Bruno
07-17-2005, 02:10 AM
Hello,
This is the translation of a french newspaper,
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3242,36-671816@51-639976,0.html
Ian Mahinmi, from soccer to NBA in only five years
By Guillaume Lainé
07/13/05
Le Monde
A giant of 2,08 m (6-10) and 104 kg (230 lbs) that nobody saw coming, not even experts of the NBA. The American league of professional basketball was unable to pronounce the name of the young 18 year old French, Ian Mahinmi, June 28 in New York at the time of the "Draft" 2005. This ceremony is organized each end of season to integrate the best hopes of the discipline in the American teams.
Recruited by San Antonio Spurs, new champion NBA where Tony Parker plays, Ian Mahinmi remains still an quasi-unknown in the world of the french basketball. It acknowledges besides that it is "hard to believe" what happens to him. In 2001, Parker "had been drafted" with the 28th choice by San Antonio. It is also with this choice that the GM of Spurs decided to recruit Mahinmi, making him sign a contract for three seasons. A curious coincidence which authorizes the player to believe in a destiny as glorious as Parker. While waiting for his beginnings at Spurs, the new attraction of the french basketball should still carry out a season in championship of ProA France with the STB Le Havre, his formative club.
THE PERSPICACITY OF THE RECRUITERS
Ian Mahinmi has stopped the soccer to be only devoted to the basketball for five years. A fulgurating rise for the principal leader of the team of France Hopes, with which it disputes, since July 8, the championship of Europe with Chehov, in Russia. "He is a player that I Discover , acknowledge Jacques Commères, the national selector. His adaptabilities to the high level have surprised me: he is very inclined for the basketball, but he has especially a high basketball IQ."
In Le Havre, his trainer, Christian Monschau, measures the extent of progress of the young man, starter since January: "When I gave him his chance with the first team, I had much apprehension. His beginnings were not very convincing. But Ian absorbed all the instructions with an exceptional speed. He is called The Sponge."
Born in France from a Beninese father and a Jamaican mother , Mahinmi seems to have inherited the genetic inheritance of his African grandfather, a chief of village measuring more than 2 meters (6-7). His physical capacities are exceptional for a player who hardly has just finished his period of growth. That's why he is still too skinny. "It must carry out a large work of muscular reinforcement if it wants to compete with the best , Christian Monschau ensures. The principal danger to him, it's injuries."
The potential of the boy does not have escaped with the perspicacity of the recruiters of San Antonio Spurs. The best team of the NBA built her success on the great stability of it roster and a perfect knowledge of the international basketball. These last years, Manu Ginobili (Argentina), Rasho Nesterovic (Slovenia) and Tony Parker (France) helped San Antonio to take down two titles in three years (2003, 2005). "Spurs have a glance very sharpened on the European competitions, judges Jacques Commères. They followed Mahinmi since long months. They are seldom mistaken in their choice."
Ian Mahinmi acknowledges being "reassured" by the stability of San Antonio. Jacques Commères moderates this idyllic table: "For some time, he is very requested and it is difficult for him to take the necessary distance. To manage all that is a part of the construction of a young professional sportsman. In NBA, it will have to find good balance. His progression then his achievement depend on it. "
This is the translation of a french newspaper,
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3242,36-671816@51-639976,0.html
Ian Mahinmi, from soccer to NBA in only five years
By Guillaume Lainé
07/13/05
Le Monde
A giant of 2,08 m (6-10) and 104 kg (230 lbs) that nobody saw coming, not even experts of the NBA. The American league of professional basketball was unable to pronounce the name of the young 18 year old French, Ian Mahinmi, June 28 in New York at the time of the "Draft" 2005. This ceremony is organized each end of season to integrate the best hopes of the discipline in the American teams.
Recruited by San Antonio Spurs, new champion NBA where Tony Parker plays, Ian Mahinmi remains still an quasi-unknown in the world of the french basketball. It acknowledges besides that it is "hard to believe" what happens to him. In 2001, Parker "had been drafted" with the 28th choice by San Antonio. It is also with this choice that the GM of Spurs decided to recruit Mahinmi, making him sign a contract for three seasons. A curious coincidence which authorizes the player to believe in a destiny as glorious as Parker. While waiting for his beginnings at Spurs, the new attraction of the french basketball should still carry out a season in championship of ProA France with the STB Le Havre, his formative club.
THE PERSPICACITY OF THE RECRUITERS
Ian Mahinmi has stopped the soccer to be only devoted to the basketball for five years. A fulgurating rise for the principal leader of the team of France Hopes, with which it disputes, since July 8, the championship of Europe with Chehov, in Russia. "He is a player that I Discover , acknowledge Jacques Commères, the national selector. His adaptabilities to the high level have surprised me: he is very inclined for the basketball, but he has especially a high basketball IQ."
In Le Havre, his trainer, Christian Monschau, measures the extent of progress of the young man, starter since January: "When I gave him his chance with the first team, I had much apprehension. His beginnings were not very convincing. But Ian absorbed all the instructions with an exceptional speed. He is called The Sponge."
Born in France from a Beninese father and a Jamaican mother , Mahinmi seems to have inherited the genetic inheritance of his African grandfather, a chief of village measuring more than 2 meters (6-7). His physical capacities are exceptional for a player who hardly has just finished his period of growth. That's why he is still too skinny. "It must carry out a large work of muscular reinforcement if it wants to compete with the best , Christian Monschau ensures. The principal danger to him, it's injuries."
The potential of the boy does not have escaped with the perspicacity of the recruiters of San Antonio Spurs. The best team of the NBA built her success on the great stability of it roster and a perfect knowledge of the international basketball. These last years, Manu Ginobili (Argentina), Rasho Nesterovic (Slovenia) and Tony Parker (France) helped San Antonio to take down two titles in three years (2003, 2005). "Spurs have a glance very sharpened on the European competitions, judges Jacques Commères. They followed Mahinmi since long months. They are seldom mistaken in their choice."
Ian Mahinmi acknowledges being "reassured" by the stability of San Antonio. Jacques Commères moderates this idyllic table: "For some time, he is very requested and it is difficult for him to take the necessary distance. To manage all that is a part of the construction of a young professional sportsman. In NBA, it will have to find good balance. His progression then his achievement depend on it. "