By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Back in Serbia following the conclusion of his second NBA campaign as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Aleksej Pokusevski has already set his sights on the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season. He hopes to improve through the third year of his rookie contract.
“I am satisfied with my progress, especially in the second part of the season,” he told Mozzart Sport, “I expect to be even better next season.”
Pokusevski, 20, produced 7.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game as his side bowed out at the end of the 2021-22 Regular Season ranking 14th in the Western Conference. Before resuming his NBA career, he can potentially be heading to action at the international level with Serbia during the offseason.
“I had dinner with [Svetislav] Pesic and we talked,” he described a recent meeting with the national team selector, “We will see what happens during the summer.”
In early September, Serbia will face the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Finland, Israel, and Poland in Prague. The top four teams of the group will advance to the knockout stage of the 2022 EuroBasket, scheduled to be held in Berlin between 10-18 September. In addition, the senior national team of Pokusevski’s country will take on Latvia on the road and Belgium at home to conclude the first round of the 2023 World Cup European Qualifiers in July.
“I grew up as a Partizan fan,” he noted attending the 7DAYS EuroCup game between Partizan NIS and Frutti Extra Bursaspor, “I always follow the team. If I can’t be here, I will read the stat sheet of the games. I follow the team as a fan and of course, I hope the team wins titles.”
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