Text: Lucie Krůčková Photo: Ilja Hubálek
Tomáš has been an ambassador of the Blažek brand for his third season now. How has his life and his view of elegant fashion changed during that time? Can family life be reconciled with the demanding NBA? And what relationship do NBA players actually have with fashion? We talked about all of this over a cup of coffee in the pleasant setting of Washington’s Georgetown, a neighbourhood Tomáš has come to love.
First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the birth of your daughter Sofia. Do you help with her at home? And is it at all possible to combine that with the demanding preparation for NBA games?
Yes, I do. Sofia was born during an NBA break, so I was at home with the family. It was wonderful to be able to help at the very beginning. I wanted my wife not to have to manage it all on her own. Even now I get up to Sofia during the night, but we have a rule before games – I sleep in another room then. It helps me to perform well. My wife’s mother is also here with us, and she is a great help.
I cannot imagine how much time you have to devote to basketball to hold your own in the NBA. What does a typical day look like for you, and do you do anything over and above the other players?
Once you reach the NBA, it is all about setting a certain routine. People do not really realise how demanding the league is, both in terms of time and physically. Eighty-two games are played in four and a half months. Then it depends on whether you play a lot of minutes or not. When I wasn’t yet playing so many minutes, I added individual training sessions so as not to lose my rhythm. Now that I am playing more, on the contrary, I try rather to recover, so that the body can withstand the strain.
Yesterday at the game I realised just how different the NBA is. Players arrive for games in suits. It is a magnificent show. Some are dressed elegantly, others a little extravagantly. Which of your teammates is the greatest fashion connoisseur?
I would say it is without doubt Ian Mahinmi. He is French, and he has his own fashion brand, French Deal, in which he combines the classic with the extravagant. He is the player who best combines colours. Extravagance looks good on him, but at the same time he can wear a beautiful classic suit. Now that I am paying far more attention, I can see he is someone who really knows how to dress well.
And what about your own outfits? Will you tell me which ones have caught your teammates’ attention?
My teammates and members of the coaching staff pay a lot of attention to the less formal outfits, where we have chosen playful colour combinations. They compliment me on them and ask where they are from. I joke that it is Euro Style, and they want to know what brand that is.
Do you have any rituals before a game to help you relax? Are you still nervous, or do you let it go and simply head out onto the court for the next game?
I still tend to be nervous. But I always tell myself it is a good thing – that it means I am aware of the importance of the moment, that it is not just another game for me. The nerves let me know I am ready for the match. I have never had a routine that set me apart from anyone, but before a game I try to do the same things every time. The same amount of time for the warm-up, the gym and the work with the physiotherapists.
The end of the NBA season is approaching. What are your family plans once it is over?
(Tomáš laughs.) We like to say that when a person makes plans, little Sofie just laughs. So for the time being we are not planning too much. We will spend some time in the Czech Republic. We would like to visit our family with Sofie and see our friends in Prague. Simply enjoy the break.
I know you travel to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival every year. Are you planning to attend again this year?
Yes, we are going, even though we now have our parental duties. We decided it would be lovely to go with Sofia and with Anička’s parents too. It is something of a family tradition and we want to keep it going. We are very much looking forward to it. Hopefully we will manage.
Will you also make it to the summer camp for young players?
Definitely. It will already be the fourth year of our camp. We really enjoy keeping the tradition going. I think I am in a position where I ought to give something back to young players – to pass on my experience. We are trying to make it more and more enjoyable. It is important for me to keep doing it. And then I am preparing for the national team. For a month I will train in Prague or in Spain and prepare individually. After that the World Championship awaits us.
What do you think will be key if we are to hold our own at the World Championship?
We have to go there with the aim of advancing. Not just with the idea that we will play a few games, that we have reached our peak simply by qualifying. We must believe in ourselves to progress, even though it will be mentally demanding from the very first game – not least because our opening match is against the United States.
Nejoblíbenější
Labels