Photo credited to Cavs History (flickr)

Since there is not much circulation of basketball being fulfilled in the states, most of the NBA hype is coming from overseas, at least from the Detroit Pistons side of life.

The more mainstream ball players like Deron Williams have been closely followed, but there are plenty of other NBA men trying to make a living in light of the current NBA dispute.

Detroit Pistons’ Austin Daye is one of those men. Daye may have never thought that his journey to the NBA would land him in Detroit and then just as quickly as he entered the league he would have to find an alternative means to support himself in spite of it.

His road has most recently landed him in Russia playing as a replacement for an injured player, who now has begun taking some of his time back over from the two-year Pistons’ standout. He discusses some of the culture changes in Russia, specifically Moscow, and how he has had to adapt in a place where a lot of the people do not look or speak like him.

Here is an excerpt from the Hoops Hype blog interview conducted by Nima Zarrabi:

So your contract is only for two months. If the NBA season is canceled, will you stay there?

AD: I’m not sure. It’s up in the air. We need to see if the team would want to extend, if not it would be my choice to come home. I’m kind of eager to come home and work out with my trainer in Los Angeles. It all depends on playing time as well. I came to help a team with a player that was hurt and now that he’s coming back, I’m getting less minutes, which I understand. I knew that was part of the process.

What are some of the differences in culture when you compare Moscow to Southern California, where you grew up?

AD: Everyone smokes here, I can tell you that. It’s just a little different, but it’s how you would figure it to be, it’s the European style. Moscow is the main city, where a lot of money is and you see a lot of Maybachs and Porsches and nice cars. (more…)