Vezenkov: “Being the 13th player, how can I enjoy it? – We won’t be happy if we don’t win the Euroleague”!

Terrible words from him Sasha Vezenkov!

In his interview at “Triple Threat” of “Amerikanos24”his forward Olympiakouwhere hats off to Kendrick Nunnemphasizing that he is currently the best player in Europe, spoke about his decision to return to Greece, emphasized that he wants the Euroleague this year, noted that the door to the NBA has been closed for good, while revealed what were the two most difficult weeks of his career!

What he said in detail:

For the Euroleague:

I work every day and try to find joy again. This is the most important thing. Be happy, work hard and enjoy what you do, because we are blessed. It’s a cliché, but it’s the truth. The Euroleague is really competitive in every game and I think that’s good for you.

For the NBA:

I’m glad I did. I owed it to myself. They are the best players in the world. The schedule is crazy and every night you are up against big stars. I’m glad I did. I was in a great environment. If I had to do it again I would.

In my career I had difficulties, but in the NBA it was different because I was closer to the top players and I tried to learn even their routine and if they do something different. I was trying to be patient. Before the injury I didn’t play much and nothing changed after that. At Kings we knew exactly how everyone would play and how much. I had 8 points and 8 rebounds in 8 minutes and played 11. I didn’t give myself a chance to be patient and enjoy every moment. Because before I was MVP and I thought that my status would be different, that I would start from a different base. Being the 13th player, how can I enjoy it? I was 28, not 18. I didn’t enjoy the little moments like that. Being in the NBA.

The NBA door is now closed. I did it. I am happy here. They are my family and I didn’t give another team a second chance, because for me it was a risk. I didn’t know what was going to happen in Toronto. I wanted to enjoy the game and that’s why I didn’t give it a second chance. If you’re European in the NBA it’s easier if you’re young. You get more opportunities that way. They see the potential. They are not interested in the Euroleague there. In the NBA, you start over. You’re a rookie even at 29. This bothered me. They said “you’re a rookie, you have time” but I was 29.

For his goals:

2 years ago I was just playing the game. I wasn’t thinking much. Now the expectations are different. Coming from the NBA. I try not to care and just play basketball. It’s difficult at times, but that’s why we have a good team. I remember the match against Real, I didn’t start well, but in the end I let the game come to me. I want to win the Euroleague with Olympiacos. I don’t care about being MVP again. It was nice, but I want the trophy. The main thing is to go to the Final 4, because there is another story. If we don’t win the Euroleague, we will clearly not be happy.

For his gameplay:

It’s hard a lot of times because you mess up the spacing. Coach Bartzokas told me many times to stay out, because I’m a good shooter. Some coaches only go by the book. Coach Bartzokas is not like that. Then it has to do with your teammates. We have great point guards, but also tall passers. Your teammates have to expect you to cut all the time. Cutting puts you in a better position for an offensive rebound. Of course, there is also the possibility of getting blocked, especially against players like Tavares and Poirier. The important thing is that your teammates see what you are doing.

On his transfer to Olympiakos:

There are positives and negatives. I thought they would remember me as the MVP, but maybe I’m not the same, because when you’re not playing your confidence is shaken. With work and seeing how they welcomed me like family at Olympiakos, it was better. I feel better. I’m coming from a year where I didn’t play and I needed the safety of the coach and my teammates. People I know. I don’t know if it would have been too difficult if I had gone elsewhere, but it would have been more difficult.

To return to SEF:

Fans were sending me messages last year, even letter packages. They were telling me how much they missed me. When I came back for Spanoulis it was emotional, but when I came back as a player, it was unbelievable. I saw that this is my family and my team. It’s different. I felt calm.

On Olympiakos’ style of play:

The coach’s style is for everyone to cut, everyone to pass and everyone to touch the ball. To do that you have to have players who want to pass. At the end of the game it’s hard to play like that because teams are pressing and you need players to make big shots. This is the philosophy of the coach and this is what we give. Some shots are missed, but that’s the point.

For the roster structure:

We had 11-12 players then. Fortunately we had no injuries and everyone knew how to play. We knew that those who will come from the bench remain united. And the victories gave us confidence. The whole team was working flawlessly, except for the final. This year they are negative. It’s harder to find the roles because they’re all great players. It is more difficult for the coach as well, but also a blessing. Even when you have injuries, there are players to step up. Sure, for players who play it’s easy, but for those who don’t play much it’s hard. Everyone works very hard, but they all want to play more. I can say it’s a blessing, but for someone who doesn’t play, it’s hard.

For Evan Fournier:

I will not say about Evan that everyone sees because he is a player with 12 years in the NBA. Every day, however, he is a professional. he brings his own meal to the hotel from his own chef because of his diet. He could do whatever he wants. He works a lot on his body and everything. When you work like this, you will be successful. He didn’t come just to come. He came because he wants success. He was telling me about a phase from the Real game, which we won. He came to the first derby and felt the game. OK, he made a mistake in Ephesus. I missed the shots in Munich. You might miss those shots, but you have to take them and always work on it to get more comfortable..

For previous Final 4s played:

After the first Final 4 I immediately said that we will come back. After the second I felt empty. I tried and still try to understand how we lost. The first season was strange with the Russian teams out. In the second we played incredibly. But now I don’t think about it. it’s past.

On whether Monaco would win back-to-back Olympiacos in 2023, as Mike James said:

You can’t reflect on regular season games. We had easily beaten Fener and in the playoffs we played 5 games. We won Monaco 3-2 in 2022. I understand Mike. He’ll probably tweet something after that. I think we would beat them. In a series that season we wouldn’t lose to anyone.

For the series with Fenerbahçe in 2023:

The series with Fener were the two most difficult weeks of my career. Coach Itoudis’ tactics and mind games. They were crazy games.

For the Euroleague GOAT:

For me it is Spanoulis. He did something very difficult. He was if not the best, one of the best and he decided to go to a team that was not in its prime and had won the Euroleague since 1997. And he changed the history of Olympiakos.

For the toughest defender:

It was James Gist. When he decided to play defense you had a problem. Even when I was young and playing on Mars, it was the hardest. Now it’s the overall structure of Fenerbahce and how they treat me with Haze Davies on top of me. That’s why I said that the series with Fener is the most difficult two weeks. You had to think, because it was always there. But they said he stopped me and I had 17 points per game. How did you stop me? I was there and my team was winning.