Michale Kyser: “We are trying to build something special”

Today, we´ll have the opportunity to talk with the Louisiana Tech product Michale Kyser. A forward/center who played for several teams during his career and that after having a great experience with Hapoel Holon, including the consecution of the Israeli league and reaching the BCL Final Four, signed with Bilbao Basket in order to replace the Dominican center Ángel Delgado, who joined the Turkish powerhouse Pinar Karsiyaka.

The season started unbelievably well for your team, with four straight wins co

mbined between Liga Endesa and Basketball Champions League, and being realistic, nobody expected such a good start. Did you expect this beginning?

"Yes, I expected that beginning, I know the team we have. We are trying to build something special, we have a great group of guys and I’m confident about making a lot of noise, not only in ACB, in BCL also"

After those four victories, you lost two consecutive games in the ACB league and the good run came to an end. Nevertheless, you showed that you were able to play well. That led to people starting to talk about the limits of the team and what should be the main objective of the season.

"There is no limit, it depends on us. A lot of people didn’t expect us to start the way we started but you can see what happened. We want to compete as hard as possible in order to get to the highest. I think that in the locker room, all players´ main goal is to try to fight for the championship. Anyway, It’s going to be adversities and challenges but we have to grow and continue working because we have the support of the coaches, staff, and fanbase. I’m not saying how far we can go but I think we can go as far as we want to go if we focus and stay together as a group"

Talking about you, this is your first season in the top-tier Spanish league and you are playing pretty well averaging 7.4 points and 3.8 boards. The Bilbao supporters are really happy with your game and the energy you are spreading all around the court but, how do you see yourself right now?

"It would be a challenge for anybody to play in this league because it is the best one after the NBA. If the best players in the world think they can get better so can I. I’m extremely grateful to be here but I’m not comfortable where I am at, I’m a player that is his biggest critic.

I might play 20 minutes a game, 15, or come from the bench. It’s something you have to be ready for. As long as I keep on working, my progress will go up because I have my coach and my teammates behind me but not all is about numbers. I´m looking forward to continuing improving every game I step up ."

As we have said, the fanbase is satisfied, but do you think that you could play even better and bring more to the table?

"Yes, that’s the main goal for myself. I’m the type of person that even if I had a good game always feels like I can always do better. The best player in the world also can always improve so I don’t understand the reason why people get comfortable instead of continuing to grow.”

You were a newcomer in Bilbao, but your coach was also a new addition. Jaume Ponsarnau inked with the franchise of Miribilla after Álex Mumbrú left. How is your  experience with the former Valencia Basket Head coach? 

"I’m really grateful to play for him. Outside of being a great coach, he is a great person. He pushes me to become the best version of myself in and out of the court. He is a coach that wants to see the best of his players. I also thank Javi Salgado and Sergio Rodriguez because they push us and give us a lot of insight and wisdom on being our best selves"

You are one of the best blockers of the Basketball Champions League and you will continue playing this championship at least one more year. How does it feel for the players to play two competitions? 

"It’s always fun to be able to compete in two competitions. We can´t take it lightly at all, it’s not easy, but I think any player would love to play in both competitions being more exciting, trying to compete with the best."

Coming back to the present, you will play this weekend the basque derby against the EuroLeague team Cazoo Baskonia in the Bilbao Arena. This will be a special game for the basque fans but is the team ready to face Peñarroyas´ team?

"We know the relevance for the people from here, we lost in the preseason against Baskonia but we are ready to compete. They are a good team but we´ll make our fans proud. I know it will be a amazing atmosphere to play in front of our fans at home"

Baskonia won over Real Madrid and they recently added a new star to their roster. Pierría Henry is back in Vitoria-Gasteiz after a short stint in the NBA. This probably makes the game more difficult to win.

"Some would say it makes it more difficult, me respectfully will say we have to focus and follow coaches game plan, Its´s good for them to add a quality player in Henry and to get a win over a well respected Real Madrid team, but we have to prepare and try to get back on track at home in the win column in front of our fans in this rivalry"