Khalifa Diop, everything for the NBA dream: "If I have to sleep in the arena... I'll do it"'
He looks for a spot in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers
T he Cleveland Cavaliers have been in Spain to get ready for the new season. The NBA franchise has been working at the impressive "The Sanctuary" facilities on the Costa del Sol. Khalifa Diop, one of the new signings for the Ohio team, spoke to the microphones of "Nos Gusta el Basket".
The level of communication is incredible, they have people everywhere and that helps the player a lot, pointed out the Senegalese player, who previously played for Gran Canaria and Baskonia, clubs he still follows very closely. "The other day I was talking with Paolo Galbiatti, he's a guy who helped me a lot last year off the court as well . I'm also in contact with my teammates and following them."
The center, who is in the final stage of his journey, is about to share a locker room with players of the caliber of James Harden or Donovan Mitchell "They have a lot of experience and try to help you on every play or in the video room, and I’m going to learn a lot from them" , Khalifa said, fulfilling a dream with his signing for the CAVS. "It has always been my goal; every summer I would go with them to train, to work on individual skills, and this summer I tried everything possible to be with them and in the end I made it. Even if I have to sleep in the arena, I will do everything in my power to spend many years in the NBA" , he confessed.
He still has a tough preseason ahead of him to convince the "Madrilenian" Atkinson that there is room for him on the team. "The coach has asked me to help in every way I can, especially with rebounding and defending the pick-and-roll. This is a great team and I am here to help them achieve their goals," he explained.
'In Cleveland, the center also shares a team with a player he knows perfectly from many Liga Endesa matchups, Mario Hezonja , who is also fighting for a spot among the chosen ones. "What can I tell you about Mario? He is one of the best players in Europe, MVP of the Liga Endesa, and is more than ready for the NBA" , he said.'
