Ex-BBNaija housemate Hermes Iyele
Ex-BBNaija housemate Hermes Iyele has remained closely connected to basketball despite his success in the entertainment industry. In this interview with ABIODUN ADEWALE, he discusses his basketball dream, love for LeBron James and plans to contribute to the sport in Nigeria
Before dancing and Big Brother Naija, there was basketball for you. How did that journey start?
At the beginning, I started playing basketball because I was trying to get a scholarship to go to school abroad, which I did, but I didn’t get the visa. But I kept playing, and after Big Brother Naija, I got the opportunity to work with the NBA here. For me, what that means is that even though I had a basketball plan, basketball had other plans for me because I am still influencing the entire sports industry in Nigeria. There is no such thing as a waste, in my opinion, because that is what basketball taught me. I just kept playing because I really love this sport. Even right now, I still play basketball every Tuesday and Thursday. It’s a thing for me.
What position do you play, and how would you describe your style on the court?
I get the ball, get in there and just ball. I play small forward, but for my height, I’m not tall enough to play that. I am supposed to be a guard or a point guard. I’ve been playing so well as a small forward, so it is what it is.
Is there any basketball player in Nigeria or abroad whose style you can relate to?
Jordan. They call me Jordan on the basketball court because that is my style of play. Against all odds, I just go and get it.
Have you ever considered playing basketball for Nigeria professionally?
That might have been possible if I got the chance to go to school and play abroad. Even now, playing the sport professionally would require me to maybe have a year of conditioning. If I get the opportunity to do that, I am not alien to it. I will get back into the gym, work out, and get my body back in shape to play at that level of competition. If I get that opportunity, I am taking it.
You are also a dancer. How does dancing connect with basketball for you?
It’s intertwined. Sports has its footwork, dancing has its footwork, and I feel like because I dance well, I am able to play basketball a lot better. It’s like dancing for me; it’s almost the same thing.
What is your favourite NBA team?
Team LeBron. Any team LeBron is on is the team I am with.
Were you surprised by LeBron James’ move to the Philadelphia 76ers this summer?
I wasn’t shocked. I knew he was most likely going to leave the Lakers after last season. I didn’t know where exactly he was going to go, though. I’m not going to lie, his going to the Philadelphia 76ers wasn’t expected. He’s there right now, and that’s the team I am supporting.
From your experience and knowledge of the game, what do you think about the state of Nigerian basketball?
Nigerian basketball can do a lot better, and I am saying this here because there is a whole lot of fighting and disagreement. There is so much more that can be done, and the people playing the sport are not benefiting as much as they need to. They need to do better because basketball is one way to have the youth engaged, and it is not just about basketball; it is sports in general.
You have spoken about the challenges facing basketball. Do you have a vision for how you can contribute to changing things?
I am already doing a lot. A lot of my friends come and host camps, and we try to make them as accessible as possible. I feel like the private sector wants to do a lot, but there must be great synergy with the government. The government has to give the necessary backing, and these are things that can change the game. For many people in basketball, the question on their lips is, how lucrative can it be? Because they want to play. Most of them don’t even have shoes.
Aside from basketball, what other sports did you participate in growing up?
I played football, which is like a Nigerian thing. I also played table tennis, and I was really engaged in sports, but basketball stole me away from all of them.
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