Kaiser Gates arrived at Hapoel Jerusalem at the very last minute.
He came on the sixth foreign standard in Oren Amiel's squad with the least impressive resume and the lowest expectations.
After his signing, there were even fans and professionals who expressed bewilderment or resentment about signing a player like him in a team like Hapoel Jerusalem.
"We'll see you on the field and judge for yourselves," Kaiser told Israel Today in his first interview since arriving in Israel.
"I have invested a lot of work over the years and I am here to give my heart. You can like it or not, but it is me. I will play hard every game and see that I deserve to play for Hapoel Jerusalem and get as many minutes as possible."
And Gates knows what he's talking about.
In the league game against Hapoel Gilboa / Galil on Sunday, he did not score a single point, but received 26 minutes.
"When Kaiser was on the field the defensive lineups worked for us and helped us win," Amiel explained.
Apparently the player understood his way of gaining the confidence of his coach and the minutes of the game.
"In the end the coach is the one who decides how much each player will play. I just have to work and take every opportunity I get."
Photo: Danny Maron,
Both you and three other foreigners with no European experience. Do you think this is something that can hurt you, especially in the Champions League?
"I respect European basketball and obviously it can be an advantage when you know, but we bring to the pitch the place we came from and what we've learned all these years. I'm here to do my job and I'm not too interested in experience. Look at young NBA players like "Trey Young and Luka Doncic lead the league and there are a lot of mediocre veteran players. Experience is important, but there are other things."
Over the years many young players developed under coach Amiel and reached high places thanks to working with him. Is that one of the reasons you came to Jerusalem?
My agent and I talked in the summer and it really was something we talked about.
"The coach has success with American players and also that it is an easy place for Americans to adapt, because Jerusalem has a lot of people who speak English and you can live a normal life, without changing too much from what I know and am used to."
Photo: Danny Maron,
"Love the vibe of Israeli music"
Gates, 24, was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
His parents called him Kaiser "so I could have a good life like Caesar's," and also after Kaiser Souza, the fictional protagonist in the movie "The Immediate Suspect."
His family is considered one of the most famous in the musical world in their area of residence.
His father is a well-known and senior producer at a recording company and his mother was a singer for many years.
"I did not get the talent from her and I can not sing, but I do write some songs. Luckily I play basketball, so the fact that I did not get musical talent did not hurt me too much," he smiles.
"I already had time to walk around Jerusalem a bit and hear some Israeli music that opened my mind to something new that I did not know. You have a good vibe."
Say you're a calm guy, sometimes too calm.
"I show emotion, but know how to stay on the ground, not to exaggerate and not to get too excited when I should not or to be disappointed when I should not."
His cousin is Yancy Gates, who previously played for Israel and even signed with Hapoel Jerusalem, but did not play for it.
In the 2016/17 season he was caught for using banned substances and left the country.
Kaiser says that he is not in contact with the cousin and knew nothing about his past in Israel and the short connection with Jerusalem.
Between 2018-2015 he played at Xavier College where he took him under his wing Jaylen Reynolds, now a Maccabi Tel Aviv player. Reynolds was then in his final season at the college and teamed up with the young rookie and introduced him to college basketball. "Jaylen is like a big brother For me, but he also knows that we are enemies on the field, "Gates begins to warm up the atmosphere ahead of the meeting with the Yellows in a week and a half.
One of his best friends is Malik Beasley, a star of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"We grew up together from the age of 10-9 and we are the best friends there are. We played basketball when we were kids and since then we have been in a very close relationship."
Reynolds (left).
Like a big brother, Photo: Oded Karni
To recoup the loss to Karsiyaka
Tonight (Wednesday, 21:00) Hapoel Jerusalem will meet Menersa knowing that they must win after the painful loss last week against Karsiyaka.
Gates, who missed two critical free throws towards the end, wants to give back to his teammates and fans.
"I'm disappointed I missed. The result last week should not have happened. Our mistakes lost the game for us. We all need to be sharp to get a first win."
There are many doubts around the ability of the current staff to meet Hapoel Jerusalem's standards from previous seasons.
"I feel like this team has all the potential in the world. We have the right pieces in the puzzle and we have players who have played many minutes in big teams and can do great things. Now the burden of proof is on us to succeed and meet goals."
