By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Vasilije Micic believes that during the last two seasons with Anadolu Efes he proved that he can join an NBA team with a role that will be significant enough to keep him on the court for possibly more than 20 minutes a night.
“This is my style of play. I could play fewer minutes, play a smaller role but I think that during my career in Europe I have already gained the status of a player that shows I could play a role that is longer than 20 minutes, which is what might be waiting for me in the NBA,” Micic said in an interview with 15min.lt.
Micic had a breakout season with Efes in 2018-2019 when he averaged 12.4 points, 5.5 assists and 2.4 rebounds as his team made the EuroLeague championship game for the first time in the history of the club. The Serbian guard took it from where he left it the next season, posting 14.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in EuroLeague before the coronavirus shutdown.
“This season I feel I climbed one or two steps higher because the season has been even more successful for me. My team played even better and I was an important part of that. From that viewpoint, maybe it looks like I’m even closer to the NBA now. But I don’t want to just play in the NBA. If the situation goes wrong, I don’t want to be proud of just being there. I want to be part of an NBA team, to get to play. Playing in the NBA lone won’t make me happy if I can’t be significant there.”
Micic’s NBA rights are owned by the Philadelphia 76ers since they selected him with the 52nd overall pick in the 2014 Draft. If the call from the NBA doesn’t arrive, then Micic says there’s only one option for him in Europe.
“I have only two scenarios in my hands: To stay in Europe with Anadolu Efes, or to go to the NBA,” Micic said.