Noah Pend Interview: ‘I’ve got a lot more time to play than I thought’

His stats (3.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, average per 9 minutes) are not obvious, but Noah Penda scored points with his teammates and his coach. THE product of Le Mans, who will turn 21 on Jan. 7, has realized the role he can play for the Magic. Hard-working, rigorous, his state of mind allowed him to capitalize on playing time and make two notable debuts against Boston and Chicago.

Before A magical loss against the Knicks, The Frenchman reviewed his start to the season. He explained to us the reasons for Magic’s good form and shared his joy at being in Vegas against his friends Pacom Dadiet and Mohamed Diawara.

Noah, you finish the first third of the season. How do you analyze your start to the season?

Honestly, pretty good. I have a lot more time to play than I thought. I’m working hard, making good progress, so it’s nice to see results right away, because it’s not always like that. I had opportunities to show what I can do and I’m trying to take advantage of them. Afterwards, for the rest, it’s always the same thing: the same mentality. You have to be ready for any situation and keep working.

Rudy Gobert told us yesterday that the advice he gives his young teammates is to find ways to impact the game other than scoring points. You have the perfect profile for this. Do you share this mentality?

Yes, as you say. Obviously, I will be asked to do some of the “dirty work”: all the things that can relieve other players on the team. It’s also what brought me here. So I mustn’t forget what allowed me to come here and have time to play since the beginning of the season. We also have to avoid mistakes to gain the trust of my teammates and staff. And then, I try to bring energy to the team. I have to go on like this.

We spoke to Pacom Dadieta about how to stay fit when you don’t necessarily know if you’re going to play. How do you approach this situation?

Staying ready starts long before game day. There’s all the training, all the outside work, the little rehearsals we can do on our days off, etc. I think the more you work, the more likely you are to feel comfortable when the opportunity presents itself. And then, when you’re in the game, you’re still a basketball player. You must be ready to act if called upon. When you’re on the pitch, you’re focused on the match, you don’t really have time to think.

From a collective point of view, you are in great shape after a slow start to the season. You have won seven of your last ten games and are in the semi-finals of the NBA Cup. What was the trigger?

I think we just met. We had a brand new team at the start of the season and people expected immediate results without giving us time to create automatisms. Although the NBA is a league in which many teams play similarly, there are still significant differences from one team to another. It takes time to adapt to a new team, new systems. Everyone has found their place in the team’s identity and today everyone is pulling in the same direction.

“I told myself I won’t get the money I earned this season”

Does being in Las Vegas change your daily life? Is the atmosphere different because it’s a trophy?

I don’t think it’s much different. In any case, my role in the team remains the same, regardless of the match. On my scale, that doesn’t change much. After that, it’s certain that I didn’t participate in the whole media circuit or interviews for the media day, unlike some other players. So I can’t say it’s the same for everyone. But for me, on a daily basis, nothing really changes.

There are six Frenchmen in Las Vegas, with at least one player on each team. Obviously you’re all here to win, but have you interacted off the court?

Yes, with the New York players — Pakoma, Mohamed and Gershon — we crossed paths a little bit off the court. After that, unfortunately or fortunately, we have to stay professional: we can’t be too friendly. But I’m really happy to see them here, especially Pacom and Mohammed, whom I’ve known for almost ten years. The fact that we are all there at the same time is a great story.

If you win the NBA Cup, do you already know what you will do with the financial prize?

I told myself I wasn’t going to get the money I made this season. I try to invest it. As long as I don’t need it, I’d rather not touch it, so we’ll see where it takes me.

Comments collected in Las Vegas.