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Now, Turiaf tells us he's more than willing to provide a helping hand for James' oldest son when it comes time for the USC star to try to get back on the hardwood following his heart scare on Monday. "If Bronny ever wants to talk, I'm sure that I'll be more than happy to talk to him," Turiaf said on Tuesday, the 18th anniversary of his own heart procedure. "If at any given time he wants to talk, I'm always available."
In an exclusive interview, former NBA Champion Ronny Turiaf told Basketball Insiders that potential No.1 NBA Draft pick Victor Wembanyama has the intangibles to become a superstar. “He’s 1 of 1,” Turiaf said in the interview, “I’m not even talking about his size and the fact that he blocks shots and all that stuff but when I watch the intangibles that he brings to the game, that excites me the most about him, for sure.”
Ronny Turiaf: I think that the challenge that Victor is going to face will be the speed of the game, repetition of the game, I don’t think he’s used to playing four times a week. Also outside the court, the culture. America is not France, the way people behave is different from what I’m thinking he’s used to. So, those are the first things that jump into my mind about the first couple of obstacles that he’ll face. He already speaks English very well, he’s already surrounded by a great team, so I think those are the things.
Ronny Turiaf: I can tell you that the way Victor plays basketball is definitely real. This young man plays basketball the right way, he makes the right decision over 9 times out of 10. He is able to be a great teammate, be there for his teammates and be very encouraging when his teammates miss shots and so on. He’s definitely someone that I’ve watched play two or three times, he’s one of one. He’s definitely one of one, I’m not even talking about his size or the fact he can block shots and all that stuff but when I saw the intangible that he brings to the game, that’s what excites me the most about him.
"To get Kobe's respect was darn near impossible," said Hollins. "We could count on one hand the number of teammates that Kobe respected. Trevor Ariza was a guy who Kobe respected. Ronny Turiaf, Lamar Odom, Pau…I remember one time I was on the Clippers and Kobe spun off Matt Barnes and went to the hole. I get over early, I slide over two feet and get my hands straight in the air perfectly, and I go to stop Kobe. Kobe jumps into me, throws the ball up, and the referee calls a foul on me. I was in perfect position. Mamba comes down after the foul is called and gives me a slap on the butt as if to say, 'good job kid, you were there, but I'm Kobe.' That was a big moment and I was happy."
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Boris Diaw: This is it... It was a good run. @tonyparker @Ronny_Turiaf @bros_stories Full video.
Ronny Turiaf officially retired at 33. The French big man has played 473 games in the NBA averaging 2.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced the launch of the NBA European Ambassador Program, which will see former NBA players engage thousands of youth through the league’s youth development efforts on the continent. The NBA European Ambassador Program will include former NBA players John Amaechi (UK), Gordan Giriček (Croatia), Marko Milič (Slovenia), Hanno Möttölä (Finland), Audie Norris (U.S.), Dino Rađa (Croatia), Vladimir Radmanović (Serbia), Efthimios Rentzias (Greece), Dragan Tarlać (Serbia), and Ronny Turiaf (France).
Ronny Turiaf is ready to return to the court. The French big man is sidelined since November 2014 due to a right hip injury that he has resolved now. “For the first time in years I can sleep on my right side and I can dunk on my right foot” Turiaf told Basket USA. “I feel good and I have the pleasure to play without thinking too much” added the former Gonzaga player
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In the forward for Caron Butler's, "Tuff Juice: My Journey from the Streets to the NBA," Bryant writes that he and Butler have remained connected, even though they only played together a single year with the Lakers. "Caron and I bonded in day one and that bond remains as strong today as it ever was even though he now wears a different uniform," Bryant writes. "It's very rare for me to open up to somebody like that, but I just had a connection with him. He's one of my favorite teammates. There's Caron, there's Pau [Gasol], there's [Derek Fisher] and Ronnie Turiaf."
Ronny Turiaf: A few weeks after my surgery, I reached out to Fred Hoiberg, who also underwent surgery for an enlarged aorta. His procedure happened three weeks before mine, and he walked me through every single issue I could ever encounter. He gave me moral support and told me everything was going to be okay. That meant a lot to me, because when you rehab from heart surgery, little scares come up all the time. There is so much to know and worry about, so every conversation with Fred was as priceless as the last. That’s why when I joined the Timberwolves in 2013, I chose Fred’s number. I’d always worn 21 whenever possible, but I wasn’t touching Kevin Garnett’s number, out of respect. So Clayton Wilson, the equipment manager, mentioned wearing 32 in honor of Fred, and we thought it was a great idea. What a wonderful rite of passage, and a way to honor someone who played for the Timberwolves and had such an impact in the Minnesota community.
Ronny Turiaf: When I think about the last ten years, I view it as a journey of self-discovery. The nomadic lifestyle I enjoy. Being open to new experiences. Exploring life to the limit. It’s been a fun ride. There’s a quote by Martin Lawrence: “Live this life until the wheels fall off.” That’s what I’m doing. I never wanted my heart surgery to define me, but then I learned to tap into the darkness that came with it to live my life fully. I embraced that basketball can allow me to touch lives. I’ve left a mark with my Heart To Heart Foundation. Fred Hoiberg was my mentor, and I’ve in turn reached out to other players like Jeff Green, Etan Thomas, Chuck Hayes and Channing Frye, who’ve faced similar challenges. I now enjoy that people see me as the guy who had open heart surgery. If I can use that to help other people, I’m all about it.
Ronny Turiaf, who missed the entire season with a hip injury, wants to play again in the NBA and continue his career in the league. The French big man has played 473 games in the NBA averaging 4.7 points and 3.7 rebounds. "One of my dreams while I was a child was to live in USA. It is ten years since I am in the NBA. Why not continue here?" Turiaf said to L'Equipe.
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