During the Euroleague Media Day, we interviewed with the Fenerbahçe’s Greek guard Kostas Sloukas. Now, just let the 26 years old guard speak:
Our first subject was preseason period. It looks like Kostas is very happy for having full roster during the preseason: “Last year was little bit different but this year there was a chance for us to practice more as full roster. We lost two exhibition games and we need to find missing parts of our game and practice more on these. In the new format of the Euroleague, we will travel more and will play games in more intense schedule. Practicing together on our game tactic in the this period of the season is very good for us.”
After Sloukas himself mentioned it, we had to ask about the new format of the Euroleague: “I know the new format will be little bit harsh for us but we will play against high level teams every time. We should be ready and concentrate for the game at any time, that is the first thing that Obradovic wants from us. If you have big goals, you shouldn’t be worried about the rules. That new rule will help the teams that play in high tempo with athletic players but I don’t think that fits the DNA of the European basketball.”
We wanted to learn what are the thoughts of a player about working with Zeljko Obradovic and developing his game. The algorithm of the answer was very intresting: “You can’t let the details go when you working with Obradovic. Every game and every practice are based on the process of learning. Every detail on the practices are very valuable for us, we should pay attention to them.”
So, that means the team should be one of the most important parts of your life Kostas. Before the Final Four last year, Datome said, “We are dedicated to Fenerbahçe and focused on team’s success. I guess this is true for all players? “I’m not sure, being dedicated is the right word but your professional job should be in the second spot of your life after your family. People know you by your character, family and the job that you are doing. Of course these intense practices and being that concentrate can make the team most important thing for you. Fenerbahçe and the things that I want to do with Fenerbahçe are the most important things for me after my family.”
When we asked, “What happened during the first half of the CSKA Moskow game?”, Kostas answered this very clearly: “That night we played very different basketball at the first and seconds half of the game. At the first half, we were playing like we forget what we do right during the season. Of course, CSKA was very good team and they were the main reason how we played that bad but we should have wake up from this nightmare earlier. We lost the to very good team, after a small detail. We are a group that can learn from the past and we will try to make things different this year.”
After all the injuries during the 2015/16 season, Kostas has self confidence fort his year: “After back to back injuries I felt very bad. I came here to play more and being a part of a big goal. When I don’t play, that was making me demoralized. After injuries there was a chance for me to help my team and I think I used that chance very good. I reached the level that where I wanted to be at the Baskonia game, Efes and Galatasaray series. For this season, I want to stay healty and play basketball all year long.”
NBA is a big dream and big stage for most of the European basketball players. But not so much for Kostas: “I’m only focused on the Fenerbahçe right now. As long as I’m here, I don’t have any other thought than being successful with Fenerbahçe. I’m not the guy that want to play in NBA so bad, I like the game in here more.”
Last subject of the interview was Kostas’ Greek colleague Dimitris Diamantidis. Let’s see what he said about him: “He is a legend. I couldn’t play with him, every time I was a rival of him on the court. Being a source of inspiration for young players is not so easy. Diamantidis always will be remembered as a professional that everybody look up to.”
Interview | Onur Coşkun
Setting | Murat Akcan