In February, 40-year-old Timo Heinonen signed a 1 + 1 year extension agreement with Helsinki Seagulls. The goal of the basketball league record man is the first Finnish Championship gold in his career.
This is not the first time Timo Heinonen gives an interview with the theme of his record – breaking career in the Basketball League. In December 2017, Pussihukkki, Vantaa Jarkko Tuomalan.
At that time there were 624 matches behind, as of this writing the number is already 915 and more will come. The career will continue at least next season.
Heinonen is 40 years old, but he doesn’t feel old.
– I’m not even the oldest on the team, and I’ve never been. There is probably such a delusion here that there is little to no age here.
In the experienced Seagulls team, Heinonen is only the second oldest. Tuukka Kotti is half a year older than him. And there are other veterans on the team, such as Susijengi icons Shawn Huff and for this season moved into the herd of gulls Petteri Koponen.
The younger generation in the Helsinki team is represented Lassi Nikkarinen. The 24-year-old Nikkarinen himself was the junior of the Boys of Torpa when Heinonen represented ToPoa just over ten years ago.
– “Timi” was here to play when I came to the Race Hall at a young age to watch the matches. That’s when I dreamed of getting to play myself. It’s really cool when there are these older players on the team that have been followed, Nikkarinen says.
Heinonen, who is known as a hard trainee, sees that there will also be time spent in the weight room. According to Nikkarinen, it is worth taking a model of Heinonen.
– He always comes to the exercises with a good attitude and maintains a good atmosphere. A real professional. Great that he will continue next season and set an example for everyone with his own actions.
So you think he’s still on the move?
– Of course, at least five more years will pass!
In the basketball league since the last millennium
Heinonen made his league debut in 1999, and is now running his 23rd season at the main league level. However, the Finnish championship has avoided Heino. There are three SM silver and six bronze medals in the prize cabinet. He has celebrated the Finnish Cup three times, but the brightest crown is still unattainable. The dream of raising the Panther Statue kicks forward.
– It’s a big motivator. That is what this is all about everyday doing.
However, Heinonen is not obsessed with pursuing the Finnish championship. The career would continue even if the championship came in the spring.
– It feels good to play yet. I will continue as long as it is fun and the body will last.
So far, it has lasted amazingly well. Throughout his long career, Korisliiga Superman has avoided serious injuries.
– There have been no major injuries, so I have probably done the right things. I am interested in different ways of training. Experiments don’t always go down the tube, but you learn from them and discover something new. At the same time, interest in the job remains.
Everything changed
Over the years, the legendary Helsinki Hall has become really familiar to Heinonen. Heinonen, who has represented ToPoa and Seagulls for more than half of their careers together, already spent a lot of time as a junior at “Kisis”.
– This is a pretty nostalgic place. When I was young, I grabbed a bus from Myyrmäki and came here to throw it. It went all day easily. The ads change a bit and the parquet is renewed from time to time, but otherwise the place is similar to what it was then in the 90s.
So the race hall has not changed, but everything else is.
– In the basket league as a whole, a lot has progressed in every area. Everything about training and games has become more professional. The training philosophies have also changed a few times.
Heinonen has had quite a number of teammates over the years. When asked who is the best player he has been on the same team with, Heinonen picks up the answer directly from the NBA legend department.
Michael Jordanin Pippen, who dominated the Chicago Bulls in the 90s, played two basketball matches in the ToPon shirt in 2008.
– At that point, he was no longer in the best possible condition, but he was still convincing in his skills, length and dimension.
A hard twist on the basketball league championship
The basketball league sequels kicked off in mid-February and the playoffs will begin in April. The top spot in the table is held by the Bear of the Kauhajoki River, which has been in heavy draft almost all winter.
Men’s Basketball League Tue 8.3. / upper extension set:
Seagulls – Kouvot 85-90 (38-37)
S: Allen 25, Lawson 22/6, Heinonen 15/7
Q: Boyd 26/9, Maluach 14/7, Osborne 13/4
Lahti – Kataja 60–76 (34-32)
Seagulls, who also started this season as a champion favorite, stumbled during the winter and finished third in the regular season.
– Kauhajoki has a very convincing whole game concept, pace and intensity. Kouvot has also played happy basketball very well. All the teams in the upper finals are tough. No match can leave the jacket open.
Both Seagulls and Heinonen are chasing their first Finnish championship. Last year it looked really promising, but in the playoffs, the trip was in the semifinals against Salon Vilpa.
– The fact that not everything is in place is also a good opportunity. Last year, it was pretty easy to poke in the regular season with no major problems, and then the trip tucked in the playoffs. Now is a good opportunity to make changes and improve your own doing already at this stage.
– Let’s hope it carries to the end.