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Off-Season Update: Andre Iguodala
I'm really feeling jet-lagged right now...
I just returned from my trip to China for the Nike All Asia Camp, held in Guangzhou. I had a wonderful time watching the kids play and seeing the sights of the city.
The most surprising thing was the height of the kids (a 16-year-old stood 7'1"). They are really skilled players who are fundamentally sound. They shoot well and understand how to make hard cuts to the basket, you even see some flair in the point guards as well. It was mostly an offensive show – no defense was played – but I enjoyed watching the up and down pace. I had the chance to officiate a few games, which was fun. The players shy away from contact a lot, which is the main difference between Asian players and American players, so I rarely blew the whistle.
The kids went through some rigorous drills as Nike's goal was to improve every aspect of every player's game. I was able to be hands on with them through drills and talk to them (with the help of a translator) about the up and downs of the NBA. I also experienced a new appreciation of communication for the players. Some spoke Chinese, others Japanese, or English and they all had to play together in games. I think of how tough it has to be for foreign guys who come into the league and have to adjust to not only the lifestyle off the court, but to the language, play calling, and terminology on it.
I also went through multiple media sessions with the Asian press. It was very interesting to see how into the NBA the people are. They knew my numbers by heart and continued to remind me of the robbery that took place in the 2006 Dunk Contest. They had a little Philly in them with the way they grilled me about the playoffs among other things.
There is a huge fan base in China and I felt privileged to be a part of it ... I'm definitely looking forward to making another trip back to the Far East...
