From the sandy beaches of the Caribbean, the iconic Eiffel Tower, the majestic mountains of Washington to the hills of Hollywood, Ronny Turiaf has seen it all.
The third year Lakers forward is no stranger to travel, bringing his amazing tenacity and energy to each of his various stopping points. While much of the creative juices flow through Turiaf naturally, his life story has had an equally large part in shaping the former Gonzaga standout into the multicultural man he is today.
TRADING IN THE SUN FOR CRÊPES:
Whereas most families flock to the Caribbean islands for vacation, Turiaf called the small tropical island of Martinique home up until the age of 14. Growing up in a resort-like setting, spending his days walking around barefoot with friends, is an experience not lost on the Creole-speaking native who soaked up every sun-drenched day he spent in his hometown.
“It’s very laid back. Very sunny. Awesome. There’s nothing better than going to visit your friend having a BBQ chicken and just enjoying yourself and having a good time with your family,” said a reflective Turiaf.
Although he grew up playing soccer, the 6’10” forward discovered his basketball talent when he was 14, following the advice of his father. A decade later, Turiaf is the starting power forward for the 14-time NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers.
The stability afforded by the NBA lifestyle is still new to Turiaf whose life story is as much about transitioning as it is about his enormous heart.
When he was 15, Turiaf left his palm tree laden paradise for the cultural capital of Europe: Paris. The bold move sent the forward to Insep (The National Institute of Physical Education) where he endured top-notch athletic training and a rigorous academic curriculum.
By the year 2000, Turiaf was helping to lead the French under-18 national team to the European under-18 championship with a roster that also featured current NBA stars Tony Parker and Boris Diaw.
Living in Paris was not just about life on the court; Turiaf was forced to integrate himself into a dramatically different, fast-paced lifestyle, not to mention the visual culture shock he experienced after spending his childhood alongside the turquoise waters of Martinique.
“It was a different opportunity at that point in my life,” said Turiaf. “It was very difficult for me coming from the island, coming from the nice sunny weather to the weather in Paris that can suck sometimes during the winter. But, it was nothing major so I did what I had to do and I went to school and I’m very happy about it.”
ONWARDS TO AMERICA:
When it came time to transition once again, this time to college, Turiaf already knew he was more than capable of acclimating himself to a new city if it was what was best for his career. After being offered multiple scholarships, Turiaf brought his thick frame to the United States for the first time, accepting an offer to attend Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.
“It was my dream to go a college in the States because it was something I always looked to and really enjoyed watching,” said Turiaf.
“I chose Gonzaga pretty much because of the school atmosphere and the school spirit. The reason why was because my assistant coach Tommy Lloyd at Gonzaga really stuck by me throughout the whole moving process. I’m a big relationship guy, so I trusted him.”
Turiaf was hardly your average freshman when he entered the school, as he was not only dealing with the adjustment to college living, but also to a new country.
“It was very, very, very difficult,” said Turiaf. “It took me like three or four months to adapt myself to a new country.”
Turiaf persevered and was rewarded by being named West Coast Conference Player of the Year his senior year, earning Honorable Mention All-American honors from the Associated Press and also becoming a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award. In all, the Bulldogs star finished his college career as the fourth all-time leading scorer (1,723) points and rebounder (859) in school history.
When the Lakers called his name in the second round of the NBA Draft that June, Turiaf ecstatically moved down the coast, this time settling in the land of the stars.
THE HEART OF A CHAMPION:
“They called me when they were around the nineteenth pick or whatever,” said Turiaf. They said, ‘If you’re available at 37—which we don’t think is going to happen—we’re going to draft you.’ I was like, OK. Then my name got called out and I said OK, I’m going to L.A., let’s go!
Three seasons later and one open heart surgery to repair an enlarged aortic root behind him, Turiaf is the starting power forward for the Lakers and has been a key spark plug in the team’s early success.
However, Turiaf’s tenure in L.A. nearly wasn’t as the forward almost chose to play in Spain following his procedure with his spot on the Lakers in question at the time.
“Basically, I was on my way to Spain because I really wanted to play professional basketball,” said Turiaf. “I was on my way there and they (Lakers) came and watched me play and they felt that I could contribute to the team and they told me, ‘OK, we can sign you to a contract.’”
“At the time when it happened, if they had said, ‘No, we can’t sign you right now,’ I probably would have ended up playing in Spain. I really wanted to try the Spain experience, but I’m proud to be here baby, wearing my #21.”
Luckily for both the Lakers and Turiaf, it looks like they made the right decision as the forward has flourished under the leadership of Phil Jackson, providing an energy level that is unmatched in the NBA.
“I was just talking to one of my teammates the other day,” said Turiaf. "I wasn’t doing my job as far as the energy guy and stuff like that and he was like, ‘Ronny, it’s your time to shine right now, it’s your time to get us pumped up.’ I really enjoy doing that. I really appreciate the way my teammates look at me.”
One part of Turiaf’s high energy act involves a series of seemingly random dance routines that the forward uses to invigorate his teammates. According to Turiaf though, the dances are not simply bred out of spontaneity.
“We have all kinds of dances back home, like the zuccala and eggplant and stuff like that,” said Turiaf. “My mom was a dancer so it comes natural to me. It’s nothing unusual and I don’t plan anything in advance. It just comes out of me.”
Apparently, Turiaf’s energy is not the only thing that is not an exclusive product of his DNA.
“I’m still waiting for my coffee contract because I drink coffee before the games. If any coffee company wants to sign me—Starbucks or Coffee Bean—I’d be more than happy to sign a contract,” said Turiaf.
EMBRACING TINSELTOWN:
With a clearly defined role on one of the league’s most improved teams and a hopeful coffee contract ahead of him, Turiaf has begun to explore the finer sides of L.A., namely its accelerated way of living and its infamous beaches.
“The water in Martinique is pretty warm compared to here. Here, it’s pretty cold,” said Turiaf. 
“My country is laid back. There are no big-time cars like there are here. My people are just different—laid back, tropical way of living, no fast life like L.A.”
“I don’t like going to the beach and not being able to get in the water. My dog likes it though because she can run and have a good time,” Turiaf said.
While he is thousands of miles away from home, Turiaf obviously still maintains a firm grip on his homeland’s values.
“That’s where I belong, where I feel most at home…back in my neighborhood and stuff. That’s who I am, that’s a part of me. That part of me has been taken away for a little bit, but basketball is the life I chose to lead,” said Turiaf.
For a man who has called many places home over the years, Turiaf said his mindset on the matter is constantly evolving as he has grown more and more accustomed to his new Southern California surroundings.
“I left my house—my home home—when I was 14 and a half. My mom just gave the apartment up for rent I think four weeks ago so I don’t have a house anymore. Pretty much, I feel like L.A. is my home now that I live here,” said Turiaf.
However, Turiaf makes a concerted effort to inject some of his Caribbean staples into his adopted American lifestyle.
“I bring the alcohol from back home so I can have people taste it so I can feel proud of where I’m from,” said Turiaf.
The forward also keeps pictures of his mother and grandmother close to his side as well as authentic sculpture displays from Martinique.
Although Turiaf is enwrapped in an 82 game NBA season for most of the year, he still makes time to give back to his native people, remembering full well that at one point, he too was a barefoot kid on the streets, waiting to be discovered.
“When I go to junior high school (in Martinique), I’m like their uncle,” said Turiaf. “So, I go out every summer and give out Lakers T-shirts and stuff like that to them. I think next summer I’m going to have basketball camp in Paris or a basketball camp for sure in Spokane at Gonzaga and in Martinique.”
REFLECTION OF A WARRIOR:
Wherever Turiaf goes, he is all about spreading the love—and if his contributions on and off the court in his few years in L.A. offer any indication, the Lakers have joyfully returned the forward’s giant bear hug.
With 71 games to go this season, Turiaf knows he will be relied upon to instill his contagious enthusiasm and work ethic into a young, impressionable Lakers squad. Luckily for him, it is a role he has been fine-tuning his entire life.
“I’m just going to go out there and do what I have to do—playing hard, doing the same thing I’ve been doing off the bench, trying to be opportunistic, block shots and stuff like that,” said Turiaf. “Nothing has changed in my role.”
“Overall, I want to look at myself in the mirror and say, ‘Ronny, you’ve done a better job, you’ve improved yourself and your teammates. Your coaching staff and your fans are looking at you like you’re a true part of this team where you really feel like you belong.’ That is what I want to feel like at the end of the year,” Turiaf said.
For a man that has lived in many countries, Turiaf has never had trouble belonging. In the process, it looks like he has finally found a lasting home with the Lakers.
