By Javier Molero/ jmolero@eurohoops.net
Cameron Payne has already begun training with Partizan. The Belgrade team’s new signing promises to change the course of the season.
Just like Joan Peñarroya arriving as the new coach, Payne has to adapt to the city and the fans. It’s his first experience in Europe, and he made that clear in the press conference.
“I’m looking forward to getting out on the court with the guys. Of course, we want to win. I’ll do my best, play the way I usually play, fast, with a lot of energy, but most importantly – have fun,” he said to the media, as Meridiansport reports.
“I don’t know much about the club, but I managed to learn in three days. We have a new coach, and I’m trying to adapt. The coach who was there before was the greatest of all time. We’re not winning at the moment and that’s all I know. Also, the fans here are the best”, he added about his new team.
He was waiting for offers from the NBA, but playing in the Euroleague is becoming increasingly attractive to American players.
“At that point, there were other NBA teams that wanted me, but I had to wait… I had a few tryouts, but they signed other players. I wanted to give myself a chance to get back to the NBA, but as time went on, I got tired of being at home, I wanted to play, there was an opportunity here. I could have waited for the NBA, but I made the decision to play”, said to the media.
He will need to adapt to FIBA rules as soon as possible to be important to a team that needs him.
“I played in the NBA from the bench, I didn’t feel all those defenses, the blitz… I feel that there will be different defensive schemes for the players with the ball, but I believe that there will be a quick transition. Some rules are different, I heard a little while ago that I can’t call a timeout… But, I’m a basketball player, a competitor, ready for the highest level. I will understand everything, and if I don’t understand something, I will make sure that it doesn’t happen again“, Payne explained.
As he said at the airport on the day of his arrival, the goal is to win. “I can promise to give 100 percent, it’s not realistic to promise to win every game, but we want to. The plan is to win every game. I would like to reach the final, but we have to start from training, so that it transfers to the games. We have to talk more, but as a leader on the field, my goal is to involve everyone, to score points… You will never question my effort and energy – I love this a lot”, he added.
“To win absolutely everything. That was the goal at the beginning of the season, why not? I believe we still have a chance. We shouldn’t change our goals. We want to reach the final“, Payne explained after training.
He explained to the media the difference in all aspects with the NBA. “First of all – it’s a different ball. The court is a little smaller, so I’m getting used to it, but I’m a pretty good shooter. I don’t want to talk too much about it, but first I’ll play, then we can talk. My game is my game, the first thing is to get my teammates involved, and when the court opens up, I can attack. I hope the best defenders will be in Washington...”, the guard said.
Peñarroya is the new coach, and Partizan wants to put the bad results behind them.”This is a reset with a new coach. We have to play more together and win as a team. You can’t do it with one or two players. It was fun in the previous training sessions, but I learned a lot. Hopefully we will have fun in the games”, Payne commented.