Forgotten during the 2019 Draft, Jaylen Hoard was nevertheless offered a contract with Portland and notably played in the play-offs. An experience he returned to for RMC Sport.
Released in the first round of the play-offs of the Western Conference in the NBA, Portland wants to see in the long term with a very young workforce. The franchise coached by Terry Stotts can rely for this on the strong French winger, Jaylen Hoard. Not drafted last year, he signed a two-way contract with the Blazers. This experience allowed him to evolve with the Oregon franchise (13 games) while taking part in G-League games with the Texas Legends, the team affiliated with the Dallas Mavericks. For RMC Sport, the former resident of INSEP returned to this particular year.
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Jaylen, did the end of the regular season and your return to Paris go well?
I am in good shape. I returned to France and spend time with my family. It had been a long time since I had spent so much time with them. There, for the next three weeks, I’m off. I will take this opportunity to rest and recharge the batteries. I will then return to Dallas to train individually while waiting for the resumption of the NBA season.
How do you rate your first NBA season?
We can say that it has been a mixed season. When I wasn’t drafted I was a little sad. But overall, I learned a lot. The end of the season went very well. I got to express myself in the G-League and did what I had to do on and off the pitch in terms of behavior.
Were you surprised by this universe?
No. Because I was ready. I had the opportunity to play in high school and then in American university with Wake Forest. I already knew the American mentality. But it’s true that the NBA is clearly another world. You play daily against the best athletes in your sport and it’s tough. It takes a lot of work and I am ready to continue.
Weren’t the trips between the NBA and the G-League too complicated to manage?
In fact, it is mostly a mental problem. You have to think that you go from city to city, that you suffer from jet lag. Mentally, it’s complicated. The two teams also have different systems, so learning sometimes takes longer.
Do you prefer structured systems or do you like having some freedom in the field?
I like the happy medium: it has to be structured and at the same time very free. Most importantly, nothing should be chaotic.
How were you greeted by the Blazers?
Frankly, I was very well received. I remember I was in discussions with my family and I made this remark to them: here in Portland, whether you are the superstar of the team or the fifteenth player on the roster, you will be treated the same. . Everyone respects you. No matter who you are, the staff, the coaches, the people of the organization respect you.
Wasn’t it too hard to join this collective?
The coaches here trust me. I know I have everyone’s confidence and it’s a pleasure. I remember that during a match, Carmelo Anthony came to see me and he told me: “Be aggressive, we know what you can do, we trust you. If we have to give you the ball, we will, we trust you. “Obviously, that makes me happy and makes me want to do more.
Jaylen, you revealed yourself at the end of the year, especially during the playoffs played in the bubble in Orlando. How do you explain it?
With my agent, we had a discussion at the end of the regular season. It wasn’t sure that I was following the team in the NBA bubble. I had just planned to train in Dallas and after only two days my agent called me explaining that Portland wanted me to come in the bubble with them. I was surprised and happy. And I tried to do my best to give them confidence back.
After rest, what are you going to try to work?
I really need to improve on my outside shot, whether it’s mid distance or long distance. It’s a real job on the shooting that I have to do to pass a course.
Besides, do you prefer to work at post 3 or at post 4?
This year, I really had to evolve into position 4. With the work I have to do on my outside shooting, I can potentially switch to the winger position. Even if it means doubling on both positions, which would give me more versatility.
Do you have any news regarding your future in the NBA?
No, I haven’t spoken to the General Manager yet. I believe that we must wait for the period of the Free Agency to start the discussions. My wish would be to stay in Portland because it is the first team that believed in me.
Could an experience in Europe interest you?
The Euroleague is a championship that I respect a lot. There are so many strong players in this division. Juan Carlos Navarro is one of my favorite players. Little, I loved to see him play. I know he’s Spanish, so it’s not great, but I really liked him (laughs). So if that didn’t work, of course I could like the Euroleague.
Jaylen, you have worn the colors of the French team in U16 and U17. You were injured for the U18 competitions and because of the draft, you did not play in U20. Are the Olympic Games a goal for you?
The 2021 Olympic Games are already in my head. Those of Paris 2024, too, but Tokyo, if I have the possibility of having my chance, I would try to seize it. I don’t limit myself. I am an ambitious player. And it’s true that I didn’t wear the France team jersey, I miss it (laughs).
This NBA season was marked by the “Black Lives Matter” movement and the boycott initiated by the Bucks. How did you experience it, at only 21 years old?
I was shocked at everything that was going on. I remember we were getting ready for Game 5 against the Lakers. I had just eaten and my mother sent me a message to warn me that our match was not going to take place. It was through her that I learned the beginning of the player movement. Then CJ McCollum explained to us what was going on. We were in a meeting with all the players in the same room to decide what to do next. It was strong and it’s a moment I’ll never forget. I was in solidarity with them, because it could only advance the social cause.
