By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Reigning champion CSKA Moscow enjoyed a perfect October and nobody impressed Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans more than playmaker Milos Teodosic, who was selected as the MVP of October. While leading the competition in assists at 9.5 per game, Teodosic committed just 9 turnovers in October.
His assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.2 to 1 ranks second in the competition. His 10 three-pointers made are the fourth-most last month, as are his 11 free throws among players who have not missed yet from the free throw line. Not only that, he scored 14.3 points per game in October and helped CSKA lead the EuroLeague with a remarkable 95.3 scoring average. It is not just the numbers he has posted, but how he did it, as he dished some of the best assists of his legendary career in October.
Fully confident after finally winning the EuroLeague last May in his ninth season in the competition, Teodosic spoke to EuroLeague.net about his magic month and of course, his passing skills. “I believe, and I will say, that it is more natural,” Teodosic said. “Okay, you need to practice passing skills and all that when you are younger… but right now, you don’t have so much time to practice these things, so all this is natural.”
Hello, Milos. Congratulations on a great start to the season? How does it feel to get your first MVP of the Month trophy since 2010?
“Yes, it is true, I don’t remember when it was the last time: maybe when I was with Olympiacos? I think so! The MVP of the Month is a nice award for any player, but it is also a motivation to keep playing at that level, to show that you really deserved it.”
Last season’s finalists, CSKA Moscow and Fenerbahce Istanbul, are the only undefeated teams now. Does the fact that both teams changed few players explain their early competitiveness this season?
“Well, I cannot talk about other teams like Fenerbahce. I can only talk about my team, CSKA. We didn’t make some changes and kept the core of the team. This is important for us because we already know each other very well. It is a big plus for us, but all of us know that if we want to be successful again, like we were last season, it will be twice as hard this year.”
A lot of people consider you the best passer in the game of basketball right now. What does their appreciation of your skills mean to you?
I like it when people like the things I do on the court, but I don’t think I am the best passer in the world. Only in Europe, we had Papaloukas, also Jasikevicius and Diamantidis, who were also great passers. It is hard to say who was the best. And of course, there is Sergio Rodriguez, from this generation of players.
CSKA started the season scoring a club-record 109 points in a big road win at Galatasaray. How important was that first win?
“Of course it was a very important win for us. Galatasaray is a huge team, especially when it has its home-court advantage. It is really tough to play on the road against them. This win helped us get a lot of confidence in the beginning of the season. We didn’t play a great game, but good enough to start the EuroLeague season with a win.”
CSKA then beat Panathinaikos at home in perhaps your most difficult game so far. James Augustine gave you the right energy in that on. Does that prove that anyone on this CSKA team can be dangerous?
“I agree with you, yes. Everyone in our team can step up and put the game in his hands. This is, I think, one of our strongest points and I don’t think it is true that the team is based on De Colo and Teodosic. I think we are playing well, yes, but doing great as a team.”
Next game, on the road against Anadolu Efes in Istanbul you were tied 82-82, but bounced back to win. What was the key to stopping their comeback?
“As a team, we never give up. I believe Efes is a great team and they showed that in our game against them, and also against Darussafaka, beating them last week. This was a tough game, but with the EuroLeague’s new system, I don’t think you will see many easy games. If you saw the scores until now, you didn’t see many 20-point wins. You need to fight for each win until the end. We started really well and have a 4-0 record.”
Finally, you beat Unics in Moscow, in a game you gave two of the best assists we have ever seen in the EuroLeague. Is it something you practice, or does it just come naturally?
I believe, and I will say, that it is more natural. Okay, you need to practice passing skills and all that when you are younger… but right now, you don’t have so much time to practice these things, so all this is natural.
Do you and your team feel greater confidence this season as champions with the experience of winning it all to guide you?
“Being the EuroLeague champion helps you, but it also puts pressure on us. We are the defending champion and want to keep the trophy. It is going to be interesting to see how the season is going to go.”
EuroLeague CEO and President Jordi Bertomeu name-checked you when announcing the 2018 Final Four in Belgrade. How much would you love to be there in 2018?
“He said this because we were talking about it in China, but every time I saw him and talked to him, I told him about Belgrade. First of all, this is great for basketball because people in Serbia, they really love it. Belgrade is in a good location for all teams, it is not far from anyone. Of course, I would be really happy to play in Belgrade and very proud if I make it to the Final Four in 2018. It is going to be great.”
You were close often before finally winning the Euroleague title last season. How good was that feeling and how much do you want now to repeat it?
“Look, the moment we won, nobody could understand how big that feeling was. A couple of days after the final, you realize you are the EuroLeague champion and realize it is something everyone has dreamed about: players, staff, president, everybody. I was really proud of my team, not only because of the final; we played great all season. It was something to be really proud and happy about.”