P.J. Dozier, the new player of Partizan, spoke with Basketball Sphere why he chose Belgrade as his next destination, how Kevin Punter approached him, touched on collaboration with Zeljko Obradovic, and even drew comparisons to Dante Exum.
Two-way NBA contracts, the Japanese market, the Chinese market… European basketball is facing numerous challenges in enticing someone from the other side of the Atlantic to come to the Old Continent and be part of the EuroLeague.
Just as Stephon Marbury symbolically opened the doors to the Chinese market nearly 15 years ago, Kemba Walker’s arrival in Monaco has similarly defined a new era in EuroLeague.
Regarding all of this, P.J. Dozier spoke with Basketball Sphere.
Kemba Walker changed trends
People a bit older will remember Dominique Wilkins in the Panathinaikos jersey and numerous NBA superstars who stepped onto European soil during lockouts, but recent EuroLeague history can hardly boast harboring a four-time All-Star within its ranks.
Kemba Walker‘s arrival in Monaco can be considered a new trend. From the best league to the second-best league in the world, numerous players have begun to arrive after that. The Hernangomez brothers, Willy and Juancho – one in Barcelona, the other in Panathinaikos’ super project.
Even Jabari Parker found himself in Blaugrana, Raul Neto at Fenerbahce, Sterling Brown at Alba Berlin, while names like Frank Ntilikina, Terrence Ross, Kendrick Nunn, and Svi Mykhailiuk have been or are being speculated about…
Frank Kaminsky and P. J. Dozier also found their place in that story, recently signing for Partizan.
Dozier entered the NBA in an unassuming way. From the development team, he managed to position himself as an important part of the Denver Nuggets rotation, eventually signing a multi-year contract with them. He could have achieved much more in Colorado, but a severe knee injury prevented him. Dozier tore his anterior cruciate ligament, sidelining him for a year.
After that, nothing was the same for him. He moved from one franchise to another, but he couldn’t seem to regain the rhythm from the period when he was part of the reigning NBA champion. His most recent engagement was with the Sacramento Kings, after which he decided to change surroundings and continent this summer and sign with Partizan.
“I felt this was a good opportunity for me. I struggled to come back from an injury that happened to me a few years ago in Denver. Now I have the chance to play significant games in a very good league with excellent players. The EuroLeague is widely followed, the talent is at a high level, so everything made sense.” – Dozier began the conversation with Basketball Sphere.
One of the main reasons the American player decided to strengthen Partizan is the frequent conversations he had with the team captain.
“Kevin Punter reached out to me after my agent mentioned the possibility of collaboration. Since that moment, I’ve been in communication with him. He told me this is a good idea and a good thing for my career. I consulted with him about all the questions I had regarding this new experience.”
“Nikola Jokic called me” – P.J. Dozier
One of EuroLeague’s best guards isn’t the only one who presented the next destination in the best light. Dozier also touched on conversations with Nikola Jokic, with whom he was a teammate in the Denver Nuggets.
“When he heard I was coming, he called me and congratulated me. He said it’s a dream for many to come here to play basketball. He talked about many great things about Belgrade, Serbia, the fans, the club, and the organization. The plan is to meet. Both he and I have plenty of commitments, but we’ll do it when time allows.”
About head coach Zeljko Obradovic
The former Sacramento Kings player has been seen as a replacement for Dante Exum, given that neither are traditional point guards, but both dominate with athleticism.
After a year of collaboration with Zeljko Obradovic, the Australian fulfilled his goal and returned to the NBA, signing a one-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks. Exum, like Dozier, came to Europe after a serious injury. There are many similarities.
“I’ve heard all the best about coach Obradovic. He’s a legend. What could be better for my career than learning from someone like him? Dante Exum is a great player, but he’s him, and I’m me.
We have similarities in terms of our developmental paths. Seeing his success definitely opened my eyes that I can achieve the same, but, as I’ve said, he’s him, and I’m me, we’re different players.” – P.J. Dozier concluded his conversation with Basketball Sphere.