Nick Covington: "I′m a born leader"

Nicholas Covington joined BC Mures just a couple of months ago, but he quickly became one of the key figures in Csaba Deri′s team. The 24-year old American already played in three games for his team in the EUROHOLD Balkan League, posting some pretty good numbers(17.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals). He talked for our website about Mures′ chances of advancing, about the fans and about some other stuff as well.
 
Q: You have previously played in Romania but this is your first season in the EUROHOLD Balkan League, what do you think of the competition?
 
Nick Covington: Actually I had a teammated last season in Estonia, that played in the Balkan League in the beginning of the 2009/2010 season and I asked him about how the league was compared to the Baltic League, where I competed in last season. My team played in the Challenge Cup, and he said that the Balkan League is about the same level as the Elite Baltic League. From what I′ve seen so far I have to agree. I thought the level of the few teams I have played against seemed to be pretty decent.
 
Q: You quickly became a key figure for BC Mures, how do you explain fitting in the team so well, is it because of the other Americans on the team, or because of your past experience in Romania?
 
NC: I think fitting in the team was fairly easy, as I have played against them before and with all the TV games they have had a chance to see me play and know what I′m capable of. But of course having three other American teammates makes it a lot more comfortable. But all the guys on the team are cool and took me as one of them as soon as I got here.
 
Q: BC Mures still has a chance of advancing on to the next phase of the league, but this goes through a win for Rilski in Montenegro and a home win for you against Mornar by 15 or more points, do you think that can happen?
 
NC: Yes, of course we have a chance. I′m a firm believer that everything can happen not only in sports, but in life. I definitely think that us winning by 15 is possible and I guess what happens in Montenegro is up to Rilski Sportist... So "Go Rilski!" (laughs)
 
Q: The games in Targu Mures are refered to as one of the hardest away games not only in Romania, but in the BIBL too. You are playing really well at home, but sometimes the team struggles on the road, do you think that is because you don′t always have your fan support on the road?
 
NC: We do have a great playing atmosphere at home. It′s always good to have the fans behind you with their support, it feels like having a sixth player on the floor at all times. I wouldn′t say that it′s the absence of our fans that causes us not to play as well on the road, I just feel sometimes we don′t play away from home and at times we can fall in that category. But that′s definitely an area we′re going to have to work on if we want to finish well in the Romanian Championship and in the Balkan League as well.
 
Q: Against Rilski Sportist you scored a lot, but in the previous game against Feni you had 7 assists/ Where do you feel more comfortable - as a two guard shooting the ball, or at the point making plays for your teammates?
 
NC: Well it really doesn′t make a difference. I′ve been blessed to do both very well. But to answer the question, I first have to explain my mindset at each position, because they are totally different... At the point, I′m thinking about so many things, what play to run, how much time is left on the clock, who should I pass to, who′s been making shots and so on... But when I play the 2 I only got one thing on my mind which is to attack. But many times when I play the 1 I have to use a little of both of these mindsets to make myself more dangerous and that′s when I have a big scoring night and move the ball well  and get a lot of assists. But honestly and trully, I′m a born leader, and I love being on the ball, being a "scoring point guard", like a lot of the PG′s in the NBA these days.