Darryl Monroe is one of the beloved players in the history of Maccabi Rishon LeZion basketball. In this week's EuroCupbasketball.com interview, the big man and former Israeli League MVP spoke about his and his club's first season in the competition and their first win last week.
Darryl Monroe, Rishon: 'We just needed to find our rhythm'
Interviews
6 Mins read
Darryl Monroe is one of the beloved players in the history of Maccabi Rishon LeZion basketball. The big man was the Israeli League MVP when he led the club to its first - and to date, only - Israeli championship in 2016. Monroe when spent parts of three seasons in Turkey and Korea before returning to Rishon at the end of last season and spearheading a charge to the Israeli League championship game. Now he is the team leader as Rishon plays the 7DAYS EuroCup for the first time and Monroe was naturally at the forefront with a double-double when the club scored its maiden EuroCup victory last week against AS Monaco. However, make no mistake; Monroe told EuroCupbasketball.com that Rishon is not satisfied, "Our goal is to win as many games as possible in the EuroCup," Monroe said. "We didn't come here just to play. We want to win."
Congratulations on winning your and Rishon's first EuroCup game! The team seems to have improved every week this season.
"Thank you! We had a difficult preseason and it has taken us a little while to come together. But there is a lot of talent on this team and I always believed that when we came together, we would be able to compete at a high level. We just needed to find our rhythm."
"In the first game, I don’t think we really knew what the EuroCup was all about."
You guys had a hot start against Monaco last week and then came up big late when they rallied in the fourth quarter. How was it to play that game?
"It was a fun game to play in. We started really strong and surprised them and then we just took advantage of it. They came back in the third quarter, but we made a run. I think we played well for 37 minutes, but we know we have to do it for 40 minutes."
Rishon struggled on the opening night of the EuroCup, but in Round 2 against Segafredo Virtus Bologna, you guys were in it for three quarters before coming up short. What lessons did the team take from those first two games?
"In the first game, I don’t think we really knew what the EuroCup was all about. They came out aggressive and sort of hit us in the face and we weren’t ready for it. And in the second game, we just didn’t finish well. So I think we learned that we have to come out strong and finish strong."
Now that you have faced three different EuroCup teams, how would you rate the level of the competition?
"It’s a pretty good level. The EuroCup is pretty much almost-EuroLeague level teams. That's what I expected. The teams are strong at every position and deep. We have a lot of experience on our team, but it was for most of us this is the first season in the EuroCup. We needed to adjust and now I think we have."
This is your third season in Rishon and you have carried the team to its biggest high to date by winning the Israeli championship in 2016. What is special to you about this team and the city?
"I like Rishon. The city is great, it has great weather and the people are nice. Most important for me is that it’s been a great place for my family. We had a great season here when we won the championship a few years ago and when they called me last season about coming back, I knew what I was getting into and was happy to come back. The management and especially the owner have been really great to me and my family and that makes me want to give back as much as I can on the court."
Let me ask you about a few of your teammates. Alex Hamilton has been incredible recently; he seems to get better by the week! What is it like to play with him?
"Alex has been great for us. I got to play with him a little at the end of last season and could see how much talent he has. The biggest difference in his game now is his confidence. Sometimes last season on the pick-and-roll, teams would go under and dare him to shoot. Now they can't do that because he is making those shots; he has more confidence to shoot and make plays."
Noam Dovrat is only 17, but already started and played 28 minutes in the win against Monaco. What does the future hold for him?
"I call him 'baby'! He’s just a baby! He has so much talent, but he still has a lot to learn. He has to learn how to play against grown men who are stronger than him. I know he can do it. We don't play the same position or style, but I try to take him aside once in a while and help him with his footwork or other small details to help make him a better player. He's exciting to watch."
"We didn't come here just to play. We want to win."
Guy Goodes had a great career as a player and has been part of a EuroLeague-winning staff as an assistant coach. What is it like to play for him?
"Guy's my guy! I love playing for him. He played at high levels and understands what it's like. One thing I respect about him is that he treats you like a man and tells you what he thinks. If I had a bad game, he will pull me aside and say, 'You played 30 minutes today and were terrible.' As a professional, I respect that. He pushes us to be our best. He also understands how much to push us, what it's like to play twice a week. He’s a players’ coach."
There are not many players who choose No. 86 for their uniforms. Is there a story behind that?
"It’s just the year that I was born. I try and pick meaningful numbers to wear; I don’t like to just wear any number. My grandfather died last season just before I went to play in Korea, so I wore a number to honor him. A few years ago it was my daughter's birthdate. I like to change it up and keep it meaningful."
Now that Rishon won its first game and you recorded your first double-double, what are your individual and team goals for the EuroCup this season?
"Our goal is to win as many games as possible in the EuroCup. We didn't come here just to play. We want to win. Individually my goal is just to keep winning."