Manila, September 3 (Xinhua) -- Times are changing, and basketball is also changing. Nikola Pekovic, a former NBA Timberwolves center and current president of the Black Mountain Basketball Association, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua during the 2023 Basketball World Cup that now is an era when big men also need to shoot three-pointers.
Pekovic spent seven years with the Timberwolves, averaging 17.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game during his peak. Talking about the difference between basketball today and a decade ago, the legendary center of Montenegro said that first you have to be able to shoot three-pointers.
Pekovic was interviewed by a reporter from Xinhua News Agency
"I'm serious, I've never shot three-pointers in my career, but that doesn't stop me from being competitive all the time on the court. But it's a different thing now, and if the big guys don't shoot threes, it's going to be very tough on the floor. Pekovic said.
In his opinion, today's basketball also requires more mobility for big players. "Now the big guys are fast, they have to be able to shoot, they can block, etc., this is basketball now."
Scoring 100 points seems easier than ever to be in today's basketball game. Pekovic said: "Because nobody wants to watch a game where they can only score fifty or sixty points, everyone wants to see the players score points in the game. So in basketball now, you have to be able to shoot, the pace is faster, and you have to dunk more, because everyone loves to watch this. ”
In this basketball World Cup, Montenegro is in Group D with Lithuania, Egypt and Mexico. Despite losing to Lithuania in the group stage, Montenegro managed to finish second in the group after beating Egypt and Mexico and advanced to the round of 16.
Timberwolves player Pekovic during a game on January 25, 2015. Xinhua News Agency
"This World Cup, we have made progress. We finished 25th in the last World Cup, but this time we reached the last 16. I think the chemistry is good this year and we're a better team now. Pekovic said.
In the second stage of the group stage, Montenegro is teamed with the United States, Lithuania and Greece. To improve on the results, Montenegro must beat Greece on the 3rd.
"The match against Greece will be very intense and I hope everyone will not get hurt. We are now in the round of 16 and for me personally, I am very happy with the result. Pekovic said.
All-star center Vucevic who plays for the NBA's Chicago Bulls is undoubtedly Montenegro's number one star in this World Cup, and he also played in the game that met fan expectations. After four games, Vucevic averaged 20 points, 9.3 rebounds and 25 efficiency on the court, all three of which were team-high. For this junior who broke into the NBA, Pekovich did not hesitate to praise. "Vucevic is our leader, he can do anything on the pitch. He's our number one star and without a doubt the best. ”
Like many teams, Montenegro has naturalized players like Kendrick Perry in the squad. Perry averaged 13.5 points per game in this World Cup, second only to Vucevic in the team, and averaged a team-high 5.5 assists per game. 'He integrates well into our team, he's a very good guy and he's doing very well on the pitch and I want to thank him.' Pekovich said.
Montenegro center Vucevic in the game. Xinhua News Agency
Pekovic said he played Yao once during his rookie season in the NBA. In this World Cup, he also watched the match between China and Puerto Rico. He believes that the Chinese team is a very young team with many potential players in the squad, but it may take some time to achieve results.
"The hardest part about basketball is that you have to spend time waiting for the players to grow. For an association, there is a lot of work that others can't see, but you have to do. Moreover, people always have high expectations for the results of the national team. Pekovic said.
In the second phase of the group stage, which ended on the evening of the 1st, Montenegro lost to the United States 73:85 after leading by one point at halftime. Pekovic said, "Eurobasketball is catching up with American basketball, and I believe that more European teams will beat the United States in the future, perhaps in the Olympic Games." ”