Interview with danish talent Jonas Zohore

You are one of the talents (born 91) coming out of Denmark, what are you plans for the future?

My plans are going to the NBA, euroleague or ACB It all depend on me and the daily practices...

You are playing on in spain as a profesional, how did that happen for you??

Well my ass coach Nemanja who was Head coach of 79érs 2 years ago helped me..He got a contract here, and gave me a chance to play here.. he knew the serbian coaches here and soon i was on a tryout one summer, everything worked good out after those daye! 

What are your thought after playing pro ball in spain for more than half a season, whats the differences and so on?

There are a lot of differences. first of all just to have 4 coaches arround you on practice, telling you what to do, explain and giving you advices helps a lot.. Basketball is a lot bigger and more serious than back home in Denmark.. here is the 2énd most played sport after football. Here is not only the 2-3 players from US who can bring and give some to the team, a lot of teams have a long bench who gives some important and good to there teams, including young players deffently young players..Then if you are a young player, i would recomend Spain. Spain is diffently the place to be if you want to get further in you karrier as a pro player. the oppoutunities is way higher down here, a lof of good players, league and scouting and so..And the level og leagues high.
Im lucky to have some excelent coaches who has a lot of exsperience and contacts. I almost have some NBA scouts or European scouts coming to oure club every 2 week waching our system, practice and games.. That not something you just get, defently not in Denmark! Only something you can admire and be honored and lucky to have!

You have been with the youth nationalteams several times, can you tell the world a little bit of some great experiences playing international with the nationalteam?

I started play basketball as 15 years old. now im soon 20.. my first apperance to the youth national team, was as a 2 year player at U-16 after that i have been there since. geting to play against a lot of good countries, teams and good players.. the best succses i had, was with the national team was my 1 year with U-18 in Hungary, we end up, as number 8 out of 20 teams. in that fact it were my 1 European championship and i remember how excited and a little nervous i was.. It was also the year were a lot of great players attended, while some of them now are playing Euroleague or NBA..This summer im maybe going for the last time, as youth player to Bosnien in Sarajevo with U-20.. I just not clear about my plans during this summer..
The other thing is, you cant exspect not to end up ranging over number 14 when u dont have a serious schedule and planification about the national team. to have 5 practices during a preparation for European championship is so not pro.. even placing 2 of the days in one week, and then wait 2-3 weeks for next practice and without frindly games is hopeless!

What skill are you working extra hard on right now?

A lot. im doing a lot of repeating in lowpost. such as reading defence, hookshots, fadeaway shots, dribble shots.. Also shots from outside the post, one or two dribble from 3 pointline and finishing, kevindurant style..

Quick 6 favourites
Favourite team in Europe? I never really like these question, beacause i dont have a real answer to them.. but i wacht a lof ot ACB and Euroleague, and you need to admire the game og Barcelona. and i also like Real Madrid as they are the team I see most while im living near to centrum.
Favourite player in Europe?

Favourite team in NBA? I like Wizards and Boston
Favourite player in NBA? I most say Dwight howard as one of them, I also like Javale Mcgee beacause i see myself playing like him.. Amare stoudemire i like to, I could keep going, lebron james, derrick rose, kevind durant and so on..

Favourite team in College? DONT HAVE ANY. not into college ball.. Not in my future list

What tips would you give to other younger players trying to fulfill their dream in becoming a pro basketball player?

Make the right choices, work hard, belive that you can do what you want, play everywhere, playing games and asking yourself why u practice? but same time be humble, not everything goes well.. If you dont already work everyday then ask youself if that is what you really want to do..

Any tips to coaches about handling young players that you can give?

Make them discipline and that they respect you even if they dont like you.

Unlucky season in some aspects

My club Hørsholm Basketball has a troublesome season when it comes to gyms being damaged this season.

It started this summer already when the where gonna change the floor to a new one and the day that was done after some delays there was a crazy rainfall here in Hørsholm and some places there came 18cm`s of rain.

That totally ruined the totally new floor and they had to start to throw that out, but the old floor laying under was also ruined så long long time. For the club it was a problem, leagueteams had practise in other gyms and sometimes in other citys to get full court practises.

Another full size gym was being renovated and that renovation was dealyed and couldn`t be used until december.

But it wasn`t just the main gym that was wrecked, the main gym for youth games was ruined also by the rain.

So now the club stod there with out 3 gyms and lots of teams that wanna practise it meant a lot of work and less training for the teams and in smaller gyms.

We got the two gymas back in december that was ruined and they where now very nice, in january its was time again. Another gym that has one big gym and a little one in it was was closed since they discovered that the roof was about to fall down. That one i still closed and maybe after the summer, that ment problems again.

Now last week one of the big gyms that had a makeover, somebody smashed the backboard and that backbord is not the same as the reservs and had to be ordered and that takes 2 weeks.

I ran 3 vs 3 defense drill using that side of the court without any basket, was fine not a missed shoot :-)

That means more problems again.....we need a break from gymproblems or we need warmer weather and that aint gonna happen in cold, cold scandinavia.

I`m hyped about wednesday

On wednesday the clinic for coaches that I`m organizing is to be held and it looks good, but i still have some things to fix. So coming days I will not be so active here...but you never now :-)

My plan is one clinic in spring and one after the summer with different aims.

This now in march will be more on individual technic, foundamentals and the clinic after the summer will be more on teamoriented things like defense, offense, teambuilding and more.

Subjects on wednesday will be:

Passing on the highest level, what passes you need?
That clinic is 30minutes and will be held by Coach Igor Gavrilovic

Second 30 minute clinic will be body coordination, runnning technic
Thats held by Coach Michael Boje-Formann
The third 30 minute clinic is about strengthtraining the basics, what can you use that always is around you
That clinic is run by Coach Johan Enbom.

And the 1 hour clinic is about outside and inside moves "what does the defense give you?"
That clinic is run by living legend Jan Mikulowski.

Will be 3 great hours :-)