link: [Toumani Camara is eager to make his mark in NBA first season: “Want to force my place”](https://sporza.be/nl/2023/10/23/toumani-camara-staat-te-popelen-om-stempel-te-drukken-in-eerste-nba-seizoen-wil-mijn-plek-afdwingen~1698089689691/)
Sporza is the main sports site in Flanders (the dutch speaking part of Belgium)
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**Like a first day of school, but a lot more exciting. Toumani Camara is eager to show himself as a rookie on the eve of the new NBA season. The 23-year-old Belgian has set clear goals at Portland. “I want to enforce a place on the squad and play a role,” he says.**
After an eventful summer, Toumani Camara is ready for the most important chapter in his career so far.
The Belgian was part of a trade and traded Phoenix for the less sunny Portland. But he doesn’t see dark clouds hanging over his NBA adventure.
“The *preseason* wasn’t always easy,” the Belgian admits on the eve of the new season. “You do think about why you got involved in a trade.”
“Also on the field, I had to adapt physically and mentally. And I had to master a lot of systems. Although it went very well in games for now.”
In preparation, the 23-year-old small forward regularly showed himself with good shots and strong defensive actions.
“Look, I had fun on the field. That was the most important thing.”
## Rookie in the land of strength and speed
A taste of the real thing, a tutorial for level 1: the rookie year. You can’t really call such a *preseason* more than that.
On the field, the always cheerful Camara felt no pressure. However, he immediately noticed the difference with college- basketball.
“The speed and physical strength made the biggest impression on me,” he honestly admits. “You immediately feel that players who have been in the NBA for years are really masters of the game.”
Not that it deter Camara. “Playing against stars like LeBron James or Steph Curry, that’s what you dream of. That’s what you do it for.”
Although that mainly becomes a question mark: how many minutes does Toumani Camara make on the largest basketball stage in the world?
>**My season is successful if I can enforce a place on the squad and really play a meaningful role.**
A question that the Belgian himself is of course working on. So he has set himself a clear goal.
“My season is successful if I can enforce a place on the squad and really play a meaningful role,” Camara believes. “And of course I want to win as many games as possible with the Portland Trail Blazers.”
Only coach Chauncey Billups can estimate for the time being what our compatriot’s future will look like. “He told me to show myself, but not force too much.”
“The coach is thinking of rotating with a dozen players. He gives confidence to young players and was satisfied with the quality I brought so far,” Camara smiles. “But everything will depend on my performance.”
Finally, the young Belgian addresses his compatriots. “I can’t estimate what it will bring about in Belgium, if I achieve my goal. I do hope it inspires talented basketball players to follow in my footsteps.”
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by Gaetan123456
