By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
As the do-or-die EuroLeague Playoffs Game 5 between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce, the Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown arrived at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus.
The 53-year-old, who was named Coach of the Year in the 2022-23 NBA Season, will keep an eye, especially on Sasha Vezenkov, who could potentially make the jump to the NBA with the Californian franchise from next season.
“Ι hope we will see a good game”, he said before the start of the game between the Greek and Turkish teams and after he added speaking about Vezenkov: “He can play at any level. What we want is to finish the season first and then we will talk to him. We are extremely excited about his performance, we made a trade to acquire his rights last year and it is important that so many people in our team have come to see him up close. I have the CEO of the Kings here with me and our European scout. For us it is a priority, but we will see at the end of the season”.
The NBA coach of the year commented that “the way they defended Vezenkov made it difficult for him. But I like what I see, as he leaves room for his teammates, cuts well, shoots the three-pointer well, has toughness, fights for rebounds. We’ll see how the season ends and make our decisions.”
Regarding the atmosphere of the game, Mike Brown pointed out that “it’s something incredible! It’s amazing. I take pictures and take videos to send to my sons and my friends in the US, because if they don’t experience it, they can’t understand it.”
Coach Brown is expected to leave Greece on Thursday.
Milwaukee Bucks‘ Thanasis Antetokounmpo was also present for Game 5 between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce, where his younger brother Kostas is playing.
Bucks‘ Thanasis Antetokounmpo also in the house for Game 5 between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce pic.twitter.com/3a3yfwsAVX
— Antonis Stroggylakis (@AStroggylakis) May 9, 2023
Former Olympiacos captains, Giorgos Printezis and Theo Papaloukas also attended the game.