Hamer: “I was thinking of quitting last summer”

A revealing full-length interview was given by Ian Hamer on its website ΚΑΕ ΑΕΚ.

The American forward / center stated that he was thinking very seriously about the possibility to retire from active action in the summer, but his “Union” changed its mind.

Beyond that, he naturally referred to his great loss Stefan Gelovac, while at the same time he talked about his life.

The interview of the American forward / center at aekbc.gr:

-Mac … Donald. Have you ever looked for your possible Scottish roots?

«It’s all a bit weird with the name. I know. I have not looked for it too much. As far as I know, I come from Scotland and Poland, on my mother’s side».

-Germany, Finland, Turkey, Russia, Monaco, Greece. Six countries changed in 7 years in Europe.

«It is true that I have traveled to many countries. I have played so far in good teams, with great coaches. It’s very difficult for a person to change country every year, but that’s what I did. With the exception of Russia, where I stayed for two consecutive years. Can I tell you something though? I like this…».

That is?

«This is not far from my way of life. I like to travel. To know new places, new cultures. And if this is combined with my work and the quality of life that each country offers me, it is a unique experience».

-You have not thought of landing somewhere, and why not in our country?

«Like I told you I like to know new places. But we can not know what the future holds. We will see».

-You tried in 2013 to sign for the Lakers. You did not make it. Was this repulsed inside you?

«I come from Princeton College and I even stood out then, along with some of my other teammates. I had a good name. In 2013, five teams from the NBA showed interest in me, including the Lakers. In fact, the Lakers called me in a mini camp, which they did before the Summer League, where you actually play in “3on3” and they made me play in his place … playmaker. I tried very hard to adapt to a new role, as the positions I knew were in “4” and “5”, however I had great opponents, who played throughout their careers as guards.».

-So, finally the dreams to play in the NBA? No repulsed …

«I grew up in the NBA. End…».

-What team are you in the NBA?

«Of course, Lakers. I was a Lakers … Now I’m just a fan of … AEK»!

-You come from a big basketball family. Was it legal to become a basketball player, or did you have another sport in mind in your early years as a child?

«Yes, as a kid I used to play a lot of football before I got into basketball. However, as you said, my family is purely basketball and so I did not spare her. My dad (Ed) was drafted by the Celtics, my uncle (John) played in the NBA for many years. It made sense to push me into the world of basketball. It was easier for me, and I certainly would not have made the same career if I had been involved in football.».

– You were a teammate in Princeton with the Greek-American Dan Mavraides, who in the past had come to play in Greece. So you have had a first contact with our country for a long time …

«You are right. It is a fact. I was a teammate of Dan. We fought together for two or three years in Princeton. I had my first contact with Greece from a young age indeed. Dan was one of the best teammates I have ever had. I remember that he had many tattoos with Greek letters …».

– And from Mavroidis of Princeton to … Mavroidis of AEK. Dimitris. Awesome?

«I had not made the connection. Awesome. So it was written to do all this and end up in Greece».

-What do you like to do when you do not play basketball?

«I really like video games. It’s something that relaxes me a lot. I also really like watching movies. But most of all I like the photo …».

– Do you like photography? Do you like traveling? At … National Geographic I see you working …

«Yes, yes … Why not? Of course I’m not a professional photographer, but I love this job. I like to discover new destinations. Capturing moments with my camera. So that in twenty-thirty years from now I can see them and remember …».

-Which subject were you best at in your student years?

«I liked and I like History very much. When I was in Princeton I changed direction at the last minute and chose Sociology».

– Are you involved in politics? Did you vote in the last US election?

«I work as an American citizen. I’m watching. Vote. Of course. It is very important to have an opinion on the public and to submit it».

-What do you support? If you want, tell us … Republicans?

«Of course not. I support Biden»!

-Let’s go back to your “travel” concerns. What do you like about Greece? What did you manage to see in eighty days?

«I like everything from Greece. But the Acropolis, the Parthenon, where I went of course is a trademark of Athens and Greece. On the occasion of the interruption of the Championship, in November, my family came to Greece and we went to Mycenae, Delphi and many other places. We generally like it as a family, but I personally also like to know in depth the History, as we said and to learn about the ancient civilizations».

-Mountain or sea?

«Mountain».

-Your favorite vacation spot?

«My uncle has an incredible house on a lake in Idaho, near California, and although I have seen many places in my life, I do not change it for anything. So Idaho …».

-Favorite singer;

«I’m a fan of “country” music, so Corey Smith».

-Favorite actor;

«“Gladiator” is my favorite movie. The protagonist, Russell Crowe, is definitely one of my favorites, but I also really like Keanu Reeves. Of women, I like Emma Watson. She is very beautiful…».

-Do you like Christmas? What do they mean to you? Do you believe in Christ etc?

«When Christmas comes my is a bit difficult because I have no family and mine are far away. But that is the nature of my job. I have been used to it for so many years. We usually arrange in whatever country I am with my teammates, to gather somewhere, so that we can have a good time. Here in Athens, we gathered for, say, a few hours, since we have constant obligations with the team, at the house of Kino (Colom). I love Christmas. Yes. I like the cold, the snow, the paved roads … And for a week, I will try to enjoy that. The decorated Athens. I will go to Syntagma and of course I will take photos».

-How do you experience all this evil, with Covid-19, which has hit humanity? Are you scared? Do you have changing habits? Does it bother you? Do you face it calmly?

«It has been two years since the virus appeared. It was something new then. Nobody knew and we were all scared. Now with vaccines and everything related, but also knowledge, people know how to protect themselves. I believe, unfortunately, that we will live for several more years with the virus, however, if we wear masks and be careful, I think, there will be no problem».

– A tragedy happened at AEK. The loss of Stefan (Gelovac) shook the whole organism. It is not surpassed …

«I already knew Stefan well, before I met him at AEK. In the past, we had found opponents, in Russia and Turkey, and since we were fighting in the same position, we competed many times. I have respected him since then as a player, but also as a person. Stefan was the one I contacted before I came to AEK. His words and his presence were a serious reason for me to come. The loss was a terrible blow to all of us. Losing such a young person so suddenly is so hard to realize. It does not fit in your mind. It is very hard. I will remember for a lifetime his dignity, his team spirit and of course I will keep in me the moments we lived as friends».

– Do you think that AEK will hardly overcome this loss?

«Stefan’s loss brought us even closer to all of us, as a team. We dedicated all our victories to Stefan, while he was fighting his battle. We will always fight for him too. Each of us has our own special way of dealing with the loss, but in the team we are and we will all be together».

-The people of AEK are the most fanatical in Greece, but with the exception of one or two matches, it seems that they are disappointed with the course of the team and do not come to the stadium. Your opinion;

«Obviously I know the people of AEK. I would not like to commit to anything. The team is having a hard time this season. Either the injuries, or the pandemic, or the loss of Stefan. All this affected us. Isn’t it human? Surely our fans want to see us win every match. I believe that if all the children come back, we train together again, we will find our chemistry. I can not promise consecutive victories, but what I can say is, that from my side I will give everything for the team to win».

-How long will you play basketball? What do you think you do when you stop?

«To tell you the truth, I was thinking about stopping last summer. The story is a bit strange, but it’s a fact, I’m telling you. I missed my home, my friends, my homeland, and I felt that everyone was moving forward without me. This had somewhat bothered me …».

-Did AEK change your mind?

«Athens and AEK really made me change my mind. And of course as I said, even after I had talked to Stefan. I had other proposals, even bigger, from AEK, you know … It was my choice to come here. In GREECE. I could not help but come to this wonderful country, but also to Athens. So it’s something I do not regret, and I enjoy, that I live here. Now, after basketball, what will happen? I do not know how life will bring them. Maybe I deal professionally with my item. The photograph. Maybe I will become … a photographer for AEK».

– Merry Christmas, Ian.

«Merry Christmas. I wish a Merry Christmas to all AEK fans, but also to the whole world».