over 55% from the field, Adams wasn’t able to sign a contract with an NBA team last summer and elected to play in Italy instead. The talented guard spent a year refining his skills and is now ready to return to the NBA with the Toronto Raptors this season.
Adams talked with Ryan McNeill during the Toronto Raptors media day about playing in Italy last season, how he’s grown as a player over the past 12 months and why he feels it’s important to give back to the community.
If Adams’ can back up the game he talked this afternoon, then Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo will have found yet another hidden gem toiling away in Europe.
Ryan McNeill: You had the chance to play in Italy last season. What are some of your favourite memories?
Hassan Adams: For me? The food. The food was absolutely great. I took (playing in Italy) as an experience. And for me, it was a great experience not just basketball wise but as a person. I had the chance to at least try to learn some of the language. It was tough, but I tried. I was real open to a lot of things. I got the chance to see the history behind Italy. It is very cultural there and I tried to take that in. I went to things like the Vatican and the Coliseum. And I loved it. Growing up as a kid I never thought I would have the chance to go to Italy to play basketball. I took it as an opportunity to broaden myself.
McNeill: A lot of North American born players say after returning from playing in Europe that it was a great opportunity to grow and mature on and off the court. How did playing in Europe help you improve your game and grow as a person?
Adams: For me, it was all about basketball. I feel it was more reps and more games. It’s a different kind of game than the NBA - a lot of different rules - but at the end of the day it’s still basketball. I felt like I got better because I always had a basketball in my hand. Then as a person, you grow because you’re not from there, so it made me open-minded. That makes you grow in itself.
McNeill: Your NBA.com bio mentioned that while you were at Arizona you volunteered with Arizona Special Olympics and Ronald McDonald House. Do you have any intentions of helping out in the community here in Toronto?
Adams: Of course! Definitely. I grew up in a community and that’s one thing I would never forget. Being a basketball player and role model I would love to do that. This is a new community for me. A new city. So, I’m just taking it all in.
McNeill: A lot of times a player might pick a specific charity or foundation because of a personal attachment. Is there a reason why you chose to work with Arizona Special Olympics or Ronald McDonald House? Have your family or friends been helped by either of these organizations?
Adams: Nothing with my family, I just see the happiness in the kids. Especially in the smiles that you bring to the kids. That’s a blessing in itself. That’s one thing I like to do, because it’s for the kids and for the people. When you walk into a place and see how you can brighten their day, that’s the key.
McNeill: Thanks for your time Hassan, best of luck this season.
Adams: Thanks!
Click here to listen to the audio version of this interview.
Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media
This article was written by:
Ryan McNeill - who has written 208 posts on Hoops Addict.
Ryan McNeill is the editor for Hoops Addict and has appeared on NBA XL and WSRQ 1220. Ryan has covered the NBA with media credentials since the 2007 season.
Comments
By Chris on September 30th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
When is the Will Solomon interview going to be up?
By Ryan McNeill on September 30th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Leo will be posted Wednesday, Will on Thursday and Moon on Friday.
By Chris on October 1st, 2008 at 12:53 am
Sweet man. Will Solomon is going to dominate the pg spot this year. I think your the only guy who talked to him on media day. I can’t find anything else on him.
By Ryan McNeill on October 1st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Thanks Chris, glad to hear Raptors fans are looking forward to this interview. Most of the media focused on the “big names” but I wanted to take the opportunity to chat with the new faces on the Raptors so fans could get a glimpse into their personalities and experiences playing in Europe.
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