Boris Diaw Mini-Interview
By InsideHoops.com / April 14, 2004
Atlanta Hawks rookie Boris Diaw has had a promising first season, averaging 4.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 44.2% from the field and playing solid defense. He originally hails from France. Before coming to the NBA, Diaw spent three years with Pau Orthez, France's top team. InsideHoops.com met with Diaw for a quick interview.
InsideHoops.com: Talk about your first year in the league.
Boris Diaw: I like it, for sure. It's great to be here. It's great to play in the NBA. Personally, my goal for the season was adaptation, and I think there's success there. I feel good here, about the life, in the city, with the team, too. Everything is going well, with the team, too, except we lost more games than I expected. We lost a lot of games. I expect to win more. Aside from that, it's great to be here.
InsideHoops.com: If you could bring anything from France over here with you, what would you bring?
Boris Diaw: I'd bring my friends. The thing I missed the most was my friends. I like the food, too, in France, but the friends I missed the most.
InsideHoops.com: How was the style back where you played different from the NBA?
Boris Diaw: It's different. Here, it's more individual qualities that you see during the game. The difference in France, you could have a team with players of medium level, but when they play all good together, become a strong team. Here, we must play with the franchise player and all that.
InsideHoops.com: On the court you're pretty good at everything, but some say that you don't shoot as much as you could.
Boris Diaw: Yeah, I know, a lot of people say that in France, too. But as far as I remember, coaches always told me that, the press always told me that, but yeah, I try to do everything on the court, and try to improve at everything.
InsideHoops.com: Do you talk a lot with Tony Parker?
Boris Diaw: Yeah, I talk to him, he's a friend of mine. We played together back in France before playing professional and playing for international teams, since we are 15, 16.
InsideHoops.com: Who is the next French player to make the NBA?
Boris Diaw: Ronny Turiaf, at Gonzaga. I think he's got a good chance to get drafted this year, or the next one.
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