Dante Exum, the new Dallas Mavericks basketball player, talked about his time in Europe and playing for Barcelona and Partizan, as well as working with Zeljko Obradovic.
Exum arrived in Europe from the NBA, where he played for Barcelona and Partizan. He discussed the experiences he gained on the Old Continent in an interview with “Sporting News.”
“Playing in Europe was a fantastic experience for me. The matches were of high quality, and I had the opportunity to work with some of the best coaches in the world. I used this chance to show that I could contribute and learn more about basketball. I enjoyed my time in Barcelona, but it was even better for me in Partizan.
When I arrived in Spain, I needed some time to adapt, and I had a derby against Real Madrid imediately. It took me some time to find my role, as they had been together for a long time,” Dante Exum began.
He went on to talk about his time with Partizan, where he left a significant impact in just one season.
“Going to Partizan gave me the opportunity to spend an entire season there, to show who I am and what I can do. I am grateful to Partizan because being there is the reason I’m now in the NBA. Before I joined, I had heard a lot about Zeljko Obradovic. Ekpe Udoh told me he is an excellent coach who understands the game, and that’s why he does all those things, like raising his voice and explaining exactly what you need to do.
He has high expectations for his players and what they can do with their skills. The fans have the same expectations; they want to see you give 100 percent in every match. Obradovic has those expectations as well.”
Then, the Australian national team player revealed what Serbian coach Obradovic demanded from him the most.
“The biggest question when I came to Europe was whether I could play as a point guard. Obradović has worked with many great floor leaders and isn’t the kind of coach who just hands you the ball and tells you to lead the team. He wants you to be confident in what you’re doing; he asked me to take much greater responsibility than the rest of the team.
This helped me mature a lot, not only as a player but also as a person. I knew I could be a leader and a playmaker on the court.”
One of the topics discussed was the brawl in Madrid during the second playoff game in the EuroLeague, which likely turned the situation around in the following matches.
“It happened, and it’s in the past now. I believe the Real players have forgotten about it. Things could have ended differently, especially from the EuroLeague’s perspective. It was a significant injustice; we should have won that third match in Belgrade. However, after all of that, we recovered and won the ABA League, which was the main goal before the season began.”
Exum left Partizan and returned to the NBA, signing with the Dallas Mavericks.
“My goal from the beginning was to return to the NBA, to find my rhythm and style in Europe, to get back to my comfort zone, and then come to America. I’ve always believed I deserved to be here, and the injuries I had were the main problem. Now, I’m ready to show everyone why I came back,” Dante Exum concluded.
Basketball Sphere presents the EuroLeague podcast: “Nebeska Udica” (Heavenly Hook).
If you love the EuroLeague, then this is the perfect podcast for you! In collaboration with our website, on the YouTube channel “Nebeska Udica,” you can watch two EuroLeague podcasts every week: a round preview and a round analysis.
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