Ward: “It would be disrespectful to hold back…”
The matchup with Paris in the City of Light has special meaning for Tyson Ward. With the French team he has so far experienced the most important moments of his career and created strong bonds. His return for the first time as an opponent is expected to bring intense emotions. However, as he emphasized while speaking to OlympiacosBC, this will not affect his competitive approach: “I believe it would be disrespectful to hold back.”
How do you feel about facing your former team for the first time in the arena where you achieved so much? Have you fully realized it?
“Yes, I have realized it. The first time I played against Paris at the Peace and Friendship Stadium was very emotional, so the second time at the Adidas Arena will definitely be even more emotional. It will be the first time I’ll be back there since we won the championship, so I expect to be overwhelmed with feelings. But I’ll try to enjoy it. Obviously, I’m going there to do my job and it’s important to keep that in mind, but at the same time I want to be able to enjoy the moment.”
Are you looking forward to seeing old friends again?
“Yes, of course. When you build something together with other people, you create friendships that last a long time, if not a lifetime. There are still guys who are part of the program there. It’s nice to know that when I return, I’ll see familiar faces. It also makes it a little nostalgic, because you know that once upon a time, we were all on the same side together.”
Which teammate were you closest with?
“I can’t say I was closest to just one person. At the beginning maybe Leon (Kratzer), because Leon, Michael (Kessens) and I had already been together in Bonn. Then the rest came. So, the longest relationships are with Mike and Leon, although honestly everyone who was on that roster feels like a brother to me. Even if we only played together for a year. Every time we meet, it feels like no time has passed.”
Has any former teammate already sent you a message?
“Yes, we talk. We talk almost every day. I already spoke with Seba (Herrera). I asked him what we’re going to do after the game, whether we’ll go somewhere to eat. It’s nice to return and remember the moments. With Leon, DC (Hommes) and all those guys we stay in touch. We talk from time to time about our successes. There’s always love, whether we talk every day or not. When we meet, it feels like family.”
What was the secret of that very successful team?
“I’d say the personalities we had. We built something even before we came to Paris and we were quite lucky and blessed to all come together here. Many players came from Telekom Baskets Bonn, and of course the coaching staff as well. We were familiar faces in a new place. It was also our first experience outside Germany. Basically, we experienced many ‘first times’ together: first championships, second championships; everything. That’s why it’s very special to know that all this started a long time ago and that the result still exists and continues to grow.”
You experienced many big successes as a member of Paris. Which one stands out the most?
“I think the highlight was last year. After our run in the EuroLeague, where in our first season we reached the playoffs, we then won the finals of the French championship. It was very special for us because we had never won a domestic title before. It was the last thing missing to complete the mission. We had won something in every competition we had taken part in, and we knew that soon we would all go our separate ways. It was like a farewell. Like in a movie, where in the end everyone takes different paths. The last big moment together. Of course, some people stayed… There are still pieces of us within the team, whether they were with us for one, two, three, or four years. There’s always someone who carries that experience.”
Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Tell us about your first impressions when you arrived. How did you feel?
“Honestly, at first, I didn’t fall in love with the city like everyone else did. But when I started getting to know it better, walking around and really seeing it for what it is, I realized it’s one of the best cities I’ve lived in. If you truly get to know this place, it’s incredible. It gives you countless opportunities to do things you never imagined. This place means a lot to me and it’s always nice to remember the experiences I had here.”
What do you miss the most about the city and about the Paris team?
“Definitely the lifestyle. It’s very fast, very lively, but at the same time it can also be very calm. You can find beauty within the city. From the team, I miss my ‘brothers’ that I played with. The people I shared those years with. I can never forget them. I also really miss the atmosphere in the locker room. Here at Olympiacos we also have a very good atmosphere, but it’s different because there we were kids who played together for four years.”
How do you expect the Paris fans to welcome you?
“Love and energy. They’re a very strong crowd once they get going. I expect a full arena. I also expect our fans there. And I expect a lot of noise inside. It’s Olympiacos versus Paris: a team with a very fast pace against a more classic style of basketball. It’s a clash of two different styles and people love watching games like that.”
Will you feel uncomfortable if your performance ‘hurts’ your former team?
“No. It’s my job. I would never want to show disrespect, but of course I want to play well. I believe it would be disrespectful to hold back. I always give 100%, no matter where I play and what history we have between us. I never want to say, ‘That time I didn’t play at 100%.’ That’s not who I am. They can give me their love, but also show me their anger, because at the end of the day we are opponents and we have a job to do. And that’s exactly what we’ll do.”