By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Philadelphia 76ers stashed big man Filip Petrusev will spend at least another year in Europe and will do that in his native Serbia after signing with EuroLeague side Crvena Zvezda.
In an interview with Mozzart Sport, Petrusev mentioned how this will further help his development and that the Sixers think the same. “They [the Sixers] supported it,” he said. “The EuroLeague is the highest level of competition in Europe and that’s where I’ll definitely develop the most.”
Petrusev is expected to get an extended amount of play with Zvezda after struggling last season with Efes. The 2021 ABA League MVP averaged just 9:18 minutes, posting 5.2 points and 1.6 rebounds. He didn’t participate in any playoff or Final Four games as the Turkish team went on to win the back-to-back EuroLeague championship.
“I didn’t get the opportunity I thought I would get, although I showed in some games that I can play at that level,” Petrusev said. “Now I came here to show that I can do it consistently and help the team. I look forward to every game, especially in the EuroLeague. I haven’t played in a few months, so I will look forward to every game and every game will mean something to me.”
Petrusev spent the entire summer with the Serbian national team in preparation for the 2022 EuroBasket. He was one of the last cuts that Orlovi coach Svetislav Pesic made before the tournament.
“Of course, I was sorry that I didn’t go to the European Championship, although the result was not what everyone expected,” Petrusev said. “I probably could have spent the summer better and prepared for the season – the national team gave me a break in that regard. Nevertheless, it’s the national team.”
What Petrusev kept from the national team training camp was practicing and playing alongside reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. “That’s perhaps the only positive thing that I would single out from that participation on the national team,” the new Red Star player said. “Until you see it, feel it on the field or play against him, you don’t have a true picture of how much quality and talent he has and what you can learn from it.”