“Žalgiris” newcomer S.Francisco made his debut in the Euroleague last year, and this year he will be able to take his game to the next level, where he will have an excellent environment in Kaunas.
Despite the waves, in 2023 the member of the French national team that played in the world championship collected solid numbers in the last EuroLeague season and surprised many EuroLeague fans.
Last year, in 19 minutes on the court, the defender collected 10.6 points (43.1% doubles, 35.4% triples, 81.4% penalties), distributed 3.2 assists and recorded 10.7 average utility scores.
There was also an impressive moment when the defender in Belgrade scored the winning three-pointer in the basket of “Partizan” and snatched an elusive triumph for his team.
What does the basketball player himself expect from the second season, where a significant number of basketball players take steps forward?
“I think that in the first year I got to know the EuroLeague better, I tried to adapt to it, to find out how to play in it, how I can adapt to it faster. Finally, I think I adapted to the EuroLeague quite quickly than I expected.
I think that in the second year I will have to confirm that I really belong to the Euroleague. I think I showed that in the first year, but in the second season I want to take it a step further. This year I will have more responsibilities on the field, I will have to be a leader who will have to help the team finish as high as possible in the standings,” – to the portal lrytas.lt said S.Francisco.
It is also interesting that the Frenchman’s predecessor, Keenan Evans, the former leader of Zalgiris who left for Piraeus Olympiakos, followed a similar path as S.Francisco has already passed.
After a solid, but not the best season, K. Evans decided to leave Tel Aviv “Maccabi” and traded the Israeli team to Kaunas, which was probably the best decision in the basketball player’s career.
K. Evans collected 8.2 points, 3.5 assists and 10.2 utility points in his debut season in the EuroLeague, and already in the second season, when he moved to Kaunas, the American’s numbers jumped up – 15.9 points, 3.7 assists and 17.4 utility points.
S.Francisco respected K.Evans’ show in Kaunas, but did not emphasize it too much and said that he still needs to study.
“Keenan is a great player. I think what he achieved in Kaunas is incredible, but there are many players who have also done what he has done. There are especially many defenders who came to Kaunas and then went to bigger teams, but for me now the most important thing is to learn from my teammates and coaches, and we’ll see what happens after that. At the end of the day, I’m me, I’ll be focused for this season and I’ll try to show what I do best,” Francisco said.
Portal lrytas.lt when asked about how Andrea Trinchieri tried to convince him to join Zalgiris, the defender spoke openly about the coach’s message.
“The coach himself was very important to me, and I knew that Andrea is a very good specialist. Andrea is the winner.
He told me straight up, “I want you on my team, but I’ll be breathing down your back. I don’t care if you like it. Are you ready for that?”. I like that kind of challenge. I’m also happy that the coach tells me so directly what he wants from me”, taught S.Francisco.
Portal lrytas.lt – a conversation with one of the future leaders of “Žalgiris”, in which the Frenchman talked about his first weeks in Kaunas, A. Trinchieri’s uniqueness, leadership and his countryman joining Olympiakos.
– How would you describe your first weeks in Kaunas?
– The city is very good, the weather in Kaunas is very good, warm, sunny. It feels like everyone is hanging out in the city. As for the club, the training room and the coaches themselves are amazing. With the whole team, we are on the same page and achieving goals, and as for my teammates, I like them all very much.
– What did you learn about the team during the beginning of the preparation?
– I already knew that our team would be talented, because we are a young team with veterans. It was also important for me to see how the coach wants to see us play. So far, the style works for everyone, which is an advantage and also a pleasure for everyone. We know that Andrea is a great coach and having him in the team makes a lot of things easier for us.
– During your young career, you worked with Pedro Martinez (BAXI of Manresa), Vassilis Spanoulis (Peristeri of Athens) and Pablo Laso (Bayern Munich). How would you compare former coaches with A. Trinchieri?
– I think that every coach is unique in his own way. At the end of the day, it’s not like they have very different mentalities. For now, I can’t make a more precise comparison with my former coaches, but so far I really enjoy working with Andrea.
– What message did Andrea Trinchieri send you before signing with Zalgiris?
– The coach himself was very important to me, and I knew that Andrea was a very good specialist. I asked my teammates about him, how he was in training and during matches. Andrea knew what kind of player I was and that we had a very similar vision.
What’s more, Andrea is a winner. He told me straight up, “I want you on my team, but I’ll be breathing down your back. I don’t care if you like it. Are you ready for that?”. I liked the challenge of having the coach tell me so directly what he wants from me.
I feel that he appreciates me and I reciprocate the same. I learn a lot from him.
– How do you imagine the leadership that you have mentioned several times that you want to bring to the “Zalgiris” team?
– I don’t think it’s easy, but I really like communicating with my teammates, building a relationship with them outside the field, finding out what they want in the end and on the field itself, because I’m an offensive player. I have to make sure that my teammates are “fed” (enough of the ball – ed.) that they know where my strengths are. If I don’t speak, it will be very difficult for me to understand them, and it will be difficult for them to understand me.
– What do you think about the transfer of your compatriot Evan Fournier to Olympiakos Piraeus?
– I am very happy for him! He spent a very long time in the NBA… 12 seasons is a lot. People don’t understand how hard it is to last in the NBA for that long. I think being at Olympiakos means a lot to him, he has said before that it is his dream club. Olympiakos will have an impressive squad this coming season and I wish Evan nothing but the best.
2024-09-04 11:25:34