Luka Samanic in an interview for Basketball Sphere talked about playing for Pablo Laso, the future of the Croatian national team, his time in the NBA and development under Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan, and the intensity of Sarunas Jasikevicius.
The last few months have definitely been one of the hottest stories on the EuroLeague scene. The Croatian “rough diamond,” but at the same time an enigma, with 25 years of age, has finally arrived on the big stage. This is, of course, Luka Samanic, a guy for whom it may be funny to write such an introduction considering he passed through the NBA, as well as the youth system of Barcelona.
Samanic is ready to keep working hard to take his career to the heights that were predicted for him a few seasons ago
However, he has finally played in competitive games for the Croatian national team and is also a serious member of the rotation of a EuroLeague team that aims for the playoffs and the very top of the Liga Endesa – Baskonia.
Luka Samanic has, in short, been treated very poorly by the media in recent years. The story with Fenerbahce before the start of the season turned out to be a bit awkward when he withdrew from the club after only two weeks, for personal reasons. He returned through Cibona, showing through a few spectacular dunks what an athlete he is, but also hinted at the rise of his career.
The author of these lines was very pleasantly surprised by the calmness of a guy who has seen almost everything in the basketball world. The son of former basketball player Marko Samanic stands firmly with both feet on the ground. He is ready to keep working hard to take his career to the heights that were predicted for him a few seasons ago.
The intensity of the Liga Endesa is sometimes stronger than that of the EuroLeague itself says Luka Samanic
The Croatian basketball player is currently playing for Baskonia and talks to us about his experience in Spain, the challenges the Liga Endesa brings.
“Life in Vitoria is great. The city is very nice, although a little smaller, but everything—from food, people, and the fans we have here—is really great,” he starts the conversation for Basketball Sphere in a relaxed tone.
As for the competition itself, he emphasizes that the Liga Endesa is incredibly intense and physically demanding, and that no game is guaranteed to be won in advance.
“The Liga Endesa is extremely fast, physically demanding, anyone can beat anyone, there are no rules. If you don’t come to the game at 100%, you will have problems. For example, after winning in Belgrade, we lost away to MoraBanc Andorra, a team that is at the bottom of the table. That says enough about how difficult it is to play in this competition.
It is definitely the strongest league in Europe, just behind the EuroLeague. Sometimes, Endesa league games are even tougher than EuroLeague games, especially when playing away in smaller towns where the home teams create a hellish atmosphere. Teams like that, who maybe don’t play in European competitions, practically prepare for you for seven days, and then it’s really hard to beat them.”
Luka Samanic talks about collaboration with Pablo Laso
Working with Pablo Laso, one of the most respected European head coaches, is a great experience for Samanic. He emphasizes that Laso is a top professional, which makes him special in the coaching world.
“Pablo is super professional, and as a person, he is also excellent. I think everything is shown by the fact that he stayed in Real Madrid for so long with so many different players and personas. I know we haven’t had some results lately, but we’ve had seven to ten games lost by one possession. Against Real Madrid, we missed the last three of four free throws, including one of mine. If we had made all of those, we wouldn’t have even come to the situation where Hezonja hits a three for the win.”
Baskonia has had several tough losses in the final moments of games. Luka Samanic emphasizes that the team plays well and that often only a small margin has kept them from winning.
“The loss to Olympiacos in overtime, we lose by half a point in Bologna in the last second, they hit a bank shot and a foul. The record doesn’t show how we are playing.”
The future of the Croatian national team, potential leadership role of Luka Samanic
Luka Samanic reflected on the challenges of playing in different atmospheres. From a home game in Jazine to playing in front of 20,000 people in Belgrade’s Arena against Partizan. He also talked about the state and potential of the Croatian national team, in which he is slowly taking on a leadership role.
“Honestly, in Jazine, I wanted to win to go to EuroBasket. That was the only thing that mattered to me. It was beautiful to play there, and I didn’t feel any pressure in that regard. On the other hand, going to Belgrade and playing in front of 20,000 people didn’t bring any pressure either, because it’s a joy to play in such an atmosphere. To go back to Jazine—at that moment, all I had in my mind was winning.”
“I think we are exactly where we belong right now, we always need to start with ourselves”
The Croatian national team is currently ranked 32nd on the FIBA World Ranking, but the impression is that when all players are together, they belong among the top 10 teams in the world. Samanic believes the team consists of great individuals who can achieve serious results.
Šamanić, along with Mario Hezonja, is slowly taking on a leadership role in the national team, while talented young players like Karlo Matkovic, Andrija Jelavic, Michael Ruzic, and the Ivisic brothers represent the future of the team. With experienced players like Ivica Zubac, Dario Saric, and Jaleen Smith, Croatia definitely has the potential to return to the top of European and world basketball.
“You’ve said it all in the introduction. It’s hard to talk about the FIBA system or things like that. I think we are exactly where we belong right now. There are many reasons why that’s the case, and we all have to look at ourselves in the mirror—not just the players, but everyone who makes up the Croatian national team. We always need to start with ourselves because it’s easiest to blame others. A big first step would be if we all start with ourselves.
The French team has a better team on paper, and we lost by three points, with one of my mistakes at the end, and a couple of other small mistakes that added up in the end. That shows we were in the game and that the win was within reach. I really don’t see many national teams stronger than us when we are all together,” says Luka Samanic.
Legendary “La Masia” and Barcelona’s system
At just 16 years old, Luka Samanic left his home and moved to Barcelona. He went through their youth system and gained invaluable experience. Life at La Masia was a big change for the young player, but also an opportunity to develop in one of the best sports centers in the world.
“Time there was spent at the famous La Masia, where all the young athletes are accommodated, including the football players. You learn Spanish, train – it’s a great development system. It was extremely difficult for me because I didn’t know the language, it was a huge change, maybe I even left too early. But all those difficulties toughened me up and prepared me for what was to come later in my career. When it comes to basketball, the game is incredibly fast and intense, just like it is now in the Liga Endesa.
In big clubs like Barcelona, there is a plan when working with young players. Those who are a little more talented are developed with the help of coaches and the entire coaching staff in La Masia, the system is adapted to them, while the others are prepared to become professionals in a different way. In my first season, I was already included in the first team’s practices. The veterans weren’t as involved in working with us younger guys, they focused more on their own work, which is normal in such teams.”
Working with Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan as an example for young players
After Barcelona, and a senior stint at Ljubljana’s Olimpija, came the NBA draft. A dream come true for any young basketball player. The San Antonio Spurs, one of the best franchises in NBA history, selected Samanic with the 19th pick in the first round of the draft and gave him the opportunity to work with Gregg Popovich, one of the greatest head coaches of all time.
“The draft was a dream come true, just playing in the NBA is something special. The San Antonio Spurs are an organization that is very connected with Europe and European players trouoght past. Popovich is probably the greatest head coach of all time, and I had a great time there. They helped me a lot, and that’s when I realized how much work you have to put in to play at the highest level. Before that, I thought I had seen it all playing in the FIBA Champions League against strong players, but then you come to the NBA and it’s a shock – in a positive way.”
Support from the veterans
Although he had the chance to train with basketball legends, he admits he didn’t receive much direct support from the veterans.
“Some younger players had some sort of mentorship. I didn’t really, because I’m a more reserved type of person. Lamarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan didn’t give advice. They showed through their work how to approach the game.
Tim Duncan was our assistant coach the whole year. Just to see how he trains before our practice, how he stays in shape, and the habits he has – you immediately understand why he was so great. He worked with the big guys, helping with low post play and defense. In an organization like the Spurs, a young player is assigned a coach who is the best for their development,” recalls the Croatian national team player about his time with the five-time champion of the world’s strongest league.
Tough period in the NBA G-League
Breaking through the NBA system is not always an easy path. Luka Samanic felt it on his own skin. After spending time with the San Antonio Spurs, where he didn’t get many opportunities to showcase his full potential, he continued his career in the G-League. He dominated there and proved he deserved a bigger chance at the highest level with other teams like the Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz.
“One of the worst feelings for a young athlete is when you train a lot, give everything you have at every practice, but you never get feedback. In Europe, if you train well and show results, the consequence is more minutes on the court. In the NBA, it’s different. Especially if the team is in a rebuilding process. In such situations, they focus on developing two or three young players. It doesn’t matter how good the others are. It’s important that those stars get minutes and the opportunity for development. If you’re not part of that plan, no matter how hard you try, the chance often doesn’t come.”
Samanic had a brief stint with the Utah Jazz, but even there, he didn’t get the role he was hoping for, despite the team being in a worse situation.
“I know these guys from Utah Jazz, so I wouldn’t want to talk about whether I would play more there now. But I think last year I deserved more minutes based on my work in practices. I’m happy for some players I stayed close to in Utah Jazz. Because I see they are developing in the right direction.”
Comparison with the EuroLeague
Although many view the G-League as the “second league” compared to the NBA, Samanic emphasizes that it is extremely useful for a young player, both in terms of basketball and mentally.
“The G-League is great to ground you a bit. Everything is different. The travel is similar to Europe, but maybe at a slightly lower level. When I think of my team Maine Celtics, which was the second team of the Boston Celtics, we had a serious roster. Denzel Valentine, Marial Shayok… These are players who today play really well in Europe. I think that team, depending on the rules they would play under, could beat several EuroLeague teams. It’s hard to assess the difference between the G-League and EuroLeague, but our team would definitely have something to say.”
The post technique has become rare, and Samanic’s dominance in the low post is a refreshing change
Known for his physical dominance on the court, Samanic points out that his work in practices and the gym is crucial for his progress. Especially in elements of the game like the low post, which has become one of his strongest assets.
“This is just a confirmation of my work in practices and the gym. But also on the basketball part. I’ve worked a lot on it, and in the end, even though I didn’t get the chance to show it, nothing was in vain. I feel extremely dominant in the low post. Post tehnique is one of my stronger points.
For a bigger role in offense, I think it all comes with merit. If I continue like this, I’m sure things will naturally come to the point where I’ll be the leader of the team. Not just through points, but also as a center, through whose hands the ball goes a lot. If I’m guarded by a bigger center, that’s a huge mismatch for the opponent, especially through pick and pop.
Sometimes someone else’s possibilities are greater, sometimes less. You need to recognize that. I like respecting Laso as a head coach, but also being realistic, because basketball is a team sport, especially here in Europe. It’s unrealistic to make every shot in a game, so I always look for a balance between being aggressive but also lifting my head and getting others involved.”
“If I had stayed at Fenerbahce, it would have been a really good story”
Luka Samanic reflected on his experience at Fenerbahce. Although short, he considers it very useful. Although the media and fans didn’t fully understand the situation (personal problems), the Baskonia forward emphasizes that many details weren’t known at the time. During that period, he enjoyed training under Sarunas Jasikevicius. According to Samanic, is a very direct and honest head coach.
“It was a great experience. I regret how it turned out. Those two weeks in Istanbul were excellent. I adapted really well to his system. I think if I had stayed at Fenerbahce, it would have been a really good story, but that’s life. That’s why I’m here at Baskonia now, and I’m happy. Things happened that you can’t predict.
In training, Sarunas is as intense as in a game. I prefer that kind of honesty from a head coach, even if he yells at me. I prefer it over the American system where they keep telling you everything is great, and you’re not playing. At least you get direct feedback, and you know where you stand,” concluded Luka Samanic in this interview for Basketball Sphere.
