Basketball
Meet the King of the Rock!
Kivanc Dinler talks about claiming the throne on Samasana Island at Red Bull King of the Rock.
Winner takes it all
© Xaume Olleros/Red Bull Content Pool
All eyes were on the first and only global one-on-one street basketball tournament ever held in Asia on September 6, 2014 as Kivanc Dinler from Turkey earned the title after demonstrating dazzling spin moves, strategy, and endurance.
In our second part of the King of the Rock winner Q&A, we sit down with Kivanc who beat Orlando Ortega of Panama 11-4 in the final game.
It was a long road to the title!
You played five gruelling matches to be crowned King. Tell us about the competition. Were there any doubts in your mind at any point? Every game was hard. Four out of the five opponents I faced play professionally and also for their national teams. The remaining opponent was a member of the Special Forces and obviously very tough. It was a long road to the title! I had a moment of doubt after the first game. Throughout the whole competition, only one player had the lead on me. That was Zaur from Azerbaijan in the very first one. Because the tournament started so quickly and heavily, I almost passed out from exhaustion. I was so tired and could not breathe that I thought there is no way I can play four more of those within 90 minutes. In the end, I regained my energy and showed that nothing is impossible.
Winner Celebration
© Ray Tsui/Red Bull Content Pool
After winning the tournament and looking back at it, what do you think was your most important skill to win it all? Being an instructor, coach and an ex-professional baller who also played in the streets a lot, I am used to the pressure of people watching me. Moreover, I am a personal trainer who teaches people how to eat healthily. I took really good care of my nutrition three days leading up to the King of the Rock World Finals.
But most importantly, my experience as a player and a coach helped the most. As a coach you tend to analyse the opponents strengths and weaknesses more and also better. I did exactly that for every game and executed my plans well.
What do you think about the competition level at Red Bull King of the Rock? Please put it into perspective to other tournaments or leagues. Since Red Bull´s King of the Rock is the only format such scope, it is beyond compare. But what I am able to judge is that the level of the players is really high; I would say four out of five could play for professional European teams. The King of the Rock competition format requires you to be very strong physically. That is why I faced incredibly strong guys who could knock out a bull in almost all my matches. It was tough.
A Pure Baller´s Joy
© Ray Tsui/Red Bull Content Pool
How will you improve yourself after this event? What is the next big thing? I quit professional basketball to teach and coach. From then on, I tried to hold back the fire inside of me for the sport, so I would not be too distracted. However, after this victory, I got the approval of my university colleagues, coach friends, students and players. They all want me to go for it again, so I am starting to get ready for the next tournament. I want to defend my title next year, of course!
Where did you used to train your streetball game and especially one-on-one game? Back in the day, I mostly played pick-up basketball in Izmir, Turkey, but also travelled to other cities. I started attending streetball tournaments at the age of 13. I played with a lot elite players of Turkey in my youth, for example Hedo Turkoglu.
Ergin Ataman, the current national team head coach, advised me that playing outside will help improve my game. During the next 20 years, I attended so many streetball tournaments, I cannot remember the exact number!
Today, once my basketball students are ready to take me one-on-one after I taught them about footwork, mentality and such, the game is on! What is special about one-on-one basketball compared to five-on-five? There is no rest, no assistance or help from a teammate, no coach or anyone to depend on. It is the pressure of being alone and clueless against someone that you do not know anything about, yet he wants to beat you very badly. But it is also the comfort of having everything in your own hands.
Laying it up smoothly
© Victor Fraile/Red Bull Content Pool
Big Bodies Battling
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
How did you like the journey to Taiwan and specifically Samasana Island? Taiwan is a beautiful country, breathtaking nature and friendly people. Samasana Island was very much like the Greek islands close to my town. The sports team of Red Bull Taiwan planned everything perfectly: the setting, the people, great hospitality, good referees, everything was well organized. On top of it all, I really enjoyed the friendship between all the players. And of course, I enjoyed the title a little too (he smiles).
Streetball Friendships
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
Come back Friday, September 19 to catch-up on NBA star Harrison Barnes´ journey to Samasana Island.
Check out all the information you need to know about Red Bull King of the Rock here.
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