Hello, Pistons fans. I’m in Spain representing the NBA at the 3X event, a three-on-three tournament for high school-age basketball players. It should be a lot of fun.
We got in just yesterday, got some sleep and got up today and went to a Children’s Hospital where I met a lot of great kids. I had an awesome time with them. Then I toured the Ideal Granada newspaper factory and saw how they make the papers. Then I took part in a BBVA Compass basketball clinic for kids ages 10 to 14. The fans here seem like they love the NBA.
The 3X tournament is tomorrow and that should be a lot of fun, too. I’m getting ready to go and get some dinner now and I’m really looking forward to that. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the food here. Jose Calderon, my teammate last season, told me I am going to love Spain and Gigi Datome, who is from Italy, said the same thing.
Kyle Singler played here for a year and – it’s amazing – he really made an impression here. Everybody asks me how Kyle is doing and I tell them he’s doing great.
It’s beautiful in Granada. Where I am staying it’s on a big cliff and the view is great. I love it here so far. Tomorrow morning I’m going to get to do a little sightseeing before we go to NBA 3X. There are lots of old, historical buildings I want to see.
I don’t speak that much Spanish, but I can a hold a little bit of a conversation for something I want. It’s fun to listen to the conversations going on around me. I’m picking up a few things just by listening to the people here.
I know we have a new coach in Stan Van Gundy. He called me the other night and I didn’t even know he had been hired because I didn’t have my TV on. It was about 10 or 11 and I was getting ready for my flight. I heard we had a new coach and by the time I turned my TV on the phone was ringing and it was coach Van Gundy. He sounds excited and ready to go.
I’m excited, too. It will be good to meet him when I get back from Spain. I’ll let you know how tomorrow goes. Thanks for reading!