Dem born Eli Ndiaye for Guédiawaye, Senegal, e almost enter NBA before injury come stop am. Di power forward join Real Madrid when e be 13 afta im trials wit Baskonia no work out, and for summer e play for Atlanta Hawks for Las Vegas Summer League before e sign wit Valencia Basket. Real Madrid keep am and loan am go Asisa Joventut.
"When summer start, I no expect say I go end up for Badalona, but sport be like dat," Ndiaye tell ARA. "When I talk wit Madrid, dem tell me say one year on loan go good for me. La Penya don show say dem want me and dem don try well well make I come play here." Im time for Joventut start wit silverware, as e lift di Supercopa Endesa last weekend.
Ndiaye family first push am to focus for im book. "When I start to play basketball my family struggle wit am, because dem want make I put my studies first, but when dem understand say na sometin wey I dey passionate about, dem understand say e fit also help me to focus more," e talk. Now e dey credit di rise of Senegalese academies and players like Brancou Badio for basketball dey grow popular for im country.
For Badalona, Ndiaye dey share court wit Ricky Rubio, Ante Tomic and Nico Laprovittola. "To play alongside Ricky Rubio na special tin. E be excellent player wey fit change games. Plus, e be leader wey dey help us, di newcomers, plenti," e talk. Joventut go open di Liga Endesa season on Sunday for Rio Breogan (12 p.m., TV3 and DAZN).
