Hezonia: “Panathinaikos was a mess in the summer – I mind seeing him in the last places”

The difficult situation, with the many open fronts that he had Panathinaikos in the summer, was the reason that the Mario Hezonia left in the summer, as he claimed speaking on Joe Arlaukas’s podcast for the Euroleague.

The Croatian forward stressed that the decision to go to Unix he was right, thinking purely professionally, but he clarified that he still cares for Panathinaikos and it bothers him that he sees him in the last places of the Euroleague.

However, he did not hide the desire to take root in a team for years and become its leader, without caring so much about money.

In detail, Mario Hezonia spoke about:

-the decision to go to Panathinaikos: “There has always been love between us. I have loved his fans since I was a kid and when I went to the NBA I watched more Euroleague than basketball there. I was watching Nick (Kalathis), Thomas and Pascual were known to me from Barcelona and I was posting. I was very happy that they came and offered me to play. My agent thought it was funny. He said how it was possible for me to go and play there and I said ‘what do you mean how is it possible? I will fly tomorrow if you want ‘. It was also my birthday. It was one of the most special moments of my life. ”

-the reason he left Panathinaikos: “It does not make sense to me, until today. We had a unique bond. Frangi, Dimitris, Nikos με We were tied even more by the bad moments. Panathinaikos is not for the bottom of the Euroleague, but at worst for the Top 4. We talked about everything. Greece is the Balkans, you can not always trust a line and go in one direction. I went to them to talk. I told them ‘kids, I do not know how you see me, but I want to stay’. They told me ‘yes, yes, we will do it’. Basically it was done, but then the summer started, the national team and I did not get any phone calls. I agreed, but I wanted to make my decision last, because I wanted to see what team we would make. I saw that Katas, who was a good coach for me, would probably not stay. June passed, almost July and there was pressure. I wanted to go back and say why I have not signed yet. I should not have done that, I was putting myself in a bad position, but I did not care. I said no to everyone in Europe and in the NBA, because I wanted to stay at Panathinaikos, I felt at home. Time passed, when the proposal came it was completely different from what we had discussed. In addition, other players had signed and told me ‘we do not have this and that, we do not have the money’. Nevertheless I wanted to stay, but it would not be a good choice for me on these terms. They would not see my basketball side, but something else in which I am not good and I am not interested. I bring a lot of people, but basketball is my priority. Unix approached me very professionally from the beginning and was very honest with me. They had a specific plan and the presence of coach Perasovic played a role. I had nothing from Panathinaikos. I did not know how the team would develop. Some players had been acquired, they were waiting for me and Ioannis, while Dinos had already left. It was a strange situation. I do not blame Panathinaikos, not everything was in their hands. “It was difficult for them, just like last season.”

-whether he cares to see Panathinaikos in the last places of the Euroleague: “It simply came to our notice then. I say ‘pity, I made a bad decision, Panathinaikos is almost last and I did not help with what I did’. I care about them, but realistically, selfishly and professionally, I did the best for myself and my career. Money was the last thing we discussed. I do not care. I’m in Europe, if I’m dealing with money in the middle of Covid I’m m @@@@ us. Unfortunately it was a mess. So in July I said ‘finally, I will do the best for me’ “.

-the desire to land in a group: “I tried to stay in a team, but the more I sought it, the more I changed teams. I hate change, it’s the only thing I hate. I can adapt to everything, the good, the bad, anywhere. When I retired I dreamed of seeing my name on a team with many trophies. This is very difficult in the NBA, you can change teams in an instant. This happens even in stars “.

-whether he is considering returning to the NBA: “I do not think so. This style and role is what I have always wanted and deserved with my work and approach to the sport. In this I stand out and improve. I want to show my leadership qualities. I think I was born for this, with passion and giving my best. ”

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