By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Nick Calathes gave an honest and more than interesting interview to Euro Insiders, touching on many different topics from his beginnings and first days at Panathinaikos to the Greek national team and working under coach Sarunas Jasikevicius, who was also once his teammate.
Monaco’s point guard also reflected on being left off the EuroLeague’s Top 25 list, admitting the decision surprised him.
“100 percent. I didn’t make a bigger deal, all those guys on the list are great players and deserve it, but if you look at everything I’ve done in EuroLeague and accomplished, there’s no way I shouldn’t be on that list. If you look at points, assists, steals, PIR, rebounds… I think I’m Top 15 in every stat possible. I don’t know how I can’t be on that list, but I’m not that type of guy that ever talks about myself either, so I’m very happy with those guys making it. Sometimes you just don’t make it and I’m okay with that,” Calathes said.
Still, the snub caught him off guard.
“It’s not gonna ruin my day, but when I saw it I was shocked. Also a guy like Vesely too, if you look at his accomplishments. Ginobili is an amazing player, but for EuroLeague Top 25… he played one year in EuroLeague.”
Looking back at his early days under Željko Obradović at Panathinaikos, he recalled how tough it was to break into the rotation.
“Diamantidis, Spanoulis, Jasikevicius, Drew Nicholas… I couldn’t tell you who Diamantidis was, Spanoulis was… All I was thinking was I’m gonna bust their ass in practice and Obradovic is gonna have to play me. I didn’t play at all, only when we were up 20, but I showed what I can do at practice.”
One unforgettable incident during a film session remains etched in his memory.
“They’re having film, it’s my first year and I go out with Mike Batiste and Drew Nicholas one night. We’re watching film the next day, I didn’t play and my head is against the wall… Itoudis is doing the film, 45 minutes, an hour… I rest my head against the wall and I fall asleep and I couldn’t get up. Itoudis sees me and goes: ‘Coach, I can’t do this film anymore, I stayed up all night doing this.’ I wake up to Obradovic shaking keys, he looks at me, wanted to kill me. I had the best practice ever that day, but it didn’t help. After this I’ve never closed my eyes in film. The worst experience of my career.”
Turning to his national team career, he explained how deep his connection to Greece runs.
“I feel Greek. Right now I’m 100 percent putting that jersey on. I’ve put the time, sweat and blood in every summer. Greek guys respect me enough to say I’m Greek. It’s an honor to put on the jersey. I feel blessed, like I’m wearing it for my grandfather. I don’t just do it to go and have my summer to play with Giannis.”
He also spoke warmly about Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“He is a great guy, even better off the court, works every day… You wouldn’t expect him to be one of the top three players in the world with the way he acts. He’s a clown, one of us. He’s hilarious, great to play with. He’s not full of himself. He’s the first guy eating McDonald’s.”
Finally, he reflected on the evolution of coach Sarunas Jasikevicius from their Barcelona days to his time at Fenerbahce.
“During the Barcelona days, I think he wanted to control a lot. We had a roster with so many good players that we could’ve played more free, let it flow more. I don’t know if he would tell you the same, but as I can see at Fenerbahce, he’s changed completely. Maybe that was the system in Zalgiris, he felt he needed to control more, but for me he’s changed so much. We were very successful at Barcelona, he wasn’t making us worse, but I felt he could’ve let us play more free.”
Despite some differences, Calathes has nothing but respect for the Lithuanian coach.
“We never had any issues, arguments. We’re still great friends. He’s one of the best coaches in terms of IQ I’ve ever had. His knowledge of the game, his ATOs, all that… He’s elite at those kinds of things.”