By Nikos Varlas/ info@eurohoops.net
John Robert Holden…. One of the most important players in the modern history of European basketball. An American with many successes, and many years in his careers competing at the top level. And of course, a lot of titles.
This is the only American player in history of European basketball that stayed in one team (CSKA)for 10 whole years. His winning shot, just few seconds before the final buzzer in the Eurobasket 2007 Final, gave Russia the golden medal! He has shown the way of recognition to many other American players that begin their careers with lots of talent but they just start to make their name in Europe. His journey began from Riga, in Latvia, continued in Belgium (Oostende) and Athens (AEK) before he signed in CSKA on summer of 2002, after winning the Greek Championship.
That was it. He stayed in Moscow until the end of his career. it is not coincidental that he decided to stop in 2001, when he was still at a top level, as one of the best guards not only of CSKA but Euroleague in general.
Right now he works as a scouter for the Detroit Pistons with one specific mission. To recognize talents from all other the world and try to… foresee the future of basketball. J.R. Holden talked to Eurohoops.net in an exclusive interview.
He discusses the differences in European basketball during the last 15 years, he chooses the best of his time and of the present day, he remembers a loss in a Final and a big victory in another one, few months later. But more importantly he says something really specific:
“Drazen and Divac opened the road that made the NBA international”
When a player stops his career, he begins to think of what will make him happy professionally from that point on. You chose scouting. Is this something that fills you as a person? And, if yes, what is the element that fascinates you the most and gives you motive?
“What I like is how much I love basketball. I would have watched basketball for free, with no need to work in order to view games. It is fascinating to see players from all around the world getting evolved. I once was in their position. I like to watch the talent, the future. I also like that i don’t have to manage personalities. I didn’t know what I would do after the end of my professional career, but I knew that I wanted to stay close to the sport. A thought that was always in my mind, was to become a General Manager or a coach, because I have seen how these people work in big organizations. The first step is to work as a scourer. There’s a risk in everything in our lives. Calculating, predicting, everything you think about. For example, CSKA Moscow was a risk for me back then and it all went well! My role is trying to predict the evolution and the future of the players I watch. I don’t think of it as a kind of “gambling”, but as a very interesting process, in which I am dedicated and responsible.”
– You have played in Europe for many years and with great success. In comparison with your first seasons here, how much has European basketball and Euroleague have changed in the last 15 years?
“The old players always comment on how the sport has been evolved. I don’t want to become one of the … “old guys” that maligns the product! Basketball is definitely faster and more open now. Not that much controlled, like it was with coaches like Dusan Ivkovic or Ettore Messina. Recently, Maccabi won a Euroleague with the style I mentioned before. Barcelona also combined speed, with inspiration and skills, as Real Madrid does now. What you don’t see now, is many great pick n’ roll creators. There are few of them, like for example Milos Teodosic or Sergio Llull and Sergio Rodriguez.”
– You experienced two Final Four failures with CSKA Moscow before winning the trophy. Now, CSKA is counting 4 consecutive failed attempts to win the Euroleague after 2008. Do you have an opinion on why is this happening?
It is difficult for me to talk about it. I was a play maker and each time we lost in a Final Four, I took it to heart. More than anyone else. I felt that I had the biggest responsibility. For sure it is also a mental issue. It is a combination of things and decisions in crucial moments. What is the more important of all? You need to have a self awareness and consider what you should change about yourself. Not to try and change things around you. This is how we worked in CSKA and we all started playing better. Thodoris Papaloukas, me, Trajan Langdon. We failed, we pushed ourselves to improve and the titles came.
– Who are, in your opinion, the Top players in Euroleague? From back when you played, until now?
“This is difficult! These are two different periods in my mind. The one in which I played, and another afterwards. I really like Sergio Llull, Vasssilis Spanoulis and Dimitris Diamantidis. These are the first that came to my mind. In my time, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Trajan Langdon, Thodoris Papaloukas, Anthony Parker and Juan Carlos Navarro. Also, Nikola Vujcic and Michael Batiste. There are many more for sure, but it is difficult to remember them, so I mention only those that dominated for years on the top level.”
– Papaloukas has mentioned that the most difficult opponent he has ever faced, was you during the morning training sessions. What was happening there and he has… so bad experiences from you?
“Well, Papaloukas was not really a morning guy. Everyone of us knew that. They said back then that he was our best player. So, I wanted to go on him and press him in every practice. Because I knew that this competition will make us both better. This everyday procedure made us both tougher! I was a fan of Teo, he knew a lot of basketball and he was a special player. He respected me a lot as well. It is rare to have such a duo of guards in the same team. For the benefit of the team we were working… as one! We have developed some special codes of communication on court”
– What do you think is the main reasons that Europeans become more and more established as players in the NBA? I am asking since I also think that this makes the job of international scouters, even more important for NBA clubs?
“Generally, the game is international now. Many things have changed. Lots of people say that in USA there are only great athletes that run and jump quite high. This is a lie. There are players with these characteristics everywhere. You now see European players like Kristaps Porzingis, Dennis Schroeder, Mario Hezonja and many more, who can stand as a players in the league right from the start. Basketball has become internationalized. This started with Vlado Divac and Drazen Petrovic. They opened the borders that made the NBA international”.
– There are many American players that try to establish themselves in the NBA and remain in the USA with non guaranteed contracts. They spend more of their time in D-League, even if after they have 27- 28 years old. Do you think that this is the right choice and what would you advise them?
“This is a difficult question. When you are cut from the team at the last moment, or you sign 10 days contracts, even if when you play in the Summer League, you are hunting your dream, feeling that you are close to making it. You hope and you work hard. I have a total respect for it. There are many American players that come in Europe, play 15 minutes per game, don’t have important roles or belong in teams that don’t win many games. My opinion has always been that when you play overseas and you are really really good, NBA will find you. The secret is to to search for the ideal situation basketball-wise. When you think like that, the money will come, the recognition will come and, of course, the opportunities to play at the higher level.”
-A difficult question: If they told you that you could win the 2007 Euroleague Final in Athens with CSKA Moscow, would you trade it with missing the shot that gave Russian the victory and first place in the Eurobasket 2007 Final, some months later?
“Man, what kind of question is this! If I could turn back time, I wouldn’t trade it. You know what I would take? Winning the Euroleague without losing the Eurobasket. For example, us winning the Final versus Spain with 10 points, so that I wouldn’t need to make that shot. I’d say yes to this version, even though that would mean not putting any game winning basket (laughs). That Final in Athens was a big lost opportunity. That day, we felt that we are the better team, but we didn’t do what it took to win. This loss, however, gave us an extra motive for the next season. We were determined and reached the end of the road by taking the Euroleague back to our hands!”