Omar Kook, who played in the NBA and Euroleague, shows no signs of slowing down even at 38 ("It's not a matter of age, but of the type of person you are") • Tonight he will try to help Burgos beat Hapoel Jerusalem: "It would be great to win such an important title At such a stage of the career "• Interview
Cook, yesterday in Greece.
"My wife has been on a strict diet for four years"
Photography:
Rodrigo, Diario de Burgos
Omar Kook is approaching the age of 39, but anyone who sees him playing will not notice his advanced age.
The quarterback (1.85m), considered one of the best morals in Europe for the past 15 years and formerly the king of assists in the Euroleague (twice), the Spanish League, the Adriatic League and the Lithuanian League, signed early this summer in Spanish Burgos, among other things to contribute his experience Rabbi and help her win the Champions League.
"We have the ability to win the title and do something special. For me it would be great to win such an important title at such a stage in my career," he told Israel Today in a special interview from Athens ahead of tonight's quarterfinals (Wednesday, 18:30) against Hapoel Jerusalem. "It's one game, and in my experience you have to be good and not make mistakes. You made a mistake - you can go home the next day."
How do you maintain such high fitness and motivation at an age when others are already retiring?
"It's not a matter of age, but of the type of person you are. I still feel I can contribute to the game and I still have a lot to give. My wife has been on a tough diet for four years now. I eat healthy, no carbs and cakes and such. I mostly eat vegetables and fruits "And sometimes once a week maybe some pizza, but not too much. I drink morning smoothies, vegetables, some chicken, and have not eaten pork or beef for 20 years."
The name Omar Cook connects to basketball fans along with assists. What is behind this?
"At the beginning of my career, because of my height, I couldn't score lay-ups and started delivering. From there it continued, and since then I have been making my friends better in every team."
If you had a few more inches could you play more than 22 games in the NBA?
"Yes, I always felt that with a good opportunity or the right situation I would have stayed longer. If I were now a college player going out to the NBA I would be perfect for the guard basketball we see there. At the time they tried to play with big guards like Jason Kidd, and it was not A good time for me. "
"My daughter begs us to return to the United States"
Kook had two major encounters with Israeli basketball.
In 2010, he played in the Montenegrin uniform against the Israeli national team in front of 10,000 spectators at Yad Eliyahu, in one of the national games remembered for its electrifying atmosphere and unforgettable duel between Omri Caspi (30 points) and Nikola Pakovich (20): "I remember it. It was a game. "Good and warm atmosphere. You had stars like Caspi, Eliyahu and Pnini. For Montenegro it was a good experience, because it was the first campaign since they were promoted to the first tier in Europe."
The second encounter was in the 2017/18 season, when he collaborated with Sylvan Landsberg at Estudiantes.
"Sylvan came from Maccabi Tel Aviv and had a great season.
We, the players, told him that he is the star of our show, and he was really great and was selected in the top five of the season in the Spanish league. "
Have you already thought up to what age you would like to play?
"This is my 20th season and I plan to play at least until the 2021/22 season. So, when I'm 40, we'll see. My daughter starts high school and she begs us to go back to the US so she can study there and not in Europe.
In the meantime, it's important that we all stay healthy.
As you can see, this is not a bad thing at all. "