Before leaving to Lithuania Justin and E.J. visited our office and answered couple of our questions.

Expectations from preseason camp

Carter: “I expect to learn a lot from each other to become a good team and be on the same page. Obviously my automatically goal for each game is a win, even if it is a preseason or the first game we are to play together”.

Rowland: “I just realize that it’s gonna be some games but the most important and necessary thing is to join the team and work out with the chemistry. I have not even met all the players and the coaches. Therefore, when I start tomorrow I just want to try get better every day and hopefully be okay for the moment when the season starts. It will be feeling good”.

The role in the team

Carter: “We didn’t really talk about the season but about some things like where I played and where [Dusko] coached. It was just to know each other. He said I am around to play positions two and three but I am more comfortable with a shooting guard position. It depends on the system and I think that our system fits me well so I’ll be in a good shape”.

Rowland: “Generally I’ve played point guard for a while. There is always certain things that are expected of me. I mean if it’s set up the players or try to make my teammates happy; leading different ways depending on the team. There are many experienced guys in the team and some young players. I think my experience will be useful for the team. Anytime you bring to the team you learn from it. I’m sure the coach will have guys physically and mentally prepared for the challenges. I have to be around the team and just figure out what is needed from me”.

Last season

Carter: “I started [last season] in Turkey but I would say I had some injuries that slowed me down. Therefore, I just had to go to China to switch up my career and it was an opportunity. It was fun and for sure it was definitely different. It was different atmosphere and culture as well. It was great even that we didn’t win the championship. We competed and tried to win as well. After that, I moved to Venezuela and was just at home. That was probably the toughest place I played. It was a very physical league and the players always pushed you around even you are with the ball or without it. It was good. The life was kind a rough but it was always hot, sunny and by the ocean”.

Rowland: “I played in many championships and the last season did in Israel with Hapoel Jerusalem. We won the regular season and clinched the play-offs final spot but lost. Now I will live and play in Russia and it’s a new chapter in my career”.

Expectations from life and play in Russia

Carter: “Hopefully it won’t be too cold here. I look forward to travelling a lot because I know there are many travels; having fun and winning; and being competitive with the team. I know [BC Khimki] always recruited many good players either from the NBA or top guys from Europe. I know it is a good club that helps players to develop to be able to go to other clubs or stay here at a good moment of time. In the team, we have other US players, Perry and E.J., that will be good for my adjustment. E.J. definitely takes care of the ball and Perry is an athletic guy. I think we have some good pieces with experienced Russian players. I expect a couple of dunks but of course, I just try to be competitive and give it all I have every game, have some fun and win. But I’ll definitely give you some dunks”.

Rowland: “I’ve heard that [VTB League] became stronger. I think there is less teams now and it is exciting because when I was in VEF it was brackets and you didn’t see some squads until the play-offs. You did your groups first. It’s good you have to play with everybody. It will be very strong season with competitive teams. Every game is exciting. Moscow is a major city and playing here comes from these expectations. I’ve already recognized the traffic and hopefully it won’t be very cold. My expectations are all basketball related and just trying to win”.