Nick Calathes expressed particular optimism about the new PAOK team, which has impressed in its friendly matches. “I think
the whole team is looking forward to our next steps on the court. Obviously, we’ve come a long way in our preseason so far. I think after every practice, after every preseason game, we’ll get better, and we’ll understand each other’s game better. There are a lot of new players on the team, so we’ll have to figure out what works, how it works, and what doesn’t work… “We’re ready for the season to start,” said the 37-year-old point guard.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“Our goal is to be competitive in the Greek league and contend for the EuroCup title. I think we have the character and the players to make it happen. It’s going to be a long… run from now until the end of the season; all we want is to keep improving—we have plenty of work to do,” added the veteran guard.
Regarding his return to playing in Greece, the international star noted: “I think it’s different compared to eight years ago. It’s great that there are now teams in the league that are getting better. I was telling someone that I believe these are the best years for Greek basketball, with teams starting to invest more money and acquire higher-quality players. I think this excites the fans as well.”
He added, noting: “At PAOK, we have an exceptional fan base. They want the team to win. I think it’s been quite a while since PAOK actually won a title. So, for us, there are big goals. Admittedly, there’s pressure, but it’s good to have pressure; it’s good to be in this situation. We’ll be ready. We’re eager, as I mentioned earlier, for the season to officially begin.”
As for what we can expect on the field from the new PAOK? “Our team will be characterized by speed. We have a lot of players who can run, like Jedy (Osman), Kyle (Alexander), Trev (Hajins), and Naz (Mitrou-Long). There’s also the defensive aspect—our coach pushes us to have the right defensive mindset. So, when we’re effective on defense, we’ll also be able to play our fast-paced game. I believe, therefore, that our defining characteristics as a team will be our speed and our fast-break game. I can’t compare PAOK to any of the other teams I’ve worked with in my career.”
*photo source: PAOK BC / PAOK Basketball Club
