Interview: Trajan Langdon, CSKA Moscow
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His passion for basketball has already taken him almost clear around the world, but that doesn't make All-Euroleague forward Trajan Langdon of CSKA Moscow any less excited about the opportunity to play in the first CBA-Euroleague Challenge in Kunshan, China this week. The chance to show countless millions of basketball fans why CSKA is one of the top clubs in Europe is what motivates Langdon as he readies his first trip to China. "I would never trade the experiences I have had playing in Europe," Langdon told Euroleague.net before departing for Shanghai. "It's something that had broadened my horizons in terms of life and that's something I will never forget. To see other cultures like China and create new fans for basketball is another thing to add to that list of great experiences."
You and CSKA are going to play the first preseason games of this kind by European clubs in China. What are your thoughts about such a unique first-time opportunity like this?
"Personally, I have never been to China before, so I just have great expectations of seeing that country. Seeing the people and the culture will definitely be something I'll be looking forward to. I have heard from people who have been there that the Chinese really love basketball and are huge supporters not only of Chinese basketball, but basketball around the world, so of course I will be excited to play in front of the Chinese fans, too."
Do you see it as an opportunity to show the Chinese what European basketball, right now in the middle of a golden era, is all about?
"If the Chinese are such basketball fans as I have heard, I am sure they know something about European basketball already, but seeing it first-hand will be even better. These are our last two games before the Russian League starts and we certainly want to play good basketball there before the fans of China. If we do that, I am sure they will enjoy themselves."
Do you see this these exhibition games in the world's most populated country as another step in the growth of basketball around the world?
"I don't know much about Chinese basketball except that they have a couple players in the NBA. But I have heard from people about both the growth of the Chinese game and the increasing popularity of basketball in China. For us to go from Europe to Asia and help spread the culture of basketball is surely another great step in making the game more popular globally."
CSKA is very much a world team, with guys from three continents at least, like you from Alaska and David Andersen from Australia. As much as any players, you guys must appreciate what it means to have fans in places you probably never thought you would.
"No question about it. I would never trade the experiences I have had playing in Europe, in Italy and Turkey and now Russia. It's something that had broadened my horizons in terms of life and that's something I will never forget. To see other cultures like China and create new fans for basketball is another thing to add to that list of great experiences."
Despite some other big things in your career before this, you might be playing this week in front of your biggest television audience ever. Do you think you'll take a moment and let that sink in while these games are being played?
"When you get on court, you just play, but when you think of it before, it's staggering, both the popularity of basketball in China and just how many people are actually there. It's definitely staggering to think of it, and just makes you look forward to this great opportunity even more."
What would you be most interested in those countless Chinese fans getting from the first close look at Eurolegue Basketball?
"I would just like them to see the ability of talented players from different continents and countries to come together and play with organization and passion for the same goal. We all want to achieve the same thing together, to be the best team we can and to win every game. Maybe a lot of people around the world wouldn't understand that except in the case of national teams. But just like some of the soccer teams in Europe bring together players from around the world with one goal, to win a championships, we also try to show that collective passion, which I think the Chinese fans will be able to see."
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Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Euroleague.net
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