Partizan forward Aleksej Pokusevski discusses the lessons and development under Zeljko Obradovic, his special relationship with Vasilije Micic, and compares what it's like to be a prospect in the NBA and the EuroLeague.
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade continue their fight for the Play-In spot as they are set to face Zalgiris Kaunas in a do-or-die matchup on Thursday.
With the loss against Zalgiris, the Serbian powerhouse would be eliminated from the Play-In contention and miss out on the post-season for 2nd season in a row.
"It's been like that for a couple of games now," Aleksej Pokusevski observed in a conversation with BasketNews. "So it's pretty much the same. We've got to try and win the game, bring the energy."
"It's going to be tough to play – they're at home, they're a good team, and they've got a good crowd," the 23-year-old added.
As for Pokusevski, even though he made three EuroLeague appearances for Olympiacos Piraeus during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, it would be fair to consider the current 2024-25 campaign as his true debut in the EuroLeague.
So far, Pokusevski averages 12 minutes, 3.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 block, and 4.3 PIR per game in 25 EuroLeague appearances.
Throughout the season, Poku's minutes fluctuated from 2 to 25, but as he says himself, he embraces the challenge.
"It's everything that comes with it," Pokusevski told BasketNews about the challenges that come with playing in the EuroLeague. "It's not like that back in the NBA. "Physicality is different. The players might not be more athletic, but they're more physical."
Even though Pokusevski didn't manage to stay in the NBA, it brought him something more than basketball – a friendship with his countryman Vasilije Micic.
The two players didn't know each other well before Micic arrived in the NBA, but after spending time together as teammates in Oklahoma and Charlotte, they developed a strong friendship off the court.
In Pokusevski's case, it's quite rare as he revealed in an interview with the EuroLeague that he doesn't spend much time with his teammates or any players in general outside basketball.
"He's a great guy. He helped me a lot last season and taught me what
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Edvinas Jablonskis
Edvinas Jablonskis began his basketball coverage career in 2017. Starting as a Daily Writer for BasketNews.lt, he steadily climbed the ranks and became a Daily Editor for BasketNews.com in 2021, a position he continues to hold. Over the years, Jablonskis has covered multiple EuroLeague Final Fours and international tournaments, including the FIBA EuroBasket, FIBA Basketball World Cup, and FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
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