Martin’s big interview to Championat.com

How did you spend your summer?

The first half of summer I spent a lot of quality time in Memphis training with my friends and my trainers. In July I moved to Houston, Texas. I got a chance to spend time with Pat[rick Miller]. Pat came down there for a weekend, so I met with him. And also Royce [Hamm] lives in Houston, so me and him spent some time together. Got a couple of times, a couple of sessions of training with Royce, so it was good.

When did Loko first get in touch with you?

Sometime in the summer. I know there's a lot of rumors going around, like a lot of people were already saying me and Loko was talking, but I didn't really hear from them until around summertime and that's when it started.

What did you think of Loko when you were playing for other clubs?

I always felt like they were a big club, especially in Russia, even when they were playing in the Euro Cup and things like that. I always knew some big-time players that came here, and I knew it was just like a serious club that's out in Russia that's trying to win.

How long did it take for you to accept Loko’s offer?

It didn't take very long, honestly, because I was talking with AC [Antonius Cleveland], which was here last year, one of my good friends, and then obviously I met Pat a couple of years ago and me and him were just talking about it and they were just playing it to me, but it was just like I wanted to stay in Russia and this was a club that offered me, so it really was like a moment.

Why did you want to stay in Russia?

Because after the season last year, I felt like my first two years in Russia were good for me. I've been familiar with the players, the place now, and it's just been good for me. So I just felt like initially I wanted to stay out here, and it came true.

Loko has to travel much more than other clubs. What do you think of this?

It's going to be a challenge, but hey, I feel like we've got all the resources here that will get our body right and get us right for the travel or whatever we've got to do, but at the end of the day I feel like they're going to put us in the right position and we've just got to perform.

Did the head coach already tell you what exactly he wants from you?

Yeah, I talked with the coach, basically just talking about the team and didn't really get into too much detail, but he was just explaining to me how we're going to play fast and things like that, how we want to play and stuff like that.

How was your first day in Loko? How were you accepted?

Oh, it's been good. I mean, I feel like I've seen most of the guys before, like it's my third year in the VTB, so I've seen most of the guys that we've played against, even played on the team with them or just seen them around going on the third year, so I mean, it's been good. They've been welcoming and good and it's just been great.

You and Miller were the top two effective players of the previous season. Won't it affect you when you're playing together?

No, I feel like it's going to be good. You've got two efficient players that are playing together to understand the game and both with the same goal. We just want to win, so whoever night it is, we're just going to keep that person going. It's a long season, so we're just going to try to keep each other going and two efficient players. What else do you want?

Have you heard of Loko’ new head coach Anton Yudin before?

I actually didn't. But they chose him for the job and I'm sure it was the reason why they brought him here. So, we've got to trust the coach for sure because he's the one who's going to start us off and then we've got to follow him.

Let's talk a bit about your previous season in Uralmash. How can you rate this season?

It was a great season. For me, exactly what their goals were, their goals were to finish fifth. They never talked about anything other than that. And we won the cup as well, so those were their goals for the team. So I feel like we did well on top of the injuries we had all season. We never really had our full team. I honestly think we had a successful season.

You were the top scorer of the previous season. Have you ever thought that maybe they will give you the MVP of the regular season?

I mean, yes, it came to my mind, but obviously we had, it was guys playing better collectively with the team as far as records and things like that. But of course my mind did kind of hit that I could have been the MVP in that case.

Do personal titles mean a lot to you?

I mean, it's always great, honestly, just to be honest, it's always great to get a personal title. But obviously the best title is just winning. The more games you can win is just the best thing because it keeps everyone happy. Personal titles is, you know what I'm saying, it keeps the team happy as well because they know their brother did it and they didn't do it by itself. But I mean, I would rather have a collective title where everybody can share the same glory.

Can you say several words about Mr. Vergun, the head coach of Uralmash?

For sure.

He often says a lot of good words about you. Were you close?

Very close. Me and him had a really good relationship, honestly. Outside of like, you know, I feel like the relationship we had wasn't really going to ever stop at the order match because he helped me on and off the court, the mental part. And just spending time with me whenever I wanted to get, you know, shots up and things like that. We would work outside of the team and we just had a really good relationship. He was a good guy, a good coach, a good positive man. And I just always wish the best for him.

Uralmash also has a kind of extravagant president. He said some harsh words on your departure. Do you want to make some response?

No, I'm just happy where I'm at right now. That's my response. I'm happy to be where I'm at and not alone there.

Do you have some personal rivalry in the VTB?

No, no personal rivalry. I just go out and play, have fun and try to beat everybody.

Do you watch what other clubs in VTB do in between seasons? What can you say about, for example, Zenit's transfers?

I see Zenit have got some new players, with one of my friends, Levi Randolph. It looks like they are trying to go for a title run.

Contrary, CSKA does not make big moves...

They don't make any movesnow, but they bring in another good player, which is Cleveland. Everybody will want to have him on their team, for sure. But I see he could make them stronger as well.

UNICS?

They look like they are coming in with a new approach and a new mindset as well, just like us. So we'll be ready.

What do you think, what can help Loko to become champions? What exactly?

Just putting together a complete season, being healthy and just clicking at the right time. I feel like that's all it is. I feel like everybody got talent. The talent is all kind of equal, but once you get down to that part of the season, I just feel like we all just got to be clicking and healthy.

Do you follow the NBA now?

Yeah, a little bit, yeah.

Do you have some expectations for the upcoming season?

I'm looking forward to seeing Kevin Durant with the Houston Rockets. I want to see how he's going to be, and also I'm ready to see the healthy Dallas Mavericks play. A lot of guys. The skinny Luka, ready to see skinny Luka. OKC you can't leave them alone. The defending champs are going to be OK. So I'm ready to see how they're going to respond and see if they can run it back.

Do you follow Memphis? What can you say about what's happening in Grizzlies?

I follow Memphis. Obviously I'm a Grizzlies fan because I'm from there, but I think we'll be good. We've got Ja coming back ready, hungry, and we'll be good.

Even though they exchanged Bane, fired Jenkins and hired the European coach without experience in the NBA?

I hope so. Yeah, I see that Bane is gone, but I mean, we've got Ja Morant, so I feel like we'll be good.

And Brooklyn is also a team where you have played. Have you heard of their Russian guy, Egor Demin?

I did, I did. I watched him. I got a chance to watch him a little bit. I was watching some summer league and I saw him playing with Brooklyn.

Does he have a chance to play big minutes?

I don't know. I don't know the rotation situation and the roster that they have in Brooklyn right now. Maybe so. Maybe they might be trying to develop him early and give him a chance, but good luck to him once he gets his shot.

It will be your third year in Russia. When the guys in the USA ask you about Russia, what do you tell them?

I tell them, I mean, it's not all about what they may think of in their head or what they see. Russia's been good for me. It's been, you know, in each city that I've been in, I've had a good chance, a good time. I've enjoyed it and, I mean, I'm here for basketball and basketball is really good for me.

Did you try some Russian dishes?

I think I had maybe a salad. It's like a salad we used to get, like, got fish in it, maybe something like that. I had that with the team dinner. It was okay. It wasn't bad, but it's not what I would probably order.

What was the most unusual thing to you in Russia?

Just the language, honestly. Not many people are understanding what I'm saying and I'm not understanding what they're saying. I mean, I can say something, but I just know the normal Russian words, but not really a lot. I keep my translator on me.