Clint Capela might measure in at nearly 7 feet tall, yet he has the feet of a ballerina. The 24-year-old Houston Rockets center is a magnificent athlete, and his unique blend of power and finesse often freezes opponents. Just look at these graceful euro steps:

.@CapelaClint can’t stop Euro-stepping! pic.twitter.com/2W9sx6aFXk

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 19, 2017

Watching back last nights games and Clint Capela’s very legitimate euro-step move is not only important for his finishing ability but it expands the area Harden can hit him with passes in the PNR. Really important #Rockets pic.twitter.com/E8nQDilx2Y

— Justin Jett (@JustinJett_) January 31, 2018

After having a breakout year in 2017, Capela is playing like a legitimate All-Star in 2018. He’s currently averaging career highs in points (17.4), rebounds (11.7) and blocks (2.0) per game. He’s also shooting an absurd 64.5% from the field.

One reason Capela is emerging as one of the game’s brightest young stars? His soccer background. Growing up as a kid in Switzerland, Capela’s first passion was soccer. He played as a forward and loved the thrill of breaking through a defense. He idolized French national team striker Thierry Henry. “I was a striker. I used to score goals,” Capela told Sports Illustrated. But when he already measured 6-foot-3 at 13 years old, his eldest brother suggested his height would be of better use in a different sport—basketball. Capela gave the sport a shot and the rest is history, but he believes his many years of youth soccer played an invaluable role in his athletic development.

“The footwork in soccer is a major part of the game. So as soon as I started playing basketball I was better. It was more easy for me than my teammates to make my first layup. To get those two steps. It was more easy for me learn a Eurostep. It took me less time to learn all those first steps in basketball because of soccer,” Capela told Uproxx.com.

Capela’s experience made him a firm believer in the value of playing multiple sports as a youth. “I think kids need to try all those other activities and sports so they don’t make the wrong choice,” Capela says.

Soccer, in particular, seems to be an excellent choice for pre-teen athletes. Even if it doesn’t end up being their favorite or best sport, the footwork and skills it teaches them at a young age will prove to be invaluable in their athletic development. That’s why University of Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh believes every boy who dreams of one day playing college football should start by playing youth soccer.

Photo Credit: Tim Warner/Getty Images

READ MORE:

• 9 NFL Stars Who Grew Up Playing Soccer
• Christian McCaffrey Says Playing Multiple Sports is The Best Thing He’s Ever Done
• New Study Reveals Whether Multi-Sport or Single-Sport Athletes Have Better Chance for Success