Vasilije Micic spoke to “Mozzart Sport” about preparations for the Paris Olympics and his definition of patriotism.
The Serbian national team is intensively preparing in Stara Pazova for the upcoming challenges, including the Paris Olympics, with serious preparatory matches against Australia, the USA, and France.
“Previously, there were more preparatory games, but now it seems more measured. The travel will be more exhausting than the matches themselves, but you simply have to test yourself against stronger teams or teams of your quality. Coaches often used to pile up such games to play as much as possible and stay in a competitive rhythm.
The opponents we will face are realistically the strongest there are. The French have an incredibly strong team, the Americans as well, and Australia is undergoing a mini generational change with young Giddey. These three duels will be the highlight of the preparation period, but the other games will also have enough quality to show us where we stand,” Vasilije Micic began.
The Serbian team, unlike last year, has the support of Charlotte Hornets’ playmaker and Nikola Jokic, which undoubtedly adds immense quality.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean that such a thing can only bring good. Personally, I think it can, but in practice, it doesn’t always show. There are many examples where quality alone is not enough. First of all, I believe that character-wise, Jokic and I are not egomaniacs who want to excessively highlight ourselves on the court. We are diligent, like every guy here, and we excel in some aspects. You can’t always shine, nor am I at a stage in life where I need to prove myself to the extent that I have to take every second away from someone. Instead, I want to be part of an extremely successful collective and help.
I think the same applies to Jokic, who is the most humble star in the NBA. Not because he doesn’t know he can score 50 points in every game, but because he enjoys the team’s cohesion and the assists everyone talks about. If he were a different kind of player, a pure scorer, or a hard-to-adapt teammate, it would be harder to integrate him into the team. I don’t think that will be a problem for the two of us; some guys earned their deserved status last year through their impact on the game and team chemistry.
We all know what pressure is, we’ve been living with it for a long time. But going to a championship without expectations influences spontaneity and the ability to correct mistakes, and you can’t predict the burden of being a champion in advance. At the Olympics, there aren’t as many games as in the European Championship, but every game is a final. From that perspective, our participation there shouldn’t reflect greater expectations, but rather an additional quality.”
Then, he gave his definition of patriotism, which differs from that of most people.
“Specifically, for myself, I know that deep down, I have it as something personal. If I were to go around waving flags or loudly proclaiming that I’m a patriot, it would be overblown. I’ve never liked such people. Deep down, I feel patriotism, but I don’t think playing for the national team is the ultimate proof of that. There are many other factors. I’ve turned 30, and it’s not the same body anymore. I work like crazy on recovery and physical fitness, but everyone has a biological clock. No one wants to work against their will. If you reach a point where you have to say you can’t, it means you’re at a crossroads.
In my case, last year, when I said I couldn’t play, I was so exhausted and worn out. I don’t even know what word to use anymore because it was the result of five years of constant playing at Anadolu Efes. The risks were very high, and my experience from 2017 showed me that I had worked a lot to overcome that trauma and continue playing basketball. A person needs to be realistic with themselves and raise their hand when they can’t play. This summer, I want to play, and I’m giving my all, just like Jokic. That’s how it should be, quietly. However, I don’t think these things make us heroes,” concluded Vasilije Micic.