Kuruc again in Belgrade: I wasn’t ready for the pressure in Partizan, nor was I aware of how much I had learned

The wing basketball player pauses for a moment… As if trying to find adequate words.

“I know how he feels. I feel the same way when I remember that period in Partizan”.

It was natural to ask him the question, what exactly was the problem?

“I wasn’t ready to play basketball at that level. I wasn’t ready for the pressure of the Partizan jersey and working with Željko Obradović.”

A dick was considered a major reinforcement that summer that came directly from the NBA. Before that, he wore the Barcelona jersey…

“I came from the NBA, but I didn’t play for two full years. The same in Barcelona. I actually learned to play basketball in Partizan. Basketball that is needed for this level of competition. I have to be grateful for that.”

He goes on to explain in more detail what happened in those months as he tried to carve out a role on the floor in his comeback season Obradović when Partizan played in the Eurocup.

“It wasn’t easy for me, but I had many conversations with Željko. Not all situations were bad, there were also good ones. Only today I realize how many things I learned without being aware of it at the time. In those conversations with Obradović, I constantly He talked to me about the position of the body, which angle I should use. That’s part of my game today It occurred to me that I use those things that Obradović told me on a daily basis, but I didn’t really understand then”.

We were somewhat surprised by the next sentence of the Murcia basketball winger.

“If by some chance an opportunity opens up for us to work together again in Partizan… Oberučke, I would accept it. I liked the size of the club, the history. Not to mention the city and the people. That part was extraordinary for me.”

Although he was not in the black and white team, he continued to follow the games.

“I watched the matches last season. Especially against Real Madrid. They would definitely be in the Final Four if it wasn’t for the fight. I think they would have easily beaten Real after those two games in Madrid. This season was something different. The team struggled, but we the club seems to be growing. I wish them the best.”

He continues with an anecdote that illustrates that although there is a bitter taste, the period in Partizan really had some good moments.

“I was really surprised that the fans didn’t forget me either. This season at the match against Barcelona, ​​I warm up for the match. I go through my routine. I try not to pay too much attention to what’s going on around me, but some guys in the front row in the stands keep shouting: “Kuruc, Kuruc”. I turn around at the end and see them wearing Partizan shirts. I had to approach them, we took pictures. Well, those are the little things that I like about Partizan and Serbia.“

Now, however, he is far from Serbia and Partizan. He wears the jersey of the Spanish club Murcia and will try to win the Champions League. On Friday at 21:00 they play against Unicaja in the biggest hall in the Balkans.

“We can surprise many. Apart from Unicaja, I think all the teams oscillated, but they also showed quality and deserved to be here. The biggest surprise is Peristeri, but that’s the charm of basketball. I think every team has something to show and the fans will to be able to enjoy the show. It will be interesting to see this spectacular on social media. There are some serious players like Marcelinho Huertas who they deserve attention”.

One of his teammates in Murcia Dillon Ennisa former Red Star player who is himself once spoke for our portal about Murcia when the aforementioned team defeated Real Madrid in the national championship.

“As soon as I came to the club, I told him, we’re not going to talk about Paritzan and Zvezda. We’re just going to fight.”the Latvian will say with a laugh.

Finally, about personal goals Rodion Kuruca who started playing professional basketball back in 2012 in Riga. As a great talent, he went to Spain where he wore the jersey of Barcelona, ​​in the NBA he wore the jersey of Brooklyn, Houston and Milwaukee before he came to Partizan. After Humska, he spent a short time in Betis, then in France, where he defended the colors of Strasbourg, before returning to Spain, where he established himself as an important member of Murcia, a team that is reputed to be the most pleasant surprise in the ACB League, and their quality has obviously been confirmed on the international stage.

“I want to help the team achieve victories, that’s the primary thing at this moment, and for the future… I would like to return to the Euroleague or the NBA. I’m going step by step. At the moment, the focus is on the Final Four in Belgrade, where I hope for good results, and it wouldn’t be bad to see Partizan fans in the stands.“, ends A dick conversation for Mozart Sport.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – FINAL FOUR

Friday:

18.00: (1.55) Tenerife (14.5) Peristeri (2.70)

21.00: (2.70) Murcia (14.5) Unicaja (1.55)