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Markus Howard spoke to Eurodevotion about last season Baskonia campaign, his relationship with Nico Mannion and his future career
To get to Markus Howard we did a dive in Baskona headquarter in Milan, the hotel in which they stay right before the last Euroleague match for this 2023. Between an hilarious Chima Moneke, a Marinkovic fascinated by Italian ‘panettone’ and Miller Mc-Intyre in joker version with his teammate being interviewed, we had the pleasure to talk to the technical leader of this so colorful company.
The American player is one of the most brilliant guard in Eurolague, he’s having great game after great game and, more than any other thing he’s such a special player for Eurodevotion. Two years ago we wrote a deep long-form in occasion of his landing in Europe, where we told abut his wonderful life story and we anticipated a bit his success.
As exuberant and untamable on the court as calm and quiet outside, he spoke to us about several topics.
I read that when you were really young teachers yelled at you because you were dribbling the ball even in class. The thing that impress me the most about your game is that you’re capable to be so focused to get a lot of buckets in a few minutes and at the same time so light and genuine, you represent the joy of the game. What can you tell us about that?
You know, growing up, I played with my brothers all my life and then for it to be a job now I’m very fortunate. It’s hard not to be grateful and have joy and just the mere fact basketball is my job, so… Yeah, it just comes from just childlike type of love.
You mentioned the fact you played with your brother (Jordan Howard, ed), coach Joe Babinski who coached you both in Perry High School once said you were “the Warriors before the Warriors” (2013, ed). Was it true and do you think that kind of approach is something you are taking with you even now?
Yeah, definitely. I think just at the impact that Steph Curry and Klay Thompson and guys like that have had on the game of basketball. Playing with my brother was probably the most fun I’ve ever had playing basketball. There’s nothing like playing with someone that you grew up with. We know each other’s game better than anybody and just the type of fun that we had while playing was something I can’t describe. So you know, I hope to be able to do that again one day.
Just talking again about your past and playstyle, I think that in Europe we see you more as a combo-guard type of player. In your career you played so much with more pure point guards like McEwen in Marquette, or Campazzo in Denver, Thompson or Mc-Intyre. How do you feel about the position issue?
I just think that with guards like that, they do a great job of creating and finding guys, finding the best play. I think how I play complements how those guys play as well. Those are guys that are willing passers and being a guy that can help them in situations to make their job easier by trying to score, that’s all I try to do. All those guys you mentioned were very good at what they do in terms of creating.
Another aspect really great about your path is that since you’re young you speak up about mental health and mental health for basketball players. Why is it important?
Just because, you know, we all go through it as athletes, so just to be in a place where you know you feel confortable with your emotions and feelings is something that is important because in the past was not something that’s been emphasized. So just staying with that.
Let’s talk about Baskonia, what happened in your opinion last season? At a certain point you were first in EL and in ACB and then not a bad season, but a bit disappointing.
It’s my first year in Europe. I can only speak about what I have experienced. But, as a team, you know, I think we played hard and we did everything we could. There are a lot of so close games that we lost, so just little things each and every game, little mistakes here and there that we could have fixed. But that’s still a good year. Obviously we wanted to finish better but we’re still a young team trying to figure each other out. Overall I thought it was still a good year.
And so how do you do feel with this new season, with the new coach? Do you expect a step forward?
It’s been good so far, I don’t wanna speak too far into it because it’s such a long season. Right now, everything has been good. We’ve been getting better. We’re still learning each other, still trying to continue to find ways to win. But for the most part it’s still a long way to go and I know we’re still just going to continue to get better.
Between you teammates in this early season you played with Nico Mannion. Why in your opinion his path didn’t continue with Baskonia and what do you think about him as a player and person?
I’m not going to speak on why it didn’t work. Firsf off, as a person, I don’t think that you’re gonna find many better people than Nico. He’s just an amazing human being who, first of all, loves his family. He’s a great friend, he wants the best for everyone he’s around, he’s genuine, he works extremly hard.
He’s still so young. I forget sometimes he’s only 22, but he just plays with so much maturity, so much poise and the time I was able to spend with him basketball wise was awesome. We worked out each and every day and just to get to know him as a young man, he’s an unbelievable person and I’m exicted for what he’s going to do. I mean, I know he’s only going to continue to get better and I expect big things from him because he’s an unbelievable player.
We expect the same! Listen, you experienced Euroleague last year for the first time, now you’re more a veteran kind of player, let’s say. Do you feel to have achieved a sort of status in this league?
I feel I haven’t done anything yet. It’s only my second year, I’m still learning and growing. There are a lot of season veterans in this league that have been here for a long time. It’s so competitive, so high-leveled, I still don’t even feel like I’m as comfortable as I’m going to be. There’s still a lot I’m trying to figure out, while playing in this league.
I’m just very grateful of being here, the competition level is as high it can be, I just love the intensity that each and every game brings. Every game you can feel a sense of how much it means, no game has ever take it for granted, so that just makes you a better player. I definitely don’t feel any type of complacency. I actually feel I haven’t done anything. I’m still new to this, I’m still fairly new to this league, I’m just looking to continue to prove myself each and every time I’m out there.
We can’t see nothing but a bright future for you man!
Photo credit: euroleague.net, Diario AS, Saski Baskonia
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