By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After winning everything there is to win in Europe with Real Madrid, Sergio Rodriguez returned to the NBA to compete in the best league of the planet with the Philadelphia 76ers. Something that he characterizes as a “dream come true”.
“You are always playing against the best in the NBA so you are happy and excited about what you are going to face”, he said to the in a video-interview for the official site of the 76ers. “So far the training camp has been very good. It will take some time for us to be in the same page but we’ll be good.”
Apart from Rodriguez, this summer the Sixers welcomed another powerful Euro-addition in their roster, by signing their 2014 pick Dario Saric. And Chacho wants to help the Croatian power forward’s adaptation to his new surroundings.
“I’ve been in his situation. I know what is going on right now here, how difficult it is being in a different country and surrounded by a different culture. I’ll try to help him as much as I can. Help to make him happy here in Philadelphia and be successful with the team.”
His positive attitude is not only helpful to others, but has been improving himself as well. “I am generally a positive person, something very important for me. I try to be happy and positive on what we are doing. I think that this has helped me to be better throughout my career and to handle the bad moments as a professional.”
How different is he since his last tenure in the NBA? “It’s been ten years since I first came to the NBA. I gained experience in the field. The past years have been great for me. Playing to win games, titles and championships. It has helped me a lot to be better player and understand what I must do on the floor.”
Throughout the last decade, Rodriguez has been extremely successful representing the Spanish national team in summer tournaments. “It means everything. We have a team that represents our country, where we are from and where we live. We are very close, like a family. We have been succeeding almost always which is something amazing for us. We have a big responsibility and we are happy and proud for what we have been achieving”
Jahlil Okafor, Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and of course Dario Saric. Lots of talented young guys for Sergio to feed with his passes, ain’t that right? “Of course! You are playing with the best and in the Sixers there are some of the best talent in the world. Playing along with these young players is going to be amazing for me. It will teach me to be in a different road that I have ever been in my career. I am pretty excited to play with them and to help them develop themselves into becoming better players.”