Sasha Vezhenkov admitted with statements that his rookie season in the NBA was difficult for many reasons, he emphasized the fact that he did not have a fixed role and that requires mental and physical preparation, but he made it clear that he made the right decision when he signed with the Kings.
Sasha Vezhenkov’s rookie year in the NBA ended a few days ago. It was an up-and-down season, a lot in and out of the rotation and two ankle injuries that set him back. These issues – and many more – he himself addressed at the Kings’ press conference.
It’s a tradition in the NBA for all players to speak to the media after the season ends, with Vezenkov being available and completely honest in answering any questions he received. He talked about the difficulties of adjusting, the injuries that set him back, how it was difficult to find a rhythm when he didn’t know for sure if he would play in certain games, the fact that there were times when he thought he deserved to play more, but also that he thinks how he made the right decision when he left Europe to go to the NBA.
Sasha Vezenkov stated in detail:
For his first NBA season: “Overall it was a weird season with a lot of ups and downs. It was a new game, a new life. I had some injuries. I tried to adapt as fast as I could. Unfortunately the season ended early, we wanted to go far in the playoffs.
We must learn from this. It was a new experience. I wanted every day to be better. Unfortunately those two injuries held me back. The situation was difficult and different.”
On what he learned about the NBA and where he needs to improve: “First of all the talent here is crazy. You can see it on TV, but it’s one thing to see it live. The other thing is the pace of the game. How fast everything happens. I have to improve on everything. The only good thing is that the offseason is long and everyone has a lot of time to work and improve.”
On whether he plans to work in Sacramento or his home: “I don’t know yet. But I won’t lie, I miss home, so I’ll go back first and we’ll see.”
For the element of his game that he will work on in the offseason to improve: “I will work on everything like every year. In Europe I didn’t have that much time because the season ends in June. I have a lot of time, but that’s the difference, NBA players have a lot of time, especially if they don’t make the playoffs. I have 5 -6 months to work on your game and I want to improve in general”.
On how he thinks he helped the team when he got playing time: “It is difficult because I understand that the core of the team is 7 players and everyone else can change the match accordingly. That’s what we have to do, because that’s what we’re paid to do. But it’s hard because you can play in one game, or five games with little time to show what you can do. That’s what we have roles for, that’s what the team is for.
I can say that it is difficult. You have to be strong mentally. And sometimes in the season you miss it, you lose your path. You need a little bit of everything. Play 1-2 good games to feel good. It’s weird and hard.”
About how he was ready at all times: “It’s difficult because your moment can come now or in 10 days or 10 games. You never know. You can only work hard. There are many games that you play almost every day and you have to be focused. You have to be strong mentally and physically”.
On whether he ever thought during the season that he made the wrong choice going to the NBA: “I made the right choice, no doubt. If I doubted other things? 100%. But not the choice to come. It was a great opportunity, you can’t say no when the conditions are right. I doubt other things, but not this one “.
On whether he felt during the season that he did something that made him believe he can find a steady role in the NBA: “It’s a difficult question, because what I thought I could have and what I had are two different things.
If you asked me about the role I had this year, it was difficult. You have to be ready, one game you play well, the next you don’t. You have 10 minutes or less, maybe 5 minutes, and you have to do your best. Sometimes you play well, sometimes it doesn’t work. Your impact on the game is not great.
I’m a positive guy. I try to be positive for my teammates and the team. I think I did 100% what was asked of me.”
For Malik Monk: “He’s a great guy. When we were both injured we talked a lot. We talked all the time in the game. He’s a great player, great personality. He’s got talent. I hope he stays, but even if he doesn’t I wish him the best. He deserves the better, he was the 6th player of the season. He is important and his influence was shown. Without him we fell from 5th to 9th place. You see his influence.”
About how hard it was to go from being an MVP in the EuroLeague to being a roller coaster in the NBA: “It’s hard. You always think… we’re human, everybody likes attention, everybody likes to have responsibility. Even on another level, in your profession (as journalists), in other jobs you have more responsibilities than that elsewhere.
I knew where I came from. I knew what was going on. Sometimes I thought I could help, other times I deserved to play more. But first I look at myself in the mirror, my own mistakes, but it’s hard because we’re human. We all want to play. We love the game, we love to play, everyone wants to play more. Even guys who play 35 minutes want to play 40 minutes. It was difficult”.
