After the first team training session with Žalgiris, the basketball player sat down for his first interview in Kaunas as a freshly baked Žalgiris player and shared his impressions of the new career stop with Žalgiris TV.
“After all these years in basketball, I still feel the excitement before the first practice. Indeed, this is great. I feel like the first day at school: meeting new teammates, talking to the coach, getting to know the environment. The coach presents all the important rules, his expectations to the team. This is great,” said B. Dunston.
The 38-year-old, 203 cm tall American, who is entering his 12th season in the EuroLeague, has represented three teams during his long career in the tournament: Olympiacos of Piraeus, Anadolu Efes of Istanbul, and Virtus of Bologna last season.
When asked about the composition of Žalgiris this season, B. Dunston claimed that the team assembled by Andrea Trinchieri and the club’s management resembles in some aspects the composition profile of the Istanbul club.
“We are really a team with a lot of depth.” We can rotate a lot of players. We have a lot of players who can play in multiple positions. I think this is very good. It all reminds me a bit of Anadolu Efes when I played there. We had guys there who could switch easily, play easily. Anyone who won the ball could start an attack immediately. This is very dynamic basketball,” said the tall player.
Having accumulated great experience in basketball, B. Dunston said that as a veteran, he is ready to be a strong back for his teammates in the locker room.
“It’s normal for players my age to have a strong voice in the dressing room. A voice on the field that helps other guys. Maybe help the coach fix some things he doesn’t catch or see. Some of that behind-the-scenes stuff. It is important for me to keep the unity of the team. To keep the communication channels open and allow the team to stay together,” said the oldest newcomer from abroad in the history of the “Žalgiris” team.
B. Dunston, who played 13 times in his career against “Žalgiris” in the EuroLeague, remembers more than one match in the “Žalgiris” arena. This time, the basketball player was happy that the atmosphere factor of the local match would be on his side.
“Every time I played here, it was a big game. And not only because of the opponents that came, but also because of how much the local fans love their team. The players gave their all on the field for the arena. It added an extra element to the match. There was never a dull match here. I’m glad that the fan factor, which derails rival teams, will now be on my side,” the interviewer said.
Two-time Euroleague champion with “Anadolu Efes” club and twice chosen as the best defensive basketball player of the tournament, B. Dunston strives to win every game in basketball. He hopes to pass on the championship aura to his new teammates.
“It’s clear – I play basketball to win. This is the only reason I play. I came here to win. In every match we play. And I don’t really care if it’s a regular season game or a preseason game. I want to win. In every game that comes our way, I expect us to win. Such are my expectations. I hope that the other teammates are exactly the same,” said B. Dunston.
The American, together with his new teammates, will take the first tests on the field already on September 4 and 8, when Zalgiris will play their first friendly match. “Žalgiris Insider” will broadcast them live.
2024-08-24 00:06:20