Signed one of the most beautiful rings in the history of colleges: "Almost from the penalty spot, like Jordan" • Memories from the summer with Miami: "I learned a lot from Melbourne, his knowledge is huge" • After a long time, Eric Griffin wants to return to hover at Hapoel B'Shlosha: "End "The end can be played"
Griffin in a BS uniform. "This situation is tough."
Photography:
Liron Moldovan
If Eric Griffin had only concentrated on basketball, we probably would have seen him in the NBA or at least on a good European team.
Not many tall have athleticism like his, ability to lower the ball to the floor and good shooting.
He comes to Hapoel BS after a good season in Australia, but after a long period in which he did not play, it takes him time to get into things. "This situation is tough and high prices," he told Israel Today in his first interview since landing in Israel, "We want to play Basketball and not sitting at home.
We are finally getting back to what we love to do. "
The corona also affects the occurrence around the pitch.
His fiancée Kennedy is stuck in the United States.
"Just before our call she called and complained that she could not come. I hope we can sort it out quickly and she will join me here."
When he was young no one believed in Griffin and no high school coach in Orlando agreed to accept him.
Until one coach, Willie Anderson from local Boone High School, arrived and took him under his wing.
"Willie is my guy. No one believed in me or gave me a real chance. I was in trouble at the time and was looking for a change, until a mutual friend recommended me. Willie took me, and the rest is history."
In 2016, Griffin was suspected of murdering his friend by Florida police.
He was taken into custody for a week despite a clean criminal record and although he held a strong alibi, when security cameras at his home showed that he was at his home that night.
Months later he also wins completely from any connection to the affair.
"I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the police understood it in the end," he says quietly, recounting his detention: "I was depressed and I was not me, because there was uncertainty. "I could not eat, because the food there is disgusting and I have lost weight."
"Larkin? Nice guard"
Griffin's athletic abilities are also closely known by Shane Larkin, perhaps the best player in Europe for the past two years.
In the 2014 summer league, while playing in Dallas, the forward rose to heights during a game against the Knicks and drowned the stunned Larkin face thrown to the floor.
"Of course I remember that moment. I got a proper delivery and the rest is history."
When I tell him that today Larkin is perhaps the best player in Europe, he replies: "Yes, the truth is he's a pretty good player, nice guard. I know he's from Orlando too, but we do not know each other."
Erik Griffin with the MONSTER SLAM !!!!!!!!
pic.twitter.com/qDjSFOk5pw
- Basketball Gurus (@BBall_Gurus) July 16, 2014
The moment that brought Griffin into the consciousness and scout books of the NBA happened two years earlier, during a game between his team, Campbell College, and North Carolina, when he almost jumped from the penalty line and finished with a huge dunk.
"I was ringing from the penalty spot or so, like Michael Jordan. It really was a special moment for me that just happened all of a sudden without me thinking or planning," Griffin says of the move that was crowned by Bleach Report as one of the most beautiful rings in college basketball history.
In the summer of 2013, Griffin signed a temporary contract with the Miami Heat in the trio of LeBron James, Devin Wade and Chris Bush.
He moved with them to a pre-season camp and participated in seven preseason games before being released.
"It was not real. Playing with these guys and being around them in general," he recalls, excited, "not many can say they trained with LeBron, Wade and Bush. They were egoless and taught me a lot of things. Many do not like LeBron, but "He's the most powerful player to play this game. A superstar who treats Rocky like that, brings him a can of wine and talks to him - I respect him all my life. His knowledge is insane."
So I understand you wanted him to win the championship this year?
"There are players I like more, but yeah, I wanted to see LeBron cultivate his legacy and win the championship so he gets the respect he deserves."
In recent months there has been a lot of interest around the issue of racism towards blacks in the United States. What do you think about it?
"I have not experienced racism in person, but it's just hard to be black. But as a black you can not say or do certain things. For example, if I go back to my neighborhood and see me with a fancy car, I get the feeling that you do not want to see me succeed, because "I am black, everyone immediately thinks I am a drug dealer. This is a crazy situation that must stop."