Hall: «Winning is a priority, but combativeness is non negotiable» (vid)
On the night of Tuesday (22/07), shortly after 23:00, Olympiacos’ new signing, Donta Hall, arrived in Greece. In his statements to the media, the 28-year-old center appeared excited about this new step in his career and eager for the upcoming season.
“It was two difficult days, but I’m really happy to be here. I had some issues with my flight due to the weather. Other than that, everything’s good,” the American said initially, in good spirits despite the travel ordeal.
“I feel great (wearing the Olympiacos jersey). It was nice coming here. I feel the energy. The vibes are different here, and I love it. I feel like I’ve played against Olympiacos for much longer than I actually have. I’ve faced them in big games. Now I’m finally on the other side. Olympiacos has hurt me a few times, and now I feel good having switched sides,” he added.
When asked about playing alongside Nikola Milutinov, he responded: “Definitely, 1000%. (I’m ready to play with Milutinov). Like I’ve said, I came here to bring energy. The energy is already great, running, jumping, blocking shots, dunking, but I’m ready.”
Asked about life in Greece: “I’ve talked to many Americans about life in Greece. I’ve visited Athens quite a few times. I know places to go for food, etc. I’ve even been here in the summer.”
His message to the team’s fans was: “Like I said before, the energy is here, I feel good being here, the vibes are amazing. Let’s get started. Let’s go win something.”
Regarding what he brings to the court, he emphasized: “What I do best is dunking the ball, blocking shots, bringing energy to my teammates. I run up and down the court. I do what I know.”
When asked what he remembers most vividly from facing Olympiacos as an opponent: “Olympiacos has hurt me several times as an opponent, but the worst was probably Game 5 in the playoffs with Monaco. It was an incredible game; the atmosphere was unbelievable. That one hurt the most, for sure. There were just a few seconds left in the game and there was fire everywhere (note: from flares). Now I’m on the other side, so we’ll see.”
When asked how “hungry” he is for the new season: “Honestly, after the summer I’ve had, my most dominant one, I get chills thinking about the upcoming season.”
Finally, on how he defines “success,” he stated: “Success for me is coming from where I come from, a small town, and living a different life. Just the fact that I made it past college is enough. Personally, getting my degree is a big success for me. It’s also great that I was able to take care of my mom. She’s the person I live through. On the court, I’d say the same as anyone else: to win games. Obviously, you’re going to lose some too, but the way you lose matters. You always need to have that character, that fighting spirit. Winning is the priority.”