SAN JOSE — Warriors center Zaza Pachulia was no different than most boys in the Republic of Georgia: He dreamed of being a soccer star.
But as he continued growing Pachulia got some good advice from a soccer coach: “Son, you’re playing in the wrong sport.”
It was the spark that led the 6-foot-11 Pachulia to trade the pitch for the hardwood. Since then, he has enjoyed a 14-year NBA career that culminated with a title this past spring as the Warriors’ starting center.
But before winning an NBA championship ring, Pachulia played goalkeeper for local teams in Tbilisi, although his mother had played basketball.