Nigel Hayes-Davis: “No Joy in European Basketball”
Fenerbahce Beko star Nigel Hayes-Davis joined the third episode of Off The RECourt, a podcast hosted by Anadolu Efes players Shane Larkin and Elijah Bryant. During the episode, Hayes-Davis discussed his experiences with Team USA’s Select Team this past summer and offered insights on the cultural differences between basketball in the U.S. and Europe.
Reflecting on his time with Team USA, Hayes-Davis shared that he rediscovered the joy of basketball—a feeling he believes is often missing in Europe:
“The most incredible moments were when we were sitting on the bench. I’d message my mom and friends about what I was experiencing. In Europe, there’s always this sense of anger on the bench. You sit next to someone, and they’re yelling out of frustration over something happening on the court. If the team isn’t scoring, everyone’s tense. Or the coach yells, ‘Look at Shane (as an example)—what would you have done in his place?’ In the summer, though, I was sitting on the bench with guys like KD (Kevin Durant), and we were all laughing and having fun, just enjoying the game. LeBron goes up for a dunk, and we’re all on our feet cheering. It was pure joy—something I hadn’t felt in a long time playing in Europe, where everything is so intense and stressful.”
Hayes-Davis’s reflections highlighted the lighter, more joyful atmosphere he felt was missing in the European basketball environment, where games are more high-stakes and intense.
Personal Reflections
Hayes-Davis also shared anecdotes from his childhood, detailing his journey in sports and his family’s influence. He revealed that his first sport was American football, although he disliked it, and his mother encouraged him to stay involved in sports. Coming from a middle-class family, he credited his stepfather as one of the most supportive figures in his life.
“I wanted to be so many things growing up. First, I wanted to be a demolition expert. Then I saw a documentary and thought being a sniper would be cool, but later realized I didn’t want to harm people. Then I was inspired by Criminal Minds and wanted to be a forensic scientist, solving mysteries. But along the way, I just kept studying and playing basketball, and that’s where life led me.”
With these experiences, Hayes-Davis offered fans a unique glimpse into the often unseen aspects of a professional athlete’s life and career path, illustrating how his journey has been shaped by both basketball and family.
