Jure Zdovc: “I’m happy and honored to be here” 9

On Monday, Slovenian basketball specialist Jure Zdovc arrived to Zalgirio Arena for the first time as the head coach of Zalgiris Kaunas. The 54-year-old signed a deal until the end of the season, as he officially replaces Martin Schiller.

Before diving in to his new role, Zdovc took the time out to talk to Zalgiris Insider, as he shared his thoughts and feelings about the new commitment.

“Zalgiris was interested in me – what is there to think about. This is EuroLeague. At the end of the day, working in Zalgiris is a huge opportunity, and there’s a lot of thoughts going through my head right now.

It’s understandable that no matter how much money Zalgiris has, no matter what players are on the team, you must win all games. That’s the way it is and I know that. I’m happy and honored to be here.”

Zdovc has had prior experience in the EuroLeague, as he coached Olimpija Ljubljana between 2008 and 2011. The coach later worked in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia, Turkey, Greece and France. France was his last stop, as he coached Metropolitans 92.

According to the specialist, he’s not looking for radical changes, and will try to implement them as time goes by.

“It isn’t easy to jump into this phase of the season alone. I’m coming alone, without my assistants who know my basketball philosophy. Okay, I know some of the players, but we don’t have a lot of time for practice. Yesterday the team played an LKL game, and tomorrow we’re leaving to play in the EuroLeague. We don’t have time.

Whatever the case, I see a lot of positive things. I want to feel the situation, the atmosphere, feel what the players are like, what my assistants are like. Only together we can do something great.”

The specialist also talked about his preferred game style, noting the importance of defense and highlighting the need to be aggressive.

“We have to do everything quickly, but still play organized. We need to react to opposition defenses and use our advantages on offense.

Everything is very simple. You have to be aggressive, find the open man, avoid additional dribbling. I see a lot of dribbling. On team defense, we have to help each other. Never give up, never quit.

Sometimes I tell my players: “don’t rest on defense, then you can rest on offense”.

The full interview is available on Zalgiris Insider, as Jure Zdovc talked more about the possible changes in the team’s gameplan and roster and answered the questions of the platform’s subscribers.

Comments

  1. Samb

    Maziau kalbų daugiau pergalių galiu tik palinkėti Jure

  2. gg

    Adreian Payne be sutarties, kaip PF/C idealiai sueitu

  3. ....

    Va čia tai gelbėtojas tikras atvyko, 100 metų normalios komandos netreniravęs. Dar viena didžiulė klaida į Motiejūno daržą. Ant kiek geros nuomonės apie jį buvau, bet ką jis pridirbo po Šaro yra neatleistina. Paliks klubą su skolom, kaip Romanovas. Tik skirtumas tas, kad šitas nei euro į klubą nėra įdėjęs.Vadybininku vadinasi, o iš tikro griovėjas yra. Kas kitais metais bus ar pagalvojo? Vienas Kalnietis ir Cavanaugh kontraktus turi. Čia normalus požiūris į ateitį komandos?

  4. Darius

    Cavanaugh pasikviete Schileris, bet manau, kad suklydo. Abejotinas pirkinys kaip ir Kalnas, dar vienas is serijos tu, kurie grizta i Zalgiri numirti kaip krepsininkai. Kas del geriausio eurolygos vadybininko, tai Zalgiryje jis dirbti gali. Ukvedziu. Kazkas gi turi is sandelio kamuolius atnesti ir po treniruotes juos surinkti.

  5. Schilleris

    Pasikviete Giffey Cavanaugh kuris Nepateisina Lukesciu

  6. Jure

    Puikiai pasipasakojo Iskart nesiims Radikaliu permainu o bandys palaipsniui ivesti pokycius

  7. Podcastas

    Kleiza tarkuoja Motiejuna Laidoje pas Pakena Pikenrole Po Pokyciu Zalgirije L. Kleizos zinute P. Motiejunui Ego suzlugdo visas dinastijas

  8. tas

    kleiza sitam podkaste atejo komentuoti zalgirio zaidimo ir peripetiju net nemates rungtyniu su zenitu? Jei kam patinka galit jo klausyti , savo metu labai norejo i zalgiri bet pasieme zalgiris javtoka i direktorius , tai dabar vemia ant kiekvieno kampo. Kita tema zdovcas, verkiat kad netreniraves rimtos komandos , o patys siulot ant kiekvieno komantaro Adomaiti, o ka Adomaitis treniraves? Manau teisingai daro PMO kad treneriu kurie buvo atleisti is lryto nesamdo. Tai jau butu suvis sau i mundura.

  9. Aha

    Kleiza i ta podkasta atejo pasitaskyt savo neadekvaciu heitu PM. Tai yra grynas asmeniskumas is jo puses. Zmogus tebejaucia nuoskauda, kad nebuvo priimtas i Zalgirio ofisa ir tiek. Ir dabar daugmaz aisku, kodel. Nes jei jau reikia kalbet apie kazkieno ego, tai tektu kalbet apie paties Kleizos ego. Juk pats kazkuriam ankstesniam podkaste sake, kad nuejo i ryta galvodamas, kad viska zino, ismano ir viska sutvarkys ir padarys. Tik jis tai pavadino naivumu. Bet paskui visi matem, kas ten vyko ir kuo baigesi. Ir tikrai ne naivumas buvo didziausias kaltininkas, o didziuliai ego, intrigos ir naudos sau ieskojimas.