By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
No matter what your opinion about his is, Andrea Bargnani returned to Europe as one of the most recognizable names of world basketball and even if he says that he doesn’t have to prove anything, he already plays like he does.
‘Il Mago’ is ready and he is really excited about this new challenge in his career, as he told in his EuroLeague.net interview. “I have been away from so long, I didn’t play in the EuroLeague for 10 years, so I look forward to every game,” Bargnani said. “Each of them is a new experience and a new city for me after being away for so long.”
Hello, Andrea. Congratulations on your team’s first win of the season. Efes never gave up and had a chance to win it at the buzzer. How tough was to beat a good team like Efes?
“It was extremely tough. I mean, I expect every game to be extremely tough because with the new EuroLeague format, only the best teams are left in the competition and every game is a real battle. Efes is a very good team and was very prepared for the game and it was extremely difficult to beat them: we won by one point.”
It was your first EuroLeague game in 10 years. Once you signed for Baskonia, how much were you looking forward to the start of the EuroLeague season?
“Oh, I was looking forward to it big time! It was great to play in front of our supporters. We have a great arena and great supporters. It was extremely exciting to start the EuroLeague season.”
In all these years that you were away from the competition, what did you miss the most about the EuroLeague?
“As a professional player at the highest level, you like it when the competition is the best and playing against the best teams and the best players. The EuroLeague is a great competition and every game is really hard. You like the games and the fact that they are hard. It is challenging because you have to give your best to win. Both the NBA and the EuroLeague are unique in their own ways, with good and bad aspects about them. Fans have completely different ways of cheering and having fun. I like both: it is not that I prefer something over something else. They are different experiences and they are both amazing.”
Last time around, you played for Benetton Treviso and now you are in another basketball city, Vitoria. How do you compare the two cities in terms of how the people live and breathe basketball?
“I have been in Vitoria only for a couple of months but from what I have seen, yes, they are very passionate about basketball and know a lot about it. They are not just coming to the arena just because. They are experts and really know the sport inside-out. They don’t just show up for the games, but cheer for us. So in a way, yes, they are pretty similar.”
It is no secret that you came to Vitoria with a leading role, some would say as the most important player on the team. How do you like that responsibility?
“First of all, I never said I was the most important player of the team. I never said that and I don’t like to define myself that way because the team comes first. Everybody is important and has an important role, not just me, but a lot of guys. Everybody has his own responsibility. I am an important player, but I never said I was the most important one. I don’t like to define myself that way.”
All EuroLeague teams will face each other this season. Is there any team you are really looking forward to face, or a city you are looking forward to go?
“No, honestly, not specifically. Every team is a different challenge. There are no easy games, but of course, playing against the two teams that went to the final last year – CSKA Moscow and Fenerbahce Istanbul – are very big tests, because they were the best in Europe last season. Everybody knows that they are supposed to be the best and there is a lot of anticipation for those games but, for instance, we are now going to Kaunas to play a hard game against a good team. I have been away for so long, I didn’t play in the EuroLeague for 10 years, so I look forward to every game. Each of them is a new experience and a new city for me after being away for so long.”
The round-robin format makes the league more competitive. As a competitor, how do you like the fact that each and every win will count from now until April?
“I like it a lot, and it is also the same with the [Spanish League]. Every game counts! It is like a separate championship; you want to win as many games as possible to rank as high as possible. I like it, it helps you keep your focus. You cannot relax. Every game is very important and you cannot afford to not prepare a game, take a day off or not push 100 percent. You have to push 100 percent in every game.”
Baskonia will play three of its next four games on the road – in Kaunas, Madrid and Belgrade. Is it the first big test of the season?
“Yes, absolutely. It is the first time that we have a stretch of tough games on the road and it is going to be tough, for sure. Everybody prepares the games really hard and I am looking forward to every single game.”
You had 26 points against Efes, a EuroLeague career best. At age 30, you have a lot of basketball ahead of us. Is this a fresh start for you?
“Yes, it is an exciting challenge, playing against different players, different teams in a different league. It is very stimulating!”
What would be considered a successful season for you and Baskonia?
“You know, we are going to try to win as many games as possible. It is tough to say, I am not really that kind of guy who says ‘I want to win this, I want to win that’ in October. It just puts pressure on yourself. Right now, we are just trying to get better. It is the beginning of the season and we just finished training camp. We have started to get our rhythm and we’ll keep building our team chemistry. We are far away from the period of the year in which you are going to picture if it is going to be a great season or not. We are way too far from that to talk about it.”