Enthusiastic about what he is experiencing in the one month he is in Sacramento, he said Sasha Vezenkov at the team’s media day. The Kings forward emphasized that he feels justified for the difficult decision he made to leave him Olympic and is already enjoying the experience. For his role in his new team he threw the ball to his coach, Mike Brown, but made it clear that he will be ready to take advantage of the opportunities that will be given to him and he does not mind coming from the bench.
-his first time in the team: “I feel great. I have been here for a month already. Everything is fine. The Sacramento organization makes me feel like my second home here, for that I am grateful. My family is here supporting me. I can’t wait to get started. From the president of the team, to the last player, everyone is a good person, they want to help you, they ask you every day how you are, how your family is. There is a different connection. You can’t describe it if you don’t feel it.”
-his adaptation to the Kings: “Every day is better. The same will happen with the races. I am from another continent, from another country, but I am here for my dream, for my job and for the team’s victories. It’s a new challenge. Even if you study the game and watch videos, you have to feel it, face it. I will improve everyday. I work and have confidence in myself.”
-the key to the Kings’ run this year: “Offensively everyone sees what the Kings can do, the pace, the speed, the ball movement. The question is how good we will be defensively, and that will improve as the games go on. But we have to keep our standards high in attack.”
-his relationship with DeAaron Fox: “Everybody knows what kind of basketball player Fox is, he’s an All-Star, but he’s also a good person, he wants to help you, train with the young players. Any good athlete can become an All-Star, but staying the person you were when you started and helping others, caring about the team more than you care about yourself, is really the key.”
– the differences in basketball between the NBA and Europe: “The game is different, the speed is different, everyone has the talent to score at any time. The atmosphere in Europe is different. It’s funny because I saw coach Brown who had come (s.s. to SEF in a EuroLeague playoffs game) and he was on his cell phone the whole time taking pictures of the crowd. It’s a different culture. Fans support their teams in a good way, but sometimes in a bad way. Last year the fourth final of the championship (against Panathinaikos) did not end, but everything is different. It’s something you have to experience, to understand what it’s like.”
-his role in the team: “I don’t know what my role will be, you have to ask the coach. But I will be ready for anything. You have to be ready to take the chance, so I’m waiting for my chance. I think I can help the team and whenever the coach decides I’m here to do it. Coming off the bench doesn’t mean anything, nor does it affect me. The important thing is to help the team and the team to win, because then everyone keeps playing, everyone is happy and the organization works better. I will do whatever it takes to win.”
-the team’s other 4, Keegan Murray: “Kegan Murray works hard, he’s a quiet guy, he doesn’t talk much, but I really like the work he puts in. I feel like I’m seeing my younger self, obviously at a different level, but fighting every day and trying to improve my game in every area. This year will be even better than last year.”
-his choice to go to the NBA: “I didn’t know the players when I decided to come to Sacramento. I decided based on my own perspective and my own vision for myself here. When I met the players, who have so much experience in the NBA and saw how hard they work and what good people they are, I knew I had made the right decision. I can’t wait for the games to start so I can experience all these emotions. This first month was the hard part, no matches, no team training, everything was slower. When the games start everything will happen faster and I think I will enjoy them more.”
Sasha Vezenkov on getting settled in Sacramento, familiar with anew Kings teammates and how the city feels like a big village. pic.twitter.com/nDGMoAmtoj
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) October 2, 2023
Source: Sport Fm
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
