Vezenkov: “I’m only thinking about the Final Four – If Sacramento wants me, something can happen”

Olympiacos closed the regular season of the Euroleague in an excellent way, finishing in first place, which will bring them face to face in the playoffs with Fenerbahce.

The protagonist in this “frantic” course is Sasha Vezenkov. The Bulgarian forward has been the undisputed leader of Olympiakos, and is considered by most to be the most valuable of the Euroleague regular season.

He himself, however, speaking to the Serbian “Sport Klub”, in an interview that took place when Olympiacos played with They were partisans in Belgrade, however, it was published today (15/4), he emphasized that he is not thinking about the MVP but the presence of the “red and whites” in the Final Four. At the same time, he also talked about the possibility of going to the other side of the Atlantic and playing in the Sacramento Kings.

In detail what he said:

For Olympiakos’ progress in the EuroLeague: “Consistency is the most important thing. We try to play the same way in every match. Obviously there are good nights and bad nights. The main thing is that we work hard, have good chemistry and understand each other. We have not achieved anything so far, but the way we are playing fills us with confidence for the continuation of the EuroLeague”

On whether the first place in the regular season means anything: “It doesn’t really mean anything. Of course, the most important thing is to have the home advantage because in front of our fans, we feel better. They support us so much! The main difference in the first phase is that you play the first two games at home. We are happy because it helps us psychologically.”

On the mentality of Olympiakos and the difficult moments of this season: “In December we had two consecutive defeats, against Red Star (at home) and Villerban (away). Two weeks earlier we had also lost against Valencia (at home). It was difficult because we were still at the beginning of the season, but the good thing is that we quickly forget both good and bad nights. We don’t enjoy it so much when we win a match, nor do we think too much about things when we lose. We continue to work and do our job as well as possible.”

For the good atmosphere inside the team: “Everyone has their role. They are all very positive guys and help each other. We all have our bad moments, but we function as a family. When someone is not feeling well, others try to help them. Of course there are disagreements, but in a good way, as happens in all families.”



On how he handles his own bad nights: “I’m trying to see what I did wrong. I like to re-watch the games and notice what went wrong. Generally though, I try to forget about it straight away because we have a match every three days, so it’s easy to move on. I like to see my mistakes, in general, to improve. All in a way, however, that will not hold back either me or the team.”

For the EuroLeague MVP: “To be honest I don’t expect it. Maybe if we go to the Final Four, I’ll think about it for a moment. All I’m thinking about is being in the Final Four.”

For the collaboration with Giorgos Bartzokas: “We worked together in Barcelona, ​​before meeting again at Olympiakos. It gives freedom to players. The workouts are good, the energy he has is good. We are a tight-knit team, like a machine, where even if one piece is missing, the rest are ready to fill the void. We have shown during the season that we are a good team”.

For the time he played in Barcelona: “It put me in a frame to realize my limits, on a psychological level. How far can I go and not give up or “break”. It was a difficult period for the team. I never blame anyone for that. To a certain extent, I think that maybe I didn’t deserve all of this, but on the other hand, that I also made mistakes. I wasn’t ready possibly. It was a really beautiful experience, I made friends that I will have for the rest of my life, but I also learned not to give up.”

On the coach he most bonded with: “I would choose Giorgos Bartzokas, because we have a special relationship. I’m not saying we’re friends, but we have a really good relationship. I would also choose the first coach I had at Aris, Vangelis Angelou, who was Dusan Ivkovic’s assistant for many years. He taught me a lot. I can say many. I try to learn and take some things from each coach. I have been fortunate to work with several good coaches and characters. It’s not easy to single out, but if I had to pick two, I’d say them. You know, everyone only sees what the camera shows during the match, but there’s a lot behind it.”

For the NBA: “Of course it’s a dream for anyone who plays basketball. But I don’t think about it to do it, just to say I did it. If the situation is good and the team (Sacramento Kings) wants me and we find a way and an opportunity, something can happen. When I say opportunity, I mean being able to play and show who I am. At this moment in my mind is to go to the Final Four with Olympiakos, nothing else. I want us to be in Kaunas, that’s all I’m thinking.”