Gary Browne and Abdel Nader

THE INTERVIEW / WITH GARY BROWNE & ABDEL NADER

Title

“I think when I started making those decisions to live my life that way, I think my career flourished more.”

Gary Browne first started playing basketball in his garage back in his home country of Puerto Rico when he was five. Flash forward and Gary’s career has seen him play professionally for teams in Puerto Rico, Israel, Turkey and Italy, and represent Puerto Rico at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

After moving to the United States from Egypt, Abdel Nader first started playing when he was 10 years old. Two decades later, Abdel has played for several U.S teams in the National Basketball Association, and represented the Pheonix Suns in the 2021 NBA Final.

They’re both in Australia playing for South East Melbourne Phoenix in the National Basketball League (NBL). Between their busy training routines and game schedules, Gary and Abdel are taking time out to spend the day with CALIBRE.

Both players stand at over six feet, and their tall frames are one of the most instantly identifiable hallmarks of a professional basketballer. Though it’s not just that. From the moment they step onto set, their dedication, commitment to their craft and passion for the sport is just as visible.

As Gary sits down, dressed in a leather jacket and jeans, he tells us that his first contract was in Cyrpus. “It was my first job, and it was only for five months, but I remember just being excited about being able to fulfill my dream of being a professional basketball player,” he reflects.

It almost didn’t even matter whether he won or lost at that stage. “Not that I'm not competitive,” Gary adds. “It was more the excitement of being able to fulfill that dream – and not only that, [but] being able to provide for myself and my family.”

Abdel’s first contract on the other hand, was in his first year out of college with the Boston Celtics in the NBA. Though he was excited at the prospect of playing professionally, he admits “it wasn't much of a celebration … I had to get to work right away,” he laughs.Within a few years, Abdel was through to the NBA finals – something countless players would dream of achieving. “My experience with the NBA Finals was amazing. I cherish it … it was a once in a lifetime kind of experience,” he says.

Not everyone gets to turn their passions into a career, but Abdel knew from early on that his love for basketball had the potential to take him far.“I think when I started to realize I had a future and talent in basketball was [at] a pretty young age, probably around like 13 or 14,” he says. “I was always my hardest critic. So a lot of it came from my work ethic, and I would say [my] determination came internally.”

Gary agrees. “I never doubted myself, but I thought that I needed to prove myself when I got out of college,” he tells us.

When asked about his heroes, Gary used to give the more expected answer. He would name an NBA player that he admired and grew up watching, like Michael Jordan. But now, Gary’s answer has changed. “My mum and my dad are my role models,” he says.

Abdel agrees. “My mum always supported anything I wanted to do, whether I wanted to be an astronaut or a basketball player … she instilled a lot of confidence and belief into me.”Arriving at John Cain Arena, Abdel wears our brushed cotton shirt jacket over our classic white t-shirt with grey jeans, black sunglasses and a gold chain. Off the court, Abdel’s personal style carries a blend of athletic and modern undertones. Rather than overly bold prints or colours, he prefers strong, solid hues like grey, white and black.When we ask about Abdel’s favourite thing in his wardrobe, he doesn’t miss a beat. “I wear Nike Dunks and Converse a lot … I think they're just comfortable and I think they go with a lot of different kinds of outfits.”On the other hand, Gary’s personal style varies. “I think you got to pick the right outfit for the right time,” he tells us. Rather than pre-planning a look, he prefers to wait and select his outfit depending on “how [he’s] feeling that day”.

Usually, that’s something that blends casual with streetwear – but on certain occasions, like nights out, Gary prefers to keep it simple and opt for a signature piece, like jewellery (or more specifically, diamonds) to complete his look. Now, Gary stands out in our black tech singlet, relaxed pleated pants and layered necklaces, with a white knit effortlessly slung over his shoulders.

Looking forward, Gary is determined and his sights are set. “I'm in a great place,” he tells us. “Individually, I've been blessed to be in great situations and just being able to just share my talent, but now … a personal goal for me [is to] win.”

When we ask Abdel to define success, his answer is clear: “To me, professional success is doing what you love to do, and enjoying it and not worrying about outcomes, or expectations, and really just being present [with] what you're doing.”

“When I was younger, I used to say, ‘Oh, I'm gonna make the NBA by the time I'm 20 years old’, and I gotta become all starred by x, y, and z and all this stuff. And I kind of started throwing that away a little bit, and taking it day by day and realising that it became a much more enjoyable process when I did.”“When I started making those decisions to live my life that way, I think my career flourished more and more,” Abdel says.