NEW YORK (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) - Senegal could have a potent one-two punch from the NBA next summer in Congo if both Maurice Ndour and Gorgui Dieng show up for FIBA AfroBasket 2017.

The duo, when Ndour was still a player at Ohio University in American college basketball and Dieng had a year of the Minnesota Timberwolves under his belt, featured at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Dieng played for the team at AfroBasket 2015 while Ndour, who missed that event, was the only one of the two to compete with Senegal at the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in the Philippines.

Ndour, who spent part of last season with Real Madrid but is now on the books of the New York Knicks, has spoken to FIBA.com.

FIBA: What is it like being one of just two Senegalese players in the NBA?
Ndour: I am so proud of being here and representing my country in the best league of the world. Basketball in Senegal has been improving a lot in the last couple of years. Guys like Gorgui, myself and also Georges Niang (Indiana Pacers), who is of Senegalese descent, are here to make people proud back in our country. It feels good to represent your country in this great league.

FIBA: There must be a lot of kids in Senegal that look up to you.
Ndour: It is an honor to represent your country at the highest level. I am very proud to play with the national team. Every time I put the national jersey on, I feel proud and happy. It’s great for the kids back in my country to see that a guy like me can play in the national team and compete in the NBA. I am happy to be an example and show the kids back in Senegal that everything is possible. I want to show the youth that if I made it, everybody can make it with hard work and motivation.

FIBA: Is playing at the AfroBasket next summer a priority for you?
Ndour: It has been too long since the last time Senegal has won a continental title. There is a bit of pressure for us as we want to have a great campaign and win the tournament. I have never played at the AfroBasket before; it would be my first time and I really want to do everything to help bring the title back home to our country. One of my roles is to bring all the players together and help the team being very competitive.

FIBA: Do you ever talk with Dieng about the national team and its future?
Ndour: I spoke to Gorgui not that long ago about the national team. Our goal is to win the next AfroBasket. We are trying to get everyone to play for the national team and make the best roster we can. Not everybody was able to come play at the OQT and we want now to play with all the guys and make a great team. The goal is simple: we want to win the AfroBasket 2017.

FIBA: People may not be aware but you actually played high school basketball in Japan.
Ndour: It was a great opportunity for me. You know, in Senegal, we don’t have that much infrastructure to practice and play basketball. I always wanted to be a pro, and that wasn’t possible to do so in my country. So when I had the opportunity to leave for Japan and to go to school and play basketball, I didn’t think twice. It was an amazing time.

FIBA: After your three years in Japan, you moved to the USA to play college basketball. How tough was that adjustment?
Ndour: That was an intense transition. Basketball in the USA is very physical and the pace is very fast, so I had to adjust my game. I had to work hard in order to adjust myself to the American way of playing basketball, but I have always believed in myself and knew that I would succeed.

FIBA: And now you're in the NBA. You had played with the New York Knicks in the 2015 NBA Summer League but didn’t make the cut yet one year later, you are playing on a two-year deal. What were your emotions when you put pen to paper on that contract?
Ndour: It felt amazing. It doesn’t happen every day, so I was very happy about it. It’s a dream come true. Since I was a kid, I had wanted to play in the NBA. The day I signed for the Knicks was a very exciting day for me.

FIBA: And talk about adapting, getting to grips with the NBA must be tough.
Ndour: I still have plenty of adjustments to make as I am still in the process of getting used to the NBA’s way of playing. I am getting used to the pace and physicality of the game. I am here to help the team and bring my energy on the court.

FIBA