Zach LeDay, in an interview for the “Sportlight Show” aired on Sport Klub, spoke about numerous topics related to Partizan and life in Serbia.
The American basketball player highlighted that the ABA League is considered a much tougher competition than people initially think. He emphasized the opponents’ physical preparedness.
“There’s a lot of work, recovery, you have to take care of your body. Playing games in the EuroLeague and ABA League is different from some other leagues. The ABA League is physically demanding, you constantly play against strong guys, so you really have to take care of your body and recovery. Of course, this is done to achieve the set goals,” said Zach LeDay, adding:
“The EuroLeague is different, there are the best players from all over the world with great abilities. Some players may not be physically strong, but they simply know how to do a lot. In the ABA League, you play with heart to help your team achieve the best result possible. The basketball culture in the Balkans is different, it’s a style, physically strong players, well-trained. That’s my experience from the ABA League.”
Zeljko Obradovic
Zach LeDay arrived at Partizan after one of the worst seasons in the club’s history. Although it may seem like a crazy move to “downgrade” from the EuroLeague Final Four to the EuroCup level, in LeDay’s and Punter’s case, it turned out to be the right decision.
“Partizan was in a really bad position in the ABA League, the club was at a low level. A new coach came, signed me and Kevin Punter. It was a big moment to start something new from scratch. The only thing I knew about the club before that was that Nigel Williams-Goss, my good friend, was there. Okay, I knew that Serbia had great players, but I didn’t know much about their history.”
The power forward of the black and white team says that Zeljko Obradovic will remain the same person even after he decides to end his coaching career.
“Zeljko Obradovic is a great tactician, very passionate, with great willpower. He has a fiery character and style, at the end of the day, the small things separate the best coaches. He will still be passionate even when he stops being a coach. That’s his spirit. He will be good.”
About the fans
Zach LeDay also revealed where he draws his “crazy” energy and motivation from, which has made him a favorite among Partizan fans.
“You have to remember that you are a professional and the fact that you have to do what’s best for the team, your teammates… You spend hours and hours in the gym with those people. The fact that I’m ‘amped up’ is already part of my personality. I can’t control that aspect. I always play basketball with emotion, passion is always present, I give it my all. That’s how I play. It’s not a mask, you can’t fool the fans, be who you are.”
Another factor is the fact that he has been in the Serbian capital for the third year.
“This is my third season here, it’s different when you’ve been somewhere for a longer time than when you’re constantly moving. I’m grateful for that experience, for the people I’ve met, the things I’ve learned…”
When asked if he ever had any bad experiences with Crvena Zvezda fans, LeDay said:
“I can’t remember anything bad, the Serbian people are good people. You’re hardworking, you do what’s necessary for your family.”
The player from the “Black and White” team says that the team only looks ahead and does not dwell on some rough patches from the recent past.
“We’ve had many ups and downs, we work hard every day, and there are players who don’t have this kind of experience. We’re trying to grow as a group every day. We want to extract the best from every situation. You can’t turn back time, just move forward and see what you can do.”
During last summer, Partizan signed P.J. Dozier and Frank Kaminsky, who are still adapting to European basketball.
“We’re trying to do our best for our teammates, P.J. and Frank have a lot of experience from the NBA, but the EuroLeague is something completely different. You have to adapt, it’s always a new experience when you’re in Europe for the first time. You’re like a fish out of water, you have to adapt.”
Finally, he touched on the changes in the EuroLeague, which become more noticeable from season to season.
“The EuroLeague gets tougher every year, faster, more points are scored, teams shoot more, the quality is rising. Teams run up and down, those are the kinds of players. The game is growing worldwide, it’s wonderful to see. When I came to the EuroLeague, it was very rare for a team to score 100 points.”