He played in front of 70,000 people in the United States and now plays in front of 3,000 spectators at the Maurice-Thorez hall in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine). But Joël Ayayi does not take offense, and even prefers to praise the enthusiasm of the Greens fans, where he signed this summer for one season (plus one optional). After four years at Gonzaga University, with whom he went to the NCAA final, and some inconclusive experiences in the NBA (Lakers, Wizards or Grizzlies), the Bordeaux player returned to France, to “climb the ladder “.
At 23, Joël Ayayi is starting a new career at Nanterre, where he has had a good start to the season (7.7 pts, 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 pd in twenty-two minutes of playing time on average). And the one who tasted, for the first time, the tricolor jersey, this summer before the Worlds, spoke, in “The Crusaders you know” of his dream of competing in the Olympic Games in Paris.
How did this return to France come about and what are your personal objectives with Nanterre?
I knew there were offers, and I think it was time for me to come back, into my career and building it. It made sense to return to Europe, and then I have the chance to come back to France, to Paris no less, in a beautiful city. The goal is to climb the ladder and reach a level. If it’s the Eurocup, the Euroleague or the United States, it will happen. The objective is also to re-adapt to the European game and use this season as a springboard.
You recently played Monaco, which is applying for the Euroleague Final Four. How do you see the level of the French championship?
I find it to be a very homogeneous, very athletic championship. Obviously, there is the monster Monaco, and there is Asvel too, even if they were in difficulty at the start of the season. But I think that in the long term, with their expanded squad, there will be no problems for them. Afterwards, there are teams in ambush, like Paris Basket or Bourg, who play in the Eurocup, with squads loaded with a lot of talent. Behind, there are ten teams fighting for the last four places in the play-off, teams all with a different style. The championship is very tough, because it’s complicated to win matches, and every week we are under pressure. In Nanterre, with the squad we have, the objective is the play-offs.
Is it hard to readjust to European basketball?
The style of play is different, the spaces are different, what is sought in the game is different. The “freedoms” are a little less in Europe, because there is more value in each possession. Every game counts, so there’s not really time to take a shot for yourself. It’s just a question of rigor that I had to adapt to. We also had to get used to the rhythm of the matches, we play a lot less, but we train more. In the United States, we practice very little, because we play every two days. I prefer the American rhythm, because I want to play matches. Even if, at times, you need to train to progress, here, during a week, you have five training sessions, that’s a long time.
Looking back, what do you remember from these experiences in Los Angeles, Washington or Memphis, where you failed to establish yourself?
At the time, it was hard, because you always want to succeed, especially after a university career that had gone well. Afterwards, I entered a very business world, and it was hard for me to understand. I really thought it was a question of if you perform, you stay on the field… For me, that wasn’t the case, and it took me a little while to understand, that’s why I had a few glitches at the start. But, looking back, I only keep the positive, I set foot where I always wanted to be when I was little. Whether I go back or not, it will remain an experience I will remember forever. Having achieved this at such a young age makes me want to continue working.
What is LeBron James really like?
He’s a worker. He’s a guy who’s in the gym early in the morning, his day is planned with all his business, but he’s really a machine. he sees the game in a maddening way. The way he deciphers situations on the ground is quite incredible. You have the impression that all his passes are calculated, he knows what the defense is going to do, he will see opposing systems. His brain is a bit like a computer. I had a good relationship with him. Him, like Rondo or Carmelo Anthony, these are guys who talked to me, helped me. Given their career, they had the “right” not to worry about us, but in the end, they are people who take the time to come to us, explain things to us. They’re not just there because they’re strong, human, they’re cool guys.
You had your first selection this summer, before the Basketball World Championships, what did that feel like?
It’s pretty crazy. At the start of your career, it’s more of a dream, and then, little by little, we get closer and we say to ourselves that we have to put this in our list of objectives. Afterwards, I was not selected in a group, I was at the training camp as a training partner, but I knew how to seize the opportunity [Evan Fournier avait été mis au repos]. I’m very fond of it and I think it was really rewarding, and a great way to end the summer to walk the floor in the blue jersey.
Does that give you ideas for the future… and particularly in view of the Olympics?
Once you set foot on such a big level, once you touch your dream, it makes you want to go back and stay there for the long term. Obviously the Olympics are in the back of my mind, I have to think like that. The Olympics in France are not even once in the life of all athletes. Having this opportunity, at 24 years old, to play for your country in Paris during the Olympics, you have to have it in the back of your mind. Afterwards, what will happen will happen.
Your sister, Valerian, should also compete in the Games. Can you imagine yourself together at the Paris Games?
It’s in the back of my mind. It would be amazing to play at home together. For the family, for the parents, it would be pretty awesome. We hope it happens, but she still has a head start
How did you experience the failure of the Blues at the World Cup?
I didn’t see it coming. You think back on everything that happened and wonder where it went wrong. Frank’s package [Ntilikina] handicapped the group. Vincent [Collet] had created a very complementary group. And when there’s an injury like that, with Frank being able to play multiple positions… I think he was a key piece of his group. It was a hard blow. With a group of such quality, it’s normal to be disappointed with the result.
Did you understand that Vincent Collet was being questioned a little?
Yes and no. Yes, because not everyone is a fan of Vincent Collet or Boris Diaw. Obviously there are people who would want to raise their voices a little. But, no, in the long term, Vincent Collet has proven that he is a quality coach. If we think more about this little hitch than the previous results, it would be a little hypocritical and even unhealthy. With the Olympics in sight, changing now would not have been good. And then, I think he has the confidence of the players and his staff.
The United States plans to arrive in Paris with the big team. Is the gold medal possible for France?
I think there are chances. Yes, they bring back the big team, but, in 2012, they had it too and Spain played them eye to eye. Today, moreover, we are no longer afraid of the United States. There was this factor at the time which influenced a lot and, when you took a run, an 8-0, you gave up. Now, there is no longer that, and we have players who are in the NBA who are better than those that the United States brings back. And then it remains a Fiba basketball, a different basketball. And staying in the continuity of what we have done, with the coaches and the staff, it makes sense, while the United States has a month to be together, they do not have this alchemy, especially in basketball Fiba.