COVID-19 has upended the world in every way imaginable, and the world of international basketball is no exception. Since coronavirus has been an issue in Europe for so long, American basketball players in other countries have been exposed to the struggles and difficulties of living through a pandemic for a minute. Ballers Abroad is talking with players to share their experience, and today we're catching up with Romeo Smith, a 24-year-old forward who had his second year of professional hoops end early in Spain.

Ballers Abroad: What team were you playing for this season, and what was it like when the season ended in March?

Romeo Smith: I played for Hero Jairis in Alcantarilla, Spain. When we found out the season was ending, it was after a Wednesday practice and our coach texted us saying that everything is being suspended until further notice. It was actually funny because we were unsure if we were going to practice that day until about an hour before.

Some players had to stay put where they were or decide to immediately come back to the U.S. Where have you been staying during quarantine, and how long do you think you'll be there? 

RS: Fortunately for me, I was able to come back to my hometown of Chicago before everything was getting canceled, but it was a close call because I thought the season would resume. So I’ve been in Chicago since March, and hopefully I won’t be here long because I’m anxious for the return of the season. If I had to guess I would say I will be in Chicago until September, no later than October.

What were the communications like with your team and league like during this time? Did you talk to other players about it?

RS: The communication with my team was good. We kept getting updated information as we were learning what was going on. As far as talking to other players and their situations, I talked to a couple and theirs was similar. In fact, some of them that I talked to had to stay where they were longer than me and almost had to stay put.

What have you been doing to stay in-shape/game-ready? 

RS: To stay in good shape I have been doing a lot of body weight exercises like push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, etc. I’ve also been running and working on my agility at a field that's near me. To get shots up, I’ll go to a outdoor court but that’s about all I can do right now. 

Now that most leagues and players are looking to next season, what do you think of the prospects for American players playing overseas next season?

RS: I would say it depends because everywhere is different, but I heard that the rules for American players were being changed before all this happened. I know where I was in Spain, the teams were allowed one or maybe two Americans - and that was before COVID-19. So they could change again, but like I said before it all depends on where you at.

It does, it does. We appreciate you taking the time to give us your insight! 
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RS: I appreciate you guys for giving me and other overseas players this platform to talk about these topics. 

COVID-19 has upended the world in every way imaginable, and the world of international basketball is no exception. Since the Coronavirus has been rampant in Europe longer than it has been in the United States, international basketball players have been exposed to the struggles and difficulties of living through a pandemic for a long time. In addition, the influx of American basketball players in other countries means that they have an interesting perspective. One of these players is Byron Richards, an American who's been playing for CB Benicarlo in Spain for the past four seasons. We caught up with Byron about what it's been like these past few months.

Ballers Abroad: A lot of players have stay put where they are, or decide to immediately come back to the United States. Where have you been staying during quarantine, and how long do you think you'll be there?

Byron Richards: Thanks for having me! I've been quarantining at my apartment in our town here in Benicarlo. For a long time I had no idea of how long I was going to be here, but I have finally gotten my flight ticket for June 26th to return home to the States. My entire team had vacated the town the weekend of March 13th, the same weekend that it was announced that the next 2 weeks of play were to be cancelled (at the time). I remember so vividly because that was the last day that bars and restaurants would be open in town, and our team and directive had a meeting that night. That was a Friday. By Monday, everyone on my team had returned to their homes and countries. Only myself and one other player stayed in town. At the time a lot of the Spanish region borders were rumored to be shutting down that same night, so many players were concerned about getting stuck here for the entire duration of this lock-down, and no one had any grasp of how long this would last. (seems like we still aren't exactly clear on that) For me personally, I have played so many seasons here so I was already very comfortable staying and waiting it out for while. 

The season was in limbo for almost three months before the decision was made to cancel -  that's a long time! What were communications like? How did your team/league handle this period of uncertainty?

BR: There wasn't much communication with our team once we all split up, but as so much was in the air and so much was undecided, there wasn't much to discuss. This was a situation that was almost impossible to prepare for, so I'm not really in a position to judge how anyone handled it. It was clear that our games and our season were going to be cancelled, since basically every team's foreign players headed home that week in March. If they had decided to continue the season somehow, a lot of clubs would have needed to fly all those players back and get them back in shape. On top of this, the games would have certainly been no fans allowed, so there wouldn't have been much money coming in, and our league (LEB Plata) relies heavily on that revenue. So even though it took some time for the league to announce its plans, I think we all knew that was going to be the deal. I don't think many players felt it was a period of uncertainty; we had all kind of assumed the season was over, nobody was here to even start playing, a season restart in the spring or even summer would have been difficult and expensive. 

What have you been doing to stay in-shape/game-ready? 

BR: During these 90+ days of quarantine I workout in my apartment daily. I do a lot of calisthenics and stretching, and also exercise through Martial Arts training. Now we are in Phase 2 (and about to start Phase 3) in my region, which opens up for many new rules and opportunities and me. But as any good player would tell you, there's no fully accurate simulation to stay ready other than playing basketball, so unfortunately I am sure if I'm 'game-ready' shape, but I think I'm in very good shape given my circumstances. 

Now that most leagues have made decisions on whether to cancel or continue their seasons, a lot of players/leagues are looking to next season. What do you think of the prospects for American players playing overseas next season?

BR: This is a broad topic; I would say it depends on the league and the country. Here in Spain, I've heard the rules for American players in certain leagues were already set to change pre-COVID. For example, the rules on the number of Americans in EBA and also in LEB Plata were going to be discussed to change the amount of players allowed to a team. I'm not sure if it will go through but that was already a topic, so it might be more difficult for players to find jobs here. But at the end of the day, getting buckets is what talks, so I believe the best players will still have options, especially in the higher leagues. 

I hear you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!
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BR: Thanks for having me! I appreciate all that you guys do to allow us guys overseas to have this platform!!

What team do you play for now, and where in the country is it located?
I play for Al Ittihad, a historic sports club located in Libya. Prior to joining this club I played in Zagreb Croatia for Cibona.

Are there any other Americans on your team?
Yes, there is one other American, Dion Wright, on my team; he’s 26 years old and from California.

How would you compare the style of basketball played in your league to American basketball?
Playing in the Middle East I noticed right away they prefer to play fast uptempo basketball without a lot of tactics (set offenses/defenses). Players in this region of the world are naturally athletic and fast with quick feet. The difference is that in the U.S., there is a higher quality of athleticism and skill. 

In Europe the game is played at a slower pace with more tactics. European teams like to have big guys clog up the paint. They also use the European foul to stop the fast breaks. So the game is slower with an emphasis on shot making.

You've been a pro for a long time with a wealth of experience. What's been the secret to your longevity? 
Going on 10 years of experience to be exact. I credit my longevity to being a sponge and student of the game. I always have invested in my body. Eating healthy energy foods along with cutting out junk food and fast food. Also having a weekly routine of massages, stretches and icing sessions. It sounds like a lot, but in order to play at a high level you must have discipline and your body must function at a high level.