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Clint Capela - short interview from Switzerland

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NBA: CLINT CAPELA DISCUSSES HIS SEASON
29.07.2021, 15:39

Clint Capela recharges his batteries in Switzerland before starting a new season
Best rebounder of the last NBA season, Clint Capela is back in Switzerland. In Meyrin, the interior of the Atlanta Hawks offers its second youth camp and adds a first edition in Zurich.

Switzerland's most famous blonde lock is at home in Meyrin. Harassed by a marathon regular season of 72 matches picked up over five months, then three play-off rounds and a loss in six matches against the future champion Milwaukee, Clint Capela admits having ended the season (July 3) with a limp.

"I was hurt in the hand and in the heel", he explains. "I'm injured, but I'm fine. Nonetheless, I will have to go to Los Angeles to do some rehabilitation for my hand. " This passage in Switzerland therefore reads like a parenthesis of ten days. After Meyrin, the highest paid Swiss sportsman will go to Zurich for a German version of his camp. "No no, it will be in English," he laughs when asked if he will speak to young people in Swiss-German dialect.

To the participants of his camp, Clint Capela hopes to send them a message: "It's my mission, they must understand that everything is possible, but that it will not be easy. It’s possible to learn a lot and I would like to see some will break into LNA (=Swiss first division) or higher in the future. I would transmit to them this mentality - while not forgetting to have fun. "

It is legitimate for young people to watch a Capela at the top of his game with stars in their eyes. Recovered from a foot sole injury contracted while still playing with the Houston Rockets in early 2020, the 27-year-old Genevan had to whip to become essential with his new team, win the title of best rebounder in the League and make it to the Conference final.

"It was a pretty incredible season because of the covid, he analyzes. A real challenge from December to July. It did not start as we wanted. But after the break and the arrival of Nate McMillan as a coach, it woke everyone up a bit. We gained confidence and I gained responsibilities. We remained united despite the injuries that inevitably occurred. "

The beautiful story of the Hawks was interrupted in the play-off by that of the Milwaukee Bucks and its Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo. "Amply deserved", according the Genevan speaking of the title of the franchise of Wisconsin and the "Greek Freak". "He has always worked very hard."

In order to be ready for the preparation for the coming season at the end of September, Clint Capela will not exaggerate, while continuing to follow a preparation allowing him to respond to an insane schedule: " With increasing age, is necessary to be increasingly careful. I know I still have a big athletic margin. I can become more dominant and I can lose fat. Of course I want to defend my title of best rebounder and participate in the All-Star Game. "

While Clint Capela takes care of the youngsters at his camp, the Swiss team are preparing the European pre-qualifiers for the 2023 World Championship which will take place in August in Skopje. And even if he will not be present with his compatriots, Clint Capela will be the first supporter as he had been when Switzerland beat Serbia. "I want to play with Switzerland again, he concludes. If the schedule allows."