Antonius Cleveland, Lokomotiv Kuban player, spoke to Basketball Sphere about his new role, season with Maccabi Tel Aviv, and other topics.
Russian teams have been sidelined by both the EuroLeague and the FIBA Champions League over the past three years due to well-known circumstances. As a result, these teams don’t have the same appeal as before, but there are still some big names. Aleksa Avramovic, for instance, decided to join CSKA Moscow this summer.
Among these prominent players is Antonius Cleveland. The American chose to go to Kuban to continue his career. Last year, he played for Maccabi Tel Aviv, and in an interview with Basketball Sphere, he revealed that he eagerly embraced the challenge of playing in Russia.
“My agent presented Lokomotiv Kuban as the first option. I called Patrick Miller, asked about the team, and he really likes it here. I then talked to my wife, and I didn’t negotiate with anyone else. There was no other option. I accepted the offer immediately,” said Antonius Cleveland at the start of his conversation with Basketball Sphere.
Challenging situations are not new to the former Dallas Mavericks player. He played for Maccabi Tel Aviv, which was forced to play home games in Belgrade due to the well-known situation in the Middle East. It was difficult, but the team showed great mental strength in that moment and managed to reach the EuroLeague playoffs.
“It was very tough, with a lot of flights. Coming here, I realized it would be a similar situation—lots of flights. Mentally, I think I’m ready, and I feel that my body is prepared as well. I’ll be ready for all the similarities to last year. So, no complaints on my end.”
The dunk that shocked everyone
We reflected on the series that marked last season’s EuroLeague quarterfinals. Panathinaikos and Maccabi Tel Aviv played five games, each unique in its own way. In the end, the Greens triumphed and went on to win the competition. However, Antonius Cleveland moved on and has no regrets.
“After that series, my first thought was that we should have won. My mindset was already on the next championship. We managed to win the title in Israel. Overall, I learned a lot from that experience. I enjoyed it, and I wouldn’t change anything, honestly.”
One of the standout moments from the fifth game of that now-legendary series was Cleveland’s crazy dunk attempt over Mathias Lessort. The American launched off both feet, aiming to “posterize” the Frenchman. The ball bounced off the rim but, fortunately for Cleveland, it came back and perfectly dropped through the hoop. He laughed when it happened, but in his view, it was a foul.
“It was definitely a foul, and they didn’t call it. As the ball was in the air, I was watching from under the net, thinking, ‘This might go in.’ When it did, I was just happy it went in. But I definitely wanted the foul—it was a clear and-one,” Cleveland explained of the unusual situation.
Belgrade as a favorite city
One needs time to get used to the capital of Serbia. The pace can be fast, but it can also be very slow. It’s a city full of history, cultural monuments, and other landmarks. Former NBA player Antonius Cleveland enjoyed it, and based on his response, he might even consider living there one day.
“Belgrade might be my favorite city. I like it a lot. I’ll also mention Athens alongside it. It was great, the people are phenomenal. The location where we stayed was excellent. They love basketball there. So I really enjoyed Belgrade, and so did my family. It was a great experience.”
After Aleksander Sekulic was let go, Andrey Vedishchev, who is also the club’s president, took over as head coach. Cleveland shared his thoughts on the situation and trusts the process.
“I’m sure he’s ready to take on that role. As both coach and president, he’ll lead us, and we’ll have to follow. We’ll need to figure it out together, and as time goes on, I think we’ll be fine.”
Geopolitics and basketball
We’ve already mentioned that Russian clubs are currently not allowed to participate in European competitions. Some may argue that this is unfair and that politics shouldn’t interfere with sports. However, some Russian teams will participate in the VTB Supercup, facing EuroLeague and EuroCup teams like Crvena Zvezda and Besiktas. Antonius Cleveland believes this is a step in the right direction.
“I think we should leave politics out of sports. I believe this is a move in the right direction. I think Russian teams should be playing international basketball. I don’t think it’s fair to punish players for something they haven’t done. That’s just my personal opinion, but who cares what I think, right? That’s how I feel. Hopefully, this is a step toward Russian teams playing international basketball again.”
Having played in the NBA, EuroLeague, and Australia, Cleveland is familiar with contrasting styles of play. Despite the differences, he enjoys all of them equally.
“I think I like them all because basketball is unique. Every country and continent brings a different vibe. Australia is similar to the NBA in that it’s very fast-paced, up and down. But I really enjoy the European style because it makes you think more—there’s more strategy, and it’s like a chess match between two coaches. I prefer good basketball over just running up and down the court. With all due respect, that’s the NBA. In Europe, there’s better defense, and with just a few guys, you can accomplish certain things. That’s why I enjoy it more.”
Defensive Juggernaut
Antonius Cleveland is widely recognized for his defensive skills, which have been a hallmark throughout his career. His long arms and quick feet make him a formidable defender, and now that he’s in the VTB League, he’s setting a personal goal of winning the Defensive Player of the Year award.
“I think defense is an underrated part of the game, but I also think it’s something many people can’t do. That’s what makes it unique. I enjoy playing defense, it’s true. I believe defense can help us make an impact and win games. That’s how I see it. I’m excited to go for the Defensive Player of the Year award in the VTB League. That’s a personal goal of mine and something I want to achieve. It’ll also help us toward our goal of winning.”
Regarding the ambitions of Lokomotiv Kuban, Cleveland revealed there are no major secrets—it’s all about winning the title.
“I expect us to have a great season and finish among the top four teams, as Lokomotiv always does. From there, we can build toward the championship. I think we have the right pieces to do it and the talent as well. With the right mindset and preparation, we can make it happen. That’s something I also want to achieve here,” Antonius Cleveland concluded in his interview with Basketball Sphere.
Top Betting offers for 2024:
