Kyle Hines, Milano player, spoke to Basketball Sphere about what was the most memorable moments in his career, what he learned from Vassilis Spanoulis, Milos Teodosic and others. Also, he touched on which segment Kevin Punter and Zach LeDay made progress in Partizan, and he referred to the situation with Crvena Zvezda and atmosphere in Belgrade.
The Philadelphia Inquirer published an interesting story how Kyle Hines was cut from the team in the eighth grade, and then barely made the “freshman” team to the Camden Catholic in New Jersey. Then he grew up suddenly. From that moment, discipline and work ethic led him to the UNC Greensboro Spartans, a college whose history he would later mark.
He left the university as the sixth player all-time in the NCAA with at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 300 blocks. Together with Ricky Hickman, with whom he will have big battles in Europe for several years, he broke the many records, and Mike Krzyzewski gave it as a seal of all that, but also an additional motive for everything that follows. “Coach K” praised the Spartans’ tandem, on a night in which Kyle Hines scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds against Duke, the best team in the state.
Pioneer of modern “undersize” centers
It was a hint of a quality career. After not being selected in the NBA Draft, he tried in the Summer League, but the epilogue was the same. This was followed by a move to Europe and second division Veroli, where he dominated, then Bamberg, where he did the same. He then joined Olympiacos, then CSKA Moscow, while he has been in Milano since 2020.
If we were to talk about the fact that he is the record holder for the number of games played, when it comes to the EuroLeague, that he won the elite competition four times and was named the best defender of it three times, as well as that he was selected in the All EuroLeague team of the decade, we would be talking about about the perfect basketball CV. We would talk about the fact that he is one of the best United States players ever on European soil.
And it still wouldn’t be the full picture. Despite all the above, what fascinates more is the modesty exuded by the 37-year-old from Sicklerville, one of the pioneers of modern “undersize” fives and what is called the positionless game. He has shaped the course of European basketball for the last 15 years, since he dominated the rims of the Old Continent. Grateful for everything he experienced far beyond the borders of his homeland, without thinking about what could have happened if the path had led him to other destinations, perhaps more tempting at first, such as the NBA.
“If I could do it all over again…”
A basketball CV says one thing, and nature says another, and you can’t go against it. Although he still hasn’t officially announced when he could retire, it’s clear that the end is closer than it was a few years ago. It’s time to settle accounts.
The beginning of the interview with Basketball Sphere took place in that direction, during which Hines revealed if there is anything he would change, looking back on the past period.
“Nothing, maybe I would like to go through everything again (laughs). I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. If I would change one thing, one detail, maybe none of this would happen. I’m living the dream here in Europe. When I arrived, I couldn’t even imagine that I would achieve the things I have achieved”, underlined the center of Milano.
About the first title, Vassilis Spanoulis, Milos Teodosic…
Out of so many memorable moments during his long career and great successes, he singled out one that was particularly significant for him.
“My first season with Olympiacos, when we won the EuroLeague. That final had the most impact on me, because right at the beginning it gave me the motivation to better understand what it’s like to be at such a high level. To make such an achievement at such a young age helped me set standards and understand what I want the rest of my career to look like.”
Playing for some of the biggest European teams, Kyle Hines had the opportunity to share the locker room with the best players who have ever been part of the EuroLeague. A few of them had a big impact on his game as well.
“I learned a little from everyone. Starting with Olympiacos and Vassilis Spanoulis, from whom I learned about work ethic, about what it means to be a leader, to Milos Teodosic, from whom I learned what kind of approach I should have, and how to read the game. In my first year at CSKA, I played with Nenad Krstic, with whom was similar.
Sergio Rodriguez and Nando de Colo helped me understand what it means to be consistent. I then played with Chacho again in Milano, as well as with Vladimir Micov, Malcolm Delaney and Shavon Shields, who I play with today. They all helped me and I took a little from each one. It was one of the most important things for my career.”
Dimitris Diamantidis or Theo Papaloukas unfulfilled dream
Although there is nothing he regrets, he touched on who he would have liked to have been able to share the court with, and who is not in the current course of his career. The answer this time too could not be without Greek legends.
“I have always wanted to play with EuroLeague greats like Dimitris Diamantidis or Theo Papaloukas. Two great point guards, who made life easier for centers in those days. Those are two players I wish I had the opportunity to play with.”
His former team-mate Vassilis Spanoulis became the Greece national team head coach, which did not surprise Hines, who knows very well the mindset of one of the best shooting guards Europe has ever seen.
“Everyone who knows him, who has talked to him, knows that he is a basketball genius. The natural process was that he would take over a team, in order to share knowledge with the younger generations. I’m happy for him. I know how much Greece means to him, how much playing for Greece meant to him. It’s something huge, something he really cares about. I know that he will do a good job.”
“I didn’t consider playing for other national teams”
The naturalization of foreign players is not something that is unknown and has been around for a long time. Given that he left a deep mark wherever he played, the question about the offers of national teams to play for them only arose.
“Yes, I had the opportunity to do that, but it’s not something I considered. I am grateful for the chance to represent a country, but I never wanted to take that opportunity away from someone else. Talking to some of the guys, I knew what playing for the national team means to them.
It wouldn’t mean the same to me, as it would mean to someone who grew up in Serbia or Greece, whose dream was to wear the national team jersey. When you watch EuroBasket, the FIBA World Cup, you see how much they care. I would never do something if I don’t feel it 100 percent.”
On the progress of Kevin Punter and Zach LeDay
Milano is in a crisis for the second season in a row, three years after Kevin Punter and Zach LeDay strengthened Partizan. The aforementioned tandem was an important part of the team that in 2021 was one shot away from the EuroLeague final and was only defeated by Barcelona in dramatic finish. Given that a certain period has passed, Hines explained how much Punter and LeDay have changed in the Partizan jersey.
“Ettore Messina gave them both the opportunity to understand how to lead the team and they both had a big contribution to our successful season. They had the opportunity to be around veterans, like me, Chacho and Micov, which helped them to be more mature, I guess. They know better. Kevin Punter was obviously a good player before, I’ve known him since he was wearing the Lavrio jersey.
Look where he is now, he is the captain of Partizan. And that leadership is something that he further improved, he understands how to lead a team. He knows that he can help the team at a high level, which was also the case in Milano. It’s the same with Zach LeDay, he shows maturity and understands what it takes to consistently be at a high level. I talked to him about it. This consistency is one of the things he has proven at Partizan during this time, and that is why the fans love him,” Kyle Hines pointed out.
About the atmosphere in Belgrade
There was also talk about the atmosphere created by the Serbian teams in the EuroLeague, which inspired the Milano veteran, who immediately recalled a moment deeply etched in his memory.
“Whenever you have a chance to play in Belgrade, the atmosphere is special, regardless of whether you play against Partizan or Crvena Zvezda. Serbia’s basketball culture is unique, I have close relations with it, partly because of former coach Dusan Duda Ivkovic, partly because of former teammates, and my agent is also Serbian.
Everyone is in awe of the atmosphere and everyone thinks about what it would be like to be a part of it. I’m lucky to have experienced all that, not many people have that opportunity. That’s the first question when I get home. I remember the playoff against Crvena Zvezda in 2016 and the fan video that went viral. Everyone asks me what it was like to play in such an environment.”
Hines went through different EuroLeague formats, which changed in the direction of speeding up the rhythm of the game. Now the offensive ratings are higher than ever and the scoring talent is more visible. Milano is still resisting that trend to a certain extent, considering that Messina is trying to slow down the pace, which is also indicated by the fact that the Italian team is among the teams with the least number of possessions per game.
“That’s the beauty of basketball, that the game is constantly changing. When I came, it was very strict when it comes to positions. Centers were much more involved in actions. As basketball has evolved, there are more and more positionless game and undersize centers. Now the teams shoot for three a lot more, they try to score as many points as possible, and they will continue in that direction. It’s never the same, that’s why people enjoy it. And I enjoy being a part of the transition,” concluded Kyle Hines in an interview with Basketball Sphere.