The US basketball looks forward to the March Madness. Bayern star Shabazz Napier explains the special charm of the tournament and its influence on young players.
The most exciting month of the basketball year is currently underway in the United States. In March, the US college league NCAA is looking for its master. Within one month, the best teams in the country play against each other in the KO system.
Due to the crazy mode with do-or-the-games, high tension is guaranteed. Surprises are part of the agenda, which is why the month is popular under March Madness.
During this magical period, the NBA even takes a back seat in the United States. In the wild weeks, heroes can be born and change the entire life of the players.
Shabazz Napier celebrated his second college championship with Uconn in 2014
The Bayern star Shabazz Napier has experienced on his own. The Point Guard won two championships with its University of Connecticut (Uconn short) in 2011 and 2014 and became a celebrated star, especially in the second title.
Napier was not only recognized as an “American Athletic Conference Player of the Year”, but also praised by mega star LeBron James according to his outstanding achievements.
For Sport1, Napier took the time after the Bayern victory against Rostock and spoke in an exclusive interview about the special features of March Madness, crazy games in the legendary Madison Square Garden and reveals that praise even impressed him even more than that of LeBron James.
March Madness: This is so special
Sport1: Mr. Napier, you have experienced a lot in your time at college. What is special about March Madness?
Shabazz Napier: The intensity in particular is special. Each team fights for first place and has a certain chance of the title. The best of the best from all over the country plays against each other. It is an incredibly exciting time for the universities. Everyone fights for success.
Sport1: Not everyone in Germany knows what March Madness is. How would you describe this month for people who have not yet dealt with it so much?
Napier: It is really difficult to describe this madness. The top teams of the main round are often very fearful because there are so many surprises. All players are incredibly nervous. It is a fight, especially in the first rounds. When it goes into the crucial rounds, you just try to survive another day. It is definitely very exciting for all teams.
“The craziest month of the year”
Sport1: Would you say that it is the craziest month of the basketball year?
Napier: Oh yes! It is definitely the craziest month of the year. It is a wrong month, of course especially for college basketball, but also for sport as a whole. This month simply gives a different level of excitement. It is really very exciting.
Sport1: When you think back: What memories do you have for your college season?
Napier: I had a fantastic time. Of course I was also lucky that I could win two championships. It was exciting. I do not know if Clemson has ever won a championship, Sorry DB (editor’s note: An allusion to the university of teammate Devin Booker, who was ahead at that moment) . It was just an incredible time.
Sport1: You have experienced a lot on college during your time. Is there a moment that stands out particularly?
Napier: Of course it would be easy to say now: the two championships. But what many people forget are the games we were allowed to play in Madison Square Garden. At that time we played in Sweet 16 and in the Elite Eight (name for eighth and quarter-finals in collegebasketball, editor’s note) against Iowa State and Michigan State. The entire arena raged against Michigan in particular. The legendary garden was full of energy for us. It was incredibly exciting to be part of it and only hear Uconn fans throughout Madison Square Garden. That was one of the most impressive moments that I was allowed to experience.
After the victory against Michigan, Napier secured a special souvenir from the Madison Square Garden
Bayern star: “Don’t want to live in the past”
Sport1: Was there anything you could take for your professional career from this time?
Napier: Sure, you take memories with you. I have to admit, even if I am a highly decorated college player, it is sometimes the case that I am not happy when there is already March. In a way, I no longer like March because I am always asked about the past (laughs). Then I always think: Oh, now it starts again. On the other hand, it is of course also exciting to remember the good time. Nevertheless, I try to clear myself because I don’t want to live too much in the past.
Sport1: But March Madness can be a special opportunity for active players, right?
Napier: absolutely! This tournament creates an incredible number of options for the players. It may be that nobody has you on the screen all season and suddenly you play strong on the largest stage. Every NBA scout looks at the teams. Especially if you make it under the top 16 or eight teams, more eyes are on you. In addition, nowadays you can earn money with the new opportunities on college, can also recommend yourself for higher contracts. If these options had already existed in my college time, I could probably have secured myself financially for the rest of my life. Nowadays you can recommend a good run for a lucrative offer in the next college year.
Chance for young basketball players
Sport1: This one month can change the life of a player.
Napier: 100 percent. That is the time when life can change. Everyone will look at your games this month. If you can then deliver on a big stage and under great pressure, then everyone will have you on the screen. It has often happened that players were completely unknown until then, then had a good game – and that was enough for the breakthrough.
Sport1: In a way, it was the same for her. After their strong performance, they were praised by numerous stars on social media. How was it back then when they were publicly celebrated by LeBron James on X?
Napier: That was exciting. Although you also have to say that I already knew LeBron before. In my second year at College I was in his basketball camp. In addition, one of my family members was quite close to people in his environment. That’s why we already knew each other. Therefore, for me there was a completely different praise, from a person I didn’t know yet, much more exciting. When the rapper Lil Wayne praised me with a tweet, it was very special. Sure, Lebron’s public praise was also exciting, but I have looked at Lil Wayne since childhood. That was a cool experience.
Lebron praised today’s Bayern star
Sport1: Nevertheless, the public praise of LeBron James already had a certain meaning for her career – his Miami Heat won them in the subsequent NBA draft. Was that good in retrospect or did you have too much pressure on your shoulders?
Napier: I believe that many people have seen the situation strange and things turned things out. He only said that I was a good player. There wasn’t much more. Of course, it certainly contributed to the fact that the Miami Heat decided to choose me in the draft. Why shouldn’t you listen to the opinion of the best player in the world? It certainly influenced my career a bit, but I don’t regret anything. If I had a real chance and had torn my ass opened, things would have been going differently. But it just went differently and I am also so happy where I am.
Sport1: Are there Bayern Trash Talk with their teammates, many of whom played for other colleges?
Napier: No, I don’t need that at all (laughs). When I came to college, my then coach Jim Calhoun said to me: there is no reason why you should lead with people from other teams Trash-Talk who have never won a championship. We don’t need fake rival. I believe that none of the universities that my teammates played have ever won a championship. That’s why I just have to argue with anyone here. There is only Niels (Niels Giffey, editor’s note) , but I won with him (laughs).
Niels Giffey (left) and Shabazz Napier (m.) At the 2014 master celebration
FC Bayern? “Can still achieve a lot”
Sport1: When we look at your current team, FC Bayern. How would you classify this team compared to other teams for which you played?
Napier: Of course I’m not here for so long, but it is definitely one of the best experiences since I came to Europe. We have already achieved a lot and showed many skeptics what we can do. Many experts wrote us off before the season and trusted us little. If we survive this heavy phase that we are going through and fight out again, we can still achieve a lot this season.
Sport1: Your move to Munich also had something to do with her college time and her former Uconn teammate Niels Giffey. So it was a good decision to listen to him?
Napier: Yes, definitely. It was 100 percent the right decision. It was a great opportunity to play with people again with whom I always enjoyed it. Here I hit a great troop. I get by with everyone. So far it is a fantastic experience.