Joffrey Lauvergne spoke ahead of the second-round EuroLeague game in which Asvel will host Partizan, a team he once captained.
In the second round of the EuroLeague, Partizan will be seeking their first triumph in this elite competition this season. Last year, they didn’t have a good outing when they visited Asvel, and now they hope for a better outcome. Joffrey Lauvergne talked to “Partizan TV” before this game.
“It’s a strange feeling. I will try to act like it’s any other game, but it’s not the same. I had a fantastic time; it was probably the best period of my career. Partizan holds a special place in my heart. I try to stay in touch with the guys I played with back then.
We were a very talented team that was built by Dusko Vujosevic. When I look at what we achieved as a generation, it makes me happy. We’ve remained friends. I’ve stayed in touch with all of them. Usually, you stay in touch with one teammate from a particular team, and that’s the difference.”
Lauvergne won’t be the only one playing against his former team. Boris Dallo is also a member of Asvel.
“This will be a different game. We are always focused on winning, but it’s different when we play against Partizan. Everyone knows we love the black and white. The first thing I remember is the fans and our coach. We are like a family; that’s what makes this club unique. It was a fantastic time.
I’ve matured as a person, had a great relationship with all my teammates back then. We try to maintain the relationships we had because we are a family. It’s strange when we play against each other, but at the end of the day, we are like brothers. We feel Belgrade as our home.”
To conclude the conversation, both had a message for the Partizan fans in Serbian.
“I love you all,” said Lauvergne.
“I love you, Grobari, and I can’t wait to play against Partizan,” said Dallo.