The American who dreamed of being a policeman lived in Lithuania and now shines in Argentine basketball: “I love this place”

Davaunta Thomas He is 27 years old and measures 1.95 meters. Owner of a steady gaze and a big smile, he was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma city, in the heart of the United States, where racial division is common and the highest rates of violence and unemployment are recorded. The opportunities are not abundant.

The memory of a massacre in which more than 300 people died and 10,000 African Americans lost everything is part of the history of the community. The wound is still open despite the fact that last year marked a century since that disastrous episode, and it is a constant that haunts them in the present.

For many, the American dream is elusive. And Davaunta Thomas decided to look for her future in sport: “I would be nothing without basketball. It’s all for me“says the Quimsa shooting guard, who comes from having made a great performance this season and shining in several games of the National League Finals.

His team fell to the Instituto de Córdoba in the deciding series, but stood out on hardwood. He’s had a great year. You must not be fooled. Thomas can lead the ball like any point guard. He is able to see shows that most do not imagine. He has a three sharp shots. And within the painted area, he makes many big centers uncomfortable, despite his lanky and athletic physique.

fight against adversity

The American is used to overcoming himself and fighting adversity. Davaunta is the eldest of eleven brothers. He entered college to study criminal justice and psychology. He excelled on the Arkansas Lions varsity team and then went to Lithuania.

In the country of the former Soviet Union he did not enjoy himself. He compares it to his life in Argentina and says: “It’s like day and night”. “this is a great place“, he reaffirms as he opens his eyes and scratches both arms, remembering the cold he suffered in that distant Baltic territory.

-What was the strangest thing that happened to you in Lithuania?

-There aren’t many blacks there. It is very different. I would finish every game and they would say, ‘Can I touch your hair?’ They had never seen a black person. It was very strange to me. Also, I was new, this was my first year outside the US. It was weird, I didn’t enjoy it. Here I am very well. I love this place.

-What is your life like in Santiago del Estero?

-I really enjoy. The community is very nice. They treat me like one more, like I’m part of the family. They love basketball and it’s cool. I feel good.

-Which are the Argentine customs that have marked you the most?

I love the food here. I like asado and croissants. But I don’t like the taste of mate.

– Being with other Americans, like Terry and Anderson, is useful because of the language …

-Of course, it is very important to be with them because of the language. Everyone here speaks Spanish and we are the only ones who speak English. I feel good about them.

Was it difficult to leave the United States?

-I really enjoy traveling. I like it because I know new countries, new people, new customs. I really love him.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of basketball?

-Well … I usually play a lot of tennis. And I also play a lot of video games. I like Call of Duty and FIFA. I have cars in my house, but I’m not a huge fan of cars.

His cross with NBA star Trae Young

The Argentine basketball championship is constantly growing and is always an interesting proposal. Davaunta has a competitive gene and knows that in close matches “anything can happen”.

Everywhere he moves with Eric Anderson, the best foreign player of the regular season in which Quimsa finished as a leader. Outside the parquet and inside, they make an excellent couple. He speaks a few words in Spanish, but he understands a lot. From time to time, a “yes” is heard in their answers, intruding like an intruder among so many words in English.

His life was marked by basketball. He went to many summer camps to try his luck. And in one of them he suffered a tremendous play from Trae Young, the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks star.

-What happened in that cross with Trae Young in the Summer League?

-It was a good game. Indeed, we play again in this Summer League. We use a lot of it garbage speech in the United States. He is a good player, he pulled out of the end and made a nice shot.

he dreamed of being a police officer

-What would have been in your life if you weren’t a basketball player?

I would have liked to have been a policeman. That was my dream. In fact, I went to college to study criminal justice and psychology.

– Any relationship with your family?

– No none. When I told my mom I wanted to be a police officer, she said “What, are you crazy?”

-Does your family watch games from the United States?

-My mother doesn’t know much about basketball. Sometimes I tell her I’ve scored 20 points in one game and she says, “Oh, what does that mean?” But all my friends and my dad watch every game and when I get home they give me feedback.

Who are your favorite NBA players?

-My favorite players are Russell Westbrook and Lebron James. I’m a Westbrook fan and therefore I’m also a Lakers fan.

-Would you like to continue in Argentina for a while?

-Yes of course. I am open to proposals.

On June 30, Davaunta Thomas’s contract with Quimsa expires. arrived at Merger in February, by the Sportivo Capitol of Uruguay, to strengthen the team at a decisive moment. From the Santiago entity to which they confirmed Clarione that there are intentions to renew with the escort.

It’s all a matter of time. It will be necessary to see if the basketball player stays in Santiago to continue enjoying the croissants and the grill. At the moment, the American is very happy in the country that shows a high level. The desire to be a police officer was left in the background.