The Lokomotiv-Kuban center gave a big interview to the "Steam Whistle" (Gudok) newspaper – the main railway media in Russia.
- Congrats on the invitation to the All-Star Game. You were very close at the fan vote, and then the league gave you the wild card. What were your emotions on that?
- I'm excited and happy to be noticed for my play, especially by the fans and the league. That's always important, and it always means a lot. That's my second one in Russia, so I'm excited about going.
- Loko is in third place now. Do you feel that the game improves?
- Yeah, I felt this from the beginning of the year. I know we didn't have some step-backs and things like that, but I felt from the beginning of the year we've been getting better, and I believe we're going to hit our peak at the right time. We just have to be patient and be willing and keep working and getting better every day.
- Are you already used to the new coach’ demands?
- Yeah, I think I'm pretty used to it. I played with a Serbian coach for two years at Virtus. Saša Đorđević, we had a good relationship, so I'm kind of used to the Serbian coaching way. It's pretty much similar to Serbian style of play, so I'm pretty familiar with it and I adjusted to it pretty quick. That's a good thing.
- How can you describe the Serbian style of coaching?
- A lot of ball movement, a lot of teamwork. You're going to practice hard, you're going to play hard, both in offense and in defense.
- In Russia, you've lived in Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Saratov, Krasnodar. Which city is your favourite?
- I don't like to pick which city is the best because I have special moments and special friends everywhere. so I try not to pick. Since I got off the plane in Russia for the first time, my eyes are open. Even with me playing 5 years in Russia, it's still amazing to me. You know, I wasn't raised to even think about even being somewhere over in a place like this. Each city leaves me a special memory, and I love and appreciate each city that I go to, even Saratov.
- Are you OK with lots of snow and low temperatures in Russia?
- Well, I'm used to it. I don't like it, but I'm used to it. I expected a little bit more out of Krasnodar. It was really nice here when the winter started. But I’m okay.
- Is it cold in Detroit in winter?
- Yeah, it's freezing right now, a lot of snow. A lot of school being cancelled, a lot of basketball being cancelled because of the snow. So, yeah, it's definitely, definitely cold.
- When you say “Detroit”, most Russian sports fans immediately think of…
- I know, I know, they think of the Red Wings and the Russian Five. I'm a fan of all Detroit teams, the Detroit Tigers, which is baseball, the Red Wings, which is hockey. I don't keep up so much with them teams, but I have heard a little bit of the Russian starting five, and I really have to do more homework because that interests me a lot. And I need to find something like a documentary or something.
- You prefer watching European basketball to American basketball, do you?
- This is my job now, I don't play in the NBA, so, I'm gonna watch what league and what type of basketball that I'm playing in. I love all basketball. I like basketball overseas a little bit more than what the NBA is presenting right now. The NBA is still entertaining and I love it and I have my favorite players, but just right now, their style of play is just like… I would like to say that a little bit more thinking to the game is what the NBA needs right now.
- Some American players bring their families with them. Why don't you?
- Actually, my family just got here today, my daughter and my wife and my son just got here and I'm really happy that they're here now and we're gonna spend some good time together.
- Is that their first time in Russia?
- No, my wife was with me in Kazan, and later my wife and my daughter were with me in St. Petersburg. And my son is very young. This is his first time here.
- Do some Russian traditions seem strange to you?
- No, I don't judge. Maybe it's hard to understand some, but I don't judge anything, any culture, any country, because I know the United States cultures and traditions could be weird, it's weird to me sometimes, so I know it can be weird to other people. I usually just give other people cultures a try and try to learn a little bit, to keep up with the culture and be present.
- Do you like Russian cuisine?
- Right now, the borscht soup is the only Russian food I really probably eat on a consistent basis.
- Are you ready to stay in Russia for some more years?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm 11 or 10 years in Europe now, so I'm pretty much ready. I can be prepared to stay here for the rest of my career. I'm prepared to go somewhere else. You never know what might happen. Other people change their minds. Other people have to make the decision on that. And then at the end, I have to make the decision also, and we'll see what happens. But I'm prepared to stay here and enjoy playing in Russia and I love it, so I'll stay here as long as I can. But I'm prepared for anything.
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