By Alex Molina / info@eurohoops.net
As Unicaja Málaga prepares for another crucial chapter in its remarkable rise, point guard Kendrick Perry has made one thing clear: success means little if the mission remains incomplete.
Drawing inspiration from the legendary mentality of Kobe Bryant and his iconic “job is not finished” philosophy, Perry explained that the message has become part of Unicaja’s identity over the past two seasons.
“Anybody that has followed Unicaja’s journey program for the last couple years knows that it has been about ‘Job is not finished’,” Perry said. “The job isn’t finished until the job is finished. We have accomplished a lot to get here, but we understand that there is still more to go. This is to remind my team and myself that there is still work to do.”
The statement reflects the mentality that has transformed Unicaja into one of the most competitive and resilient teams in European basketball. Despite recent achievements, Perry insists that complacency has no place inside the locker room.
“When you win one title, you appreciate the work and you understand that the job of that title is finished, but there is always something more,” he said. “That’s the beauty of the game and the competition. There is no real mountain top to get to: you either have to stay on the mountain top or you have to get back on top of it. You are always searching for the next job to be finished.”
Perry emphasized that Unicaja’s progress has not been built overnight, but through months of discipline, sacrifice and collective commitment. According to the American guard, the team’s chemistry has become one of its greatest strengths.
“We are together as a group, we figured out what our strengths and weaknesses are throughout the course of the season,” Perry explained. “Day by day, step by step, practice by practice. It can be tedious and exhausting, but this is something we love to do. I embrace every season as an opportunity to get better and try to make the most of it.”
The road, however, has not been without obstacles. Injuries, pressure and the demands of competing at the highest level have tested the squad throughout the campaign. Still, Perry believes the team has reached the stage of the season where mentality matters most.
“Every year is different, we had some challenges this season but we have to be able to put that aside to focus for two games, one game at a time,” he said. “We still have an opportunity to accomplish something really great, we have to embrace the moment and be as focused as we can for 40 minutes.”