By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Anthony Randolph described the Real Madrid organization as being superior to even NBA clubs and characterized his run in Europe that led to him joining the “Blancos” in 2016 as the “best thing that could happen.”
“I really don’t know what happened. It’s something you have to ask the general managers and the coaches,” Randolph said on his NBA career in an interview with El Mundo. “I don’t decide if I play more or less or the time or whether my contract is renewed. The best thing that could happen to me was to come to Europe and Madrid. It is the best club in which I have worked. One of the best in the world, above even some [clubs] from the NBA.”
Since 2014 when he left the USA after playing 257 games over six years in the NBA to sign with Russian side Lokomotiv Kuban, Randolph has won everything there is to win in Europe. Apart from the crowning achievement of the 2018 EuroLeague title with Real Madrid, the American big man claimed five domestic trophies in Spain, including the championship titles of 2018 and 2019. On an individual level, he was named to the All-EuroCup Team in 2015 and the All-EuroLeague Second Team in 2016 during his stint with Loko.
In 2017, Randolph lifted the EuroBasket trophy as a naturalized player of Slovenia. The Slovenian squad was led Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic and current Dallas Mavericks point forward and then Randolph’s Real Madrid teammate Luka Doncic.
“I don’t know how my career would have been there [the NBA]. I don’t think about the NBA anymore, it doesn’t worry me. The advantages of Europe? Here I compete for titles every year,” Randolph said.
Randolph, 30, is currently the leading scorer and third-top rebounder of Real Madrid in EuroLeague with 13.7 points and 4.3 boards in 23:57 minutes.