Tomislav Buljan spoke with Basketball Sphere about his new team Cibona, his time at Joventut, and the upcoming season.
Tomislav Buljan began his career in Mislav and then ventured into the Zadar team. From the coastal city, he went to Spain, specifically to Joventut in Badalona. He also played for El Prat, which competes in the LEB Silver League. This summer, he arrived in Cibona Zagreb directly from Spain.
The conversation started precisely on this topic. Cibona is a two-time European champion and one of the biggest clubs in the ABA League. Buljan emphasizes that he is very pleased to be a new member of the “Wolves”.
“I understand that Cibona has a rich history and a large number of fans. For many players, playing for such a prestigious club can be a special and honorable moment in their career. As for me, playing basketball at the highest level, like the ABA League, is of great significance. It’s the level at which every young player wants to showcase their maximum potential and achieve a successful career.” – began Tomislav Buljan.
Behind the team playing in “Drazen Petrovice hall”, there is a very challenging period. It is well known that Cibona has gone through significant financial difficulties, but the club strives to be stable, as emphasized by the native of Split, who says that the club can rely on several key factors.
“The club can rely on its rich history and tradition, and I believe that with effort, investment, and dedication from all involved individuals, it can once again reach a high level of competition. Over the next few years, the club could make gradual progress and return to the top, both domestically and internationally, attracting talented players and loyal fans.” – said the former Joventut player.
The Cult behind the number 23
We then turned our attention to the number worn by the young player. On his back, Buljan wears perhaps the most famous basketball number. What the number 10 is in soccer, the number 23 is in basketball:
“The first basketball jersey I ever wore had the number 23, which Michael Jordan wore during his days with the Washington Wizards. Later on, LeBron James, one of my favorite players, also wore the number 23. Fortunately, that number has often been available on the teams I’ve played for.“
A word about the U-20 European Championship
Tomislav Buljan was one of the standout individuals for the Croatian national team at last year’s European Championship for players under 20 years of age. He averaged 16 points and nearly ten rebounds per game. He emphasizes that receiving a call-up to the national team always means a lot to him, but the team comes first.
“Playing for the national team is a great honor. I will always be ready to answer the call. I believe that my personal success at the U-20 European Championship was not the primary goal but rather achieving the best possible team result. Of course, it was outstanding to finish third in performance on the FIBA ranking. I am satisfied with my individual contribution, but I always strive for more responsibility on the court.“
The significance of the ABA League and goals for the upcoming season:
“The goal for the upcoming season is to achieve the best possible synergy as a team and play true team basketball. In today’s basketball trend, the emphasis is on fast-paced transitional play, with many fast breaks and open shots, even in the early stages of the possession. We’ve already demonstrated this in our preparation matches and tournaments. As a player, my goal is to fit into the team, of course, with the support of my teammates and the coaching staff, so that we can play basketball at the highest possible level.
The ABA League holds great importance for regional basketball, especially for young players, as it provides a good platform for development. There is a challenge in aligning the game schedules with domestic leagues, but in the end, with a little goodwill, it can all be coordinated.” – maturely responded Tomislav Buljan.
Tomislav Buljan’s experience in Joventut
Tomislav Buljan highlighted the significance of his experience with Joventut but also mentioned a few challenges:
“Playing in Spain was a valuable experience for me. I had the opportunity to practice intensively with the top teams in the Endesa League. I also played with the development team competing in the LEB Silver League. The living conditions provided for young players were exceptional. Our development was focused on fast-paced basketball and reading the game in various situations.” – Buljan said, and then continued:
“Our daily schedule included morning training sessions with the first team, while we dedicated our evenings to the development squad. Interestingly, the head coach of El Prat was also an assistant coach at Joventut, which meant that we were familiar with the same playing system. During additional morning sessions in Badalona, we paid special attention to various aspects of basketball, including one-on-one play and shooting practice.” – Buljan described in detail.
However, there was one issue, and it was related to the game itself, as the young players, according to him, didn’t get as many opportunities for one specific reason:
“The problem is mostly for young players, especially those coming from abroad, as it is very difficult to have a significant role in the Endesa League or EuroCup team. This is because the priority is often placed solely on achieving results“.
Ante Tomic as a role model
Ante Tomic played a significant role in helping the young player adapt. As Tomislav Buljan emphasized, he provided a lot of assistance, both in terms of language and on a personal level.
“It’s truly a privilege to learn from basketball giants like Ante Tomic and Pau Ribas. Their passion for the intricacies of basketball is inspiring. Of course, it was challenging at the beginning, especially due to language barriers. That’s because I encountered the Catalan language and a different style of basketball for the first time, but Ante played a key role in easing that adaptation.” – concluded Tomislav Buljan at the end of the interview with Basketball Sphere.