You have returned to Khimki after a half-season loan in Bilbao Basket. How did you like your time in Spain?
“I tried to recover the confidence I had lost it here in Khimki because last three months before I left to Bilbao I hadn’t played. The coach thought it could had been a good solution for the team and took me out of the squad. So last three months I played in Bilbao. I think I did a good job there and now I come back with confidence and power. I hope to do a good job too with Khimki this year”.

What does Dusko tell you about your role on the court?
“If you do everything Dusko says and you do it with hundred percent, it’s easy because he has told everyone about his own role. Everybody knows his role on the court. Therefore, if you follow all the rules and go a hundred percent, it is good for the team. Of course, it is good that Dusko is from Montenegro too. We can speak the same language. I have known him before but didn’t work with him. We are together only for three weeks and every day we know each one better, even as a person or as a player and a coach. Hopefully, we’ll have a good year”.

We have a new team this season. What do you expect from this year with Khimki?
“Right, we have many changes in the team. It will be more difficult for us from the beginning because some of the guys like Stas [Ilnitskiy] and me arrived only three weeks ago from national teams. Three Americans arrived four weeks ago. We have stayed together only for two or three weeks and probably it will be tough for some time. We have to learn more and stay focused trying to make one step better for the team to win more games. We have the schedule with many home VTB United League games first two months and we have to win them”.

What do you expect from the season generally?
“It’s very early to talk about what we have to do because the result and the titles will be in the end of the season. What we have to do is just to be a better team every day. It is our goal to improve day by day. We have to put our goals but it is not the very time to speak about it right now. We have to work to be better and win the games. When the season is over we’ll do the resume about it if it was good, bad or normal”.

This season our team will play in the 7 Days EuroCup. What do you think about our group?
“Of course, it’s different this year, like the EuroLeague because the teams that used to play in the EuroLeague are not there anymore. We have the teams from Spain like Unicaja Malaga that have played in the EuroLeague for many years. They arrived to the ACB League play-offs for many years. It is a good team but this season they are in the EuroCup. For sure, it is a better competition this year as there are many great teams. I think first round is more or less easily for all teams because four out of five squads go to the second leg. The second round will be more difficult and we have to play good to pass to the play-offs”.

You will face Bilbao Basket in the group B. Will it be a special feeling for you to be back to Bilbao Arena?
“Of course. It will be a first time after I left Bilbao and had an amazing year. It will be very special for me and the people from Bilbao. I think the people from Bilbao will be happy to see me. However, this is a sport and I play against them. It was my team during one year and a half and now I have to play with them to win. It’s difficult but this is a sport”.

Last week our team added point guard Jacob Pullen to the roster who set an ACB record with 12 triples in a single game. You also played in this game. Do you remember it and what can you say about Jacob as a player?
“Of course, I remember it. We played an away game with CB Valladolid. I remember I just put the screens to pass the balls because he scored 12 triples. It was a Barcelona and all-ACB record. In the time-out, the coach said if you score two more triples you would break the record and make a dinner for the team. Therefore, we passed the ball to him because everyone wanted a free dinner. He is one of the best one-on-one players and amazing offensively. He is a smart player. I am sure he will improve in our system with our coach. If he improve in defense and does what coach wants he’ll help us a lot”.

This summer you did not have rest as you played EuroBasket 2017 qualifying round with Montenegrin national team. How did you like that time?
“Every year we have long preparations. Now we have stayed together for two months. We had Georgia, Slovakia and Albania in the group. First two games against Slovakia and Albania were easy but the third one in Georgia was difficult. Nevertheless, we won by two points in the last seconds. I think we have done a good job because two years ago Montenegro did not qualify to the EuroBasket 2015. Everybody knows we have good players but we did not qualify in the past. It was a lot of pressure to the people from the national team, federation and coaches. Everybody felt pressure because it would have been very bad for the basket if we had not qualified to the EuroBasket two times in a row. One time is bad but two times in a row would have been terrible. We worked hard but the only time we lost was a home game with Georgia. It was our last game and we had already qualified. The opponent was better and played with more energy and desire. We forgot about it because we are happy about the qualification. Now we wait for the draw procedure. Next year it will be interesting because we have a good team to fight for some surprise at the EuroBasket”.

Last season you started with Khimki and lived in Russia. How did you like your stay in our country?
“In our life many things depend on the basketball. Sometimes it rains outside and it depends on how you play the game and how the team does. If the team won and you played well nobody cares about the rain. If the team lost and you played badly this rain is more than rain. It was difficult for me in Russia in the moment when I stopped playing. Everything was difficult for me but now it is my second time in Khimki. Nothing is new for me. I have more friends here and the people I know here. I know all the Russians and new Americans. All of them are very good guys. I can say now I feel much better and comfortable with the team. I hope this season will be better for me and for the team. I will try to help the team more than last season”.

By Sergey Khodyachikh