By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The 23-year-old Turkish guard Cedi Osman joined the Cavaliers last season fulfilling his childhood dreams. He had a good rookie season and believes he is ready to show even more: “I’m ready. I’ve been thinking about this year all the time. Last year was an amazing experience for me, playing in the Finals, playing with Lebron. That was all amazing, a dream came true and now it’s time to work when I get on the floor, to do my best and show what I’m capable of.”, Osman shared during the Cavaliers media day.
Although he was sad to watch LeBron James leave Cleveland as they were also very close, he learned a lot during the time they had and will do his best to put it into practice: “We had a lot going through with him. We were good friends and I think our energies were the thing which made us better friends. He helped me a lot during the season, he took me under his wing and he was always there supporting me no matter what. I remember some bad games when he was the first one telling me to keep my head up. So, of course, I’m sad but it’s time to show what I learned from him.”
LeBron’s presence as a leader is undeniable and that is exactly what the young guard took as a learning goal: “The most important thing I learned was how to be a leader. How to act when things were going bad, that was the most important lesson for me.”
He also had an unforgettable chance to train with the ‘King’ during the summer and he was excited more than ever: “I met with Bron and he offered me to practice with him. And, you know, what do you expect me to say, I say ‘of course, that would be perfect’.”
To make things even better, both Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard joined them and Cedi will keep that memory forever in his heart: “The first day we worked out together and then the next day he said we will work out with KD and Kawhi. I was so excited. I thought ‘Wow, the best three small forwards in the world and I’ll have an opportunity to learn from them’. That’s something I’ll never forget.”