By Antonis Stroggylakis / info@eurohoops.net
When you are the EuroLeague all-time leader in both assists and steals, being widely hailed as one of the top guards who has ever stepped on the floor in the competition, you might justifiably think that there’s nothing to prove anymore.
Nick Calathes though feels otherwise.
“I do [feel I still have something to prove],” Calathes told Eurohoops. “For me, I still feel I have a lot to give. Last year was the first year when I actually got injured in my career. I love the game still. I love playing with the guys. I love being in the locker room. Obviously, let’s say that I’m not the guy that will play 35 minutes like I used to. But I believe I can still give a lot to a team.”
“And for me… I enjoy it. I still enjoy it. When the time comes when I don’t enjoy it I’ll be the first one to say ‘I’m done, I gave it everything I can.’ Until that time comes I still feel I have stuff to give.”
Retaining the “Love for the Game” is vital for Calathes.
“For sure. It’s the biggest thing,” Calathes admitted. “To enjoy it. If I don’t enjoy it man, I’ll go home and say I left it all out there. I still enjoy it I still love. I love the competitive nature on the court. If I’m healthy, I feel great.”
Calathes signed with Partizan Belgrade late in October after parting ways with AS Monaco. His arrival at the Serbian powerhouse prompted a reunion with coach Zeljko Obradovic for the first time after 2009 to 2012 when they worked together at Panathinaikos Athens.
Back then, Obradovic was already a legend in European basketball and Calathes was a fiesty rookie who was making his professional debut, eager to prove himself.
“I had no idea what European basketball. I was thinking I was one of the top college players. And I came to a team like Panathinaikos… I didn’t even know who Panathinaikos was. I was thinking I’m going to play right away, I’d run the show, ‘blah blah blah’. And I didn’t play at all the first year. I got “killed” in practice. I didn’t enjoy it. I was like, I don’t know if I can last in Europe. Maybe it’s not a good fit for me.”
“In the second year, I grew up as a player and a person and I started feeling what the coach wanted from me. What he needed and demanded. And it helped me growing. Because if I played before, I’d have a ‘big head’. He obviously was a really big part in me becoming the player who I am.”
In 2011, they celebrated the EuroLeague championship title with Panathinaikos. It was Zoc’s eighth overall but the first for Calathes, 22 years old bck then.
15 years after they first met, Obradovic is also different in certain ways, according to Calathes.
“He’s changed a lot. He’s a lot more calmer. I see stuff during the game and during practices. I was thinking, 15 years ago, I think he would’ve grabbed the person by the ear, or hit him with the clipboard on the head. Now, he’s more calm but the same – or more – demanding.”
Before his second stint with Panathinaikos, Calathes spent two years in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies from 2013 to 2015. He could’ve played at least for one more year but opted to return to the Greens who made him a lucrative offer to convince him to join them as the new leader and captain Dimitris Diamantidis’ successor.
“I don’t look back with a regret but I wish I stayed one more year,” Calathes mentioned. “Because they picked my qualifying offer. Obviously I took the offer of Panathinaikos. I think maybe I should’ve given the NBA one more year to play.”
“But I don’t regret everything,” Calathes added. “Obviously, Panathinaikos has done everything for me.”
Another major “What If” that Calathes is the 2021 EuroLeague championship game when he was playing with Barcelona.
Calathes had a strong performance of 17 points, six assists and four rebounds in the semifinal win over Olimpia Milano but carried an ankle injury in the Final vs. Anadolu Efes. The Blaugrana fell to the Turkish side and the Greek guard believes the result could’ve been different if he played at full strength.
“It’s one of the biggest ‘What Ifs’ for me in my career to be honest,” Calathes said. “Because I believe that if I didn’t get my ankle [injured] in the semifinal… I believe we had the best team all season that year. I don’t think anyone could beat us. Obviously Efes won and I’m not taking anything from them. But I believe that was my biggest chance to win it again.”