Everything probably started with a high-flying player from North Carolina, south of the border. Vince Carter was “Vincredible” back then. He could score at will, and he could definitely fly for the Toronto Raptors, a almost newborn basketball franchise that brought the NBA to Canada. Carter made the Raptors immediately relevant, a show, a great team especially when Tracy McGrady followed and then for a while Chris Bosh. All around the region, basketball became cool, even in a hockey-mad country, although during the Raptors games the public address announcer sometimes had to explain some basic rules. Naz Mitrou-Long was part of the basketball revolution in Ontario. He was from Missisauga, a forty-minute drive away from downtown. In fifteen minutes, you are hitting the shore of Lake Ontario. “Hockey is definitely the sport of the country – Naz Mitrou-Long says -, but I’ve been fortunate enough to see guys like Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, those type of players, playing for the Toronto Raptors. As a young kid I used to go to the Raptors basketball camp. Luckily for me, I was surrounded by people who loved basketball and it was ingrained in my personality and DNA since I was of a young age. And there were a lot of good basketball coaches in Canada even in a hockey country.”
Naz’s first sport was boxing. He doesn’t look like a boxer now, but he is strong and has great genes. His dad, Jersey Long, was light-heavy weight who competed for the world championship in Montreal against Rick Roufos, one of the all-time greats. “My father was an international-level kickboxer, he competed at the highest level and was national champion for many years. Initially, the first sport I was involved and took up seriously was boxing. It wasn’t kickboxing, it was boxing”, Naz said. The Vince Carter happened. The Raptors happened. “I slowly developed a serious love for basketball that took my focus away from boxing. And seeing the direction I was taking, my dad sat me down and said either you want to fight, or you want to play basketball. Right there I said basketball and I never looked back,” Mitrou-Long recalls.
And still in Canada, you struggled to get exposure. Naz left home when he was very young to move to the United States. “It was the hardest thing I had to do in my life. It’s crazy because I’m not a very emotional guy, you see my emotion on the court but it’s the passion and the excitement. But the hardest part for me is leaving home,”, he said speaking about that period of time when he was 15 and left for good. Now every time he leaves home, he struggles. “I think it brings me back to those days when I left. But having this conversation with my mother and father we said it was easily the best decision of my life. It’s interesting to see how the greatest success comes from the toughest time, trials, and tribulations.”
After two years in two different high schools, Naz moved on to the next chapter, to Iowa State. Alongside him, a lot of great players, including Georges Niang, Monte Morris, both NBA players. And at the top of the list there was Will Clyburn, now a iconic EuroLeague player. “I was a freshman at Iowa State, and there was a group of fifth-year seniors, guys that players like me could see to learn what it takes to be successful. Melvin Ejim, Chris Babb, Tyrus McGee, names we are all familiar with. Ejim and McGee both played in the Italian league. Will Clyburn specifically is somebody who is starring on this side of the world. A lot of people regard him as an NBA player, but it’s about playing and excelling at the place you feel most comfortable at, where you can contribute on a consistent basis. He has had a big role in helping me make my decision to come over here last year. I’m so thankful to have guys like him in my corner. And I can’t wait to see him on the other side of the court this year.”
Over the years, Naz developed a solid reputation as a clutch scorer. “I was fortunate to be in a lot of positions where I was able to have the ball in my hands in big moments. You can prepare as much as you can, being in the gym and visioning the moment when the clock is going down and the hit the last shot. Everybody does it, but until you are actually in those high-pressure situations and take those shots in a game, there no better way to prepare yourself. So, I’m thankful I was in those high-pressure situations, I miss some I made some, but I do know those moments are when I’m relatively most comfortable because I know you use the work, you take the shot and all there is what you can”, he says.
The great career that he had a Iowa State was plagued by a couple of injuries that took place during his senior season. So, he took advantage of the rules, sat out and returned as fifth-year senior when he was 24. “I think it can be something to consider regarding my draft stock, knowing they (the NBA teams) want young talent and potential, people who can do more over time and invest in projects. This being said, in my journey I wouldn’t change anything, because ultimately my fifth year was my best year in college, personally and as far as individual goals, I wanted to do more with a less talented squad. Regarding the draft, if things could have been different or not, I’m not sure. But something would have happened I’m just thankful for being here where I am now and the journey, I have been in.”
At the end of the day, Naz has been in the NBA anyway. Utah Jazz first, the Indiana Pacers later. He was in and out. “I had to be ready all time for when my name was called for injuries and there was the time with Covid. But it definitely gave me the confidence to believe that I was the player I believe I am. If and when my name was called, I was ready, and those moments gave me a different prospect and gave me the confidence and the preparation to come over here last year and have the season that I had and to be able to wear the shoes I’m in now.” So, he went overseas, signing for Brescia. “I’ve been blessed to find an organization like Brescia that took a chance on me, put the ball in my hands, allowed me to operate, and be the player that I am. I’m somebody who completely believe in respecting the game and that means playing hard, playing with desire, means giving everything you’ve got. I never disrespect my opponent, I always compete, and I never back down. It is the way I was raised, who I am as a man, and ultimately, I was very thankful to Brescia for allowing me to be the man I am. Now I also found new home here in Milano and I have complete confidence in the coaches and the organization.”
Among the teammates he will have in Milano, there is Kevin Pangos, a fellow Canadian from Ontario. “I have many memories of my friend Kevin Pangos. He was frankly one of the biggest reasons why I committed here. I had a conversation with Coach Messina and knew he was on the cusp of getting on board with us. He is somebody that I know has been on the perimeter of basketball since he was of a very young age. He is a professional as they come since very young, always working on his craft, always playing at a high level. Anyone of his peers knows he is somebody you can share the court with. He is somebody who is going to lead by example and I’m thankful and fortunate enough to call him my teammate again. We played together at a young age with Team Canada. It’s awesome we can come full circle.” They are teammates and also two different types of players. Naz can spell Pangos and can play next to him. “In today’s world – ha tries to explain -, the game has grown into a position less game. With that being said, I don’t’ want to take anything away from pure point guards who completely pass and nothing away from combo guards who can score. I’m in-between of both, I just kind of read the floor and the room and see what my teams needs. If it needs for me to score, I score, if it needs the pass I pass. At the end of the day, I’m doing whatever is necessary to help my team being the best it can be. I’m more of a point guard but not necessarily a traditional point guard. I’m taking pride in playing the game the right way and taking what’s given to me.”
Naz Mitrou-Long has spent four years around the NBA and one great season in Brescia. But at the EuroLeague level he is a rookie who has to prove himself all over again. “I’m somebody who lives his life in the present. Five years ago, was five years ago, last year was last year, yesterday was yesterday but I’m here now. Every day I walk into the gym, every time I got the opportunity to put my organization’s uniform on, it is an opportunity to prove to myself, that I’m what I believe I’m, working hard and giving 110 percent every day. Once you do that you commit to be a better you every day and everybody else understand who you are as a person. When you play only in the domestic league, whatever country you are in, you circle the games against EuroLeague teams or Eurocup teams, because there’s a different size, a different physicality in the way the game is being played. But it is nothing that I’m not used to. I’ve seen size, I’ve seen physicality, it is a new opportunity that will take a little bit of an adjustment.”
And finally, he thinks he can fit just well in the Olimpia team. “I take pride in being a person who is not selfish. We have great players across the board, we have guys who can go for 28 any given night. I don’t’ need to go down the list, people and fans are very familiar with our roster. It’s not about me, it is a strive for greatness, when you have this jersey on, the Milano jersey on, you strive to be a champion, you are expecting to win. Whatever it takes to win, whether it is for me to aggressively try to score, to pass or to play defense that’s what I want to be.”
