By Aris Barkas/ info@eurohoops.net
KAUNAS– AS Monaco forward Chima Moneke talked about the possibility that his former team Sacramento Kings bring on board Olympiacos Piraeus forward and newly crowned EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov this summer.
“It’s a big possibility,” Moneke said when asked by Eurohoops if he sees Sasha Vezenkov fitting in at the Kings. “He’s a very talented player. He doesn’t need the ball to score. I know that they love him over there. They’re really excited to bring him over. I believe they’re going to do what it takes to implement him on the team. I think he can contribute in a lot of ways.”
“I wish him the best but… that’s why I need to get him tomorrow,” Moneke said. The 27-year-old Nigerian player and his Monaco team will clash against Olympiacos in the first of the two EuroLeague semifinals Friday (19/5).
Monaco beat Olympiacos twice in the EuroLeague regular season in games that took place before Moneke’s arrival. “Honestly, it speaks to have two wins against this team,” Moneke said. “It makes you feel confident. But at this level and at this time in the season? They’re an amazing team. Those two games won’t really count.”
“Nobody picked us to beat Maccabi,” Moneke mentionED in regard to Monaco’s run toward making the Final Four for the first time in club history. “We heard that. It’s good to be here. I like being an underdog. It related to my story and my career. We have a lot of underdogs on this team.
Moneke signed with the Kings last summer after finishing 2021-22 as the FIBA Basketball Champions League MVP with Manresa. Although he appeared in just two NBA games he’s really appreciative of the whole experience with Sacramento.
“I’m just happy to be here now,” Moneke said. “Obviously, going to Sacramento helped me fit in Monaco and helped me be in this position. I’m grateful for my time in Sacramento.”