To start, let’s talk about national selection. What motivated you, born in Bondy, to choose to represent Angola?
It was truly a heartfelt choice. Both my parents are Angolan, and I still have a lot of family there. Initially, I didn’t know I was eligible to play for the Angolan national team, nor did I understand the process. However, having always held the passport, as soon as the federation contacted me, I didn’t hesitate and accepted. It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with my roots, my family there, and to proudly represent them by wearing the jersey. Furthermore, Angola is a strong basketball team in Africa. I knew it would give me the chance to play in major competitions like AfroBasket, the World Cup, or potentially the Olympic Games. At 21 or 22 years old, it was also a significant athletic opportunity for my development. Considering all these factors, the decision was simple, and I seized it.
So, you don’t feel any regret seeing Frédéric Fauthoux now at the helm of the French national team?
No, absolutely no regret. We can’t know what would have happened without the experience I gained playing in the World Cup and participating in training camps with high-level players, which undoubtedly helped me progress mentally, physically, and in terms of experience. Perhaps without that, I wouldn’t be the player I am today. So, no regrets. Of course, it could have been a great story too. But I don’t regret it; I chose my path, and it suits me perfectly. And I think the French team is doing very well without me. [Laughs]
This summer, Frédéric Fauthoux chose to name you captain of JL Bourg. What did it mean to you to take on this new responsibility so early, at 24 years old?
A lot of pride, because it demonstrated the journey I’ve made. I was one of the only players remaining from the previous year. This is my third year at the club. I arrived quietly as the third big man. And today, for my fourth season, I am a starter and captain. So, it proves that the club was right to trust me. I’ve progressed, I’ve worked, I’ve performed well, and I managed to show the coach that I could be a leader on and off the court. That’s why he gave me this role. He didn’t do it out of sympathy, but because he trusts me. This trust is very important to me. My goal is to always present the best possible image for the club by giving my maximum every time.
Exactly, when you arrived in Bourg as a third center, did you expect such a meteoric rise?
Not this quickly, no. But during the interviews before I signed, I was always told it was a long-term project and that, sooner or later, I would get my chance, and it would be up to me to seize it. As it turned out, I got my chance from the very first league game. So, I managed to seize it, and things went much faster than anticipated. I knew I could reach that level, and the club helped me a lot. I hope to repay their trust as much as possible every day on the court.
At 2.04 m (6’8″), you’re not considered very tall for a big man. What has allowed you to establish yourself in one of the best French clubs despite that?
I’m fortunate to play in an era where modern basketball heavily favors an outside-oriented game. So, speed and mobility are my primary qualities. I am first and foremost a defender. The fact that I’m a bit smaller than my peers means I can switch more easily onto perimeter players at the end of a possession. I can be quicker with aggressive steps, as we do in Bourg. I can be much more mobile on pick-and-rolls, full-court sprints, and alley-oops. In any case, when it comes to reactivity and mobility, I have an advantage. I’m a different profile from what’s typically found on the market. I fit well with the coach’s playing style, which is why I’ve managed to make my mark in Bourg. There are plenty of big men with a similar profile to mine. We can name Mathias Lessort or Josh Nebo, who are in the Euroleague. This shows that “under-sized” centers, as they say, can compete with players like Edy Tavares, Nikola Milutinov, or Jonathan Jeanne in the French Championship. My ability to switch, be reactive, run, and maintain high-intensity sprints is what keeps me here today.
“The teammate who surprised me the most? I would say William McDowell-White.”
The club signed nine new recruits this summer. How was the adaptation?
The integration was quite smooth because almost the entire squad was new; I’m the only survivor along with Adrian Nelson, who is unfortunately injured and hasn’t played this season yet. All the players arrived with an excellent mentality, a genuine desire to learn and form a cohesive group as quickly as possible. It took the necessary time, there were a few minor hitches, but now the group is very solid. We are starting to realize the potential we had sensed at the beginning of the season. Everyone has found their place, everyone is happy, there’s a great atmosphere within the group, both on and off the court, and that helps to create a strong collective and achieve great things. My job as captain was greatly facilitated by my teammates, who are exemplary.
Since you didn’t know any of your new teammates, which one pleasantly surprised you the most?
The one who surprised me the most, without hesitation, is William McDowell-White. I consider him a crucial asset for our team. He is incredibly calm and composed, with a lot of experience. His presence on the court brings remarkable serenity. With him, you feel in control, never panicking. Against Paris, his three-pointer gave us a six-point lead, and he was also very important at the end of the game against Ljubljana.
Against Ljubljana, your start wasn’t ideal. How did you manage to turn things around and ultimately win?
That speaks to the strength of character of this team. We never give up, and we know our qualities. We know that by tightening up our defense, preventing easy baskets, and securing rebounds, we have enough offensive talent to compete with any team in the league or even in Europe. So, we maintained our confidence. We focused on our defensive assignments to regain momentum. Little by little, we chipped away at the lead, and once we equalized the score, we were in control and knew we had the cards in our hands.
You are currently on a four-game winning streak. Are you in the best form of your season?
I’m not sure if it’s the best, as we had a very strong run in December. But what’s certain is that we’re reaching the level needed for this crucial phase of the season. We are very happy because now is the time to be at our best, with the arrival of decisive matches – the semi-final and big games against direct competitors in the playoffs. We’ve managed to deliver high-level performances every time. This proves that our team has progressed. We had a slight dip in January/February, but this return to form shows that it was only temporary fatigue and that we are ready to push through until the end of the season. But for that, we must stay focused, continue to work, remain humble, and keep moving forward.
“This year, we are much more cohesive.”
Since your victory in Paris, you’ve had a full week without a game. How beneficial was that rest before the big clash against Turk Telekom?
It’s true that we had a period of rest, which is rare this season. We were able to recharge, but we also took the time to work hard and prepare for this semi-final against an opponent we already know and have beaten twice. However, we know that the regular season and the playoffs are two different games. So, we’ve worked extra hard to be ready for the battles we’ll have to fight on Tuesday and Friday.
Speaking of your opponent, whom you know well, they just eliminated one of the competition’s favorites (Hapoel Jerusalem) after an incredible scenario. What do you expect from Turk Telekom?
Of course, we approach them with caution. This is a roster that was also built to win the Eurocup, one of their stated goals since the start of the season. It’s a team with great players and a lot of quality. The two games we played against them were very close, decided in the final possessions. We managed to maintain the necessary calm and success for things to swing our way. But it could just as easily have gone the other way with a bit less success from our side. So, we know these will be fierce matches, where every possession, every defensive play, and every rebound will be crucial. We are ready for that. And I also think they might have a bit of a revenge mentality. Because losing twice against the same opponent must stick in their minds. But on our part, winning twice against them must absolutely not make us overconfident. We made sure to remind ourselves this week that the context will be completely different, and we will be facing a renewed opponent. So, we are ready for that.
The last time you reached this stage of the competition, the team received much more media attention, notably due to the presence of Zaccharie Risacher. How would you compare that team to this year’s?
It’s funny because I was asked this question this morning at practice, during a discussion with teammates. I would say that two years ago, the team had a bit more individual talent. We had exceptional players like Zaccharie, who is now in the NBA after being a first-round pick, or Isiaha Mike, who is playing his second season in the Euroleague. So, we had great talents. Personally, I’ve matured, and I’ve gained two more years of experience, so I’m a better player than two years ago. This year, we show more serenity and control during games. We learned the hard way; we had major underperformances, games we dominated but lost at the wire. That’s part of the process when a team is young and new like that. Today, we’ve reached a level where that shouldn’t happen again. So, I would say yes, we are more collective, more compact, and defensively tougher than two years ago, and that can help us go even further.
This season, you’ve beaten ASVEL, Paris, and Monaco in Betclic Élite. Do you feel you’ve joined the leading trio to form a sort of ‘Big Four’?
I don’t think so. We shouldn’t forget teams like Nanterre, who are having a very strong season and are currently second in the championship, fully deserving their place. Or teams like Le Mans, who managed to beat us, for example, in the Leaders Cup, who have been in all the finals and are still in a French Cup final this year. So, creating a ‘Big Four,’ I don’t think so; it would be disrespectful to the other two I mentioned, not to mention Cholet and Strasbourg. However, we are among the contenders; we know there’s strong competition behind us. If we want that spot in the ‘Big Four,’ we’ll have to prove it, and we haven’t done anything yet. If we reach the Betclic Élite semi-finals, then we can talk about it.
Theoretically, the Eurocup winner qualifies for the Euroleague. Has that become a goal for you? Is it a topic that comes up in the locker room?
No, we don’t talk about it too much. I try to keep the guys focused on the present. We can’t project too far ahead. First, we have a semi-final to win, a Game 1 and a Game 2. And after that, there’s a final against potentially Besiktas or Bahçesehir, two tough opponents. Personally, I don’t like to project too much because it can create illusions, a sense of comfort, of seeing things as easier than they are. So no, we haven’t asked ourselves that question. It’s not for us at the moment. But in due time, perhaps we will answer it. I hope so, anyway.
