Sasha Vezenkov (Nicosia, Cyprus, 8-6-1995) sits for a while in the team’s locker room Sacramento Kings after the victory of the California team last week in Toronto (89-123), dressed in his black long-sleeved tracksuit in another game in which he does not wear shorts due to the persistent injury that keeps him in the playing suit since late January. A sprained right ankle interrupted the player’s already adapting process to the NBA. MVP reigning of the Euroleaguewho had been playing 12.6 minutes and averaging 5.6 points and 2.5 rebounds with 45% in field goals and 38% in triples.
The ex of Barça y Olympiakos He remains with his head somewhat bowed, reflecting deep in thought while playing with a necklace in his hands, although he maintains a happy countenance as Sacramento survives with full possibilities in the last fierce sprint for the Wild West playoffs.
Sasha Vezenkov, defended by Lester Quinones in a game against the Warriors)
José Luis Villegas / LaPresse
In a press conference, the Kings coach, Mike Browncloses his post-match appearance with another reflection on Vezenkov.
“We are playing very well right now, I am simply not going to remove one boy to put another in,” he points out to a question from MD Brown, always sincere and direct, about what the former Barça player has to do. to play more.
“He’s going to have to work hard on both sides of the court and, as soon as he gets an opportunity, take advantage of it like he did. Keon Ellis in his day. Every time we put him on he worked hard and now he is a starter,” adds the one who was Coach of the Year last year, without complimenting the Bulgarian no matter how much luster he has in him. Europa although giving him a lot of hope by example.
Sasha Vezenkov is in limbo, injured and surrounded by uncertainty in the midst of that unusual anonymity for him. Well, what the former Barça player has done, a case very similar to that of Vasilije Micicis to fill yourself again after being everything in Europe, to undertake that complex challenge of starting over where no one knows you.
“It’s being difficult. They don’t care (that you are MVP), you have to go through the beginning,” acknowledges the power forward, who captivated Jordi Fernandez when the Kings’ top assistant coach traveled to see the Final Four of the Euroleague last year. In a very sincere conversation, the Bulgarian sits down with MD to talk about the NBA and its complexities and, of course, Barça, where he played between 2015 and 2018 before landing in Greece and becoming another god for the passionate fans of Olympiacos.
How are you feeling in your first season in the NBA? He is meeting your expectations, I expected more…
Everything is different, a different game, a different speed, a different culture… Everything is different, so you have to adapt quickly, you have to be ready every day. It’s hard, a lot of games, a lot of traveling, but you need to be physically and mentally ready.
Among all these things, what is being the most difficult to adapt to?
Like I said, it’s a different game, you learn the game in different ways and here it’s faster, the guys are more talented, especially the top six or seven on each team, so you have to adapt from top to bottom to a culture. entire, to the entire philosophy of the NBA.
You are the reigning MVP of the EuroLeague. How is the process of assuming that you are a superstar in Europe but that here you have to fight to even just play 10 minutes in a game?
Unfortunately it is being difficult, it is different and you have to learn. They don’t care, you have to go through the beginning and if you adapt quickly you have a chance. If not, it’s really hard.
“Unfortunately it is being difficult”
Like you, Vasilije Micic is also a Euroleague MVP. Now he is having minutes and playing well but it has been difficult for him to find a solid role. Do you feel undervalued in this league?
Yes, 100%. I think we can play, it’s all about having opportunities, although there are many kids whose teams are not good. And of course, the Oklahoma City Thunder have two really good players at their position (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey).
Now he is having time, taking his role and doing it really well. If he can be a starter in this league I don’t know, but he can play solid minutes and have a solid role on any team. He knows the game and I’ve never played with him, but it’s lovely to watch him play.
Micic made the leap to the NBA at 29 years old and you at 28, both this season. Does the fact of making the jump to the NBA at the end of your 20s make the adaptation more difficult?
To 100%. Like I said, it’s a different game, we in Europe learn the game in a different way, every possession matters and here there are a lot of possessions, so it’s a totally different game. If you come here soon you can adapt easily and in life in general. If we are given the opportunity we can be productive, we can help at any time, but as I said it is really difficult.
You were drafted in 2017. Why did it take you so long to make the decision to go to the NBA?
I could have gone sooner, 100%. Two years before being drafted he could have tried to go to the NBA, it would have been easier and then he wasn’t playing much in Barcelona. I left and at Olympiacos obviously the last three years I obviously really played and then the opportunity came. Everything is about timing, and I didn’t have the right timing at the beginning and now I have it.
Two of the best players of the last Euroleagues have made the leap to the NBA this summer
His contract expires in 2025 and the Kings have a franchise option to renew him for another year until 2026. Would you like to continue playing in the NBA or return to Europe by then?
I can’t look that far ahead, I’m a person who thinks about the next day and the next training session. I’m trying to recover from my injury, trying to be productive for the team. The team is really good, we are fighting for the playoffs. My only thought is to finish the season strong, help the team in the last 14 games and in the playoffs, and then we’ll see.
Do you still have the conviction that you can succeed in the NBA?
If I think I can help in my role, yes. But right now, like I said, I can’t think too far ahead, just being healthy and helping the team for now.
Would you like to play for Barça again if you return to Europe?
In Barcelona I had difficult years, I think they did not treat me well, but not the people who are leading the organization, I have a great relationship with Juan Carlos Navarro and I learned a lot from him. I have friends in the organization, I never say no, but it’s like my time there was hard for the team and for me. I can’t predict the future, but I have friends that I really respect.
If I understand you correctly, you say that you were not treated well at Barça?
Yes, 100%. To 100%.
Which was the reason? Do you feel angry with someone?
I don’t feel upset, life goes on. Especially with two people, maybe three. They didn’t give me the right opportunities even when I played well. 100%, they didn’t treat me right.
I know that, I can say that. But that happened five or six years ago, Barça is a great club, I have friends there, I have a lot of respect for Juan Carlos Navarro, he is a legend, I learned a lot from him, we have a good relationship and good conversations when we see each other. As I said, I have something left, but not with the club, but with people who are no longer there.
“Barça is a great club, I have a lot of respect for Juan Carlos Navarro”
Who are these people?
I’m not saying names, they know very well who they are, but I don’t care because I made my way. But then it was hard because there was a purpose behind it. Everything is fine, I made my way and as I said everything is fine now and calm.
Who is going to win the Euroleague? What options do you give Barça?
It’s very unpredictable. They have opportunities (referring to Barça), but they are not playing well lately, perhaps. But Fenerbahçe is playing incredible, Monaco even though they lost by 20 (referring to the Milan match), Panathinaikos is there, Olympiacos… Real Madrid is not playing well lately either but they have a lot of talent.
The Final Four is really tough, two games, so everyone can win. Whoever is more prepared at the end of the season has a better chance, but Fenerbahçe is now playing the best basketball in Europe and I give them a little more chance. But this can change in a month.
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2024-03-25 05:06:36
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