By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
Jimmer Fredette has arrived in Greece and he is looking forward to the upcoming challenges he will face as a Panathinaikos player: “I’m really excited to be here. Great organization, we have some great players, great coaching staff. I’m just excited to be here and try something different. Hopefully, get out there and help our team as much as I can.”
PAO has been trying to sign Fredette for years and the 30-year-old admits it wasn’t easy: “It was a tough decision. Panathinaikos has been calling and trying to get me a part of their team for a couple of years. It just hadn’t worked out up to this point. But at this point, we decided that it’s the right opportunity for myself, my family and the team to be joined together and hopefully be able to have a great season.”
This will be Fredette’s debut in Europe but he’s not too worried and will continue playing his way: “I haven’t played yet so we’ll see. I just try to go out there and be a good basketball player, be a good teammate. Just try and do what I do on the basketball floor, be aggressive and make the right play. I think that’s what they want me to do, just be myself, play hard and do anything to help the team win. I’m excited to have this new opportunity.”
The American guard always aims for the top – EuroLeague Final Four – but also notes that one shouldn’t put too much burden on himself: “It’s everybody’s goal, no different for us. You don’t want to put too much expectation on yourself, you want to go out there and get better every day. Continue to play hard and take it one day at the time”.
Tyrese Rice also arrived today in Athens and said about the upcoming season: “I belong to the EuroLeague and I think that I deserve to be here. I am happy that I got this chance from a historic club”.