Adonal Foyle is weighing up his options

By the end of this August, Adonal Foyle is expected to make a decision on his future as an NBA player.{{more}}

He is already weighing up his options.

This country’s first NBA player, has his eyes focussed on being a general manager of one of the league’s franchises.

He is now a free agent, after spending 10 years with the Golden State Warriors from 1997 to 2007, and the last three years with the Orlando Magic.

“I have to assess where I am at, if I can play another year”, Foyle, 35, said to SEARCHLIGHT recently, as he stopped over en route to Florida, after conducting his Island Camps in Trinidad and Tobago in early July.

“At 35, this is old in Basketball,” Foyle quipped, with a broad smile on his face.

Currently in pursuit of his Masters Degree in Sports Psychology, Foyle said he is not too far in attaining his certification, which would put him in good stead in the realization of his long term plans.

Sidelined by an injury during the 2009 to 2010 season, Foyle said he used the opportunity to garner some management expertise.

“I was able to monitor from the floor and understand what happens,” he recalled.

“You cannot want to be a general manager and you do not know the coach, “ Foyle said.

“From the bench, you get a different perspective, you learn how to deal with players and how to help these guys,” Foyle added.

Hinting that he could retire and just relax, Foyle said he wants to show persons that you must have something else to fall back on after your playing days are over.

“This is not me, I like to work, I want to be out there,” the 6ft10in Foyle revealed.

Also in the mix, as unfinished business, Foyle, who is the First Vice President of the Players Union, has another order on his plate, as he and the rest of the executive want to see a new deal agreed upon by next July.

Admitting that he did not light up the NBA courts, nor did he acquired countless accolades; Foyle saw his experience more than that.

He said he saw the opportunity to gain an education, through basketball as the highlight.

Foyle graduated from Colgate magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in History.

Added to his list of off the court achievements, is his “baby”, the Kerosene Lamp Foundation, which he founded in 2005, and which promotes, mainly the enhancement of students’ lives here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Politically motivated, he founded the organization Democracy Matters which tries to curb the effects of money on politics.

In September, Foyle was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame

He, however, noted that he is grateful for his early upbringing in Union Island.

Foyle said that his early playing days with Valley Nets of Union Island has proven to be a good starter.

“With Valley Nets, we were taught to have fun and enjoy the sport,” the Canouan born, American citizen recollected.

Foyle’s professional Basketball career has seen him playing in 7, 333 matches. (RT)