The NBA fields some of the best basketball players in the world. The likes of LeBron James, Stephen Curry and others have just shown at the Paris Olympics that they are still some of the best to ever touch a basketball. To play alongside them is considered a privilege as the said player is also part of that history. But if one had to go up against them, it would most likely be difficult and embarrassing.
The player in question is former Denver Nuggets passing wizard Facundo Campazzo. The Argentinian was a guest on the Spanish podcast Clank where he had a few things to say while talking about defending NBA superstars.
Imagine, I had to defend Stephen Curry, and when they were scoring a couple of points on me, there were these rappers sitting in the front row. They were saying to him, ‘Attack him, he can’t defend you! Look, look, he doesn’t know how to defend.’
Facundo Campazzo said
His words, as translated by José Ignacio Pinilla of AS suggest trash talk from fans tormented him, as they knew that it would be tough for him to guard Stephen Curry. Standing at 5′ 10″ and having played a majority of his professional basketball career in Europe is not the best environment to learn how to defend NBA stars. Add in the trash talk, and it does have an effect on the player. He even recalled Draymond Green suggesting Campazzo ask his coach to switch him out.
Facundo Campazzo says he was heckled by rappers sitting courtside at NBA games:
“I had to defend Stephen Curry and Trae Young… there were these rappers sitting in the front row. They were saying to him, ‘Attack him, he can’t defend you! Look, look, he doesn’t know how to… pic.twitter.com/6T6EGLpWap
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 26, 2024
As Curry was anyways going to torment him and score 30+ points. Time and again several home-grown stars have also struggled to get a grip when fans and opponents unload their trash talk. Campazzo ended up praying that his opponents did not score 30+ on him every time.
Facundo Campazzo played for two seasons with the Denver Nuggets. That time, he was dishing out assists to eventual league MVP Nikola Jokic whose advice he recalled while on the same episode;
He told me to forget what I had learned in European basketball, that the NBA was another sport. And that’s how it is. I had to have a big impact without the ball in my hand.
Facundo Campazzo said
That advice helped the Argentinian play decent ball in the NBA and earn over $6 million. As it is generally difficult for Europeans to make a mark in the league. Who better than the best basketball player on his team who worked up from a 2nd round pick to be the franchise cornerstone? Jokic’s words helped Campazzo show his real skill, passing the ball when the opposition least expected it. Social media is littered with highlight reels of the wizard-dropping dimes.
In his two years with the Denver Nuggets, he did a good job while fulfilling his dream of playing in the best league in the world. But close to the end of year 2, he was done with the league. A few more games with the Dallas Mavericks and he was back in Europe.
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