If you are not basketball mice, you have probably never heard the name of Michael Moshiashvili.
He was considered promising in his youth when he played for Maccabi Tel Aviv, and already at the age of 16 he left for the prestigious youth department of Gran Canaria in Spain. However, his career as an actor did not take off, and he decided to retire from active play and moved to Los Angeles.
In an interview with "Israel Hayom" he says: "After seven years in which I was busy with other things, I returned to basketball and started conducting personal training together with Dash Latics, who is a senior personal trainer in California and became my mentor. Through him I got to work with players such as Ryan Toral and Alphonso McKinney (former NBA player - n.d.), and I realized that being a basketball coach is my vocation."
Moshiashvili in training, photo: Sierra Canyon
What made you return to basketball after so many years?
"My love for the game. As a player I felt that I didn't realize my potential. In the USA I had the dream of returning to play, but I knew that it was not realistic because of my age and level.
I tried every possible job, but basketball was always at the forefront.
"At the age of 24, I met Dash Letix and Phil Handy, who was then an assistant coach at the Toronto Raptors, I started working with them as a personal trainer and through them I got to know many senior players such as Devin Booker and Chris Paul."
In Israel there is a lot of talk about Ryan Toral, what is it like to work with him?
"Ryan is a hardworking, special and quiet person who likes to work hard. If he hadn't been injured, he would have been in the NBA a long time ago. He plays amazingly in the development league, and I hope he will continue to represent the Jewish people with honor."
What are your personal goals in basketball and training? Where do you see yourself in five years?
"Eric Spelostra, the coach of the Miami Heat, came to the US from the Philippines, and started like me as a video coach.
He is one of my role models, and my dream is to become an NBA artist like he did.
Of course, I would also love to train in Europe or Israel."
Moshiashvili (right) in training with Ryan Toral (center),
LeBron and Me
Three months ago Moshiashvili's coaching career took a significant turn when he joined the prestigious Sierra Canyon High School, which is considered one of the top in the US in developing players. The school trains talented players who are considered great basketball promises in America, including Brony and Bryce James, LeBron's sons, his son of Scotty Pippen, and more.
How did you get to Sierra Canyon?
"My dream has always been to get to the best place in the US in high school.
Many doubted and said I had no chance, but I believed in my way.
One day I went to school and called the secretary, asked to speak to the sports director, and to my surprise the secretary let me speak to him.
After a few minutes of conversation, I entered with him for a tour of their facilities and an initial introduction."
"I was very excited, I knew I would do everything to be accepted. It was my dream. He made a good impression of me, and told me he would be happy for me to come to a job interview towards the beginning of the next season. We kept in touch - and it happened."
Moshiashvili (right) in Sierra Canyon,
How was the first training?
"I thought I was coming for a job interview and a meeting, but I was immediately sent to conduct a 12-minute personal training session with LeBron's sons and Pippen's son. I was a little stressed, and Brony (LeBron's eldest son - n.d.) recognized it right away.
He came to me and said 'you got it bro'.
From that moment, these were the best three minutes of my life, the energies were in the sky, and I showed them what I know how to do best.
I suddenly realized that I was coaching players I used to see on TV."
"At the end of training, they approached me and told me that they were impressed with me. I was happy and knew I was in. I continued for two weeks of impressions, and then they assigned me to work as a scout, player development coach and video editor, and I signed a contract for two and a half years."
Bronnie James.
The first one that Moshiashvili coached, photo: AFP
What does the routine look like in high school?
"This high school invests in sports in an unusual way. They train for three hours every day, not including the gym. Sierra Canyon is a very prestigious school, many children of celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Kevin Hart, Chris Brown, Chris Paul and Dwayne Wade study there, like this Everything is at the highest and most professional level."
How involved is LeBron in his children's careers?
"Very involved. Not long ago we had an exhibition game of parents and children, and he came. It's crazy to see him up close and shake his hand. He respected me and called me 'Coach' - that's something I'll never forget."
LeBron at the Sierra Canyon game.
Very involved in the career of his sons, photo: AFP
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