Throughout the history of the national sport, two players had approached the United States professional basketball league (NBA): Álvaro Teherán and Braian Angola, but they did not make their professional debut; however, they are both referents of Colombian basketball. The former had a career worthy of admiration –recognized as a Colombian basketball legend–, and the latter is currently playing in the highest basketball competition in Greece.
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The NBA is as demanding as any other and the dream of seeing a Colombian playing it seemed very distant. Until December 30, 2021, when Jaime Echenique managed to play an official NBA match.
The 2.11 meter tall man from Barranquilla made his debut with the Washington Wizards. “I’m just happy for myself, for my family, for my country and for the people who believed in me,” he said after playing his first game in the United States professional basketball league.
I am just happy for myself, for my family, for my country and for the people who believed in me.
Echenique, 24, made history; however, he keeps his feet on the ground and ensures that Does not conform with his NBA debut.
Currently, the player is part of the Capital City Go-Go, an affiliate team of the Wizards, and plays in the NBA G League, the NBA’s development league. Given the numerous cases of coronavirus, the Wizards chose Echenique to be part of the team that was going to face the Cleveland Cavaliers; His statistics in the NBA G League were decisive.
EL TIEMPO spoke with the talented basketball player about his history, experience in the United States, debut in the NBA, among other things.
When does your dream of being a basketball player begin?
My dream of being a basketball player started very late, at a very late age. I never looked at basketball as a way of life, it was more like spending time with my childhood friends and stuff. We got in by accident in a call made by my school, the Pestalozzi Institute, and from there it all started, in 2008, 2009, if I’m not wrong, in Barranquilla.
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You say it started by accident… wasn’t basketball among your favorite sports?
No, I didn’t know anything about him at the time, it was more like a hobby, we didn’t have anything else to do and it was a way of being together. At that time, basketball… well, in my social circle it wasn’t that common, so it was more like ‘we don’t have anything to do, let’s go in and practice it’.
When did you think: ‘this is what I want to dedicate myself to in life’?
Like when I was 15 or 16 years old, when I started to stand out and saw how: ‘I can do this’. I mean, I got the idea or someone gave me the idea, I don’t remember who it was that told me: ‘You can play professional’, and I did it. Then they told me: ‘You can play in the United States,’ and I set that goal for myself. Later they told me: ‘You can play in College’… They were things that they proposed to me, saying that I could do, and I took them very seriously. That helped me make big jumps here.
Did you ever think that it was not going to be possible to reach the highest level of basketball?
Not because Never thought about it. I never thought that she would reach so high, the truth. It was like something more sporadic. When I was in one of the schools… I always set myself short-term goals and I think it worked a lot for me. Then little by little you see the closeness, the big steps you are taking and how you are playing, and you kind of realize that you can do this, that this is a reality. So everything happened at the time, I didn’t focus on that before.
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How did you come to the United States?
An intervenor contacted me and told me that I had contacts with universities in United States. Then, later they made contact with me and the whole process was done.
What were you doing at that time?
I was playing in Colombia, in the Academia de la Montaña Basket Club team.
How old were you when you arrived in the United States?
17 or 18.
What were some of the obstacles you had to overcome to get to where you are now?
Many. The distance from my parents, not having their physical support. To be distanced from the family, to be distanced from your comforts. Sacrifice time, youth. I could be in Colombia, with my family, but, of course, those are not my intentions. I am a very independent person and I never liked to stay in one position. I always wanted to do something on my own. The obstacles have been many: the language, the culture, the hours in the gym, the fatigue… all these things count to reach the highest level. So they are small that become great sacrifices, day after day.
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The United States is the main power in basketball. What do you think are the key factors for this country to be so good and have the best basketball players?
I think the rationale and the level of competitiveness in the United States. You in Colombia, if I’m not wrong, you play maybe two or three tournaments a year and the rest is training, training, training. On the other hand, here in the United States you you play thousands of tournaments, more than 100 games a year; I mean, you have many things to do during the year. So I think that helps to strengthen the development of the academies or of the players who come from lower down. And there is also a goal that is the NBA, which in Colombia would be the professional. That would be a basis to promote youth basketball so that it is possible to live from this in our country and create a much more powerful league.
How do you think that could be promoted in Colombia?
I believe that the Federation leagues have to come to an agreement to create many more annual tournaments. And that a much more structured and extensive professional basketball league be compensated, or created.
You are the first Colombian to debut in the NBA. That is a great achievement for you, and also for the national sport. What are your feelings?
I just think that I was, yes, ready, but my development as a player is still going on and I don’t stay focused on the image that ‘I already did it’
I honestly don’t think so. I just think that I was, yes, ready, but my development as a player is still going on and I don’t stay focused on the image that ‘I already did it’. I want moreI want to be present there much longer and become a player role (a player who performs a particular duty on the pitch and who is essential to the team). That is what I am preparing for.
What came to your mind at the exact moment of your debut?
Finally (laughs), those two words. A feeling that I am going in the right direction, I am doing things right and that is why I am here, regardless of what has happened before, it was worth it every moment So it’s like a feeling of: ‘ready, we’re here. Now I’m going for more’.
The contract with the Wizards was for 10 days. However, his stats in the NBA G League…
First, don’t tell me my stats because I don’t like them, nor do I look at them myself.
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No, I am not going to say numbers, I will say that they are very positive…
OKI do know that (laughs). But don’t tell me an average because I don’t like it.
I won’t say averages either (laughs). Just that, they are very positive. How likely do you see signing a longer contract with an NBA team?
I control what I can control. I control my level of play, the effort I put in every night to compete and to do things well. The rest I leave in God’s hands. There are things that I can’t focus on, like when a team is going to sign me or not. I just focus on give my best, that I am doing things well, and I leave everything in the hands of God, he will know where and in what situation he is going to put me to be worthy of the things and the path that he has prepared for me. So I don’t worry too much, I just train, take care of my body and go out on the pitch to make an effort once again.
I would say that this is one of its keys…
It’s kind of ridiculous. I can’t tell someone ‘do this for me’; no, you have to do it yourself. It is to focus on the intangible, which is what you cannot handle, and why stress myself thinking about it… I better focus on the tangible, which are the things that I control: my effort, my dedication, my work, my work ethic ; those things are productive. You, taking care of what you can control, make way for intangible things. God’s decisions are also in that, the path that he has prepared for me and what he wants for me, that’s how it will be and I will take it in the best way. I don’t get caught up in the negative or if I don’t achieve it, because I know that he has a mission prepared for each one of us on earth, and that’s how it should be.
So giving 100 percent of yourself is the only thing that arises…
Absolutely. obviously i have personal and professional goals, and I know that if they are not here now, it is because God has not allowed it that way. You can’t tell him how to bless you, he will know how to do things for himself. So, I just focus on my work, on being better every day, that the opportunity will come one way or another in the right situation.
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Talking about his basketball profile. What do you consider to be his main strengths?
My game in the paint (the bounded part of the field that is closest to the basket). He has always given a lot to talk about. Although the development of my game is still going on. But I’ve always liked what I do there.
On the other hand, what do you think you need to work on?
The outside launch. It is not a weakness, but I do have to keep improving it.
What would you say to little Jaime? The one who played basketball just for fun…
That I’m proud of him. That he has no idea what is coming his way, but that he will overcome all obstacles along the way. And that no matter what decisions he makes, he will always be proud of himself.
Who are your biggest idols? Not just basketball, but life in general…
My parents, first. People who never attended the fifth year of primary school and managed to be someone in life. They instilled immense values in me that I carry with me today. And on a sports level, there are many, but one who is with me and I admire him a lot is one of my teammates in the Wizards, Anthony Gill. He is a super person… I think I am positive, but he is above me. I have always admired him as a professional and as a person because he is a hard worker, and he has instilled certain things in me that surprise me every day. It’s like I want to have that discipline.
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Any advice for those who dream of reaching the top level of basketball?
That it is worth dreaming. That has always been my motto. If you told me four years ago that I was going to do all this, I would laugh in your face, I would not believe it. Having short-term goals is paramount. Also, improving yourself day by day is the most important thing to go climbing. In the United States it is saidbaby steps count too‘, which means that small steps count too. Sometimes we don’t progress as we would like, but we’re going forward.
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