This year’s edition of LSU men’s basketball is highlighted by its dense veteran leadership. Not many display that as well as its starting forward Pablo Tamba.
Tamba, a graduate student originally hailing from Malaga, Spain, was one of the last new additions to get to campus. Ever since he got to LSU by way of UC Davis, he has only impressed the coaching staff with the skill he brings to every part of the game as well as the intensity he plays it with.
“Back in the spring, I would not have projected him as our starting forward,” head coach Matt McMahon said. “Through his body of work … He’s earned his way into that role and has impacted winning since he got here.”
McMahon’s remarks about Tamba consistently include the fact that he’s a warrior, can guard every position on the court, only cares about winning and is a high-energy tone setter for his team.
It shows in his play.
However, you can’t see everything he adds to the team just by watching box scores. Tamba’s defense is one of, if not the best, on the team. It comes from his high energy.
His coach is always quick to praise this part of his game.
“I think that’s the thing coach McMahon likes the most about me,” Tamba said.
Tamba said that energy comes from when he was playing back in Spain in his youth. It’s something that has always been with him as he grew up more athletic than most of his peers, so he had to take advantage of it by playing hard and helping his team win. Hard play and a strong level of buy-in has never left Tamba.
“[He’s] just really a joy to be around,” McMahon said. “I enjoy getting to coach him every day because he’s all in. He’s going to give you everything he’s got. On top of all that, he’s a really good player.”
The message from Tamba himself is simple.
“I try to just outwork everybody as much as I can,” Tamba said. “In practice, I try to be the loudest guy, the most engaged guy.”
Tamba’s name is visible in most of LSU’s stat sheets, but rebounding has been his biggest strength this year. Through the first 18 games, he’s grabbed the second-most rebounds, averaging 7.4 a game. The only player ahead of him is Marquel Sutton, who has helped push Tamba to be better since he got to LSU.
“[The level of talent on the team] challenged me the most when I first came here,” Tamba said. “I was like ‘Oh ok, I need to gain a spot on the team. I’m going to have to deal with [Sutton].’”
Being pushed to a higher level is a large part of the reason that Tamba ended up at LSU for his final season of collegiate basketball.
“Playing for one of the best, if not the best, conference in the country was the most attractive thing,” Tamba said. “I knew that the level [of competition] was gonna ramp up … It ramped up like two tones.”
LSU was on his radar because of his familiarity with associate head coach David Patrick.
He recruited Tamba while he was the head coach at Sacramento State. Although Tamba didn’t sign with Patrick’s Hornets, he remembered what he liked about him as a coach and still wanted to play for him.
The stars aligned for Tamba to commit to LSU, and he joined the Tigers at the end of April.
“I think it was a very good opportunity to take a step forward in my game,” Tamba said.
He has played in the Big Sky, the Big West and JUCO ball, meaning SEC play would be a different beast for him. He hasn’t backed down.
“My role on the team is to bring toughness,” Tamba said. “As a veteran guy, try to eliminate mistakes as much as possible.”
Tamba cuts out his team’s mistakes as much as he causes them for opponents. He’s averaging less than a turnover per game while also leading the team in steals per game.
Outside of his play on the court, he has proven to be a leader off the court as well.
“What you hope is that competitive spirit that he brings is contagious throughout the locker room,” McMahon said.
While the team faced an 0-4 start to conference play, his teammates always kept their heads up and fought back to cut deficits or hold the lead like they did to gain their first SEC win against Missouri.
Him just being on the court helps impact winning, showcased by his team’s +0.36 point differential per minute he’s on the court. That’s second on the team, only behind Dedan Thomas Jr., has just made his return to the court from a foot injury.
Tamba has full belief in his team that they will turn it around and get back on track in the conference. His confidence in his team is unwavering, just like his confidence and fire power on the court.
