By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Despite losing the 2016 final just for one defensive rebound, the EuroLeague champs managed to keep Ekpe Udoh and Jan Vesely in Europe during previous summer, despite the NBA interest for them, like it has happened back in 2015 with Pero Antic and the Atlanta Hawks.
The Hawks and coah Mike Budenholzer – who traveled during the Final Four in Istanbul and met with is former player – wanted to keep Antic in the NBA and that’s why Fenerbahce offered to the veteran big man a three-year contract in order to returh to Europe. And this contract according to very reliable sources from Serbia included also a unique clause. The third year would become quaranteed only if Fenerbahce had won the EuroLeague during the first two years of the deal.
That was the right choice after all for both sides, as Antic was persuaded not only to return to Europe but also he had the biggest possible motive in order to be ready and contribute his best to the team in order to win the EuroLeague.
Pero Antic is a real fighter, he always appreciates being treated with respect and he remains a player of Fenerbahce with coach Obradovic and the management being pleased from his contribution.