Malik Dime – defending the rim high-up
One player who is giving the referees some new challenges this season, is Ura Basket’s high flying Malik Dime. It has been a while since the league has seen such a prolific shot blocker. You have to go back to 2010-11 season and Ronald Douglas .. with more blocks in a game than Dime has had so far. And with Dime having recorder 8 blocks vs Kobrat over the weekend, you would not put it past him to even surpass the all time blocks per game record (held by Damon Vance – 14 blocks in the game Forssan Koripojat-Salon Palloilijat in 1988.). I am sure there are many referees who re-watch the game and look that.. yep, maybe that shot was still going up and I should have given it as a block 🙂
Dime only took up basketball in 2011, after moving from his native Senegal to US. Until then he had been playing soccer, handball, volleyball, track&field…
And it wasn’t love at first sight with the game, but with his natural ability – Malik stayed with the game and is now in his second pro-season. Having spent the first year playing in Bosnia.
Long video interview with Malik Dime :
You can’t go through an interview with Malik without asking him about his ability to block shots (although – there is much more to the 206cm tall player than swapping balls away like they were annoying little flies). Unfortunately for all aspiring players, Dime doesn’t have an out-of-the-box answer as to what makes a great blocker. But he does seem to lend towards timing being more important just sheer height – so there is something to take away and practise for all the kids out there. And it is performances like Dime’s dunks/blocks – that will get the young fans excited, and wanting to go and replicate these moves on the playground.
I would not be surprised to hear some kids in Kaarina playing on the street courts and pretending to be Malik Dime.
As well as excelling in basketball, Dime tells me he is also a good… or even excellent cook (having worked as a Chef myself for 20 years – I am waiting for Malik to invite me for his signature friend Chicken&Shrimps…). So his roommates Avery Woodson and Stephen Croone must be in for a treat as Malik serves his dishes after practise.
Openly he admits that every player who picks up the ball and starts to play professionally, they have the goal to one day play in the NBA – but at the same time knowing that not every player will make it there. His own aim to keep training, keep getting better and seeing where his skills and destiny take him with the game of basketball.
When asked what he knew of Finland before hand… he smiles and says….’All i know is what everyone else knows… it’s gonna be cold!’ – so he’s well packed with jackets for the winter. Hopefully for Dime, Ura Basket keep playing long into the spring, so he can also experience the warm evenings in late May.
When Ura Basket come to visit your team, it might just be worth your time to keep one eye on the tall #1 of Ura Basket.. he just might give you something to remember. And of course – even better for those of you who can see him week in – week out at the home games of Ura Basket.
The question is – will Malik Dime be the first one this season to record a Triple-Double (and not the usual points/rebounds/assists – but points/rebounds/BLOCKS). Keep watching this space!
