HoopsHype.com Interviews
Federico
Kammerichs: "I'll put the national team ahead
of the Blazers"
by Jorge
Sierra / April 4, 2003
What
being drafted by the Blazers [51st overall pick] last year meant for you?
Federico Kammerichs: It was incredible. It took some days for me to believe it was real.
How big of a surprise
was for you to be selected before somebody with better achievements like
Luis Scola?
FM: A lot.
I even think it is unreal. How can it be possible that somebody like me,
with the half of what Scola has basketball-wise... And in every possible
sense... What he has won, what he has achieved, the way he plays... To
tell you the truth, I still can't understand it.
I read an interview
made days after you were drafted in which you said you didn't see yourself
playing in the NBA. Has your opinion changed?
FM: It's still
the same. To this day, I still don't see myself at that level to tell
you the truth. I'm far away from it.
Then when? In two,
three years?
FM: Well, I
would first have to establish myself as an important player in Spain [in
Pamesa Valencia] in order to make the jump to the NBA. If I'm just an
average guy, I would never do it.
Have you been in
touch with anybody in the Blazers organization?
FM: One scout
attended a game and I talked with him a little bit.
About what?
FM: They want
me to go to the summer leagues.
And will you do
that?
FM: There are
several tournaments with the national team, so I don't know what is going
to happen. I don't know if the national team will call me into the squad...
If they do, I'll put the national team ahead of the Blazers. I don't know
if I will always do that, but I'll do it this year.
Are you following
the Blazers this year?
FM: No, very
little because I don't follow the NBA.
Did you hear anything
about the off-the-court record of some members of the team?
FM: No. I think
I read something about that, but not much.
And what about Ginobili?
FM: Yes, that's
what I follow a little bit.
What do you think
about what he is doing?
FM: It's great.
It makes us -- all those who know him (although not much in my case) --
very happy because he's putting Argentinean basketball on the map.
Do you see any
other Argentinean player in the NBA in the near future?
FM: I think
"Chapu" [Andres Nocioni] and Luis [Scola] are going to
play there.
Soon?
FM: It's up
to them, it's up to them.
Just one more thing...
I've heard you almost cried when Argentina beat the U.S. team in the World
Championship. Is that true?
FM: I cried.
I think I cried (laughs).
Jorge Sierra is
the editor of HoopsHype.com
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