“I loved the time spent in Zagreb, and I hope things will turn positively for the club”
Looking at where the players from that Cibona team ended up, considering the experienced reinforcements, it must be said that the team had the potential for great things. Danko Brankovic plays for Bayern, Roko Prkacin dominates in the EuroCup with Gran Canaria (10-3 record), Reuvers reached the EuroLeague with Valencia, and Toni Nakic is in one of the top European leagues, playing for Breogan. We were curious about whether he still maintains contact with former teammates and how he views all the problems that have befallen Cibona.
“I stay in touch with former teammates, especially with Jakov Mustapic, but also with younger guys like Lovro Gnjidic, Roko Prkacin and Toni Nakic. I remain connected with all those guys. We had a good group as we were young. Many of us are now playing for bigger teams, and our careers are on the rise.
If they had the money to keep our group together, I think we would have achieved a lot. I loved the time spent in Zagreb, and I hope things will turn positively for the club. I know it’s tough,” explained Nathan Reuvers.
“We didn’t play in the Stark Arena, but I definitely noticed that Serbian fans don’t like Croatian teams. There is definitely tension between them,” he said with a hint of laughter.
“Serie A is a very demanding league”
After his season with Cibona, he made the move to Italy, and his next destination was Reggio Emilia. They secured their stay in the elite league, and Reuvers, with his excellent defensive skills, demonstrated himself as a true modern big man.
He shot 40% from three-point range in the domestic league and 51% in the FIBA Champions League. He played a significant amount, averaging 24 minutes, and participated in 30 games in Serie A (averaging 24.6 minutes). Given his solid outside shooting, we were interested in why he doesn’t use it more often.
“Serie A is a very demanding league. We were at the bottom of the table, but we defeated teams like Virtus Bologna at home, and we also beat Napoli. It’s a really tough league, and we were lucky not to be relegated at the end of the season.
Regarding my shot, I think I need to be more consistent, not just aggressive. I need to take more shots. If I shoot three or four three-pointers per game, I should hit at least two of them because currently, I’m only making one per game,” the American honestly stated.
Reuvers was known for being an excellent shot-blocker in college, which he immediately confirmed in the ABA League when he earned the title of the league’s best shot-blocker. However, his numbers have declined slightly.
“Fewer minutes on the court mean fewer opportunities, but I have definitely shown that I can still do it. If you watched the game against Asvel, one player tried to play one-on-one with me, and I blocked him,” he added.
“Alba Berlin was the team that emerged, they wanted me to be part of their club…”
The season in Italy was enough for another step up in his career. Bojan Dubljevic left Valencia after 11 long years, and the honor to fill his position as the power forward went to Nathan Reuvers. He reveals how such a significant career move came about.
“Originally, my agent and I were trying to find a team in the EuroLeague. Alba Berlin was the team that emerged. They wanted me to be part of their club, but a month later, an offer from Valencia appeared. It was a much stronger offer at that moment because I had the opportunity to play in the Liga Endesa and the EuroLeague. I had to accept that offer.
I love the club and the team, and I like how we function as a group off the court; everything is great, no issues with the players. It’s definitely a different role because I played 30 minutes per game in Cibona, then 24.5 minutes in Italy, and now I’m somewhere between 10 and 20 minutes per game, depending on the day. It’s good for my development to be here and simply be around other professionals who have great careers and learn from them,” he explained.
“I think we can definitely compete for the title in Spain”
Valencia’s head coach is Alex Mumbru, a man who has won numerous medals with the Spanish national team and also played for Real Madrid.
“One of the great things about him that stands out is that he is a former player. I think he played close to 20 seasons professionally. That gives him a unique perspective as a coach, and he can definitely relate to us and what we’re going through because he faced the same challenges as a player.”
Valencia has an 9-8 record in the EuroLeague, and they are performing well in the domestic league as well. They are in the playoff zone in both competitions. Is it time for a breakthrough in terms of results?
“I think we can definitely compete for the domestic title, and the club always wants to be in the top two positions. I think we are now tied with Barcelona in third place, but we want to be in the top two because that ensures a good position for the playoffs. In the EuroLeague, we want to secure a playoff spot,” Nathan Reuvers confidently stated.
“I love playing with Stefan Jovic on the court because he is a great passer…”
In the locker room, he was welcomed by a couple of proven EuroLeague names, and Nathan Reuvers talks about teammates with whom he has developed a close relationship.
“Brandon Davies and Semi Ojeleye because they are also Americans, so it’s easy to connect with them. I love playing with Stefan Jovic on the court because he is a great passer. If I’m open, he will find me. A very good playmaker and a great teammate, a true leader on the court.”
The EuroLeague is often said to be the highest-quality league in the world just behind the NBA. Meanwhile, the Liga Endesa is renowned as the highest-quality European league just behind the EuroLeague.
“You don’t have to be in the NBA to be a great player or have an excellent career and earn a lot of money…”
Considering Reuvers’ rapidly advancing career, the logical question is about the possibility of returning home one day, perhaps even to the NBA. In the summer of 2022, he played two Summer League games with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Obviously, every kid from the United States dreams of making it to the NBA. Personally, I love the EuroLeague. Every game is important, a real competitive atmosphere. I would love to stay here throughout my entire career. I want to play in the EuroLeague, and therefore in Valencia, for 10 or more years. Valencia is a wonderful place to stay and a great place to start a family.
It was okay. I didn’t get enough opportunities. They had their drafted players to whom they were trying to give more minutes. I stayed in touch with one or two teammates I played with. It was a unique experience to see how things work in the Summer League.
It’s tough if you’re not one of the players competing for a spot in the starting lineup. That experience just showed me that you have to work hard here in Europe. You don’t have to be in the NBA to be a great player or have an excellent career and earn a lot of money,” Nathan Reuvers emphasized.
“Balkan way of life, they love their coffee and just sit and talk…”
We decided to conclude the conversation with a lighter topic. We were curious about how he would compare life in Zagreb with Italy and Spain.
“One thing that is special in Zagreb is that every day after training, teammates drink coffee for at least an hour. It’s the Balkan way of life; they love their coffee and just sit and talk. It was a unique experience. What I love in Valencia is that we are by the coast; it’s warm here, and you can have lunch on the beach. It’s simply pleasant to walk around. It’s colder in Italy and Zagreb,” Nathan Reuvers concluded on a positive note for our portal.