By Nikos Varlas/ info@eurohoops.net
While in the USA to follow the footsteps of Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of him becoming the youngest European player ever to participate in an All-Star game, Eurohoops also caught up with a familiar, smiling giant figure.
We are talking about Detroit Pistons center Boban Marjanovic. The Serbian big guy sat down with us before his team’s game with the Milwaukee Bucks to discuss his NBA experience, EuroLeague, his beloved Crvena Zvezda and, of course… his possible participation in the upcoming Eurobasket.
“The previous year was my first in the NBA. I was really happy for this opportunity, also because I got to play for one of the best teams (San Antonio Spurs) in the world,” Marjanovic said. “I get a second opportunity here with the Pistons. I really enjoy it, I have nice people around me. Nice teammates, coaches. I need to fight for my position and my playing time but I work to improve myself.”
Even though he’s on the other side of the world, Boban still keeps track of what is taking place in European basketball. A member of the All-EuroLeague first team for 2014/2015 as a player of Crvena Zvezda, the 28-year-old pivot is highly impressed with how his former team fares in the competition.
“I follow EuroLeague a lot. I have time for this because it’s lunch time here when the games are on. I follows Red Star all the time. Sometimes I can’t watch full games but I see the highlights. Red Star has been playing amazing. They beat all EuroLeague big teams and not only by 5 points but 10 or 15. It’s very hard to play against Red Star in their home court because the fans give energy to the team, they give them wings to play better. But they started to play awesome away from home. It’s because of coach Dejan Radonjic, he enables them to do a great job”
Speaking about EuroLeague, Milos Teodosic one of the league’s superstars and a fellow Serbian baller has openly expressed his ambition to become a part of the best league in the plant, if the circumstances are right for him.
“He can play everywhere he wants to! He’s a a great, very smart player,” says Marjanovic. “He has a nice touch, a great look. He won’t mistake someone for somebody else (laughs). He can find a great opportunity here.”
Last summer Boban Marjanovic was left out of the Serbian national team squad that won silver medal in Rio. But as he told Eurohoops, he plans to make a comeback in the upcoming Eurobasket tournament. “I hope so. I hope to be there. It depends… it Sasa Djordjevic. If he calls me or not. If he calls me, I’ll be there. I’m available.”
And what about Giannis? What’s his opinion on the young star of the Milwaukee Bucks? “Amazing guy. He can play from ‘1’ to ‘5’. He can go from one side of the court the other with three steps (laughs). I think nobody expected him to play like that but he’s improved himself. Amazing stuff.”
Watch Boban’s full interview with Eurohoops: