By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Steve Clifford, the Charlotte Hornets‘ former head coach and now front-office advisor, wishes he could have guard Vasilije Micic and big man Aleksej Pokusevski on the team much earlier than when the players were acquired in February.
“I’m only sorry that I didn’t bring them earlier,” Clifford said per Mozzart during his visit at the Dusan Ivkovic clinic in Belgrade, Serbia. After being the Hornets‘ head coach for the last two seasons, Clifford stepped down to take an executive role with the club.
“It would be even better if they were with us for the whole season, two great guys who fit into the team,” he added.
The Hornets added Micic via a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder early on February 8. The former EuroLeague season and Final Four MVP averaged 10.8 points, 6.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 27.2 minutes over 30 games, seeing his playing time, role, and contribution greatly increasing in comparison with his stint at the Thunder.
“It wasn’t easy for him, but the very fact that he endured not playing, that he remained positive and hard-working, that’s what I liked most about him. A great guy,” Clifford commented. On a team with a crowded backcourt, Micic had 3.3 points and 2.5 assists in 12.0 minutes with the Thunder, playing in 30 out of the team’s 51 games before he got traded.
Pokusevski followed the same route later in February and ended up posting 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 18 games. ” I have to say that I am very happy for him because he showed that he can play,” Clifford mentioned on Pokusevski. “He made a step forward and that is the most important thing at this moment. It is important now to make continuity”.
Both Micic and Pokusevski are currently preparing for the 2024 Olympic Games. Serbia is back in the tournament after 2016 when the team won the silver medal.