Intervista esclusiva di Backdoor Podcast a Errick McCollum, miglior realizzatore e primo per PIR dell’attuale Eurocup. Il racconto dell’adolescenza, dell’essere mentore per il fratellino CJ (guardia dei Portland Trail Blazers) e della carriera europea. Qui la versione originale in inglese e, nella pagina successiva, la traduzione italiana.
Round 6 MVP. Round 8 MVP. Round 10 MVP. Is that enough to consider Errick McCollum as one of the greatest player of 2021/2022 Eurocup? The 33-year-old from Canton, Ohio is living his 12th season of european basketball. CJ’s older brother’s career is full of individual and team trophies among Turkey, Greece and Russia. An experienced combo guard, an èlite scorer, who’s guiding Lokomotiv Kuban to reach top of the standing in Eurocup and VTB. Here’s what he said at our microphones!
Do you think you’ve been a good example and a role model for you little brother CJ? How is your connection off the court? When you were young, who was winning 1vs1 at home?
Oh, yeah, for sure. You know, he looks up to me, everything I did, he followed and I had to set the example for him, not only on the court but also in the classroom and in life. I was three and a half years older. So, he was a lot smaller, not as physically developed. He couldn’t beat me probably until he was like 21-22. And then I don’t think he beat me in a series until maybe like second year in NBA. We’re best friends. And we’re both professional athletes. We always keep in touch. I have NBA League Pass so I can watch all his games. He has a yearly pass for Euro Cup and VTB tournaments. Sometimes he texts me at half time to let me know what he sees during the game and gives advices.
Is this Lokomotiv Kuban at the same level of that Galatasaray of 2016? To remember: you guide them as Eurocup MVP to win the title…
I think the similarity between two teams is that there were several guys who could play on a very high level. Now and then we had guys who have a lot of talent. But I think as a team Galatasaray was more experienced. In Lokomotiv we are still getting into it. We have young talented Russians and foreigners that are playing their first or second season in Europe. It’s kind of experience for them. But I think you see our team growing and improving.
Do you live with regret thinking about your seasons in EL or never have been played in NBA? According to trophies and individual honors, do you prefer your career as a protagonist in your squads instead of a more famous one with less prizes?
I’ve had opportunities to get into NBA and EL just a timing wasn’t right. But I enjoy my career in Europe, I enjoyed the experience with the role on the team I have. If I’m happy on the court it makes it easier to be happy in life and creates comfort for my family. What is very important is that I started off on a very low level. I was making very small money and I worked very hard with dedication to reach new heights. I kind of made my name. I’ve been very blessed just to play for 12 plus years. Hopefully, I have many more of that to continue on that high level.
Since 2018 you’re playing in VTB (Unics, Khimki and Loko). What do you like most of staying in Russia, on and off the court?
I think the biggest thing in Russia that I like and it took me a while to adjust to, is that Russians are very honest. They say exactly what they feel and they do not hold back. And I think this is good because you don’t have to guess. Other places everybody wants to be polite and sometimes they’re not as straightforward or honest. Russians say what they think.