Tonight, Guy Pnini will meet an older player on the floor in Holon in a game with Ludwigsburg (Wednesday, 21:00).
The 38-year-old Pnini is a "boy" next to Tremel Darden, a player of the German team - the natural phenomenon of European basketball.
The oldest player in senior European enterprises.
This is far from a gimmick.
What's more impressive than the fact that he's playing at 40, is the fact that he's a key player on the team at that age.
Darden is not a player who goes up for a few minutes here and there to give his experience, he is a quintet player and is on the floor for 25 minutes in the evening.
A major player whose contribution is very large.
He is averaging 12 points and 4 rebounds so far in the German league and Champions League.
Another proof that he's not looked at his ID card: Ludwigsburg signed him to another season this summer, with a very demanding coach like John Patrick who defined him as a "leader by birth."
pearly.
A 38-year-old boy, Photo: Alan Shiver
German journalist Robert Hussell of Big Basketball magazine explains his importance in many respects: "His secret is that he has great physical data and he knows how to take care of his body. He is very important in the team - he is the experienced player who has done everything in European basketball and played at the highest levels."
Hussell adds: "Ludwigsburg has quite a few young players learning from him, not only basketball, but also what professional behavior is. In fact he is a model for all basketball players. He is in very good shape this season. In one game he even drowned a dunk 360 degrees. He is a player. "Central and a significant part of John Patrick's method, much because of his ability to play in several positions. At the beginning of the season, when the team lacked a chin position, he even occasionally filled that position."
Darden, an adult brother to six brothers and sisters, began his professional career in 2004.
He spent all of it in Europe except for one season in Australia.
This is his 18th season and all the seasons he has finished.
He has played in nine countries: Turkey, Belgium, France, Spain, Germany, Australia, Lithuania, Greece and Italy.
He played in the Euroleague in four teams: Real Madrid, Malaga, Zalgiris Kaunas and Olympiacos.
And there are also links to our basketball: he lost with Real to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Euroleague final in 2014, previously played with Amit Tamir and Chris Watson, and Yannis Sapropoulos coached him at Olympiacos where he played with ex-Yellows Othello Hunter.
Darden hovers.
"Great athlete", Photo: Champions League website
Darden plays in both forward positions.
It is built on foot speed, explosive power, varied play with contribution on both sides of the court.
He's the kind of player who connects teams.
Today, with age and extensive experience, he is the example of the young.
One of them, teammate Lucas Herzog, said that "he is a role model for us," and said that even at his age Darden shows up an hour before training and walks an hour after him.
The natural physical data is joined by attitude, personality, hard work, professionalism and sympathy wherever he went.
This is actually the magic secret of this rare story.
Amit Tamir, who played with him in Charleroi in 2006/7, says: "I remember him as a young player in Charleroi. A charming guy, works very hard. He was a great athlete with less stable shooting. It will be interesting to see how he developed and how he still plays at that age."
Hugo López (who now coaches in Japan) was an assistant coach at Real Madrid when Darden played there, and this is his explanation for the phenomenon: "To understand how he plays at this age one needs to know his work ethic and ways of working. He starts work 30 minutes before each practice. He is already sweating. At the end of training he works 30-40 minutes on stretching and recovery. He is a professional at the highest level, works hard every day and every workout, and works hard in the summer between seasons. He loves the game and always prepares himself for opponents to face him. To train him and be in his environment and the environment of his family, which has a big part in his success. '
👶 Tremmell Benjamin Button Darden, are you for real !?
39-years-old, 16pts, 7reb to send @MHP_RIESEN to 3-0 in the "group of death" ☠💀 # BasketballCL I @tremenduz pic.twitter.com/KMRxWoaexw
- Basketball Champions League (@BasketballCL) October 28, 2021 Wrong?
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