Baylee Steele came to Yokohama Excellence on a “Ichigo-Ichie” conversation with Jordan Hamilton (Interview)

 

BAYLEE STEELE / Yokohama Excellence#11 Ｃ 213cm/112kg
D.O.B. June 28, 1997（Norwalk. Iowa, USA）

Towering 7-foot center Baylee Steele came to join the B3 League’s Yokohama Excellence on an unexpected, once-in-a-life-time conversation with another basketball player on his way to the European continent. The Duquesne graduate is now one of the indispensable players for his club with his presence underneath the basket. Now ten games in, he is averaging 10.8 points and 5.8 boards for this season, both third among the Yokohama roster. He talks with GetsuBas about his brand-new life in Yokohama-Tokyo area and what he sees in the future with the club.

——How is it going for you here in Japan?

Me, personally, I really love it. I love it out here. It’s a professional organization here, Yokohama Excellence, great as a team. Each game, we’re building. We’re getting better each game. You can see it. You know, we lost to Shizuoka in the Cup. We had them in the first two games of the season and split them on the road. We’re just building each game.

——Please talk about your personality and a little bit of who you are.

You know I’m kind of boring…. I don’t really do too much outside of basketball, like I really just go to practice and workout and that’s it! You know, but I think my personality is fairly outgoing when I’m comfortable with people, you know. I like to joke around a lot just to have fun.

——Have you found your best friend in your squad?

I like everyone. For real. But it’s kind of tough you know with some of the Japanese players because I don’t speak any Japanese. And some of them don’t speak too much English. But even with this barrier, I think I have a good connection with all the guys.

——So, you’re learning Japanese?

I know “Thank you”, “You’re welcome” and “Hello”. “Kon-nichi-wa”, “Arigato”, ”Do-itashi-mashite”, “Otsukare”. Basic stuff.

 

——What’s difficult for you to get used to the culture and everything here in Japan?

You know there is definitely little differences with every culture you go to. But I’m just trying to fit in and adopt. And like I said you know my personality is…, I like to enjoy the moment. I like to have fun when I’m here you know from the States and I’m in Tokyo. I’m living in Tokyo! It’s kind of crazy if you think about it. It’s that I’m really trying to enjoy the moment you know.

 

——Have you found go-to places or must-do things in Yokohama-Tokyo area?

You know, yeah. I have a nice routine. I like the B League because we play two games every weekend. And you know it’s nice for the team. So, you know I cook my meals. I like to eat. So, I cook meals. But I’m slowly finding some nice restaurants. You know around Oimachi Station, there is a place called, I think “Bull Dog”.
One of my mutual friends lives here in Tokyo, 20 minutes away from myself. He showed me Japanese place and it’s so good. I’ve been going there. And yeah, you know I just have my own routine that I get in to, stay busy, you know.

——What’s the reason behind your number 11? You wore 44 while in the college.

There’s a story behind us. I played baseball growing up and I was #11 playing baseball. I started to play basketball when I was sixteen. And my mom’s number was #44. So, that’s the number I was as my mom. “I’m going to be #44 for you.” I was #44 through high school and college. And after that, I was like “mom I’m sorry. I’m going back to myself. I’m getting my number back.” So, I gave my mom her respect. She taught me everything I know. And this is my childhood number.

——Coach Ishida believes you will be one of the players who will be the face of our league. To be able to do that, you need to be here for a long time. What’s your mid-term long-term vision? Do you want to stay here?

I didn’t know he said that! It’s nice because I really love it here in Japan. This is my third year playing professionally, Poland and Hungary. And I decided to make a move over here to Japan. So, kinda experienced different type of basketball. And I really love it. I love it out here. I’d like to stay out here for as long as I can in the rest of my career. Truly love it.
So, I’m really focused on this season and making as much of impact on the team and on winning when I’m on the floor. And hopefully we’ll get the championship. That’s our goal. Our goal is the championship.
And so, whatever happens after that, it will take care of itself. I’m not worried about it. I’m just worried about this year, this team and winning, being successful.

 

——What was the reason for you to choose Japan and Yokohama Excellence?

You know I have…. So, playing professionally, you meet a whole bunch of different professional basketball players. It’s really a small world. And so…, on my way to Hungary last year, from New York City to Frankfurt, on the plane. I get off and I’m walking next to this basketball player. And I’m talking to him and strike a conversation. “hey, hey where are you playing?”
His name is Jordan Hamilton. He played B1 in his first year and B2 last year. And he told me he was playing in Japan. And I was like “Japan!” because I’ve never thought about Japan. And I was like “Really!? You know, not Europe?” Because my sights were just Europe and he told me he just absolutely love Japan and you could almost call him a mentor to me because if it was not for him, I don’t know if I would be over here. Just the way he spoke about here, Japanese basketball and culture, like I need to get over here. You know and so, I met Jordan Hamilton, former B2, B1 player and yeah, you know we had a little relationship ever since then and I can say he’s had a big impact on the reason why I came over here. And I love it.
It’s crazy how the world works. On a flight, from New York City to Frankfurt, Germany. I met this Japanese basketball player, you know. And now, here I am playing in Japan, loving it. It’s crazy how it works.

——So now, you need to learn Japanese…!

I need to. It’s on the bucket list. Hey, if I want to stay in Japan, I have to, right? Seriously!
Our goal this year is championship, move into B2.
Let’s worry about this year first. Then we can make it from there. I know this organization has really high expectatons. That’s what they want to do eventually, you know. I’m really in a good place.

 

 

Interview by Takeshi Shibata