Sportando interviews Oscar Bellfield

Coming back after a serious injury it's one of the most difficult things to do when you're a basketball player. That's what been through Oscar Bellfield, a former UNLV guard, who missed last season due to a hamstring injury. It's a been a long year for Oscar but now he's ready to make a comeback and continue to express his game wherever he'll be called. I had the possibility to speak with Oscar about his rehab process and his perspectives for the future. Here's the result of our conversation:

Sportando: Hi Oscar, it's a pleasure to talk with you. First of all: how do you feel right now? Are you 100% after the injury?

Oscar Bellfield: As of right now I'm back to 100%, body feels great and I'm in a great shape as well

Sportando: Good to hear that. Which was the biggest difficulty during the rehab process? How difficult it was for you to stay out of basketball for a season?

Oscar Bellfield: I would say the most difficult part was developing the patients to not play for a while and let my body fully heal before I try to get back on the court and play. Especially since it was a hamstring injury, that can be very irritating and sensitive. I had to take time off just doing nothing but ice and heat and a little stretching. Once it was fully healed, I got to rehabbing and worked on strengthening the hamstrings muscles and stretching to prevent the injury from happening again.

Sportando: Now you're trying to comeback, it's always difficult after a serious injury. What's your expectation for the next season? What are you looking for?

Oscar Bellfield: For this upcoming season I'm just looking for an opportunity to get me feet back wet. I know it will be tough  financially but to be back playing the game I love and to get another opportunity to show what I can do and increase my chance of getting a better contract next season I would say it's all worth it! 

Sportando: Did you ever felt dismissed during the year without playing?

Oscar Bellfield: After sitting out and watching basketball a lot and just keeping up with the game and being around people I know that still play was a challenge because I was eager to get back on the court. At the beginning stages it was sort of stressful, like when it first happen but during that stage I had a son and after that moment I looked at the situation totally different. Being able to see my son born was one of the best experiences ever. I feel like things happen for a reason and that was one of the reasons.

Sportando: Great to hear that you had a baby! I guess your family helped you a lot during the rehab process, how important it was for you their support?

Oscar Bellfield: amily played a huge part in the process of getting back healthy and having a child. My son mother has done a great job being the best mother she can be along with encouraging me to get healthy and do what I enjoy doing. Family is important and to have a great supporting system behind you is a huge plus I'm very grateful for family from my mother and sisters to my son's mom & her mom as well.

Sportando: You played college basketball at UNLV, last February coach Tarkanian passed away, can you share with us some memories about him?

Oscar Bellfield: I'm going to start off by saying Tark is why people are familiar with the name as of today "UNLV Rebles". Just about everywhere I go and have UNLV gear on, people mention: "Running Rebels? Man those were the good ol days Tark had them boys running". With that being said, I always wonder how Vegas was during the time he was coaching because I enjoyed everything during the time I spent at UNLV. I see the love that not just the University but Vegas itself  has for him. I can only imagine  how great of a person/coach he was. Just off the fact of him attending some of our practices and games when I was playing that alone was something amazing and a moment that will never be forgotten.

Sportando: After went undrafted in 2012 draft, you spent the training camp with the New York Knicks, how was it that experience for you?

Oscar Bellfield: Experiencing what it was like playing with and against NBA players in an NBA setting was something totally different. There was a lot of knowledge around that year going into training camp with the Knicks from one of the best PGs to play the game, Jason Kidd, and then one of the top players in the game today, Carmelo Anthony.  Just by watching players like them go all out in practice and in the preseason games alone help me gain knowledge on small things that you wouldn't be able to see or realize watching it in the stands or on a TV screen. That experience open my eyes to a lot and gave me the eager to want to get back there but even more just to play the game of basketball & get paid for it. 

Sportando: Ok, time for the final question. Now you're looking for a new team, a fresh new start after the injury. So tell us why a team should sign you, what they can find in Oscar Bellfield?

Oscar Bellfield: I know that I'm a floor leader/general that can control the tempo of the game make the right simple extra pass, along with being able to score by driving in the lane to shootin the 3 ball. With that being said I can be a combo guard that can run the point or play on the wing. Also can lock in on the defensive end and can guard a 1,2, or 3 thanks to my wide wing span I tend to make a difference on the court.  I have a lot to offer and can have an instant positive impact for a team once stepping on the court!