New Piston Keen To Lend Hand

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April 21, 2010

Pistons new import Carl Krauser playing for the Virgin Islands

Matt Richens, Waikato Times
New Waikato Pistons recruit Carl Krauser sounds like the perfect import.

The 29-year-old point guard wants to be a team player who gets the most out of his team-mates, helping them win a third consecutive National Basketball League title.

Krauser looks the perfect fit and when unwanted American Eric Devendorf was released, Krauser’s agent contacted the Pistons because Krauser wanted out of Venezuela.

“A lot of the times the military over there pull cars over… a guy pulled a gun in my face, an M16 asking for this and that, but I had nothing.

“And one time I walked into a store, four guys come up on me and they put a gun to my head so I’m like, man, I’m done with this.”

He said he was not the flashy type of import whose main goal was show-boating for the crowd, but word is he’s got the game to do that when it’s needed.

“You don’t want to do too much, I don’t want to go out and score 40, or 30, or 20. I’ll take it if God blesses me to be on fire on Thursday, oh I’ll take it.”

Krauser said his strengths were his defence, leadership, experience and “going out there and playing a controlled type of basketball” – just the things the team wanted, but didn’t get from ousted import Devendorf.

Pistons coach Dean Vickerman said in Krauser he would have the type of point guard he wanted, one that would lead the offence so Vickerman was left to call the defensive plays.

Like all imports, Krauser’s quality will not be completely known until his first game on Thursday when the Pistons take on the Harbour Heat at Hamilton Boys’ High School.

But the man himself said he’s “pretty close” to making the NBA.

“I’m a pretty quiet guy when it comes to talking about the NBA. The guys at the NBA just want to see me again, because I’ve been playing overseas for so long. I said I’ll come back in summer and see where it takes me.”

Krauser said his career highlights were: “Being around the NBA guys and being a part of the NBA camps, the Lakers, the Boston Celtics and still having those contacts and having those guys still wanting me to come to the developmental league and improve my game.”

After missing Saturday’s practice after dodgy takeaway got the better of him, Krauser has now trained with the Pistons and likes what he sees.

“I see we have a seven footer by the name of Pledge (Alex Pledger), so I want to get him the ball and develop his game, get the shooters the ball. Me, I’m really about the team, I like to pass the ball and set things up.

“It’s all about these guys and establishing these guys, I’m not going to be here forever, it’s their country and you want to respect that.”

But he can shoot too and said making a 1000 jump shots a day, “or more” helps that.

Krauser expects to bring his fiance out in May and, if his paper work is completed in time, will be playing from Thursday night until the end of the season.

Basketball New Zealand