One of the mentioned newcomers is 25-year-old Matt Mitchell, who spent the last season in Turkey, in the Besiktas Istanbul team.
The 199 cm tall forward was one of the first newcomers to Kaunas and when asked about how he is acclimatizing to the new career stop, he said that everything is going smoothly so far.
“So far so good. I have been here for over a month now and the settling in process is going smoothly. Of course, I will have some difficulties in the new team and in the Euroleague, but I am ready for it. I came here earlier so that I could adapt and get used to the new system and the new place,” said M. Mitchell.
This will be the fourth season in Europe for the “Žalgiris” newcomer. However, the striker does not yet have Euroleague experience and has represented two clubs during his career – Strasbourg SIG and the aforementioned Beşiktaş.
The American, who collected averages of 12.5 points and 11.8 utility points in the European Cup last season, was asked whether during the first training sessions he already managed to feel the level differences between the EuroLeague and European Cup clubs. In response, he singled out one of the strongest components of the game that differs when comparing teams in these tournaments.
“Physicality is strongly higher from all positions. I think it’s a big step forward for me, but at the end of the day, it’s just basketball, regardless of the level of play. Regardless of the level of the opponents, we have to lace up our boots, step on the field and play,” said the forward from California.
– Last season you visited Lithuania with “Bešiktaš” – after an impressive end of the match, you lost against Vilnius “Wolves”. What do you personally remember about that match? – we asked M. Mitchell.
– I remember that we closed the match poorly. We had a very good start but a very poor finish.
– Have you met and communicated with current or former Žalgiris players before coming here?
– Yes, I have encountered more than one of them. In the summer I often train with KC Rivers, who has given me a lot of information about the club and the city. I also had to play with Kevarrius Hayes in the NBA summer league. Everyone I talked to had only positive things to say about this team.
– “Žalgiris” will have a number of players whose main position is the winger in the coming season. Have you talked with the coach about what role is planned for you personally and what part of the minutes will be played in the heavy wing position?
– I think that the coach has made all plans. Personally, I’ve been told that I’m wanted for versatility, I’ll be used in multiple positions. I want to see the depth of my game, become more versatile and be professional.
– How interested were you in the Lithuanian basketball league before coming here?
– Not too much. In the first year in France, I had to play against “Ryta” Vilnius, so I have already played against “Žalgiris” eternal rivals. I don’t know much about LKL, but I know it’s a competitive league between top teams. I look forward to competing and fighting in the crucial moments of the season.
– What is the mood of the team going into the season and remembering that last season it was not possible to win the LKL title?
– This is a big burden on our shoulders. It is felt not only by the players from the previous season, but also by the newcomers of the team. We feel the same as they do, we are one team and one fist, so we have to take it seriously and get a rematch.
– What do you personally want to take away from this upcoming season?
– I want to grow as a professional, take the next step in my development and show that I can play at the highest level, whether it’s in the USA or Europe. Right now I want to play at that level in the Euroleague and show my best.
2024-09-05 03:51:28