MAY 8, 2017 From UCLA to Serbia: Jonah Bolden’s quest for success in the NBA 从UCLA到塞尔维亚：Jonah Bolden崎岖的圆梦之路 BY BEN MALLIS https://pickandroll.com.au/jonah-bolden-nba-draft-interview/ Jonah Bolden’s quest for the NBA has been anything but normal. What started as an Australian suburban dream was quickly accelerated with high profile American prep schools, that in turn took him to the most successful collegiate program in men’s basketball. UCLA was supposed to be the final stepping stone towards The Association – well, that was the theory. Reality proved otherwise. 理论上，一个如Jonah Bolden这样才华洋溢的外国孩子应该艰苦但典型。 对一个澳大利亚小孩来说如远如天边的梦想，在进入了美国预备高校，然 後进入一流的传统NCAA豪强球队。UCLA正常来说应该是他加入NBA之前的 最後一站....但这理论上是个美好的方程式，但Bolden在现实上的追梦之 路却布满荆棘，显示老天对他另有安排。 Bolden’s time at UCLA was a non-event from the outset. The young Australian was forced to redshirt his entire freshman season as issues regarding time spent at Findlay Prep and Brewster Academy – - two of North America’s most renowned NBA incubators -– delayed his NCAA eligibility. A sophomore season spent playing out of position and fighting the distractions of Southern California then spelt the end of his collegiate experience. Bolden的UCLA之旅从开头就出师不利。Bolden刚入学就被NCAA因为预备学 校的成绩不够好，入学考成绩不够被迫禁赛一年，并且刚开始连练习都不 能参加，必须补修学分才能重新加入球队。而大二的时候又遭遇新生的强 力的挑战而被迫打他不擅长的角色，另外文化冲击也让他注意力无法专注 在球场上。 “At UCLA I did a little bit but I didn’t do as much as I felt I could do,” Bolden told The Pick and Roll. “I wasn’t satisfied with my performance, and that’s on me.” Bolden: 虽然在UCLA我依然有打出一些名堂，但远远不及我的预期。我完全无法满 意於我的表现，而且我非常自责。 Bolden’s much publicised Bruins career produced a total of 31 appearances and yielded a meagre 144 points. Such returns pale in comparison to the lofty expectations when Bolden committed to the school in 2013. It was Los Angeles, it was UCLA and young Jonah was the high profile Australian recruit on a basketball team that everyone knew. Throw in the demands of being a student athlete, and the potential distractions were endless. Bolden在UCLA仅仅出场三十一次，共拿下144分。跟他当初带着大家极高 的期待比起来，这表现真的连差强人意都算不上。在洛杉矶这样的大城、 UCLA这样的名校，又是来自澳大利亚的重点球员，撞墙期带给他的焦躁超 越了他身为学生运动员可以承受的。 “If you’re not 100% dedicated, then you will get distracted,” Bolden said of his time at UCLA. “I can definitely say that is what happened to me.” “At UCLA I really didn’t do too much because I didn’t have a sole purpose.” Bolden： 如果你没有办法百分之百专注，那你就会感到焦虑。这就是我在洛杉矶所 遭遇到的状态。在UCLA我没办法作到我所期待的水平，原因就是我无法专 心致志（面对篮球）。 In his quest to find that ‘sole purpose’, Bolden withdrew from UCLA last July and called time on what was a tumultuous college career. As a 20-year-old, Bolden headed to Europe to sign his first professional contract with Serbian side FMP Belgrade. While moving to Europe and adapting to life as a professional was challenging, Bolden credits Europe for much of his maturation, calling the decision to leave amateur basketball a turning point for his career. 为了能让自己更专心的面对篮球，去年七月Bolden毅然决然放弃了UCLA， 结束了他一团混乱的大学篮球生涯。二十岁的他转而向塞尔维亚篮球队 FMP Belgrade签下他人生中第一份职业球员合约。 虽然又再度离家远赴欧洲，并且以与预想中不一样的方式成为了职业球员 是人生中巨大的挑战，但Bolden感谢欧洲篮球给他的磨练，并且称离开美 国是他生涯中最大的转折点。 “This has been the best decision I have made for my career,” Bolden told The Pick and Roll. “My game has just taken to another level based on myself and the fact I dedicated my decision to doing what has been done so far. I’ ve rejuvenated myself. “My mentality has changed and that has translated onto the court with the team I am on now.” Bolden: 这是我人生中最完美的决定。我的比赛内容在欧洲提昇到一个不一样的水 平，事实上到目前为止我为了这个决定奉献了我的一切。我感觉我像是重 新活过来了。我的心境上也有所改变，并且在球场上转化成动力帮助我的 球队。 While FMP finished the season with a disappointing 10-16 record and missed the playoffs, Bolden enjoyed a breakout season. He averaged 12.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1 steal per game en route to being named the Adriatic League’s top prospect. Bolden’s performances only reinforced his NBA potential, thanks to the glaring differences between UCLA and professional basketball in Belgrade. 虽然FMP贝尔格勒今年的成绩不佳，并且没有办法打入季後赛，但Bolden 打出了破茧而出的一个球季。他每场平均可以拿到12.9分、7.9篮板、1.8 助攻外带一次抄截（考量到欧洲篮球的节奏与上场时间这是非常不错的数 据），并且被选为ABA的最佳年轻球员。Bolden强势的表现加强了他能够 挑战NBA的资本，可见环境的改变对Bolden的改变是如此的巨大。 “I came from college and didn’t really know what I was getting myself into,” Bolden explained when talking about the transition to European basketball. “From high school to college, I was always playing with kids my own age. You’d have your coach, your assistant coaches and everyone that knows you and recruited you. “But now, I come out here and I am the youngest on the team. You have guys that, after practice, you don’t really go and hang out with them. They go back to their wives and kids, and they have their own personal lives. Living on my own forced me to mature. [I] just [had to] grow up and turn into a man.” Bolden: 从大学篮球转换到一个我所未知的世界（当然有所冒险），我过去从高中 到大学，都跟同龄的孩子们一起在场上比拼。你会有熟悉的教练们，而且 每个人都对你很熟悉，并且带着招募你走向下一个阶段。 但现在我离开了那个环境，成为了球队当中最年轻的球员。气氛也完全不 一样，至少在练习後，你不会跟你的队友们进行应酬，因为他们有他们自 己的家庭，而且他们非常在乎属於自己的私人生活。靠山山倒、靠人人跑 的状况下，只能倚靠自己的环境让我变得更成熟。我需要靠自己成长，并 成为一个成熟的人。 Jonah against the world 与世界开战的Bolden While Bolden’s growth in Europe extends beyond basketball, it would be naive to overlook improvements made on the hardwood. Standing at 6’10”, Bolden has always possessed an impressive cocktail of skills for someone of his size, owning the ability to thrive as a ball handler whilst sliding all around the court. Those talents got him recruited to UCLA and they have been further honed in Europe. Bolden在欧洲汲取养分得到成长的背後，千万不要小看他为了延续篮球生 涯所做出的改变与努力。 六尺十寸身高的球员，很少能够像Bolden一样有着多才多艺的技巧，并且 有天赋能够成长为在球场的任何一个角落发动持球进攻的面框攻击手。这 些天赋让他过去被招揽到UCLA，但直到到了另一个异域才开始成长茁壮。 Being afforded the opportunity to play more minutes at the four, undergoing growing pains whilst off the radar in Eastern Europe, made him a more capable NBA prospect. DraftExpress currently rank Bolden as a second-round prospect and have highlighted the talent evidenced during his lone season with FMP. Bolden is one of the final elements to Australia’s golden generation. While he will enter the NBA Draft with a lesser pedigree that those who have come before him, he possesses a mindset that is truly unique. 在塞尔维亚他得到了足够的时间打他喜欢的大前锋位置，离开镁光灯下他 得到机会能够心无旁鹜的在错误中学习，并重新成为一个更加接近NBA水 准的新秀。DraftExpress现在（按：是五月中）将他预测为能在选秀会第 二轮被选上的球员，并且把他在FMP孤单球季中展现的天赋给剪出来，作 为有力的证据让篮球世界看到他的天赋所在。 Bolden是澳大利亚这批黄金一代球员的最後拼图。虽然他可能出身不像是 其他人那麽耀眼（如Ben Simmons、Dante Exum等人都在第一轮被选上）， 但他散发出的坚强心性，让他与众不同。 “My mentality has changed since I’ve been [in Europe],” Bolden said. “Obviously I’ve got my family and my support group, but I do feel it is me against the world right now. I’ve got a chip on my shoulder and something to prove.” 到了欧洲让我在心态上变得坚强，虽然很明显的我有我的家人与支持者在 背後为我打气，但我觉得现在我是一独自一人在对抗这个世界。因为我遭 受过质疑而我必须证明给所有人看（他们是错的）。 Jonah’s support group is led by his father, Bruce, who played 17 seasons in the NBL (National Basketball League). Whilst having a father with professional basketball experience has helped Jonah make pivotal decisions over the past 12 months, there is a higher power within the Bolden family that pushes him towards his goal. “I’ve got my late grandmother and my late uncle, and I do it for them,” Bolden told The Pick and Roll. “It’s a day-to-day grind but I’ve got one goal, so I’m going to keep pushing.” Bolden的粉丝团一号肯定是他老爸Bruce Bolden，是一个在澳洲职业篮球 联赛NBL打滚十七年的老将。当他有一个沙场老将爹爹能够帮助他在过去 一年中进行关键的决定，但家里还有比爸爸还要更坚定的力量在支持他追 求他的梦想。 Bolden： 已经过世的奶奶跟叔叔对我来说意义重大，即便每天都要面对各种的挑战 与磨练，但我有一个清晰的目标，所以为了这些人我会不断的砥砺自己。 When quizzed on what that one goal looks like, Bolden only reinforced a family spirit that appears to be the driving force behind a burgeoning professional career. “The end goal is to have an extremely successful career, but for me it’s to make my family proud. I know that they say they’re proud of me already but I feel I’m definitely not satisfied. Just for me personally, I do this for my grandmother and my uncle.” 当Bolden被问到他的目标体来说是什麽，Bolden只有重申他家族对他正在 萌芽中的职业篮球生涯的积极影响。 Bolden： 最终目标当然是希望有一个极为成功的生涯，但是对我来说一个成功的生 涯是为了荣耀自己的家人。我知道他们总是说他们已经为我感到荣耀，但 我并不对现状感到满足。至少对於我来说不是，为了已经过世的奶奶跟叔 叔我必须继续战斗。 Ready for the NBA June’s NBA draft is quickly approaching and Bolden is prepared for his opportunity. In fact, when asked if he was now ready for the NBA, Bolden’s response was emphatic. “Most definitely,” Bolden confirmed. “I believe I’m more than ready for the NBA.” 对於即将到来的选秀会，Bolden已经为了他的机会准备妥当。事实上，如 果你问他是否已经准备好面对NBA等级的对抗，Bolden的回答非常强烈： 「万分肯定，我觉得我的状态远远超越"准备好了"」 Regardless of which franchise calls his name on June 22nd, Bolden believes his long served apprenticeship allows him to be an immediate contributor and receive NBA minutes right away. 无论六月二十二日对他指名的是三十队中的任何一队，Bolden都相信以他 的职业经验可以让他马上对球队进行贡献，并且能即刻得到在NBA的上场 时间。 “I feel like I can provide a lot to a team,” Bolden said. “ Whether that’s coming off the bench and being an energy guy. Not even being an offensive guy, I could be a straight defence guy. “If they want me to be a shooter I can come in, run lanes and spot up for the guys to hit me. Whatever role they want me to do and whatever needs to be done, I’ll do it.” Bolden： 我认为我可以给予球队许多支援，即便只是从板凳上出发作为劲量小子。 即便他们需要我防守也可以胜任，我并不仅仅是个进攻者。如果他们需要 的是射手我可以立刻上场进行跑位并准备好任何的空档。不管他们要我干 麻，只要教练有所交待，我肯定使命必达。 Not only is Bolden prepared to play any role to kick-start an NBA career, he is also ready to put in the work required to elevate his game to stardom. Bolden grew up a Toronto Raptors fan and now uses the Raptors’ All-Star shooting guard as inspiration, when toiling away in the gym. 不仅仅只是为了球队可以牺牲自己打任何不一样的角色以站稳NBA， Bolden也已经准备好为了让自己成功进行任何需要的磨练。Bolden小时候 是暴龙队的球迷（？），并且现在他以暴龙的全明星得分後卫DeRozan作 为锻链自己时看齐的目标。 “I really like how DeMar DeRozan was ranked the 46th best player before this NBA season [referring to Sports Illustrated’s top 100 player ratings] and at the end of the season he is averaging 27 points. “You just see that he came in with a chip on his shoulder and did the work in the summer. You just see the difference it makes and I mould myself after him, not his game but his mentality. I look at how he went from being a scorer to being the main guy.” Bolden： 我非常景仰DeMar DeRozan，在今年开季之前他在运动画刊的球员排行榜 中仅仅名列第四十六，而且这个球季他平均一场要摘下27分，回应任何 对他质疑的声音。你可以看到当中的差别所在，而我正在跟随他的榜样。 并不是学习他的打法，而是他伟大的强悍心性。我正在从他自一个砍将 进化成一个主将的过程中拾取牙慧。 And while Bolden admits it’s good hearing his name in mock drafts and NBA scouting circles, his brief college career has taught him that nothing is guaranteed. 不过即便周遭的球探都转而看好他的身价，但他短暂且令人失望的大学生 涯教会他没有什麽是可以被保证的。 “What I’ve realised from my past is that if you don’t do anything, nothing is going to happen. No mater where your name is or what projection you have. “I realised that action does more than talking. I realised that by just doing the work and putting in the unseen hours that the results will come.” Bolden： 我从我的过去中学习到你如果没有卷起裤管下去做，那没有任何好事会凭 空发生。这跟你名字够不够响亮与你心中的预想没有任何关系。我深刻了 解到一件事情：做而言不如起而行。在人後所努力过的功夫将会在结果中 深刻的呈现。 Jonah Bolden has the talent to become Australia’s next NBA athlete and his mindset could elevate him to superstardom. But his work ethic and family pride, these are the elements that will ensure he is a success to those who matter most. Bolden拥有成为澳大利亚下一个NBA球员的资质，而他的心态有可能会带 领他成为下一个超级巨星。但无论如何，有着他坚毅的性格与家庭的支持， 他将能够在那些他在乎的人的目光下获得成功。 --

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