HoopsHype.com Interviews

Quincy Lewis: "I'll only give up on trying to get in the NBA when I give up on basketball"
by Jorge Sierra / January 14, 2004

QUINCY LEWIS - QUICK FACTS
- Played college ball at Minnesota until 1999.
- Won the gold medal at the 1998 Goodwill Games with the US Team.
- Named to the All-America 3rd Team in 1999.
- Selected by the Utah Jazz as 19th overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft.
- Played with the Utah Jazz till 2001-02.
- Signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) in July 2002.
- Joined the Minnesota Timberwolves in September 2003. Waived in December.
- Signed with Lucentum Alicante (Spain) in January 2004.

You were released by the Timberwolves last month. Did you see that coming?

Quincy Lewis: No, I didn't see that coming.

How did you take it?

QL: I was disappointed. A lot.

Overall, how would you describe the experience with the Timberwolves?

QL: I would describe it as very good.

Do you think they have a shot at the NBA title?

QL: Yeah, I think they have a chance. But I would go with the Lakers, if I have to choose one favorite.

You played in Minnesota with Kevin Garnett and with Karl Malone in Utah. Which player impressed you more?

QL: Both of them really impressed me.

How are you adjusting to the Spanish league?

QL: It's been good so far. I've played just a couple of games, but it's been good so far.

This is your second experience playing overseas. How was playing in Israel last season?

QL: I had a lot of fun. I enjoyed it a lot.

It was a bad situation in Israel last year with all those terrorist attacks. Was it scary?

QL: Life is scary. It's not that scary when you understand the whole situation. People in Tel Aviv know how things are there and they let others know how things are. In that sense, nothing surprised me.

Was there a particularly scary situation for you during your time in Tel Aviv?

QL: No, there was not a particular situation. I had a great time there. Bad things happen there, but that's real life. Besides, the people, the city, the organization... It was all incredible. If a player asked me about it, I would say 'go ahead.' I had a great time there.

Many Americans are surprised that they are disliked in many countries just for being Americans. Did that surprise you, too?

QL: It's life. You have to learn all that. You have to deal with different kind of things. Playing basketball overseas, you know you have to cope with some things. You have to deal with the pressure. Life is not fair, but you can't do much about those things.

What are the positives of getting the chance to play outside the United States?

QL: You get a chance to make a living playing basketball. That's the biggest positive. And if you are into it, you can make new friends and you can discover a new culture. And you can do that while you are playing basketball and making a living for your family. That's pretty good.

Are you going to give the NBA a shot again next summer?

QL: Yes! Sure. I'll only give up on trying to get in the NBA when I give up on basketball. I will continue trying to make it in the league.

If you don't make it, is Europe still going to be your second option?

QL: Europe is my second option. I've enjoyed my stay here. It' been a lot of fun. It's all about finding a good situation. As long as I excel and my team excels, it's going to be a good situation. Some day I may get in a bad situation, but in that case you just have to fight. In life, you have to fight.

Jorge Sierra is the editor of HoopsHype.com

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