NBA.com spoke to Nocioni about his goals for the remainder of the season, in which he hopes the Bulls will position themselves as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

During your first year, you were a big surprise for the team, you exploded in the postseason. In your second year you were a starter and key player for the Bulls. Is this your year to solidify your role in the NBA?
Nocioni: I hope so and I hope to continue performing the best possible way to secure my position in the NBA. I’m very happy about what I’ve done for the team so far and always think I have to continue working hard if I want to maintain my stamina.

You continue to be effective with your defense and perimeter shooting. What do you do to continuously improve?
Nocioni: The most important thing is to always work hard, maintain a work technique with the highest possible intensity level and try to leave it all on the court. I think that’s something that characterizes me and I think it’s what’s kept me playing in this league.

How have you assimilated the addition of new players to the team, particularly Ben Wallace?
Nocioni: It’s been very easy, I think Ben Wallace is a someone who plays with a lot of intensity, a lot of energy and always tries to give his best to the team, so for us, it’s been great being able to rely on a player with that type of character.

Has Wallace continued to be the same leader he was in Detroit?
Nocioni: Totally, he is a player that really leaves it all on the court and the training sessions. He’s a very thoughtful and kind person. People think he has a rude character, but in reality he is calm and very nice. For us he’s a leader, we hope he continues to do his job well so we can consolidate out position as one of the best teams in the East.

The first month of the season was like a roller coaster for you, with wins and losses. In December, the team did not stop winning. What’s next?
Nocioni: We hope that this team continues to climb as high as possible -- and that has its own name: The Finals. The Eastern Conference is very equal, it has difficult teams, good quality teams, but we also have a good team and the ambition to do things well this season.

Do you have a projected number of regular season games that you want to win?
Nocioni: I think our objective is to surpass 50 victories, I think we can do it, we can be at that level but we have to work hard to make it. I have prepared myself mentally to win every night, but obviously in the NBA, it’s very hard because sometimes, things don’t turn out like you expect them to.

You no longer go unrecognized when you walk on the streets of Chicago?
Nocioni: Yes, people recognize me a lot more now, they give me their support and they don’t stop saying hi. This makes me happy because it means I’m doing things right and my contribution to the Chicago Bulls has been positive. People demonstrate this to me every day.

A few months ago, you started using a black brace on your right arm. Why?
Nocioni: I have a build up on my arm that hurts when I get hit, so I use it as protection for my bicep to prevent problems with my shooting.

Who do you think will be the next Argentine player to reach the NBA?
Nocioni: I think that Luis Alberto Scola should’ve been in the NBA a long time ago, but as a result of issues beyond his control, he has not been able to make it. I think Scola is the player of the future for Argentina in the NBA. He can be a star in this league in whatever team he plays for. I hope that he can solve his contractual problems next year so he can make it to the NBA, because he deserves it. He’s playing in Europe at a level that surpasses any player’s, and to me, he’s the best in Europe. So the only thing left for him is to try to make it to this league.

Who’s the best international player in the NBA?
Nocioni: It’s between Nash and Nowitzki, I think those are the two most important international players in the NBA right now.

What NBA legend have you always admired?
Nocioni: There are many legends with a great career in this league that you have to respect. There’s Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson. They are players that have left an imprint in the NBA and if this is the best basketball league in the World, it’s thanks to them. We have to appreciate what they’ve done in the past and everything they’ve accomplished. There is no active player that has accomplished what they had.

What do you think about the NBA’s return to the leather basketball, after two months of playing with the synthetic one?
Nocioni: I think it’s similar; I never had a problem with the synthetic basketball. The only thing is that the synthetic ball did leave small cut on your hands and that was a problem. But honestly, I never had a problem with the grip or bounce of that ball. That was my case. Maybe other players that have the ball in their hands for longer periods of time felt a bigger difference.

I think David Stern made the right decision to return to the leather ball, as the ones who really need to be comfortable on the court are the players. I was a bit surprised that the change was made halfway through the season. I thought the decision would be made for next season, but I think that everyone is happier now and there are fewer problems.