Stephen Croone – basketball & Dragonball Z

Stephen Croone only managed to play two games before a shoulder injury – well in the second game – has sidelined him for a long time. But I caught up with him as he was in Helsinki watching the Seagulls play, and talked about his recovery from the injury and life, basketball and Dragonball Z…

Croone is one of the group of players who have enjoyed Finland, and decided to make their stay more than just a single season in Korisliiga. Last season he played for Kobrat in Lapua, where he averaged 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists per game. For this season he joined the newly promoted team, Ura Basket.

Croone attended college at Furman, where he played 122 games – and was in the starting five in all but four of those – his points averages were very similar to what he gets here in Finland – with 15.9 points per game. He was highly thought of during his college days, with one article saying “Croone is one of those players that comes along maybe once every 20 years at some mid-major programs…” (and obviously Croone still has love for his college days – as you can see on the video! And he follows their games closely.)

Going undrafted – he was then picked by G -League team Sioux Falls Skyforce, he got to play in three games the team – but it wasn’t to be and soon Stephen was on his way to Finland and to make a name for himself in the Finnish Korisliiga.

As a player Croone is one who can open up the court and he is also a formidable force in the defence.

Talking of his injury – he is already back to shooting the ball – which he and the doctors agree is remarkable after only a month since the injury. And patience in the name of the game for him now – just to get himself back to full fitness and ready to step back on to the court. Taking the positives from the injury, it has given him time to learn the game in a different way, and he describes himself as a student of the game – so learning from the sidelines has given him new insights to the game.

Ura’s season so far, Croone comments that in his view some nights they play bad – others he feels like they are the best team in the league.

Unlike most other players, Croone is the only one in his family to play the game – where as usually it is the siblings or parents who have been playing.. his first memory of playing the game is hitting a three pointer in a game and sprinting back to defence and getting some comments from the coach on the way …

Difference between college and pro-ball – the pro game is lot smarter and also getting to play against players who have been playing the game for a long time. His strengths as a player – fast, like to score and bring energy to the court and his team. 

Sharing his accommodation with ‘Chef Malik’ – Croone’s eyes light up as we mention food.. and by the sounds of it Malik is up early in the morning getting breakfast ready for his team mates. But .. Stephen is still able to cook.. might not dare to cook for Malik thought 😉

Stephen is finding life in Finland easy to get used to, and Turku as a city is a place where he enjoys spending time shopping or eating out (when Malik doesn’t cook). And after being in the Finnish winter now for the second year, Stephen says that he starts to feel his skin getting more used to the colder climes here.. but unlike many Finns.. he doesn’t grumble about the dark November… just shrugs his shoulders and says ‘It’s OK’ …

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Stephen play quite a few times, and now had a few chats with him – he comes across as a nice and likeable guy, and I wish him a speedy recovery from his shoulder injury – and look forward to photographing him on the court soon!