Game in Paris a "Blessing From Above" for Turiaf
Oct 5 2010 4:16PM
Related Images
Ronny Turiaf hopes to make a big impact playing in his highly anticipated return to Paris.
NBAE/Getty Images
Danilo Gallinari had an opportunity to play in front of family and friends in his native Italy on Sunday. Now, it's Ronny Turiaf's turn to visit his home country with the New York Knicks.
Turiaf, who was born in Martinique and played his high school ball in Paris, will make his much-anticipated return to France Wednesday afternoon when the Knicks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in a preseason matchup at Palais Omnisports Paris Bercy.
"This is a blessing from above," Turiaf said in an interview with nyknicks.com over the summer. "I mean, how many chances do you get to be traded and get to go play in your home country? This is a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to go to my country, and have my parents come watch me and my friends and people who don’t get a chance to travel to the States. It is very special."
The Knicks acquired Turiaf in a trade with the Golden State Warriors this summer after the team had announced it would be playing in Paris as part of NBA Europe Live, but adding Turiaf makes the game that much more exciting. Turiaf is one of only six French players currently in the NBA. He is also a member of the French National Team.
Turiaf started for the Knicks in Sunday’s 125-113 victory over Armani Jeans Milano and is expected to start again on Wednesday. In his Knicks debut, the 6-foot-10 center recorded five points and grabbing three rebounds in over 20 minutes while providing a physical presence inside throughout the night. The Knicks were plus-20 with him on the floor.
If Gallinari’s return was any indication, it will likely be an emotional return home for Turiaf as well. Over the summer, Turiaf joked that the Knicks need to help him get extra tickets for the amount of family and friends he expects to come watch him play.
“It is going to be a truly fantastic experience,” he said.
Gallinari made a heartfelt speech to the sold-out crowd prior to the start of the game in Milan, where he played two seasons before joining the Knicks. He then went on to score 24 points on 7-for-14 shooting, including five 3-pointers, and pull down seven rebounds in the win.
"He started off really well,"Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni said in his postgame press conference following the game. "He comes up big in big moments, but I think the emotion hit him at the start of the second quarter. But at the end he came good again."
Overall, the Knicks were impressive in their first game of the season, especially for a team that entered training camp with 11 new players.
Amar’e Stoudemire, who came over in a sign-and-trade in July, was outstanding as he paced the Knicks in Milan with 32 points and six rebounds in just three quarters of play. Wilson Chandler (17 points) and Anthony Randolph (16) also provided an offensive spark.
"We turned the ball over 28 times for 31 points, but I think that for the first time out with these guys they did all right," D’Antoni said. "We need to play with energy. We have 11 or 12 guys who can play and we don't need to drop from that level.”
Turiaf, who was born in Martinique and played his high school ball in Paris, will make his much-anticipated return to France Wednesday afternoon when the Knicks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in a preseason matchup at Palais Omnisports Paris Bercy.
"This is a blessing from above," Turiaf said in an interview with nyknicks.com over the summer. "I mean, how many chances do you get to be traded and get to go play in your home country? This is a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to go to my country, and have my parents come watch me and my friends and people who don’t get a chance to travel to the States. It is very special."
The Knicks acquired Turiaf in a trade with the Golden State Warriors this summer after the team had announced it would be playing in Paris as part of NBA Europe Live, but adding Turiaf makes the game that much more exciting. Turiaf is one of only six French players currently in the NBA. He is also a member of the French National Team.
Turiaf started for the Knicks in Sunday’s 125-113 victory over Armani Jeans Milano and is expected to start again on Wednesday. In his Knicks debut, the 6-foot-10 center recorded five points and grabbing three rebounds in over 20 minutes while providing a physical presence inside throughout the night. The Knicks were plus-20 with him on the floor.
If Gallinari’s return was any indication, it will likely be an emotional return home for Turiaf as well. Over the summer, Turiaf joked that the Knicks need to help him get extra tickets for the amount of family and friends he expects to come watch him play.
“It is going to be a truly fantastic experience,” he said.
Gallinari made a heartfelt speech to the sold-out crowd prior to the start of the game in Milan, where he played two seasons before joining the Knicks. He then went on to score 24 points on 7-for-14 shooting, including five 3-pointers, and pull down seven rebounds in the win.
"He started off really well,"Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni said in his postgame press conference following the game. "He comes up big in big moments, but I think the emotion hit him at the start of the second quarter. But at the end he came good again."
Overall, the Knicks were impressive in their first game of the season, especially for a team that entered training camp with 11 new players.
Amar’e Stoudemire, who came over in a sign-and-trade in July, was outstanding as he paced the Knicks in Milan with 32 points and six rebounds in just three quarters of play. Wilson Chandler (17 points) and Anthony Randolph (16) also provided an offensive spark.
"We turned the ball over 28 times for 31 points, but I think that for the first time out with these guys they did all right," D’Antoni said. "We need to play with energy. We have 11 or 12 guys who can play and we don't need to drop from that level.”
