Interview with Garnett Thompson - May 15, 2009 (by Serafim Karaiskakis) 

Thompson Garnett (207-F/C-80, agency: Strategic Sports, college: Providence) legendary streetballer proved he is also a good professional player. The last years showing his skills in Asian courts   [read more] 
Interview with Garnett Thompson - May 15, 2009 (by Serafim Karaiskakis) 

Thompson Garnett (207-F/C-80, agency: Strategic Sports, college: Providence) legendary streetballer proved he is also a good professional player. The last years showing his skills in Asian courts   [read more] 
Thompson Garnett (207-F/C-80, agency: Strategic Sports, college: Providence) legendary streetballer proved he is also a good professional player. The last years showing his skills in Asian courts.

You were playing for Providence and you decided to leave and play streetball tournaments, do you regret taking this decision? Do you believe this cost you from finding a job overseas earlier?

Thompson Garnett: I left Providence because i felt my game didn\'t fit the style of play for that team, i don\'t regret making that decision. I play streetball during the summer time, I wouldn\'t leave school to play in the street because that wouldn\'t help me get a job professionally.

Do you remember any other players from the streetball tournaments that succeed to become professional and have a career like you?

Thompson Garnett: Most of my friends that play streetball come from New York like me are having great careers like Smush Parker, Chudney Gray, Darren Phillips, Ty Grant, i can name a lot more but i would be typing for awhile.

Your fist European job was in Poland, tell us your memories from that experience.

Thompson Garnett: It was my first time going abroad so it was a new experience for me. It started out rough with my luggage getting left behind when i transfered flights, I was without a change of clothes for 5 days luckily my good friend Chudney Gray was on the same team as me to make my time there go easier. I think i had it lucky from making the adjustment to get use to Polish costumes because I had my friend on the same team. Most of the time first year players come overseas not knowing what they\'re getting into so it takes awhile for them to adjust.

After a stunning season in Poland you did not continued your career in Europe and moved to play in China. Did you have any offers from European teams? Why you decided to move and play in Asia?

Thompson Garnett: I was really surprise after the season i had in Poland i didn\'t get any offers anywhere in Europe not even Poland. I was baffled by it. China was a last minute thing. I didn\'t have any other offers so my agent called me 3am in the morning a day before the China camp to tell me to book a flight and go to the China draft. I was lucky because i was squeezed in at the very last second to be invited to that camp.

This year the league in China was very tough filled with some well known players. Who was the MVP in your opinion?

Thompson Garnett: I think it was between Lee Benson and my old teammate Rodney White.

The teams in China signed a lot of players from NBA this season but many did not stay till the end. Why in your opinion this happened?

Thompson Garnett: I think they weren\'t use to the conditions as far as living and eating. Everybody knows as an American it\'s tough to find good food to eat in China.

What about you future plans, you see yourself playing in Asia again or you are planning to find a job in a European team?

Thompson Garnett: To be honest i wouldn\'t mind to play in Europe if the salary was good but my first option is always Asia. The money is great and the basketball is fast pace just how I like.

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