After the Yellows decided to give it up ("I wanted to develop there, they knew my potential"), Jaylen Reynolds became one of the best in the Euroleague at Bayern Munich: "Feels free and plays the way I like" • Special interview with the ex who will try to complete a season double at Maccabi tonight
Reynolds in front of Hunter in the hall
Photo:
Alan Shiver
A big miss by Maccabi
Photo:
Alan Shiver
If we had told a year ago to basketball fans and especially to Maccabi Tel Aviv fans that Jaylen Reynolds would be one of the best in the Euroleague this season, they would probably have laughed at us, and rightly so for them.
The 28-year-old American, who came to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the middle of last season to replace the injured Tariq Black, had a hard time fitting in under Yannis Sapropoulos and with the exception of a few flickers, he just seemed unsuitable for the high levels of Europe. In the uniform of Zenit St. Petersburg and Reggio Emilia.
But Andrea Trinkieri thought otherwise.
The brilliant Italian coach of Bayern Munich is known for having a special sense for the players, and especially one who knows how to get the best out of the staff at his disposal.
Last summer, he gave up Greg Monroe, who moved to the Moscow Khimki (and has already had time to leave it as well), and chose to bring in Reynolds, although he did not impress Maccabi Tel Aviv nor in two months in the Barcelona uniform in 2018.
Reynolds with Sapropoulos. "I've always been good" // Photo: Alan Schieber
"Last season Bayern were one of the weakest rebounding teams in the Euroleague and Trinquieri was looking for a good rebounder," said German journalist Robert Wiesel, who writes for the popular BIG magazine. "Keep guards. That's why Bayern chose him."
The Italian coach realized that his player likes to get off the bench and bring new energies to the game.
He gives him 21 minutes in the Euroleague and a little less than that in the German league, and gets maximum output from him in a little time.
In the German league he is the most effective chin and also in the Euroleague he is tenth in the index (for comparison, Scotty Wilbkin is ranked 13th) and third in the rebounds.
"Usually my teams know I should be left out"
"I think overall I was always good," Reynolds said in a special interview with Israel Today when I asked him about the differences between the ability he demonstrates this season and the one he demonstrated last season, "Every season and every team has what the coach demands of you, there is the opportunity "You get and your situations. This season I feel I'm taking advantage of my options."
The fans in Israel saw your full potential or if you had more opportunities you could have given more?
"Without a doubt Maccabi fans and the people at the club knew my potential. It should also be remembered that Amara Studmeier joined the team and it was huge for us. I just wanted to help the team in everything I can."
Reynolds signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv in December 2019 until the end of the Euroleague season, and in May the Yellows informed him that his contract would not be extended and that he was released. The player himself wanted to continue to be disappointed to hear the announcement, but his disappointment did not last long because less than two months later. .
Reynolds vs. Tavares // Photo: GettyImages
"I wanted to continue at Maccabi and develop there, but they did not want to continue to use my services. I'll tell you the truth, it hurt me a bit, but I dealt with it and said to myself 'Okay, I have to move on' and I really found a good place for me. "I know that this guy needs to be kept in the team because he helps with everything that is needed for the team to be a winning team," says Reynolds.
"I'm really happy at Bayern," he continues, "I feel free when I'm on the pitch, I don't think about sins or negative things that could happen if I don't succeed. I just play basketball the way I know and love."
Can you describe for yourself the differences between Sapropolus and Trinkieri?
"Both are beloved coaches and both care about the well-being of the players and the success of a team. Coach Trinkiri gives more freedom to the players and I feel more suited to the method. I like to score for example and it's fun for me. At Maccabi I didn't get many shots, Scotty and Dorsey take a lot. "And I always felt I had to do more things to help the team. Here the game goes through me and it's a great feeling for a player that he can make an impact."
The experts in Germany also know: Maccabi missed Reynolds
While Reynolds signed for Bayern, acclimatized and became one of the best in the Euroleague, Maccabi Tel Aviv brought Ante Zizic in a glittering deal and later also added Dragon Bender to the front line. Statistical comparisons do not always tell the whole story, but the differences between the player Who left for those who actually came in his place are very conspicuous.The two Croatian tallies in yellow score less than Reynolds and in less good percentages.They take fewer rebounds, block less and of course their column score index is significantly lower than his own.
"It seems that Maccabi missed an opportunity with him," says the German commentator and editor of the Magenta Sport network, Lucas Feldhaus. "It took him a while to adapt to Trinkieri, but today he is one of the most stable and important players at Bayern. He is a key factor in its good season in the Euroleague."
Celebrating in the color of Barcelona. Missing Sapropolus // Photo: GettyImages
Sapropolos knows very well how dangerous our former player can be and with how much energy he may get into a game that all sides know is important, so at recent video conferences he asked his inside players to pay attention to Reynolds and be focused on closing for a rebound.
The player himself hopes to continue the good season in the Bavarian ranks and does not hide his desire to return in the coming years to one of the biggest clubs on the continent after the unsuccessful experiences at Barcelona and Maccabi.
"Without a doubt I have a desire to progress all the time. I want and do whatever it takes to prove myself in the highest possible competitions. I will try to be the best high I can."
"I was devastated, I could not have imagined a year without basketball"
During his life Reynolds made several mistakes.
The first story happened during his time in colleges when the management of Xavier University refused to allow him to play basketball in the first year because he did not meet the academic duties required of the players.
"It ruined me, because I did not imagine a whole year without basketball," he admits painfully, "but this year helped me build my body and head. Today I am a stronger person. It strengthened me. Today I understand that what happened helped me, but then It was not clear to me and I went through difficult moments. "
Later one of the students complained about it to the police.
The complaint was deleted two months later and its details remained confidential due to the students' privacy.
Reynolds himself asked not to expand on those events.
"Aware of the great importance of the game for Maccabi" // Photo: GettyImages
Even during his professional career his decision making has not always been one of the best and he has roamed between eight teams within four years.
Last summer he probably made the best decision of his professional life and joined Bayern, a move that, as mentioned, may arrange for him next season a contract with one of the top teams in European basketball.
Tonight he will try to show Maccabi Tel Aviv and Yannis Sapropoulos that this time the mistake is theirs in that they did not extend his contract and decided to give up his services.
"I am aware of the great importance of this game for the continuation of Maccabi's season," he concludes, "but I come with high motivation and record concentration to achieve a victory for my team."
