By Niki Bakouli/ bakouli@eurohoops.net
A league is always in need of new blood and in Euroleague’s case Jaka Blazic is the new face that emerged. Born in 1990, Blazic proved that he can score in the win of Olimpija against Cantu in which he scored 30 points. Not bad for a player who last season scored 3,6 ppg but now he explode. Born in a sports oriented family, Blazic sport of choice was basketball and he doesn’t regret it.
– According to Euroleague’s blogger, Yarone Arbel you would make a great run for the title of Most Improved Player -if Euroleague had such a title. What is your… fuel? Your motive?
“Euroleague was my dream when I was a kid. So every game in this competition is like dream come true. I want to show that I am able to play on this level”.
– You were like that from when you were a child? When you were playing with your little sister, who was winning most often?
“I am very competitive so my little sister didn’t win often, but she is 8 years younger than me, so we played just for fun”.
– Why you chose basketball, over ice-hockey?
“I liked basketball more than ice hockey, so the decision was not tough and Ι never regret this”.
– Do you feel like you didn’t have any other option than to be pro player, after your mom was playing volleyball and your dad worked as a ski coach, for Slovenia’s ΝΤ (among others)?
“I don’t know. I was raised in sport spirit, so probably my destiny is that I am pro player. I am very grateful to my family, who are very supportive through my basketball career”.
– How important is for a young kid who wants to play basketball to acknowledge a chance and to use it for his best interest?
“Basketball is just a game, so first of all you have to enjoy in it and give your best on and off the court”.
– Do you feel happy that your hobby, the sport you love, is also your job?
“Υes, this is like a dream job, I wouldn’t change this for no job on this world”.
– Do you regret you dropped out of your studies, to be a pro basketball player?
“No, as I said this is my dream job”.
– How easy is for a young kid to have to grow up (from the mental point of view),so he can face everything there is to face when you are playing in Adriatic League and in Euroleague (pressure, fame, tiresome etc)?
“I think you have many ups and downs during the season, so mentally you have to stay tough all the time and you have to have people who you can rely on when times are not good”.
– What’s your goal? Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
“I don’t think that far on, so we will see, I hope I will much better player in 5 years than I am now”.
– Do you think about the possibility of trying your luck at the NBA?
“If this happens I would be very happy, but even if it doesn’t happen I wouldn’t be disappointed”.
– You know that against Cantu you became only the second player in Olimpija, who scored +30 points, in a Euroleague game? (ed.note: the first one was Matt Walsh, in 2009-2010 with 32)
“Yes I heard that and I have to thank to my teammates, who passed me the ball in right moments so I could score 30 points”.
– When you understood that this would be your night?
“I was very calm and relaxed before the game, so I just went with the flow and at the end I was very happy”.
– You believe you restore your relationship with the three point line? After you had only 2 3pointers this season in Euroleague, against Cantu you had 4/5?
“Maybe, I definitely gained confidence after this game and I think I will be more relaxed now when I will shoot 3pointers”.
– Do you believe that Olimpija still has a chance to qualify to the Τop16?
“Me and my teammates will give are best every game and we will see what will happen at the end”.