Cameron Reynolds spoke to Basketball Sphere, discussing his career and the upcoming season with Buducnost Podgorica.
Cameron Reynolds has played for several clubs throughout his career. He attempted to secure his place in the NBA, where he was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets. However, he couldn’t find consistent playing time, so he decided to come to Europe.
His first club was Trento, where he played during the 2021/22 season. Afterward, he came to the ABA League, where he signed a contract with Buducnost Podgorica last summer.
“The first season with Buducnost was a great experience for me. We had a good team in my opinion, although the season didn’t end the way we expected. I’m not entirely satisfied with my performances. I played well for most of the season, but I had a dip in form at the worst time. I will work hard to ensure that such things don’t happen again.”
Reynolds revealed how he prepared for the new season.
“During the summer, I went to the United States, where I worked hard. I focused on improving my physique to become a better defender, and I also worked on my ability to make shots in different ways.”
Reynolds had the most significant opportunity in the NBA with Minnesota Timberwolves. He played 19 games for them during the 2018/19 season, averaging five points and 1.6 rebounds.
“Getting the opportunity from Minnesota Timberwolves was a dream come true because it all happened completely unexpectedly. Coming from the G League to the NBA and playing for the Wolves was a blessing. I learned a lot in the short time I spent there.”
Reynolds was a member of the San Antonio Spurs for a while, giving him the opportunity to collaborate with the legendary coach Gregg Popovich.
“Gregg Popovich is actually everything people say about him. He is a top-notch coach and person. He only wants the best for his players and treats everyone the same way. It was a great experience spending time with him at the San Antonio Spurs and the United States national team. When you’re from Texas and playing for one of the teams from your state, it’s pretty fun.”
Buducnost wasn’t the first European team Reynolds played for. He made his debut during the 2021/22 season while representing the Italian team Trento.
“My first season in Trento was a tremendous experience and a learning opportunity for me in terms of the European style of play and the level of pride in sports here. We had a talented team. However, injuries and illness among several players made it challenging for us to find our rhythm. I think Trento was a fantastic place for my European debut.”
Considering that Cameron Reynolds has played both in the NBA and in Europe for some time now, he compared basketball in America to European basketball.
“The most significant differences between NBA basketball and European basketball are the physicality and spacing on the court. There’s also a difference in defense. Here, you can be much more aggressive on defense, while in America, the emphasis is on offensive movements. As for spacing, in Europe, there are no defensive three seconds, and the three-point line is closer, which allows for more three-pointers.” – concluded Reynolds.