We had the pleasure of sitting down with Basketball National League (BNL) champion Ben, a respected and hardworking shooting and point guard who stands out on the continent. Alongside his teammates, Ben helped bring the title back to KwaZulu-Natal after 20 long years.
This is part one of our interview series, with more incredible players to come. But for now, let’s focus on Ben and give him the well-deserved spotlight as we get to know him better.
Congratulations on winning the Basketball National Championships! How does it feel to bring the title back to KZN after over 20 years?
Ben: Thank you! It feels great to bring a championship to a province that’s so passionate about the sport and has always been on the cusp of achieving greatness.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced throughout the BNL Championship, and how did you overcome them as a team?
Ben: We’ve got a squad of talented individuals that could each be the ‘man’ on their own team, and that can lead to butting of heads. But we collectively decided to fulfil our roles for the season and that helped us to come together as a team.
How would you describe the level of competition at this year’s BNL Championship compared to previous years?
Ben: In my 3 seasons of experience, the level of competition has stayed mostly the same outside of the arrival and departure of the Tigers. A lot of people were ready to discredit our success this season but forgot that we played in the ‘group of death’ and finished the season unbeaten.
What role did teamwork and chemistry play in your success during this championship run?
Ben: Our team chemistry on and off the court played a huge role in our success as it carried us through times in the game where things weren’t going our way. We knew we could rely on one another and trust in the work we put in at practice.
Tirivashe, Benjamin, and Sifiso, what personal sacrifices or hurdles did each of you face leading up to this victory?
Ben: I’m generally a scorer-first guard and primarily shoot the ball. Coach Gilchrist came to me at the start of the season wanting me to fill the role of point guard, which was a new position for me. I had to give up some scoring opportunities to focus more on facilitating the offense and playing good defence. It was tough at first because I wasn’t getting the same looks I’d normally get, but as the season progressed I got more comfortable really excelled at my new position.
What impact do you think this victory will have on the growth of basketball in KZN and the wider South African community?
Ben: I hope this victory gives young boys and girls playing ball in KZN a goal to work towards so they can achieve the same success or more.
As basketball continues to grow in SA and across Africa, what advice would you give to young, aspiring players looking to follow in your footsteps?
Ben: Fall in love with every part of the game, even the boring stuff like fundamentals. Getting better takes time and if you work on getting 1% better every day, the results will follow.
Is there a possibility that you, as the BNL Champions, will be competing in the Basketball Africa League (BAL)? If so, what are your thoughts on representing KZN and South Africa on a larger stage?
Ben: I would love for us to be able to compete for something greater like the BAL and I believe that it’s a possibility for us to be the future SA representatives on the international stage. We were very competitive against the previous BAL representatives, the Tigers, when we faced them in the BNL semis last year.
How do you see the future of KZN basketball evolving after this historic win? Are there initiatives or developments in place to build on this momentum?
Ben: KZN’s biggest strength is its youth basketball system, especially in the high school. Many of my teammates are products of public and private schools here in KZN and I imagine many of the kids in these schools are watching their old boys competing and are inspired to get to that level. I would like to see the level of club basketball improving, especially in places like Durban and Pietermaritzburg to give any aspiring hoopers an opportunity to showcase their talents.
What message do you have for your fans and supporters who have been with you throughout this journey, and how important has their support been to your success?
Ben: Even though we were playing away in Gauteng, it still felt like we were playing a home game and that’s thanks to all the supporters that came to watch and cheer us on. We’re very thankful for them and we love the enthusiasm and passion they bring to the game, it motivates us to keep playing better.
Having played in both the BNL and the BAL, what do you feel each league has taught you about the future of African basketball, and what aspects of your game do you think translate best on an international stage? Added to that, what’s one lesson about resilience that these leagues have taught you? And in what ways has this shaped your identity beyond just being a basketball player?
Ben: Playing in the BAL has taught me that African basketball is on the rise. Watching the 2024 Olympics further proves that Africa as a continent is ready to compete with the best of teams. I feel like my basketball IQ and shooting ability translate very well to the international game. Playing the role of a point guard in the BNL this season has only helped increase my IQ and passing ability. Playing in BAL, you get the opportunity to play with and against some amazing talent, even some ex-NBA players. It’s helped with my competitiveness and taught about not backing down from a challenge. This BNL season in particular taught me about resilience when I fracture my orbital bone playing. I had to sit out for 5 weeks and that that period when I was working my way back into playing shape was a big lesson for me. It’s helped me off the court to be a lot more confident and to understand the importance of sticking to a process.
When you’re playing the role of both a shooting and point guard, you’re not only adjusting your own game but essentially ‘orchestrating’ the whole court. How do you stay connected to your teammates’ energy and anticipate their needs mid-play?
Ben: Being a vocal leader, reading the flow of the game and being an extension of my coach out on the floor all factor into it. I often huddle my guys together during free throws or any other delay during the game to make sure we’re all on the same page and operating as a unit.
What do you consider your ultimate purpose in basketball? Beyond titles and trophies, what does success mean to you at this point in your career?
Ben: I believe my ultimate purpose in basketball to inspire and pass on my knowledge to the next generation of basketball players. I’ve always had a love for coaching and trainer players, and I can use my playing experiences to do that at a higher level. To me, success means playing the game the right way and continuing to improve on my own capabilities as a player. I gave myself the challenge at the beginning of the year to lead the league in assists and I accomplished that. Next season, I’ll have a new goal to achieve and that keeps me operating at a high level.
You’ve played in both the BNL and the BAL—big stages with big players. So, which league has the more intense trash talk, and do you have a secret comeback, or do you just let your game do the talking?
Ben: I haven’t had many experiences with trash talk but I saw a lot more of it at the BAL than at BNL. I’m not a big trash talker personally, I let my game do the talking but it does motivate me to play harder if I have someone talking in my ear.
If you could create your ultimate basketball highlight reel, what’s one thing you’d add in there that would surprise fans—maybe a moment off the court where you were anything but smooth?
Ben: I think my ability as a rebounder is something I wouldn’t expect fans to see, I averaged over 7 a game this season as a point guard.
What do you each hope to contribute to the South African basketball scene, not just as players, but as ambassadors of the sport? How do you see your impact shaping the next generation?
Ben: Being in the school space, I have a few of my boys that I coached playing overseas and I hope to continue producing basketball players that see success after high school.
What do you want to see as the future of basketball in South Africa, and how do you see yourselves being part of that evolution—not just as players, but as cultural icons?
Ben: I would like to see basketball more into mainstream, not just as a commercial sport that people think looks ‘cool’. Holding myself to a professional standard is how I see myself representing SA basketball, on both the national team and off the court.
Years from now, when people talk about your career, what’s the one thing you want them to remember that’s deeper than any stat line or title?
Ben: I’d want them to remember how hard I played and the effort I showed on both ends of the court.
If each of you had to name a single quality that has defined your journey in basketball so far, what would it be, and how does that quality reflect who you are off the court?
Ben: I have two big qualities that I think go hand in hand and that is my attention to detail and my high work ethic. I remember not even being invited to train with a BNL team when I lived in Cape Town and now I’m a BNL champion. I was a walk on to the Tigers squad and I ended up as a key rotational player in their first BAL season. My drive to continue improving myself has gotten me to where I am today and where I will end up in the future.
South African basketball is only going up from here. If you each had to give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be? And if you want to throw in a ‘don’t do this’ funny warning, we’ll take that too.
Ben: It would’ve probably been to start training as a point guard sooner, but also not to get discouraged from the setbacks and use them as stepping stones to something better.
Years from now, people will talk about this season. What’s one myth or funny rumor you wouldn’t mind starting about this legendary run?
Ben: Before every game, we’d play Adele in the changing room to hype ourselves up. Without Adele, I don’t think we go unbeaten or win the championship.
If you had to design a Marlins statue to capture this season, what would it look like? Who’s dunking, who’s fist-pumping, and who’s awkwardly tripping in the background?
Ben: Tiri is the only one of us who’s dunked in game, so it’ll have to be him. I’m a more expressive player so I’d be doing the fist-pumping and Sifiso is always on the ground for some reason, so he’ll be the one tripping!
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