ROOKIE SEASON IN EUROPE

Your first experience overseas was in Israel, we know it’s tough to come in a new country with different culture and far from family, how did you handle that? And did you like over there?

“My parents raised me well, being able to travel as a kid, I always embraced new things, new cultures, new people, it was easy for me to open my mind. Like going to go to Israel, people were so nice and showed me love, a really good place to start as a rookie in Europe.”

Do you have any tips for rookies in europe who are struggling here?

“What’s tough for sure is to come in Europe and try to translate your game to the European game, if I have an advice for rookies in Europe, it’s listen to people and learn about them. You certainly won’t know everything when you are a rookie, even know I am 30 years old and I still learn everyday. For guys that make a transition from like G-League to Europe, be confident and try to find a team who really wants you.  

Don’t listen to the typical American mindset which says if you are not in the NBA you are trash. People don’t understand the level plus the game is totally different here, more physical, tougher to score, each position it’s like do or die. All of that makes every game exciting. So for anybody who thinks of playing overseas is easy, it is not true I promise.“

NBA CHAMPION

In your NBA year Toronto became NBA Champions with a legendary shot. You are in the frame, do you remember the feeling you had when the shot went in? 

“I was like “no way that's going in“, because Kawhi has a flat jumpshot and he shot the ball almost through the roof. I knew we had one of the hardest rims in the league, so for me when a ball hits the front of the rim, no way it will bounce like it did. That was a crazy moment. I didn’t know they took a picture like that but afterwards I saw it everywhere on social media. What a moment!.

For a lot of players who do not play in the Playoffs, you're not considered as an NBA Champion. What are your thoughts? Do you consider yourself an NBA Champion?   

“For me I will never see myself as an NBA champion, I was in a championship team but as a hooper you want to contribute on the floor. But I did all I could to prepare the team, all the little things necessary to help the team… that is contributing but that’s not the same as being on the court.
I don’t have the feeling “I am an NBA Champion“ but it was an unforgettable experience. Watching players like Kawhi, Fred, Kyle what they do day to day to be at the highest level of their game helped me a lot in my career.
When you see all the work they put in, you just want to do the same to have a successful career. This year, I wasn’t really playing so I went to the gym early In the morning, leave late at night. To see players like them, really helped me with my work ethic, I always had a decent one but after this year it became even better. 

ROCA TEAM

in Monaco you joined your old Coach Saša Obradović, he is one of the main reasons you are here today. Can you talk about your relationship with him?

I“I always tell everybody it’s like tough love. We are gravitating around each other, he was really tough on me in Serbia but he believed in me and I was ready for this type of coaching. My dad coached me like that, he was hard on me. 

Sasa is the first coach since a long time who reminds me of my dad. At first I was like “what’s this dude doing“ but then I started to play amazing so i was like ok let’s trust him. We have confidence in each other and for sure he was one of the reasons I joined Monaco.“

The first year in monaco

You won the French cup, the French league, MVP of the French league Finals and the Euroleague Final 4. What a year, now almost one year later, when you look back at it, what’s the first thing you think about?​ 

“ Last year it was a pretty good season, but we were really disappointed about our final 4 result. With time, you can look back and tell you learned about that, you get better, and you have grown. Euroleague is so tough, to qualify for the playoffs or to go to the Final 4 and then win the trophy it’s really hard, I don’t think people realized that.“

What's next?

You are 30 years old right now, where will Jordan Loyd be in 5 years?

“I hope I still play the game, my goal was always to play until 35, if not I want to work in sport. I thought about being an athletic director at the university, I think it can be a cool job.

« I really want to stay around the game! Leaving the game would be hard for me.»