Kyle Guy returns to Tenerife after a sabbatical year

The return of Kyle Guy to Tenerife represents one of the most significant moves in the current market. After leaving the competition a little over a year ago due to personal issues and a temporary loss of passion for the sport, the American shooter has decided to restart his journey with the Canary Islands team, where he previously experienced a brief but intense period that left a mark. His story is that of an athlete who has experienced both success and failure, an obsession with basketball, and, paradoxically, a temporary disconnection from it.

Guy's journey over the past year has been as varied as it is revealing about his character and priorities. When he left the competition in 2024, it was not for sporting reasons, but due to family circumstances that forced him to reconsider his relationship with the game. During the months following his retirement, he received a visit from Nico Richotti in Orlando, while Guy was competing in the G League. In that conversation, the Spanish point guard asked him if he wanted to return, and Guy answered honestly: not yet, but if he ever came back to Europe, Tenerife would be his first choice. It was a promise that he has fulfilled over time.

From pause to preparation: the path to return

The decision to retire in 2024 was neither impulsive nor superficial. Guy has explained that he faced significant family problems, particularly during his wife's pregnancies, while his family was not near. In that context, he lost the passion that had always defined him as a competitor. However, his respect for basketball was what led him to make the most challenging decision: stepping away temporarily rather than continuing without being fully mentally committed. "I never want to disrespect this sport and play if I'm not mentally at one hundred percent," he assured. That year off was exactly what he needed to recover the inner fire that characterizes him.

During that pause, Guy did not remain inactive. He planned to train with Tony Bennett, the coach who had prepared him in Virginia, even considering exploring a head coaching career. Later, he moved to Nevada to learn from Steve Alford, another renowned coach enshrined in the Hall of Fame. It was during his stay in Nevada that he received an unexpected call: the Indiana Pacers offered him an Exhibit 10 contract, an opportunity to return to the NBA. That call was the catalyst that reignited his desire to compete. Although the experience with the Pacers did not turn out as he had hoped, the drive to return to elite basketball was already underway.

The work behind shooting confidence

One of the most fascinating aspects of Guy's personality is his relationship with shooting. He defines himself as the best shooter in Europe, but he is aware that this claim does not stem from arrogance, but from relentless work. "I believe that I am the best shooter in Europe, and I am going to continue behaving like one. But it’s not like I woke up one day thinking that. No. I’ve worked for it," he explains clearly. His mentality towards failure is particularly revealing: in practice, he gets frustrated when he misses consecutively, but in games that pressure disappears. If he misses ten shots in a row, he does not care, because he knows that if he makes one, he could make the next ten, and that benefits his team.

This confidence is not blind. Guy acknowledges that there are things he can do that other shooters cannot, such as his ability to shoot while off-balance. He also takes pride in his physical endurance, defensive play, and leadership. All of this is the result of years of dedicated work. His journey to becoming an elite shooter began in his childhood in Indiana, where his first love was football. He was a quarterback, a position that allowed him to constantly have the ball. However, he did not grow at the right pace for football, so at 13, he received an offer from a Division II school to play basketball. That was when he decided to fully focus on the new sport.

Initially, Guy was a poor shooter. Until he was 14, he could not master this skill, but he began to work on it with obsessive dedication. By around 15 or 16 years old, he considered himself an elite shooter, though he acknowledges that part of his ease comes from what he calls "a gift from God." He even shot with both hands before specializing in one. The progress was gradual but constant, fueled by his obsessive nature, which he considers a strength.

The return to La Laguna: environment, teammates, and new challenges

The reason Guy chose Tenerife for his return to Europe is both emotional and rational. During his first stint with the team, he was only there for five months, but he felt a special connection with the island, the club, and its people. When Nico Richotti asked him in Orlando if he wanted to return, Guy promised him that if he ever returned to Europe, he would do everything possible to come back to Tenerife. That promise has been fulfilled, and he expresses it with some disbelief: "All the stars aligned, and here we are."

One of the aspects that surprises him the most is the chance to play with Marcelinho Huertas again. When he left in 2024, he never imagined that he would share a team again with the veteran Portuguese point guard. Huertas, whose age combined with two young players on the team doesn't surpass theirs, continues to play at a level that Guy describes as MVP. For a shooter like Guy, having a point guard like Marcelinho is ideal: "Awesome, because he likes to pass me the ball!" he jokes. But beyond the humor, Guy constantly learns from him, not just from what he tells him but from how he plays. He loves sharing a team with high basketball IQ individuals who are experienced and good people.

The team also features other international-level players like Shermadini, Doornekamp, and Abromaitis, which provides a constant learning environment. Guy has noted that there is so much to learn from these competitors who have played at the highest level. Additionally, the new coach, Jaka Lakovic, has proven to be someone who genuinely cares about his players as people, something that was crucial for Guy to accept the offer. Although Txus Vidorreta is no longer on the bench, Lakovic maintains that philosophy of comprehensive player care. Guy highlights that both coaches are very smart, though with slightly different approaches: while Txus gave him a lot of freedom, Jaka provides a clear tactical structure but allows players to choose their opportunities.

The mindset of a returning competitor

Guy's return to Tenerife is not simply a change of scenery or a short-term solution. It is the result of a reflective process where he has explored other possibilities, such as becoming a coach, but has confirmed that his true passion lies on the court as a player. During his sabbatical year, he worked as part of the coaching staff for the Pacers, assisting in game preparations, but he never conducted specific basketball training. When he found out he would have the chance to compete again, he dedicated four weeks to training twice a day to regain his fitness and be prepared.

His mindset is now clear: his only goal is on the court. Although at one point he seriously considered the possibility of being a head coach, he acknowledges that his mind wanders and there are many things he wants to achieve in life. For now, all his focus is on proving that he is still one of the best shooters in Europe, something that, as he has made clear, is not a hollow statement but the result of years of dedicated work and a controlled obsession with constantly improving. In Tenerife, with Marcelinho, under the guidance of Jaka Lakovic, and surrounded by elite competitors, Guy has the perfect stage to write the next chapter of his career.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Kyle Guy regresa a Tenerife tras un año sabático