By Vangelis Papadimitriou / info@eurohoops.net
The war on Ukraine has led to a domino of decisions in European basketball, with Zalgiris Kaunas being vocal about boycotting games against Russian teams shortly after the invasion.
EuroLeague Basketball announced Monday that games of all Russian teams have been suspended, and Zalgiris big man Joffrey Lauvergne talked about the recent developments to Eurohoops.
“It is historic, especially for the team, more than me, since I am French,” Lauvergne told Eurohoops following his team’s win against Panathinaikos in Athens on Tuesday.
“I completely understand the team’s decision and I respect it. I’m just an athlete, it’s sad for basketball too. But life is much bigger than basketball. We can not say much about ourselves now. So many lives have been affected. We will play fewer games, we have nothing to complain about”.
Lauvergne, who has just recently returned to action after being sidelined for four months due to injury lifted his team to their third consecutive win in EuroLeague, dropping a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds against Panathinaikos.
“It is not easy to watch the games from the bench. It is enough for me that what I give is sufficient for the team and for myself. We still have many games ahead of us”, Lauvergne commented.
Zalgiris has won its last three games to move up to a 6-19 record. Although they are far from the playoffs zone, the season isn’t over for Lauvergne and his teammates, as he mentioned.
“It’s very simple for me. And I believe for my teammates as well. I love playing basketball. I do not look at the score, I always try to play in the best way I can and I want to enjoy it at the same time. The more we earn and the more I perform, the more I will enjoy it. It is so simple”
Photo credit: Eurokinissi