Averaging 18 points and 9 rebounds per game in the Euroleague, being close to those numbers at Spanish Liga Femenina, and showing her work ethic on a regular basis, Asjha Jones is making herself a name on the old continent on a breakout season. Carrying the load on a team riddled by injuries on the first part of the season, the PF from New Jersey has taken over a team due to both her skills and responsibility. We take a little while after a practice to talk with a player who never have a 'no' in her mouth no matter how exhausted she may be.
Having reached the Christmas break, how do you see your season by now?
Well, I'm surrounded by good players here and, so far, I think I've been playing OK, but hopefully, I'll play better after the break.
After playing at Connecticut Sun with a big presence in the paint like Tina Charles (Asjha averaged 13.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg during WNBA's last regular season), how is it for you to be the main reference inside in Rivas Ecópolis?
Well, it's a bit different for me, here I have to play more phisically, being tough in the paint...
Even before for you playing overseas, you were used to be more of a role player. In your actual situation, do you enjoy being the go-to player on the team, being required to record good figures to help the team win?
Yes, it's fine. Sometimes it's tough getting all the attention from the defense, but when my teammates are getting charges, it's much easier for me. It's difficult and it's tough, I wasn't used to play so many minutes anymore, but now that I've gotten in shape it's not so hard.
Three months into the season, how do you see the chances for the team on making big things this season?
Well, I think lately we're being a bit up and down but, hopefully, after the break, we will find our rhythm and play more consistent.
Having the Olympic Games by the end of the season, how do you see your chances of making it to the U.S. squad?
Oh, I've never been to an Olympic tournament before, and after playing with the World Championship team, this is definitely my goal, I really want to shoy my best to make it to the Olympics. Two years ago I didn't play overseas, so right now I'm trying to find my rhythm back to try to go back to when I was playing my best basketball.
Your Connecticut Sun Head Coach, Mike Thibault, was quoted saying that what he appreciated the most about you was your work ethic, do you feel like that's a key for your long and consistent career?
Yes, that's important for me. I always try hard and always do what's best for my team. I'm not a selfish player and I like to make sure that whoever is around me feels the same way.
Besides basketball, you've made yourself a name designing your Takera Shoes (note: Asjha's second name). How did you get into that?
Ha ha... Well, it's kind of a need, I have such big feet and it's hard for me to find really nice shoes, so I decided to make them! And now that's what I'm doing, designing them, trying to make them more popular and, hopefully, I'll have them in Spain.
Funny thing they say, when you were 13, you already had your feet by 13!
Yes... Actually, I was 12 when my feet reached that! I was a really young one with really big feet, so it was tough...
So you make shoes, your teammate Essence Carson does music... Rivas Ecópolis have got such a couple of artists in it's squad!
Ha ha ha... Yes, we're proud that we're not just basketball players, we try to do some other things and have passion for it.
After having played overseas in Eastern Europe, now how does it feel for you to be playing in Rivas Ecópolis for your personal life?
Oh, it's cool. The city is good, Spain is really beautiful, I can see the sun sometimes, I can drive a car... In Russia you don't really get to do these things and here you have more for life!
