By Javier Molero/ jmolero@eurohoops.net
Miikka Muurinen is not having the expected impact at Partizan. After his impressive EuroBasket performance with Finland, the 18-year-old talent has not seen any playing time with the EuroLeague team.
In an interview with Mondo, coach Peñarroya spoke about the Finnish player, what he needs to reach the elite level, and what his future might hold.
“He has the potential to be a top-level player, but that’s not enough. He won’t become a player based on highlights“, Peñarroya said. “There’s a part of basketball that he doesn’t understand right now”, he added.
“He is a young player, he has great individual and physical abilities, he can do a lot. He comes from college, he has not played professional basketball“, explained about the Finnish talent.
“It is difficult to play in the Euroleague; you have players with NBA experience who have not adapted. You need to have a different mentality, yes I think that he is only thinking about returning to America“, Peñarroya mentioned.
He also mentioned the opportunity to coach a “historic club” like Partizan.
“The first call was after Željko decided to leave the team. I was at that moment without a club for about a month, since parting with Barcelona. It was not an easy month for me as a coach after everything that happened in Barcelona. I had no intention of returning to the bench so quickly, but when a big and historic club like Partizan calls you..“, he said to Mondo.
It’s been tough since day one, and Peñarroya knew that before arriving to Belgrade. “You are coming to a team from which the best European coach in the last 25 years is leaving and who is more than a coach for this club. It is a huge responsibility and it seemed that it could only end badly. You have to be a little crazy, but also believe”, he concluded.