By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Luca Vildoza returned to European basketball last season after a brief stint in the NBA, playing seven games with the Milwaukee Bucks. He joined Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade and, after a successful period, chose to join Ergin Ataman’s ambitious project with Panathinaikos in Athens last summer.
In an interview with Eurohoops, Vildoza reflects on his time with Crvena Zvezda, highlighting its significance after an unsuccessful NBA experience.
“My confidence is back, especially after a few months in Red Star. I was feeling really good; fans gave me the emotion that I needed, and teammates helped me a lot. That’s why I’m really grateful to them, and I’m always going to miss them. I’m a different player now. I feel more comfortable in offense, and physically, I improved a lot,” said Vildoza.
Despite limited playing time, he values his NBA experience, particularly the opportunity to meet and be inspired by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“Everyone knows how nice and humble of a guy he is, even if he was the MVP of the best league in the world. During the dinner we had, he shared his thoughts about my life, about rookie guys. I saw he is special. After all he’s been through, all the MVP seasons, he sat there talking to the rookies, guys coming from Europe. That shows how special he is.”
Vildoza was named EuroLeague MVP in December, just two months into his stint with Crvena Zvezda. Although he quickly became a fan favorite, he accepted the offer from Panathinaikos.
“I was pretty sure about my decision because I knew about the guys we are about to sign. After the coach Ergin Ataman signed, that was it. He coming here was for a reason, to have a good team and put Panathinaikos where it belongs. I think we can build something important together, but we still have a long way to go. We have many important guys on the court, so we need to figure it out, match everyone at the right time, but I think we can build nice chemistry, and we’ll be fine.”
Despite the influx of new players and European stars at Panathinaikos, Vildoza believes everyone is ready to prioritize the team, united in the clear goal of winning.
“Everyone has their own ego, but we are here for a reason. To win. Every player here, no matter how important he is, is going to give something away to just win a game, tournament, or a league. That shows what kind of guys we have on a team, and I think that’s a good thing,” Luca Vildoza said to Eurohoops.