NBA Nation caps off its weekend visit to Shanghai’s Central Square on Nanjing Dong Lu. Former All-Star and new Sacramento Kings point guard Rajon Rondo highlights the league’s largest free basketball and lifestyle touring event which also includes Milwaukee Bucks mascot Bingo and the Charlotte Hornets dancers.
The other major guest is new Toronto Raptors small forward DeMarre Carroll. After a strong season with the Eastern Conference winning Atlanta Hawks, Carroll was one of the winners of the NBA off-season signing a four-year USD60 million contract with his new team. We chatted about his visit, free agency and guarding Lebron.
Is this your first time in China?
It is. It’s been a great experience. I flew into Hong Kong on Tuesday, went to Shenzhen and now I am in Shanghai. It’s been a great atmosphere.
Are you surprised to see how many fans there are in China?
Nah. Basketball is the number one popular sport in China - over 20 million people in Shanghai, so I’m not surprised. The Chinese are one of the biggest fans of the NBA.
You just finished up an NBA Cares FIT session and are lauded for your community work.
We’re all looked as role models so we have to represent ourselves and act like role models. NBA Cares means a lot. It’s not always about basketball. Sometimes it’s bigger than basketball.
So you’ve had an eventful summer.
(laughs)
What’s free agency agency actually like? Are you getting phone calls right away when the signing period starts?
Oh yeah. Mine was kind of a little more wild than most people’s because I got married two days before that in Aruba. My wife and I actually flew home at 9.30pm the night of free agency. At 12:00, I got swarmed with 10-12 teams calling me. Then at 9:00am, Toronto showed up at my front door.
What was it that convinced you to sign with Toronto?
First and foremost, it’s a family first organization. They treated my family with respect when they came to my house and they talked about the things they’re going to do for my family. They’re a winning program. They just haven’t gotten over the hump of the first round. And the coach and GM said I would have a bigger role, which is what made me choose Toronto.
What role do you envision?
First and foremost, the captain of the defense. Bringing that energy. Being a knockdown three-point shooter and then being a leader, on and off the floor.
Your game has evolved since you started as a power forward.
I understand the NBA. When you come in a rookie, everybody wants to be the next Kevin Durant or Lebron James; but you have to understand your role and understand who you are. I understood I had to be a 3 and D type of player, so that’s why I decided to focus on defense, then expanding my game to knocking down three pointers. Now, I’ve become that type of player.
Atlanta had a special season last year. How did you grow as a player and how do you bring what you’ve learned to Toronto?
I grew as a player in many ways, not only physically, but mentally. I understand the preparation it takes before every game and being around a group of guys where nobody cares about the glory - so a lot of unselfish, no ego guys. That’s something I hope to bring to Toronto and get that focus on winning is the number one priority. Not caring about who gets the most points or the most rebounds, but just coming together as a collective to win.
How was the playoffs?
It was great. Intense. Everybody’s trying to win and you can’t take no players out. It was great to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately, I got hurt and a couple of my teammates got hurt, so we couldn’t push the Cleveland Cavaliers like we wanted to. But in the end, we did some good things. Me personally, I learned a lot from the playoff experience.
How do you guard Lebron?
The way to guard Lebron is more mental than physical. When you go into the game - you have to be like he puts on his clothes the same way I put my clothes on, he’s no better than I am. That’s the mental aspect you have to go into the game. And then you just have to be like a gnat on a summer day - when you keep swiping that gnat but it just doesn’t leave. That’s how you have to be when you guard Lebron.
What are your plans after the China trip?
I’m going to go to LA to meet up with some of my teammates to work out a little bit. Then I’m going to Atlanta, start packing up and then I should be in Toronto by the middle of September.
NBA Nation includes basketball contests like the Anta 3-on-3 Tournament, the Master Kong Slam Dunk Contest, the ZTE 3-Point Shoot Out and the Gatorade Shoot for a Million contest with fans sinking a half-court shot in the shortest amount of time eligible to compete in the Oct 12 finale with RMB1 million up for grabs.
There’s also the Anta Skills Challenge where fans can showcase their passing skills and free throw accuracy to win NBA prizes, as well as the Kids Zone that features pop-a-shot machines and stationary bikes to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
The NBA Interactive Gaming Zone provides a chance to play the latest NBA-themed games like NBA My Dream and NBA2K Online.
// Aug 9, 4.30-9pm, free entry. Central Square, Nanjing Dong Lu, by Zhejiang Dong Lu南京东路, 近浙江路
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