Drew Nicholas was the guest in Live Press Room on Panathinaikos BC website (www. Paobc.gr). Nicholas talked about the period he was not in shape, how important was the support from every member of the team and about the meaning and the feeling to play for the “greens”, referring also to the games against Malaga and Olympiakos, his dunks and last but not least the fans of the team, answering to questions coming from the fans.
- What kept you back till almost now to see you the way we were used to play?
“It’s a matter of confidence and me going out and playing basketball and not thinking too much. This last period I begun playing the game without thinking what will happen if I miss one shot. Just playing the game of basketball and things started to look good for me”.
- How important was the support of the other players, because he read in some articles that for example Batiste and Spanoulis were really supportive to you.
“Obviously the biggest thing you always want is that your team mates and the others in the team have the confidence and they really support you. Mike and Billy are two of my closest friends on the team, but I must say that everybody is very supportive. Nobody gets down because of a bad game. It happens”.
- How important was to find a guy from your country that has already been in Greece for so many years and in the same team?
“Very important! Ever since the first day it seems that me and Mike are always together. You ‘ll see us together many times. He really welcomed me and helped me get used to Athens very very quickly both on and off of the court. He tried to tell me what exactly the coach wants from me and how to get around”.
- Is there an advice he gave you?
“Just “be yourself”. Just always remember the things that brought me here”.
- What changed in the game against Malaga for you primarily and for the rest of the team?
“I’ ll answer about the team first. I think for us it was very important, because it was such a big road win for us, maybe the biggest road win this year against a top quality team in the Euroleague. For me, personally, I just made some shots and I am the type of person if I make one shot my confidence grows and I make another one and after that I want to shoot the ball all the time!”
- What did it mean for you to see Obradovic trusting you in the starting five when you were not playing so well?
“I think it goes back again to my answer that everybody around us support each other in this team. Especially when I had those difficult times, the coach was telling me “just stop thinking about it shoot. Be yourself. Everybody here knows you can play, just stop putting so much pressure on yourself and try to perform”. For me it was not pressure putting me in the starting five. It was more of a motive. Being in the starting five immediately you have the chance to go out and feel the game. For me, I look at it as an opportunity to really go out and help the team start well and hopefully help throughout the game”.
- What to do you think of Obradovic?
“Great coach! His name and titles speak for themselves, but also you know the way he handles the pressure, everything, he is very good in terms of getting players mentally prepared and knowing when to push them, maybe when to relax a little bit. Most of all he is a human. Anytime, anyone of us wants to go and talk to him we have the opportunity and that what makes the players’ relationship with him a lot closer”.
- What’s different in the locker rooms of Panathinaikos, comparing to other teams you have been?
“It really is family type atmosphere. I can honestly say that on this team, not that I ‘ve been to other team where guys fought, this team is very very close from all the way, from Diamantidis to Shermadini. Everybody gets along with everybody. Really well! It’s pretty amazing. Everybody makes fun in the locker rooms…”
- We’ve seen you scoring, dunking amazingly like you did in the game against Roma. What else can we expect from you?
“Hopefully the fans can expect to see me going out and giving 100% to help this team win. Some nights the ball will fall, some others maybe not. I will always try my hardest, especially on the defensive end, because that’s what coach expects from us first. And after we’ll see. I can’t sit here and say that the way I ‘ve been treating the ball will absolutely continue, but I ‘ll try my best. I can say that I enjoyed most the dunk though than a three-pointer!
- Do you think that Panathinaikos can get to Berlin ?
“Way too early! Let’s take things one step at a time. We are 3-0 in the Top16, but it’s not like we are up 2-0 in the Top8, in the playoffs and we have one more game in our home. So it’s still very early. We want to keep playing, keep building with the way we are playing. Obviously we have a very good chance when we play like this”.
- Is there a team or a players that impressed you so far in Euroleague or in the Greek League?
“Very difficult to say. There are many good teams. Barcelona played a very good first round. In terms of players there are too many. I can’t say one or another. Maybe Rakocevic is having an amazing year scoring the ball, but I mean there are so many good players and good teams that it’s hard to say one, or two”.
- Would you make predictions about which teams are going to get to the final-4?
“Let’s not do this. Let’s take things one step at a time, but I surely hope that Panathinaikos is one of those four”.
- What do you think about the games against Olympiakos? You have the experience as player now of a game like this.
“The atmosphere was incredible. Probably more that I have ever experienced. Probably the only experience that comes close to it was when we played for the national championship in college. Just the passion and the support of the fans were amazing and it only helps you to play; especially, when you are in front of your fans!”
- Do you think that Panathinaikos can beat Olympiakos two times in such a short period? You play two times in a week.
“Of course! These are the kind of games that we live for! We definitely like our chances, but at the same time we must want to go out and execute and prepare very very well. Again, I will say, let’s take one step at a time. It’s coming in good moment, since we are playing better now”.
- Do you ever regret for not coming to Panathinaikos the first time around?
“A little bit… For sure a little bit. Looking back the year I was supposed to come ended up to be the year of the triple crown, so it’s obviously it must be a little bit of a regret. But also it’s kind of funny because I was thinking a little bit yesterday, when they put the video up during the warm ups that the support around the team I don’t think that there is another team like this in Europe; just the whole feeling. Just knowing that in every game you are going to have 10, 15, 20.000 people… It’s a wonderful feeling”.
- What did you thing about the “welcome” of Dejan Bodiroga, Nando Gentile and Sani Becirovic?
“It was a little bit strange obviously, when you have players of the opponent team and people reacting like that. It’s always a good opportunity, whenever they are coming back to show them respect for the things they have done for Panathinaikos, but very quickly my mind changed back to the job we had to do for 40 minutes. I am glad that we were able to accomplish that, to get the win’.
- Do you feel that you are becoming a better player here?
“I prefer the way I am playing here. In some other teams I played I had more freedom to do certain things, but in terms of the game of basketball you play to win. I know that Panathinaikos has very good chance to win. I try to play defense, but I don’t think that I am a threat to Diamantidis for the defensive player of the year in Euroleague. I think I have improved defensively, I know that I have to play good defense in order to get more time on the court. So, in terms of that aspect I think that I have improved a lot”.
- When you arrived to sing for the team you have mentioned some players’ name Jasikevicius, Diamantidis, Spanoulis. What do you think now, after spending some time with them?
“The same things! Same thoughts. Those guys are very-very good players. It’s just a privilege to play against these guys every day in the practice, trying to make each other better. Some days I’ll try to make Spanoulis or Diamantidis better and the same goes back from them to me. So I think relates back to becoming a better basketball player”.
- You have mentioned in the airport Diamantidis, Spanoulis, Jasikevicius and Batiste. Is there another player in Panathinaikos that has impressed now that you know the team from… inside?
“I didn’t get the chance to play against him last year, because I didn’t go to Partizan, but mr Pekovic is pretty good. It always feels good when you know that you have this big guy in the team for you”.
- Are the fans of Panathinaikos what you expected?
“And more! I definitely remember that couple of times being here playing the first time I was in Benetton and playing in front of a sell out crowd was amazing. I haven’t realized that they were so passionate. I finally realized it when we played against Olympiakos. Just the fans’ energy and the passion it’s such a great advantage when we play here. So I would say more”.
- Do you have any hidden talents apart from basketball?
“No, not really. Just normal things. I don’t really do anything else. God gave me the ability to shoot the basketball and he stopped! That’s it!”
- Your favorite NBA legend and your favorite player in Euroleague?
“The typical answer is Michael Jordan, but I don’t want to say Michael Jordan. I really admire Kobe Bryant just of the way he can score the basketball anytime. He is amazing. Favorite player in Europe ? There a lot of good players in Europe . I had the chance to play against him once or twice at the end of his career, but I can still tell that he is a great player and that’s it Dejan Bodiroga”.
- What do you enjoy doing the most when you are not on the court?
“Sleeping! Or just spend time in the home. I am really a home buddy. I really like staying home, just being on my couch relaxing with the internet in front of me watching television, listening to music. It becomes normal when you are away from your family, your home”.
- What do you like eating here in Greece , what have you discovered that you like?
“Something that I really like now and I never thing that I would like is Greek Salad. At first everytime I was coming to Athens to play somebody I would see the Greek Salad and turn away. Now, sometimes when I get to a restaurant, I surprise myself cause I say “let me get one Greek Salad and after…” then comes the rest of the order”.
- Do you want to send your message to the fans?
“Just wanted to say “thank you” to the fans for all the support they’ve been giving us so far. Hopefully they’ll come and continue and we will try to give our best to accomplish all our goals. I think us players, coached and the fans have the same goals, to try to win every title possible”.
