By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
Waiting for tonight’s Game 1 of the ABA League Finals between Partizan Belgrade and Crvena Zvezda, PJ Dozier will play for the first time in his career in such an outcome, fighting to the big prize in the series against his team’s fiercest red-and-white rivals.
Talking to Bojan Brezovac of Mozzart Sport ahead of such a clash, the American forward put all his trust on his teammates, who have embraced him since day one. “We have to be smart and calm because they also have very smart players who work well together, but I believe in my teammates. I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. That’s what each of us thinks in the locker room”, he said.
Conscious about the fact this series “will be something more than basketball”, the 27-year-old can’t wait to face Crvena Zvezda once again after heated encounters in both the EuroLeague and the Serbian Cup. “We have been preparing all year to be in the final. We are glad to be here. We know that everyone expected this series”, he commented.
PJ Dozier also took time to touch on Milos Teodosic. “When you have a high IQ, like he has, then you can definitely play this game for a lot longer at a very high level. He’s definitely shown that, but hopefully we can use his age a little bit, get the ball out of his hands”, he addressed.
Finally, he shared preaches to his former teammate in Denver and the newly three-time NBA MVP. “I’m really proud of that guy. He deserves everything that’s happening to him. It’s a big thing to be MVP for the third time. He deserved the award because of the way he works and how much I dedicate to it”, he stated on Nikola Jokic.
So far in his first ABA League season, PJ Dozier has been averaging 7.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, shooting 61.2% from two-point range per game. In the EuroLeague, where Partizan missed on the Play-In, he had 9.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per encounter.
PHOTO CREDIT: ABA League / Dragana Stjepanovic