2023-10-05 23:07:04
Dzanan Musa is 24 years old, “but from everything I have experienced it seems that I am 35, although I am not thinking about retiring,” he says with a laugh. The Bosnian forward (Bihac, 8-5-1999) confesses himself “very happy” at the beginning of his second season at Real Madrid. He was elected MVP of the Endesa League in September. He lives in Boadilla, on the outskirts of the capital, “far from the center and with my girlfriend.” His life is enough for a movie, although he has already participated in a documentary – “Something in the water” – about players from the former Yugoslavia who made the jump to the NBA. Sarajevo, Zagreb, Brooklyn, Istanbul, Lugo, Madrid…
What do you do in your free time from basketball?
Just PlayStation with my friends from Bosnia and also with friends from Real. I play a lot of FIFA, I like football. I went to the Bernabéu for the game against Liverpool and I was also at Benzema’s last game. I love it, it was very, very special. Now I really like Vinicius and Bellingham, who is a cracker.
Before dedicating himself to basketball, he played soccer. What position did he play?
As a forward, always as a forward like Benzema. To win, score, score goals, always ahead.
About defending little…
(Laughs). Now this season in basketball, yes, it is one of the things I have to improve. In basketball yes, but not in football. In soccer I only played as a striker, you had to score a lot of goals.
Did you play with your brother or nine years older than you were too old?
I played with him in the backyard. He made it to the junior national team with Bosna Sarajevo. I left football early, I liked basketball more and I was too tall.
He left his home, from Bihac to Sarajevo, as a child…
I remember that I cried a lot, that I spent a lot of time crying. I was very little, I was 11 or 12 years old and I was in a big city alone, without my father, without my mother, without brother, without friends… it was very complicated, but now I see that it is the best decision I have ever made. life.
From Sarajevo, and from scoring 40 or 50 points in lower categories, he moved to Cedevita Zagreb. And he debuted in the Euroleague at 16 years old…
Yes, the first game was against Olympiacos and I had to defend Spanoulis. My first foul was very hard, but I saw that day that I could play at that level. He was 16 years old and didn’t have a beard or muscle like he does now.
He goes to the United States at 19 and plays 54 games in the NBA. Is that door still open?
The door to the NBA is never closed, but my head is now on Real Madrid. I am open to all options, but now the most important thing for me is to be at Real Madrid. I am very happy here because Real Madrid, the club, is also my family.
He has a contract until June of next year…
My head is lonely now. Focused on Euroleague, Liga Endesa and Copa del Rey. Then we’ll see. Don’t know. We will talk to Real Madrid and we will see what happens.
What does Madrid have that Sarajevo, Zagreb, Brooklyn, Istanbul… don’t have?
Madrid is a special city and the people here have to know it. It’s not very big, it’s familiar… the people remind me a lot of those from my country. The Spaniards, the people of Madrid are like the people of Bosnia because of their mentality, how they enjoy eating, how they enjoy life… I saw that in Lugo and I see it in Madrid.
Have you returned to Lugo after your season there when you were MVP of the ACB?
Yes, I returned at the end of last season because it is a city that I will always have in my heart. I went to pick up some things and went back to eating octopus. It’s the first thing you have to do when you go there.
What did you learn from last season?
That I have to defend more, is my goal for this season. Because I know that can help the team win more titles. If, in addition to attacking well, I defend, I know that I help Madrid a lot. In this team there are twelve players who are the best in Europe and I have to help them by defending.
Was the season long with more than 80 games?
Don’t know. I think I’m ready to play 80 or 100 games. I don’t care how many there are. It is better to play games than to train, although in training you learn a lot from the coach and your teammates. We do things as a team and learn from other players.
Tell me one thing you learned from Rudy, Llull and “Chacho”…
It is very difficult. Rudy is a very special person off the court, he is a good guy. And he defends, how he defends. Sergi is a leader, a winner. And “Chacho” is the most special point guard for us and off the court I talk a lot with him.
What does Campazzo bring?
He is one of the best point guards in Europe, it is incredible how important he is. He has a lot of quality, points, defense, he is strong… he has everything. He is a very good guy and also makes a lot of costumes. His signing has been very important for us.
What was the first thing you thought when you saw Llull’s basket in the last Final Four?
(Laughs) I was very excited, I don’t know. I don’t know where my head was. In the locker room, with the title, with my teammates, it was an unforgettable day for the team and for my Bosnian family. It was crazy, but I think this Euroleague that is starting is better than last year, there is even a higher level than last year, but we are Real Madrid.
#season #learned #defend