Traore goes coast to coast

Ivory Coast native Aboubacar Traore looks to make a name for himself on the Southern California coast.

BY NAOKI GIMA Sports Assistant

Sports have become a way to bring people from different backgrounds and cultures together. But this international pastime has also become a vessel to become something greater and be a part of something greater than oneself.

Europe and Africa have produced some of the best international basketball talents over the last 30 years. Long Beach State men’s basketball player, Aboubacar Traore, is no exception to this trend. The 6-foot-5 inch sophomore forward is a sociology major and moved from the Ivory Coast to play collegiate basketball at Long Beach State.

He began his North American career in Canada at Northstar Prep where he averaged 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in his final season up north.

“It was the first time for me being in cold weather. Where I come from it’s between 80 and 90 degrees all year long," Traore said.

Having moved to the United States and Southern California just under two years ago, Traore was shocked at how different it was compared to his home country.

“We don’t have much fast food (in the Ivory Coast). The food was something that was completely different to me,” Traore said.

The food culture in the United States came as a huge surprise to Traore, so he gave his knowledge of the food of the Ivory Coast.

“We have garba, that’s like the main food in Africa," Traore said. "When you say Ivory Coast, and talk about food, that’s one of the main things that people will tell you."

He continued by adding that it is something that is cheap and available everywhere.

Garba consists of fried tuna pieces, chopped onions, tomatoes, peppers, cassava and semolina, topped with dashes of seasoning and cooking oil.

Traore looks to capitalize on the opportunity of playing basketball in the United States and compared it to what basketball is like in the Ivory Coast.

“Back home, you can’t live off of basketball. It’s almost impossible," Traore said. "You don’t have people who are working to help you so that you can focus on the main thing, school and basketball. The difference is really clear."

With the lack of solidity in coaching, Rotegaard was also adjusting to cultural differences in a country he wasn’t raised in. His mom is American and he spent summers growing up visiting relatives in Florida, Oregon and Texas.

The three states weren’t landing spots for Rotegaard when he came to the U.S., leaving him in an unfamiliar situation when he first moved to Virginia.

“Different ways to show respect here, it’s always like, ‘how are you doing, sir?’” Rotegaard said. “Where Norway’s trying to be respectful about distancing and stuff like that.”

At the international level, he represented Norway at multiple youth tournaments, with his most successful stints coming at the 2019 Nordic Championships, as well as the Under-19 Norwegian Championships where he was named MVP for both performances.

“Norway’s a small country, not really a big basketball country culture wise,” Rotegaard said. “So I always treasure those years where I get to play with them.”

This season, Rotegaard has seen his role increase at The Beach, a sign that he’s finally settling in at his new home.

Through 20 games this season, he has already played more minutes than he did in his 32 appearance last season, all while becoming a more reliable scorer and cutting his turnovers in half.

“Our seniors last year were great just taking me under their wing,” Rotegaard said. “Especially Colin Slater, he was always there for me, talking to me when I needed anything.”