Basket rumors

During a press conference before leaving for Berlin, Mario Hezonja also discussed his plans for the upcoming season.

(via AS)

“My future? I have no idea. – Real Madrid president Florentino Perez ‘threatens’ me every time he sees me in the dining room, he says that I must stay here. Hopefully. We are all working to make it happen.”

The Croatian forward expressed his desire is to reach an agreement to stay in Madrid and be part of “one of the best teams in history.”

A few months ago I said, I think it was in January, that this team has the potential to be the best in the history of the Euroleague and I really think so. A lot will depend on the people at the top (the managers), but with the players we have, we can reach that level. This team is starting to live its best moments in history, my teammates are on the same page and want to reach that, that is very important. Before there were clubs like Varese, who won a lot, but I think this team can reach that level and even go further and do things they have not seen so far, but we must go day by day, game by game. A lot of this, about the team, is going to be decided in the summer”.

The Croatian forward is one of the most coveted players on the Euroleague market, but these remarks provide hope for Blancos supporters.

Hezonja averaged 13.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and a steal in 22 minutes per game in Euroleague , shooting 48 percent from the field, a remarkable 45 percent from three and 92 percent from the foul line.

Baskonia wants to close the name of the new coach in the coming weeks. After the refusals of Jaka Lakovic, who is bound to Gran Canaria, and Pablo Prigioni, who prefers to remain an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the chances of a renewal for Dusko Ivanovic increase.

Source: Encestando

It’s Final Four week in Berlin and Real Madrid centre-back Edy Tavares also spoke to AS about his future.

ON THE FUTURE

“I will do whatever it takes to continue at the highest level, because I don’t want to be at Real Madrid just for the sake of it, but to leave a mark.”

ON BEING IN THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS CONTRACT

“No, it doesn’t condition me. People said that if I didn’t play well it was because of the renewal and it wasn’t because of that, but because of everything that happened to me this season, which coincided with the expiry of the renewal. The end of my contract doesn’t stop me from playing. You always have to do things well because what is yours, what you expect, will come. Or not, but you have to give your best and it will come. You can’t save your energy or think that if you get injured you won’t have a contract here or elsewhere’.

ON NEXT SEASON

“May an agreement be reached and may I stay in Madrid. I’m happy here, my two sons are from Madrid, we love the culture, the city, the way people are, the way they live, what Real Madrid represents, the way they overcome things at the club, their spirit, their desire to win as we saw recently in the Champions League against Bayern… It’s very satisfying to be here and it makes me improve, because you can’t relax, you always have to give your best to win. You never know, but I hope to stay.

According to Canarias7.es Ethan Happ will leave Gran Canaria to sign a two-year deal with Valencia.

The big man just ended the ACB season with averages of 12.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.2 steals in 20 minutes per game.

According to reporter Rupert Fabig, Jaka Lakovic is among the candidates for Valencia’s head coaching position.

The Slovenian coach is currently involved in the ACB Playoffs with Gran Canaria in the series against Real Madrid.

Jaka Lakovic emerging as a candidate for the coaching job in Valencia, sources told me. pic.twitter.com/4BDPo6xN6n

— Rupert Fabig (@rupertfabig) May 16, 2024

Felix Fernandez, Baskonia’s sport director, met the press to take stock after the end of the season for the Vitoria team. The future was also discussed.

ON DUSKO IVANOVIC

“We have not made any decision about anything. We are reflecting on everything, we ended the season earlier than expected and we want to talk to all the protagonists and all the players. If I have to be honest, my assessment of Dusko Ivanovic is very positive’.

ON THE PLAYERS

“Right now on the roster we have Markus Howard, who we renewed because he deserved it as a player and as a man. Others, like Chima Moneke and Codi Miller-McIntyre, have contracts with options on both sides but I hope they stay. But we are in a moment of negotiation’.