Yahoo Sports Walter Tavares on NBA comeback: ‘I’m very comfortable at Real Madrid’
Was there a point where you thought about a possible return to the NBA? Have you had offers or contacts with any franchise? Walter Tavares: No, no. I always try to focus where I’m at. Now I’m very comfortable at Real Madrid. I’m developing a lot as a player, enjoying basketball. Whatever comes, it will come later, but now I am focused on helping Real Madrid to the best of my abilities.
Source: Giorgos Kyriakidis @ BasketNews
More on this storyline
How is it possible that the most decisive center on the continent only played 13 games in the NBA? Walter Tavares: I think it was the lack of opportunity. I was practicing and sweating, trying to prove that I could play and have a place there. I haven’t been as lucky as Rudy Gobert, who ended up in the Utah Jazz that trusted him from the beginning. I was unlucky enough to get into a bad team. I was in Atlanta that didn’t compete for the playoffs, and the coach didn’t trust me that much either. It’s not just a question of timing or the time period. I just didn’t have a chance. -via BasketNews / October 6, 2022
Did you feel uncomfortable being there? Walter Tavares: Yes, I did. All the players want to practice, and then look forward to playing. You’re not there to practice all the time and never play. So, you end up getting frustrated and not liking basketball so much because you feel like you can’t take that step further to be able to play, or prove that you can be in this league. -via BasketNews / October 6, 2022
In recent years, the club seems to prefer players who have tried to play in the NBA to those who are eager to leave. By the way, was there something that Luka Doncic wanted to know and asked you before he left? Walter Tavares: Well, he wasn’t asking much. Luka was too calm. I always said that he was born to play basketball. He didn’t need anyone to teach him what to do. He has an incredible talent. I just told him that in the NBA, things are going to be very easy for him with the court vision and the height he has playing as a point guard. Luka has a similar style as LeBron James, who is physically superior than him. But in terms of how they both control and dominate the game, they’re very identical. -via BasketNews / October 6, 2022
