Kyshawn George here photographed on November 4 during a meeting in Washington.
Getty Images via AFP
Tuesday afternoon, 3:30 p.m. in Washington DC Black sweatshirt on and a splendid Christmas tree in the background, Kyshawn George is sitting in front of his screen. By video, the Valais winger from the Washington Wizards commented on his decision to join the Canadian national team, to the detriment of the country where he was trained, for some Swiss journalists. Interview.
Kyshawn, can you explain to us the reasons for your choice?
I always wanted to play with a national team at the highest level. The sporting choice, for me, is being able to participate in the Olympic Games or the world championships, being able to play against and with the best, and learning from them. This chance presents itself more with Canada, which is in the top 5 in the world, than with Switzerland. I have nothing against Swiss basketball. It’s a story of opportunity and the level of play that I will be able to confront.
After the NBA draft, we heard you several times recall that you also had Canadian nationality. One way to prepare for this announcement?
When I watch the Olympic Games in Paris, I see Canada in the quarter-finals. But just the fact of participating in an event like that is already a childhood dream. Afterwards they won’t give me anything. I’m not going to snap my fingers and get selected for Canada. It’s a challenge for me. They have twenty NBA players to choose from. I’m going to have to put in the work to make my place in the twelve.
At the end of September, you met the new president of Swiss Basket, Andrea Siviero, in Washington. He failed to convince you?
(He smiles) There is a selection which plays the Olympics and the other the qualifications for the major competitions. What interests me is the level of play. It has nothing to do with the Swiss organization.
We also saw you with Thabo Sefolosha, who played little with the Swiss team during his NBA career. Did his experience matter?
(He laughs) I just have very basketball conversations with him. I respect his career, I ask him for advice. To be very honest, very little has been said about the national team. We mainly talked about the Wizards, the NBA, how to best integrate myself, manage veterans, referees. I didn’t go deeper into the Swiss team with him. And whatever he may have experienced, it didn’t influence my choice. I follow my own path.
Do your childhood friends in Valais understand your decision?
To be frank, it didn’t raise that much of a reaction among the people I know. I guess they understand. But if not, I’m open to having a discussion with them.
Your big brother Jamal (22 years old) joined the Swiss selection this year. You could have played together.
Of course it crossed my mind. I thought it might be cool to be able to put a national jersey together. But I think about my personal career first and foremost. And this challenge of being able to compete in the Worlds or the Olympics is what matters to me the most.
The last time you played for Switzerland was five years ago, during a U16 Euro. What will you keep from these years?
I take with me all these training courses, the cohesion we had with the guys I usually faced, from Geneva and Lugano. We traveled to Italy, Serbia and Portugal together. We shared a lot of things. It has always been a source of pride to have my Swiss team jersey hanging in my room.
Having to choose between your homeland of birth and your other homeland, which is more sportingly ambitious. Can we call it heartbreaking?
I’m not going to say it was easy but no, not heartbreaking. I see it as a chance to be able to play on both sides and to be able to choose to challenge myself by going with Canada. I went through the Swiss team, I loved it with pride. Now having a choice is the best thing that could happen to me.
You might have liked to announce your choice yourself but Swiss Basket spilled the beans. Disappointed?
No. I don’t know these things. I try to control what I can control and I place a lot of importance on that. What happened happened and we move forward from there.
What if Canada doesn’t need you? Is it possible to go back?
If I have no chance of playing for the Canadian team, there is no reason why I refuse to one day wear the Swiss jersey again. Afterwards, I don’t know if administratively, it’s possible.
