The incredible mind of Trey Lyles, from 10 years in the NBA to being the most valued in Madrid | Basketball | Sports

From 662 games and 10 years in the NBA to his debut in European basketball as if nothing had happened. The transition from American League play to the EuroLeague style and rules is not always an easy or quick step. Except in men with a special mind, players who learn the lesson for the first time beyond their physical and athletic capabilities, conditions that are taken for granted in the United States. This is the case of Trey Lyles, the 2.06m, 30-year-old Canadian striker, who turned 30 this Wednesday, who in a very short time adapted to the rhythm of Real Madrid and European competitions.

Lyles was drafted 12th overall in the first round of the sketch in 2015 for Utah and in 10 seasons in the NBA he traveled to Jazz, Denver, San Antonio, Detroit and Sacramento, the last stop where he met Catalan Jordi Fernández, then assistant coach. Until this summer he decided to try the European adventure and landed in Sergio Scariolo’s new Madrid, as part of another squad renewal. The Canadian wore number 0, warmed up his wrist and soon showed that his baptism outside the American League didn’t require much filming.

Its service history speaks for itself. Lyles is averaging 12.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 20 minutes per game in the EuroLeague. Only three praetorians like Tavares, Campazzo and Hezonja advanced further along the path; Only the Croatian scores more (13.2), and barely surpasses the center by a tenth in receptions (5.2). Above all, Lyles is the best-rated Real Madrid player in Europe (15.5 credits compared to 14 for Maledon and Tavares), the one with the best percentage of triples scored (8 of 22, 36.4%) and the one who steals the most balls (0.9 per night, like Facu).

Scariolo praises him for both what he gives and what he can offer. “He has room to improve. Physically he is not yet 100% ready to give us that extra point of energy that he could have when the time comes. And mentally I see him with an incredible ability to understand things. Due to the number of repetitions of defensive and offensive actions, the game plan and plays that in these few weeks he has had to study and practice, he is very, very high”, the Italian coach described him this Thursday.

The striker shines in the big Euroleague showcase, a double-edged sword for Real Madrid. The Canadian only signed for one season and with an exit clause that would allow him to return to the NBA if he received and accepted an offer during the period. For now, he is accumulating merits in a team that visits Barça this Friday (8:30 p.m., Movistar) with the doubts of Tavares, Okeke and Kramer and that missed the four European trips along the way: Virtus Bologna, Estrella Roja, Maccabi and Bayern Munich. The Palau appears for the Whites as the stage for a possible change of script and many balls point to Lyes’ hands.

Euroleague results and standings.