By Aris Barkas/ barkas@Eurohoops.net
Sarunas Jasikevicius talked to “Mundo Deportivo” and Jose Ignacio Huguet about everything that happened in a short period of time this summer and ultimately kept him on the bench of Zalgiris Kaunas.
Saras admitted that his interview with the Toronto Raptors changed the way he approaches his career: “ I had a very nice experience with Toronto, they came to Lithuania to interview me. The truth is that they opened my eyes. It was my first interview with an NBA franchise and I was fascinated. A few days after the Final Four came the call of Masai Ujiri and in ten days they were there to interview me and see what ideas I have. After two weeks they decided to sign Nick Nurse but it was an unforgettable experience for me. It’s been a while since I spoke to people with such an unusual vision, it was incredible, I think I’ve improved as a person and coach just talking to them. They left me impressed. I did not expect it, I did not think the opportunity would come so soon“.
However, Jasikevicius once again was ready to negotiate with Barcelona, even if this never happened to his surprise: “They wanted to negotiate and after the Final Four I said: “go ahead, go talk to my representative and see if we come to anything”. And they did not take the next step. They have not made any offers to me, they have not made any proposal to me. We have only talked about my ideas, how I think the team and the structure should be. And evidently, they have not liked my ideas. I have spoken more with Barça this year because Nacho Rodriguez (ed.note: the current head of the basketball department) is there and we have been friends for a long time. But I really do not know who makes the decisions there“.