Alex Poythress: "We just got to keep on fighting"

Alex Poythress is the hero of the second episode of the 2nd season of the club series "Beyond the Baseline". This summer the Zenit center returned to the team after a two-year absence. The prospect of becoming an accountant, his love for St Petersburg, his friendship with Billy Baron and young Omari Spellman, his memories of March Madness, the joy of having a daughter and much more — in our big interview.

The full episode is available on the blue-whites accounts on Rutube and YouTube.

— First of all, please tell us who did you want to become when you were a child?

— Like what do you mean?

— Like an engineer or a cosmonaut.

— I guess when I was younger I always wanted to be maybe an accountant because my dad was one. But as I got older and got into sports, I always wanted to play sports growing up.

— If we talk about sports it was all about basketball from the very beginning?

— Yeah, basketball. I played football, American football too, American football and basketball.

— Were you always the tallest guy?

— Yeah, most of the time I was always the tallest in my class until I got to college, I think. That's when I started being around people that were taller than me.

— Do you remember how basketball came into your life? Who was your inspiration?

— My mom, she played basketball too. So she was my inspiration. Me and my twin sister were always playing growing up.

— And do you remember who was your role model?

— Like basketball-wise? I don't know. I grew up watching LeBron, Amar'e Stoudemire, Shaq. Like it's a whole bunch of people I grew up watching. D Wade, those type of people.

— And if we talk not only about basketball?

— Probably my parents. My mom, my dad.

— Do you remember when you first touched the ball and started playing?

— Yeah, I had to be like five or six. I can remember I was playing in, like, a little church league.

— Well, some people say that when they see you for the first time, they think that you are an introvert. Is it true?

— I mean, no, no. I think you got to get to know me. I think the people that know me and, like, I grew up with, I can be myself around. I think I'm more staying office the people I don't know just because I don't have a relationship with them. But once I open up, I'm always joking smiling laughing stuff like that.

— So it just takes time…

— Yeah, I mean, of course anybody needs time you can't just be open to everybody you don't know anybody.

— Are you a shy person?

— Oh, no, I don't think I'm a shy person at all.

— How would you characterize yourself?

— Um, I don't know. I don't know somebody that's characterized myself. I don't know. It depends. Like, now I'm a little bit more mature, responsible, but, like, growing up, I was always that kid that would just hang outside with your friends, play outside all day, play outside till the streetlights would come on. Like, I would just love being outside growing up.

— Well, let's talk a little bit about the March Madness. Tell us about your memories of playing in the NCAA.

— March Madness is crazy. I played in two Final Fours. The first year, we lost in the championship. The second year, we lost in the Final Four, but it's crazy. I think it may have been the biggest arena I ever played in. My first year, we played in the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, which was just nuts. And then the second year was in Indianapolis in the Lucas Oil. But that Dallas Stadium where the Cowboys play is crazy. I think it holds like 100,000 people. But, I mean, those are the type of games you live for growing up. You always want to play in the Final Four. You know what I mean? It's like the biggest college basketball game ever. So, it was really cool to actually get a chance to do that.

— What memories do you have of playing alongside with Omari?

— Omari? Yeah, Omari, I had Omari his rookie year when I was in Atlanta. That was my third year in the league and that was his first year, you know what I mean? But it's cool, you know, Omari was just a young kid. He still is a couple years younger than me, but you can tell it was his first year being a professional basketball player. He's trying to figure everything out. It's just cool to see him from then and seeing him now, you know what I mean, just a couple years older. So, a lot of things come into full circle.

— Has he changed a lot?

— No. He's the same guy. Same one. Same guy. So, it's good. But it's good. It's refreshing.

— And what was your reaction when you first heard that you were reuniting with Zenit?

— He actually hit me up over the summer, asked me questions about Zenit at first. That's when I kind of knew like, oh, it might be a chance. But then when he found out, I told him all the pros and cons. And then when he made his own decision, I was like, I can't wait to be teammates again.

— Who do you communicate most in Zenit now?

— Everybody, all the guys, the Russians and the Americans, I talk to everybody, talk to SK, talk to Zhora, talk to Dwayne, Trent, Vince, X, Omari. Like we all were real close on the team.

— Perhaps you've heard about the Russian guy Egor Demin. What's your opinion of him? A basketball player. He's very young and talented. He's 18 years old, I think, and he will be drafted.

— Not sure if I've heard of him, but I mean, if he's about to be drafted, then it's good. You know what I mean? You always want to see young guys get drafted. Everybody live out the potential. Everybody live out the dream of playing in the NBA. So, if he gets that opportunity, I hope he takes advantage of it.

— Do you think it's difficult for a Russian guy to become an NBA player in the future?

— I mean, I think it's difficult for anybody to become an NBA player. I don't think it matters where you're from. You can be from America, you can be from Russia. I think it's difficult. You know, there's only 450 players in the world in the NBA every year. So, I think that small percentage is hard for anybody. It doesn't really matter where you're from think the game become more international. So they start and look at other countries Russia included, but I think again, it's hard It doesn't matter where you're from. 

You'd be from Tennessee. You can be from New York. You can be from Lithuania you can be from Spain. I think it's just hard in general, you know what I mean? So I think it takes its special talent to get there.

— Billy Baron just retired. What was your first reaction?

— I was shocked because um, I talked to I talked to Billy all the time. So it kind of caught me off guard because he didn't mention it until he just made his post. And I was like, oh, I called him. He was like, yeah, it was just time for me. He had a couple of injuries, you know what I mean. So it was unfortunate that he had to go out that way. But he had a great career.

— And you remember, you told us as a joke a few months ago that you would suggest Xavi to get Billy back. Did you talk about it with Xavi?

— Yeah, of course I joked around with him. But everybody's got their own career, you know what I mean? Some players play for 6 years, some play for 20 years, you know what I mean? It's just how it is.

— Alex, now that you're in Russia, why did you decide to come back here?

— I had a great time when I was here in St. Petersburg my first two years, you know what I mean? I think St. Petersburg is one of my home. I love playing here, I love the fans here, I love the city. My family loves it as well, so I wouldn't mind staying here for a long time. But, you know what I mean, we'll figure that out in the summer. But, you know what I mean, I had no bad things about St. Petersburg and the city.

— Well, you know what it is to become a champion of the United VTB League, so what do you think Zenit has to do right now to repeat that success?

— We just need to get better each and every day. We are in a got spot mentally and physically. We have got talent. We need to play better each and avery game. To win the championship you need to be hungry. Fight, desire and get a little bit lucky too with injuries at the right time and staying healthy, you know what. I mean? So it's off the court and on the court, taking care of your body, eating right, all that type of stuff goes into the whole season of being a champion at the end.

— We don't see three-pointers from you too often. What do you think has to be done for us to see them more?

— I play what's in the game. Sometimes I play the four, sometimes I play the five. I never try to force anything. Just play my game. If I'm open, I'll shoot it. But sometimes, I'm just not there on the three-point line. I'm usually trying to dunk it or trying to fight for rebounds. So, I'm just trying to play to my strengths. And if I get an opportunity, I'll shoot it.

— There are rumours among the fans that you prefer dunks to anything else…

— Oh, for sure. For sure. I definitely prefer dunking. I don't know. It's just an energy thing for me. It's like an energy rush. Adrenaline rush, too, at the same time. When you dunk, because you understand that not a lot of people can do it. So when you do it, it's like, OK, get your energy. Your balance is a little bit better. You start playing harder. That's what it does for me.

— In the beginning of November we had a tough trip to Krasnodar. Can you please tell us your memories of that game and how hard it was to beat them?

— Oh, it was good. You know what I mean? The travel was tough. You know what I mean? And like we complain about, we can always complain about that. But I mean, we're professional athletes, so we get paid a lot. So you just have to deal with some things like that. But any time we play one of the top four teams, it's good basketball. You know what I mean? You get to compete against them, against Loko. You know what I mean? So we came out victorious. Hopefully it stays the same.

— So Zenit was unbeatable this November. How would you evaluate this month?

— It was good. We had a good November. We just got to keep on fighting. And like I said, we've got to take it one game at a 

time. You can't look ahead. You've got to take it whoever is your next opponent, focus on them, and then you focus on the next opponent after that, and that, and that, and just keep on building on those wins.

— Let's talk a little bit about your family. Please tell us how you met the woman that gave you a daughter?

— I met her when I was playing for the Pacers in Indiana. I met her then, and we always stayed in contact. And then, ironically, she came out to come visit me in Russia. My first year I was out here. So then we just clicked and we've just been dating ever since. You know what I mean? I love her to death. I love her. I love my daughter. We got our own little family here.

— What was your reaction when you figured out that was pregnant?

— Just happiness. I mean, I was 28 or 29 when I found out. So it's like, okay, it's an excitement feeling. It's not like I'm 17 and you know what I mean? Then I have to worry or anything like that. Like I'm 27, 28, like I'm a grown man. Like I have money to provide for my family. So it was kind of more like, okay, it's my next step in life. So like now I'm happy to do it. And I still get to play basketball every day. It's just at home now I have a different lifestyle.

— Do you wanted a girl or a boy from the very beginning?

— I actually wanted a girl. People always say they want sons, but I wanted a girl first. I grew up with all, I had two sisters. I was raised by my mom, my granny, my aunties, like I have no issue being around girls.

— And were you present at the moment when your woman gave birth?

— Yes, yes. She was born in Italy when I was in Milan. So I just left practice and I was there for the birth, which was exciting.

— Do you remember what thoughts came to your mind when she was born?

— It's crazy. It's crazy how small they are when they're first born. That's the shocking thing. She could fit in one palm of my hand. And then for her now, she just started walking the other day. So for them to grow and get bigger and learn new things, it's exciting.

— And did you stay in the hospital for a while or went home alone?

— No, I stayed as long as I could, which I think was like 2 A.M. And then I couldn't stay overnight, but I was there, left at 2. I was there at 6 A.M. The next morning. So I was there as long as I could. I would go to practice, come back to the hospital. I was living at the hospital without living at the hospital.

— How did you change since then?

— You just now you become more selfless you know what I mean like I have more responsibilities like I have a daughter to provide for I have a significant other I have a partner I have to take care of for now it's like well you can say you're a man when you turn 18 but you really become a man when you have people that rely on you and and you have to take care of them.

— So how is it to live with your family in Russia now?

— It's fine. I mean, no issues for me. You know what I mean? Like, we still do stuff, we go to the grocery store, we hang out, walk around the mall, walk around the streets when it's warm outside, when the sun's outside. So it's nothing different.

— We know that she's not even two years old, does she have any hobbies?

— My daughter?

— Yeah.

— She's just, you just put her on the ground, let her go wherever in the house. We just follow her. Basically, we just walk behind her every day in the house. That's literally what we do all day. For me, I always want her to learn stuff on her own and be excited on our own. So I let her venture off if she wants to walk over there. We follow her over there. She wants to go to go in the bathroom and just play with the tissue paper and rip it up. We just let her do it because we just want her to experience life on our own. We don't want to, like, handicap her on anything.

— What are her favourite cartoons?

— Yeah. Gracie's Corner on YouTube. That's it. That's the only cartoon we let her watch. But we try to limit her TV time. Not too much, but we let her play with her toys, just let her just get a feel on life.

— Now, can you imagine that someday your daughter will decide to stay in Russia forever, to live in Russia? Can you imagine that situation?

— No, I can't imagine that because we're here because of basketball. I don't think she'll want to live in Russia. I mean, she don't have no friends, no family here. But, like, while we're here now, it's good, but I think eventually she's going to want to be around friends and family because we're gone from friends and family so much. So, like, right now she's in the States. They're visiting her mom's side of the family. So I think when it's said and done, she'll want to be around friends and family.

— Do you miss her?

— Yeah, of course. I miss her. It's boring at the house now without her. I just go home, sit on the couch, go to practice. So, like, I call her on FaceTime all the time. So, I definitely miss her.

— Well, let's talk about the preseason video. Let's remember a few things. You were searching for an ideal dunk, as you remember. Have you found any formula of that ideal dunk already?

— I don't know. I've had a couple dunks. I don't know. I just try to dunk as hard as I can when I get the opportunity. So, for me, any dunks I do, for the most part.

— And what memories do you have of making the preseason video in August?

— I don't know. It was so long ago. I don't know. Just the happiness, the excitement of the season, getting ready to start. So now that we're finally in the season, it's good. We practice, get ready, get ready for the game. Then we play the actual game, which is the fun part.

— So the name was Team Chemistry. We are going to talk about Team Chemistry for the whole season. So, do players talk about team chemistry?

— I don't think it's something you have to talk about. I think it's something that just happens organically. Where, like you said, getting the feel for each other on the court, but off the court too is just as important. Hanging out with each other, eating dinners and lunches with each other. I think those little stuff have a bigger impact on team chemistry, the most.

— Xavi, of course, is a professor, so he will find that chemistry.

— Yeah, for sure.

— Let's talk about you being a DJ in the locker. What music do you prefer?

— Yeah. Hip-hop, rap. I feel like sometimes the locker room people are dead. I'm like, yo, it's game day. We got excited. We have to be loose. You can't be all tight and tense. I feel like the first couple games. We were like that. Like people are scared to put a smile on their face and have fun. So I'm like, all right, I'll just go play music and get to the locker room, like, a little bit more jumping. Like, the training staff likes it. They are rapping along with it. The guys, like, you got to have guys feel, like, looser. Looser before the game. You can't be all tense.

— And when you were a child, was there a time when you thought you wanted to become a rapper?

— No, no, never, never, no, no. I always played sports. I never wanted to be a rapper.

— And if now we could play any instrument, what would it be? Flute, piano, violin?

— An instrument? I don't know. Something not too hard. I don't know.

— Drums?

— Nah, the drums. You got too many drums. Maybe the guitar. Probably a good guitar.

— Give us the names of those artists, please.

— We listen to all types of music. We listen to Drake, Tupac, Kendrick, Lil Baby. You know what I mean? I try to keep it, I try to keep it shuffling. It's not just one artist we listen to, we listen to all types of people every day.

— Let's talk about music for a while. You told us about the instruments, about the artists, but please name your three favorite tracks.

— Right now? I guess Kendrick's new album just came out. I like Reincarnated. I still listen to Drake, Charged Up is one of them, and then another one is — I don't know, probably another — ESTG, he's got a good song. So I listen to — probably those three tracks are probably the best right now.

— Do you guys listen to Nicki Minaj or Cardi B?

— I like the girl rappers, but I don't think it's the time in the locker room for girl rappers. My girl listens to them at home, but there's a time and place. I got Nicki Minaj, I got Cardi B, I got Gorilla in my phone, but not for the locker room. It's just not, yeah.

— Yes, for sure. And one more question about the three-pointers. If Vince and you would compete, who is the best?

— Me, for sure. Easily, yeah.

— And what about Egor?

— No, me, for sure.

— Please tell us about the atmosphere in Zenit right now. How do you compare this to the one that was in 2022 when you won?

— Yeah, it's good. You know what I mean, we haven't had home games in a while. So that's also — that sucks. But I mean, I feel like when we play CSKA in two weeks I think it is, like I think the atmosphere is going to be crazy. And I think the fans will be great. I think we play on Friday or Saturday, I'm not sure what day. But it's going to be a good atmosphere. I think we have some of the best fans in Russia.

— And personally, what will you do for Zenit to become a champion again?

— Like I said, we should get better each and every day. Listen to the coach, listen to each other. It's going to be a little bit of that, but as long as we stay focused, I think we can do that.