THE Nan He became the most valuable player of this year’s season at Euroleague and gave a revealing interview to Euroleague & Friends Podcast.
Panathinaikos’ American guard, Cereic Nan, talked about the Euroleague MVP award and his new contract with the Greens, and made his precepts for this year’s Final Four.
About how he feels after the announcement:
“Great. I had an amazing season, with a lot of up and down. So far the season was great. Now the post-season is starting and we have a job to do.”
For who comes to mind right now?
“My family. We are very far from our home, but they were with me at every step of this journey. They support me every day, and in difficult times. So it’s definitely in my mind now.”
Whether he was thinking of the MVP after the announcement of the best five:
“No I didn’t think about it. I saw the best five, but to be honest, I was preparing for the playoffs these days. I was a little surprised, but the energy on the court is great at the moment. I was very serious all weekend, but I was making me happy.”
For the time being expected that in two years he would be a champion, MVP and Euroleague top scorer when he signed to Panathinaikos:
“Yes, I honestly expected it.
About how to celebrate it:
“We made a group dinner at the end of the regular season. But now we get into the playoffs, so unfortunately we won’t celebrate the MVP. But I hope we celebrate when everything is over.”
On how he would react, if someone told him 15 years ago, when you were in Chicago, that he would fall in love with Greece and dominate the Euroleague:
“I probably wouldn’t believe it. 15 years ago I was envisioned to become a star in the NBA. This was my dream.
On how he describes Euroleague to his friends back to the US:
“I tell them it’s a completely different game. It’s like a war zone, always speaking. In the NBA it’s more fun, a show. Here’s more competition, passion and really trying to win the game. I enjoy it more, because I’m competitive as a human being.”
For the fans make the difference:
“Of course, it is the fans who drive the league. Without them Euroleague would not be what it is today. And I say it in the world.”
About what he liked the most in Center for NBA and what he likes in Center in Europe:
“I love that I have played in both leagues. In the NBA I went as a young and hungry player. I had success there obviously, but then I chose to come to Europe, instead of falling into my career there. I chose to continue to hunt my greatness. me ”.
On whether you act as a “lighthouse” for other American players so they can come and try to play at Euroleague:
“Yes, of course I am. Not only me, but Hein (Larkin) for example. When I was on the NBA I saw what He did here and I was thinking ‘OK, there is an opportunity and a perspective there.’ They see.
Wenien Gambriel is one of them. I was talking to him last year and saying ‘Brother come, you have to try it’. Because we had a good connection when we played together with the Lakers. He went to Maccabi first and when some of our tall people were injured I was very in favor of bringing him here. “
About what he likes most about himself:
“My discipline. Every day I will follow my routine, no matter how I feel. I have made an agreement with myself, that I will have a strict routine, a strict diet, such things. It doesn’t matter how I get caught up when I wake up to me.
For Mic’ed up video from the game with Monaco and the conversation you had with Spanoulis:
“Yes, I really liked it. It was a great video. I was sure it would go out very good.
We exchanged some conversations during the match. I laughed and said ‘I know’, because I was more concentrated on my opponents on the parquet, so I didn’t pay huge attention to what he told me.
Everyone would like to see one against one with Spanoulis, but I think I would win. “
About whether he was surprised by something:
“No, nothing. But I think I have to be a little more talkative with my teammates, put them in the right places, give them confidence. But I did the best I could, because if I was talking too much, then I would have a problem with my breath.”
For the process of expanding his contract with Panathinaikos:
“There should be a great deal of talk about that. I am excited to have and we did.
Did not happen within a couple of weeks. I’m happy though. I made the right decision and I’m happy. This is also the main goal, to be happy in a place where I get comfortable, I feel confident and ready to execute my plan. “
On whether it was finally an easy decision or not:
“It wasn’t easy. Because I really think I am in my dear and that my best basketball is in front of me. On the one hand I thought I would like to be in the NBA, the best league and to have bigger challenges. But in the end it doesn’t always matter.
There is a family environment here. I love everything the club does. They trust the decisions I make and how I do things. How I find confidence through the team and how I encourage the rest. I am a leader. I think it’s much better for me to be a superstar here than to be a NBA roller. That was what finally made me make this decision. “
For the glamorous period that Panathinaikos is going through:
“It suits me. Everything is in perfect harmony. I couldn’t ask for something better. It was also a piece that played a role in my decision. See the stadium, it’s the best in Europe. We have a new locker room, the best in Europe. Dimitris Giannakopoulos is investing in his teams in the long run.
I spend most of my day here, so it’s essentially my home. He made it very comfortable for us so that there is nothing to distract us. You feel good, you look good, you play well. I really believe that. Our jerseys are very nice. They took care of everything. And this is worthy of respect. “
For the influence he exerts:
“Yes, I certainly understand it. I don’t want to think about it too much. I try to stay in the things I can control. But I chase the greatness (Greatness). I try to be the best version of myself. And this obviously gives another dimension to everything else.
For the playoffs and fights with Efes:
“It’s the best time of the year. I constantly say it to my teammates. The fun is starting now. The enthusiasm, the passion. I wish all the players to be able to live this.
The series with Efes will not be easy at all. He showed character at the end of the season and this shows a lot about the characters and the talent they have in the team. It will not be easy for us, even though we have the home advantage. We know they will come ready.
Yesterday, before training, I reminded my teammates that we had a home advantage against Maccabi last year and lost the first match. We don’t want to make the same mistake again. But we have to go one game at a time. “
For the other series:
“I’ll go with Paris. I don’t know how many games. I’ll go with Monaco and Olympiacos.”