Walter "Eddie" Tavares is one of the best players in Europe.
Since signing for Real Madrid in 2017, he is the most dominant and influential domestic player in the Euroleague, and reportedly also one of the top earners on the continent with an estimated salary of 2.5 million euros per season.
Every time Tavares steps on the floor, the opponent's game changes.
The tall ones in front have a hard time with the paint, and the guards are afraid to penetrate lest they be blocked by his huge hands.
Real for its many professional problems, especially in the back line, depends very much on the chin's ability, which rises to a height of 2.20 m, if it wants to get out of one of its major professional crises in recent years, and pass Maccabi Tel Aviv in a fascinating series starting tonight in Madrid.
"It's going to be a great series. Both teams reached the playoffs for a reason and not just here," Tavares said in an exclusive interview with Israel Today.
"Maccabi has been playing great lately both at home and away, so it's going to be a difficult task for us, but we will be ready."
Over the years Real has been a symbol of stability, what has happened to you in recent months?
"I agree that these are difficult moments for us that we are not used to. I know everyone around sees and talks that we are not at our best, but I promise we are going to fight to the end."
Do you really believe you can turn the situation around and end the season strong?
"Yes, of course. We have not finished the season yet and we have a chance to get high. It is true that we had bad moments during the season, but we are in a great place and we have a home advantage. The season is really not over, and everything can still be turned upside down. "These bad moments and to show Real Madrid that everyone knows."
Tbars.
"Feels I can keep every player on the field," Photo: EPI
The meeting that changed his life
Tavares, 30, was born on a small island called Mayo in Cape Verde, which consists of a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and tells the story of his childhood and the unique path that led him to basketball.
"I was born on a small island. I had nothing to do with life, certainly not at such a height. Anyone born in Madrid or Tel Aviv can not understand at all what it is like to grow up in a place like this," he tries to explain. In Europe.Everyone told me I should play basketball because of my height, but we did not have the means to do so on the island, so I started playing football with friends.
"One day (when he was 15-16 years old) a tourist from Germany came to visit our island.
He saw me and asked if I wanted to play basketball.
I replied 'yes, why not'.
He made contact with people he probably knew from Gran Canaria, and for the first time in my life I got a chance to get on a basketball court.
"This tourist just changed my life and gave me a real opportunity to help my family live a better life."
Have you been in touch with him since?
"I was not in touch with the German guy for a long time. In fact, the last time I saw him was then in Cape Verde. I really want to talk to him again and thank him, but I do not know where to find him."
In an air battle against Bayern.
Partner in only 13 games in the NBA, Photo: EPI
"I spat blood to get to the NBA"
After six years in Spain, Tavares tried his luck in the best league in the world in 2015-2017, but in total partnered in 13 games in the NBA and spent mostly in the development league.
In November 2017 his career changed when he signed for Real, and soon became one of the best players on the continent.
In recent years there have been reports that the player rejected offers to return to the NBA and preferred to stay in Madrid.
"It was a great journey," he says.
"I had a lot of ups and downs in the NBA, and I tried to give my best to play there. I spat blood to try to get there and get a few minutes, but I was unlucky. That experience made me a better player and makes me play now with a lot of confidence. I built. "A tough mentality thanks to what I went through in the NBA and now I'm very happy to be in Real."
I believe it is not easy to be 2.20 m tall, certainly not off the field.
"It's not easy on the court, and it's not easy off the court. I do not like to be a guy that everyone can see regardless of where he is. On the street I would like to be almost invisible, but when you are 2.20 m tall it is simply impossible. In terms of basketball "The height helped change my life. Thanks to him, the German guy saw my potential, so I'm not complaining."
If it was up to you, would you like to be 5-10 inches less?
"In normal life, of course. I would like to be shorter when I leave the field, but on the field I like to be big. I like to do my job on the floor and always try to do my best - to be fast and do everything I can. Seemingly someone tall like me "It's supposed to be slow, but I think I'm a low player. I always feel I can keep any player on the field."
Who is the face player you have the hardest time facing?
"Good question, because tall players always leave their position and play against me in line 4. They go out of the arc to throw threes and try to get me out of the point, so it's a little hard for me to say who's the toughest. With Mustafa Pal "YM), who always stays in color and plays in front of me like a pure chin, I have good fights under the baskets."
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