By George Adamopoulos / info@eurohoops.net
From a child, he loved to copy many of his father’s movements and behaviors. They were, after all, alike in many ways. A stout chest, long arms, and a look that even if it didn’t qualify as frightening, was at least impossible to pass up.
One thing was different about them. Sigis Brazdeikis, father of new Olympiacos player, Ignas Brazdeikis, remains usually expressionless. His 24-year-old son rarely hides his smile. The former University of Michigan, Knicks, Sixers, and Magic player in the NBA as well as Zalgiris Kaunas, was perpetually smiling in his first appearance in the Peace and Friendship Stadium.
He may have said, before he sat down in front of the Eurohoops camera, that “I’ll pretend I know where to go and what to do!”, but the important thing for him and his new team is to know what to do on the court.
Brazdeikis spoke about the new challenge of his career and how his experience helps him stay unaffected by any big change in his life and career.
Just like he used to change his life and places as a kid, five days ago, although he arrived in Cyprus for the “Neophitos Chandriotis” tournament with Zalgiris, the plane brought him to Faliro, from the green to the red and white. Although he confided a nickname that has a direct color association with his new team, but avoids being associated with it…
Ignas Brazdeikis explained how the deal with the Greek champions happened, pointed out the role of family in his character and “warned” that “I can defend players in many positions”. He has already “ticked” the desired “boxes” that coach Giorgos Bartzokas is looking for in his players’ resumes…
Giorgos Bartzokas on adjusting to new season: “Basketball is a team sport”
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“We started to talk the week before – everybody is being so welcoming”
– You are a kind of a citizen of the world, through childhood. Is your background, born in Kaunas and grown up in U.S. and Canada, something that helps you make instant professional decisions?
“I think it does, for sure. It makes me more of an adopted person, ready for sudden changes, sudden moves, so all those experiences kind prepared me for moments like these”.
– Going to Cyprus, have you thought that two days later you would be in in a new and different environment?
“We started to talk the week before. Did I know that I would be leaving with a different team before going there? Probably not. But everybody is being so welcoming and supportive of this decision, so that makes I t easier for me”.
– Please correct me. Kaunas, Chicago, Winnipeg and Ontario are cold, as New York, right? Is Athens a refreshing and warmer change, after playing in Orlando too?
“In Orlando… That’s the thing that prepared me a little bit. I love the heat, I am pale, I may not look like I enjoy it, but despite my skin tone, I love the heat”.
“I am a positionless basketball player”
– Only at 24, but with many new beginnings in your career. What do you expect from the challenge of Olympiacos?
“It will take me some time to learn the system, to learn how everybody plays on this team, what coach wants out of me. I am ready to give my heart and soul, my 100% effort. I am excited for this new challenge and to contribute to this team which is a Final Four contender”.
– What do you bring to the table for coach Bartzokas?
“I think I bring some variety, I am a positionless basketball player, I have the ability to play iso. Defensively, my IQ is picked up and I am hoping to prove that this year and to guard multiple positions as well”.
The discipline and the mental strength from his father
– Your ID says 24 years old, but you act and you play like a more experienced guy. Where does this come from?
“Like we talked earlies, just certain experiences, just travelling a lot and playing in different teams. I soak up what people are telling me. I ‘ve been around some great coaches, now I will be around coach Bartzokas and I am gonna learn absolutely everything I can from him”.
– How big was the influence from your parents, especially as we read that your first idol, your dad, didn’t love basketball?
“No, he didn’t! But he was an athlete his whole life, he kindled me with discipline, the mental strength and the physical strength that takes to be a high-level athlete. He helped me with that, and my mother was always supportive. The definitely influenced me to push myself to be the best basketball player I can be”.
– Is your father still strict?
“He is very disciplined himself. He has his routine, he goes to bed and wake up ay a certain time, he doesn’t drink, he goes to the gym almost every day. It’s not like he is asking something from the family without him doing it himself”.
Olympiacos officially signs Ignas Brazdeikis for three years
