Von Wafer Enjoying Success Overseas

[CeltsRoxfan]

AlexKennedyNBA Alex Kennedy
Von Wafer is one of the few NBA players enjoying success overseas. He discussed his experience in Italy: tinyurl.com/43pcorx

Wafer Enjoying Success in Italy: If you haven’t heard, many NBA players that signed overseas after the lockout commenced are now struggling with their new teams. Some players are having a difficult time adjusting to the international game and the teams that paid a ton of money for their services aren’t meeting expectations as a result. Overseas success stories have been few and far between this offseason.

One player that has bucked the trend and played well overseas is Von Wafer. The shooting guard signed with the Italian club Vanoli Cremona in August and has enjoyed success early in the season. Wafer has led the team to a 2-1 record, while averaging a team-high 19 points on 62.5% shooting.

“It’s been fun and I’ve gotten a lot better,” Wafer told HOOPSWORLD. “I’m just happy that I’m getting the opportunity to play basketball. I’m continuing to learn the game and grow as a player over here. In this situation, I’m the main guy on my team so opposing teams are focusing on stopping me. It’s definitely making me a better player. When the lockout ends, I’ll be able to play off of my teammates and not have to worry about things like double teams.”
This isn’t Wafer’s first stint overseas. He made headlines when he left the NBA two years ago to sign with the Greek club Olympiacos. The experiment was deemed a failure when Wafer was waived several months into the season. However, this experience is different from his first overseas adventure.

“It’s been amazing here. In Italy, they pay you on time. They pay you on time. Oh and another thing is, you get paid on time! That’s a big difference from Greece,” Wafer said with a laugh. “You have more freedom here too. In Greece, it was crazy because we had early curfews and things like that.”
“The people here have embraced me and made me comfortable,” he added. “The organization has been great to me and the city is beautiful. How could I not love it? They’ve been amazing.”

Prior to signing in Italy, Wafer was working out in Louisiana. Not only was he trying to expand his game, he was also spending a considerable amount of time in the weight room.

“I think a lot of people are going to be surprised when they see me and the shape that I’m in,” Wafer said. “I’ve really changed my body. Physically, I’ve made a lot of progress this summer. That’s something that I wanted to do and I was always in the weight room. Before, I’d stay in the gym the whole time, but now I lived in the weight room. I think people are going to be surprised. I’ve gotten a lot bigger, stronger and faster. I feel really good, unbelievable. This is the best I’ve ever felt.

Bulking up paid off immediately for Wafer, who believes his strength allowed him to adjust to the different style of play in Italy.

“It’s designed for the guys that are stronger,” Wafer said. “It’s slower and physical. I was watching Ty Lawson play the other night and he was just struggling. In the NBA, he gets to the rack with ease, but he couldn’t do that. He was getting fouled a lot – I’ll give him that – but that’s just how it is over here. It’s more physical and they allow more touching. There are no illegal defenses either so it’s really different.”

Wafer can relate to Lawson when it comes to the officiating. He hasn’t received any favors from the refs.

“They let guys get away with a lot of stuff on me,” Wafer said. “I don’t know about other NBA players, but it’s been rough on me.”

The competition is also intense, with the opposition wanting to prove themselves against the NBA players. Wafer doesn’t buy the notion that these are watered down leagues with lesser talent.

“All you have to do is look at Deron Williams. He was struggling until he just had a good game. Look at DaJuan Summers and how he’s been struggling. A lot of NBA dudes are coming oversea and struggling. There’s good competition and it’s really a different game over here. The rules are different. It’s really more like college over here. It’s a smaller game and while there is individual talent, it’s more of a team game.”

While some players are counting down the days until the lockout ends so they can return to the United States, Wafer is enjoying his time in Italy. In fact, he doesn’t even keep track of the ongoing labor negotiations.

“I stopped following that stuff a long time ago,” Wafer said. “I don’t even pay attention to it. I’m just over here in Italy trying to get better.”

He's leading the Italian league with 20.3 ppg.

[PosImpos]

I think Von has an advantage in that he played overseas the year before last, so the international game is not new to him. 

[mc34]

He's also got a huge advantage in athleticism over pretty much everyone over there.

[BASS_THUMPER]

he running them over there..

mike j of Italy

[clover]

HGH?

[Inside-Out]

I'm trying to decide whether the new SG draftee has upside more like Von Wafer or Kevin Gamble. 

Thoughts?

[manl_lui]

its nice to see Von is playing well, hope he also improved his game

Do we still have his contract or is he a FA?

[Celtics18]

Good for Von.  I thought he did some decent things for us in his limited minutes last year.  I'm glad to hear that he's doing well and enjoying his time in Italy.

[jimmehx]

I'm two hours from Cremona and i'm definitely going to go see one of his next games. Will check in once I have.

In other news I'm planning to go see Scal and E'Twaun Moore play for Treviso in three weeks. Should be good fun!