MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Nathan Adrian began playing basketball in the third grade.
“I started playing when I moved to Morgantown in the third grade,” he said. “From then, I just played on local teams and my school teams through high school.”
If you are a WVU sports fan, you know who Nathan Adrian is.
He helped the Mountaineers reach the Sweet 16 twice, in 2015 and 2017.
He was a fan favorite.
“All of the NCAA tournament games are my favorite memories,” Adrian said. “There is just something different about those when you know if you lose, you have to go home. Making two Sweet 16s is something not many people get to do in their careers.”
He is a Morgantown native, graduating from Morgantown High in 2013.
But what you might not know is Adrian signed a contract last year to play for JSA Bordeaux, located in the city of Bordeaux, France.
“It was good playing for them,” he said. “I liked everyone involved in the organization and my teammates. Bordeaux was a really nice city that I came to love. Definitely would recommend for anyone to go there if they are traveling.”
Adrian had an outstanding season. He averaged 17.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He shot 57% from the field, 35.3% from 3 and 77.9% from the free throw line. He played in 26 games and was a starter.
“I was glad to get the opportunity to,” he said. “I knew I had the ability to be successful, I just had to get there and get adjusted, which I did pretty well.”
He was named French NM1 Player of the Week twice.
“It was a big honor for me,” he said. “It was a goal of mine heading in to the season to get it at least once so being able to receive it twice is very rewarding.”
He was also named to the Eurobasket.com All-French NM1 Second Team.
“Coming in to the year, I did not expect to make any teams or anything like that, so I am pleased with it and proud that I did well for myself.”
Adrian feels his first season went well.
“I am proud of the way my season went,” he said. “It is hard to sit out for two years completely and then come back at all, but I did and having the year I did really made it special for me.”
He hopes to continue playing professionally.
“I am looking forward to playing in a better league hopefully and proving that I can be successful in that league, too.”
Adrian said playing for JSA Bordeaux was different from WVU.
“It is very different,” he said. “There are not many teams or leagues in the world that have access to the facilities and amenities that you get when playing D-1 basketball. Also, it was my first time playing for a team outside of Morgantown, so that felt different.”
Adjusting to life in an entirely new country, city and culture took some getting used to.
“It is different but not in a bad way,” Adrian said. “People are more laid back and not in a hurry. All the food is fresh and very good.
“It is very different just from the fact that it was something new. Living in a city as opposed to Morgantown took some getting used to. I stayed home a lot more than I do when in Morgantown just because of the language barriers and not knowing too many people.”
Speaking of the language barrier, Adrian said that was the most difficult part.
“The language was the hardest part to get used to,” he said. “Not knowing what anyone is saying can be difficult at times.”
Adrian was the only American on his team.
“There were a few guys on the team that spoke good English so they always helped me out,” he said. “Everyone was great to me so I never had a problem being the only one.”
Adrian enjoyed his time in Bordeaux.
“Bordeaux is a really nice city,” he said. “It is a good size and not too big, but has all the amenities of a big city because it attracts tourists. There are thousands of restaurants and good wine, which I loved.”
Like the rest of the sports world, Adrian is feeling the effects of the coronavirus crisis.
“The season got canceled so I am back home just trying to stay in the best shape I can,” he said. “All the gyms being closed and locked down is becoming a problem because it is keeping me from being able to work out for next season.”
Adrian has several hobbies he enjoys in his spare time.
“I enjoy spending time with my friends, golfing, playing video games, and anything outdoor related.”
