It shocked all of us
The mature Dubrovnik native arrived at Cibona this summer and as such, he is not eligible to play for Cibona in the Croatian domestic championship due to issues with player registration until debts to some former players are resolved. Cibona plays the domestic league with five seniors and juniors, but still manages to stay at the top. Proleta explains how difficult it is to coordinate practice and prepare for games in such a situation.
“It’s very difficult because it wasn’t the original idea at all. It shocked all of us. When we arrived, we didn’t even know that was being prepared. I believe the club is working on continuing normally until the end of the season. It’s very difficult in terms of practice and getting into rhythm with the team. It definitely took us longer to gel as a team than other teams. While some are preparing for the Croatian League, we have practice with a fitness coach, and then we are constantly out of sync. So we don’t have as many joint practice sessions throughout the week and preparations for the game.”
Proleta struggles with not playing and watching his teammates struggle in the domestic championship.
“I’m really eager to play. Especially when I see that the guys need help in some moments, because what they’re doing is truly remarkable and commendable. I’m speechless about what they’re doing throughout the season in the Croatian League. It’s not easy… All those travels, and then there are five of them, but they have great chemistry. That’s what I would emphasize. They have a special bond. We are a team, the chemistry is very good, everything works great, but those five are even closer, I would say. They go through tough moments together, and that brings them closer.”
Both have special qualities, each in their own way
Cibona started the season with head coach Jaksa Vulic, who was practically hired at the last moment. The start of the season was a bit weak (starting with 0-5 in the ABA League) but they quickly raised their form and string a few big wins. Then out of nowhere, the news broke that Vulic was leaving Cibona’s helm despite very good results. As his successor, the young and promising Dino Repesa was hired. We were interested in the comparison of the two experts from a player’s perspective.
“Both have special qualities, each in their own way. What I would say is that both of them work very well. They are very detailed, and individual work is emphasized a lot. As challenging as it was in these tough situations, practice schedules alongside games, everything was very good. Both of them work well, we had ups and downs as a team with both coach Vulic and coach Repesa, but I really have positive reactions from both.”
Luka Doncic “broke the ice” for all the kids from the Balkans when it comes to joining Real Madrid
What remained after all those competitions and titles is a great friendship between Proleta and Luka Doncic, which they still nurture to this day, maintaining a ‘brotherly’ relationship. Proleta emphasizes that from the very beginning, it was clear that Luka would reach the greatest heights in his career.
“Luka Doncic has always been special. Even from his time in the cadets, he played very similarly to how he does today, with the same moves, and it’s easy to play with him. He sets you up, you just have to get into position, and you don’t have to think about anything else. So, I grew up with him, and we went through all the crisis years together.”
Doncic came to Real Madrid a year before Proleta and the rest of the Balkan team, and he had quite a few big adjustment problems.
“He came a year earlier at the age of 13. I know it was especially hard for him because at that time, there wasn’t nobody from the Balkans. His English wasn’t perfect at that time. He told me it was like ‘communicating with hands and feet.’ Luka Doncic ‘broke the ice’ for all the kids from the Balkans when it comes to joining Real Madrid, even though Mirotic was there before him.”
A double-edged sword
When you go to a team of that magnitude at such a young age, it can easily become a double-edged sword. On one hand, you have all the conditions for further development, but you quickly fall into the ‘ease of winning’ and domination. When it comes time to take the next step in your career, a young person simply struggles to adjust to the potential ‘step down’ in their career, and suddenly the situation becomes quite different.
“It’s a double-edged sword when you play for such a big club in the younger categories, so you’re used to winning. I’m lucky to have an older brother who played basketball at a professional level, so I always knew and understood the reality of that world and professionalism. The shock wasn’t big for me, but many players get lost there.”
Mike James's first club in Europe was KK Zagreb, but he stayed there for only 6 games.
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) February 6, 2024
A year earlier, KK Zagreb played in the EuroLeague with Krunoslav Simon, Mario Hezonja, Dario Saric, and Mario Kasun. 😲
Imagine if this team had stayed together🔥@TheNatural_05 #james pic.twitter.com/xSJ8CfBJ5n