There were quite a few MVP List of major European competitions that have failed in their attempts to succeed in the NBA.In Case of Willy Hernangomez, his return to Europe with Barça is the latest incident to illustrate a complex problem.adaptation to united states of america It won’t be easy and, as has been repeated ad nauseam, the style of play is otherworldly and was evident in Germany’s victory at the last World Cup. With the launch of this campaign on the other side of the Atlantic, both sides of the coin clearly shine.to Sasha VezenkovThe 2023 EuroLeague MVP came at a great cost to him, but Vasilije Micicdistinguished in 2021, the tail appeared.

The Bulgarian shined like never before at Olympiakos last season, earning himself a proper place in the team’s rotation. sacramento kings That’s thanks to the sweat of the preseason and the ability to fit into the offensive scheme of coach Mike Brown and Badalona’s second coach, Jordi Fernandez. The Serbian player, on the other hand, barely had a chance to play in his debut match. Oklahoma City Thunder. His fit isn’t all that natural, and it’s not like the coaching staff decided to take a chance on him this early in the regular season.

“The way we play fits very well. He has size, he makes three shots, he’s tough and he can rebound,” Brown explained in the preseason. “I think he can be very effective in the NBA.” And he plays at a very high level,” said the coach, who won four rings as a Warriors assistant. Despite his blossoming, his coach also said his defensive weaknesses could hinder his rotation. When the season started a week ago, Bezenkov was by no means guaranteed a spot in the second unit.

Vezenkov is a natural fit for Sacramento

Ex-Barcelona player after just 3 games He averaged 9.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per 15 minutes. His play percentages (50% on field goals, 40% on 3-pointers) are more than acceptable for a player in that role. The Bulgarian is currently the eighth member of the rotation and the sixth leading scorer on a team looking to repeat its impressive season that saw them finish third in the West Division. 48 wins, 34 losses last year. The Kings started with two wins against the Jazz and Lakers and one loss against the Warriors, which was their exact executioner in the first round of the playoffs last year.

“The most important adjustment is mental.”says the power forward, who sometimes plays as a three. Bezenkov’s playing time has been cut in half from last year’s EuroLeague, when he averaged 17.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. “Some games are going to be worse than others, but I’m here to work every day and learn from everyone. Any advice from teammates or coaches will be helpfulAnd we are trying to adapt as quickly as possible,” he added.

His coach has seen a lot of good things in the European star’s early stages and is clear on what the main challenges are for the player. “The reality is a lot of teams are going to put him in pick-and-roll situations. He can sit back and play defense if there’s a turnover or if there’s play coverage. Must be. If we can do that, we’ll have the opportunity to spend a lot of time on the court.“Because he understands the game so well,” Brown said. “He does a lot of little things on the court, and if he gets into a rhythm from the 3-point line, watch out! That release is pleasing,” the coach praised.

“Sasha is extravagant on offense. To me, he’s Doncic without the ball.”

Sava KamperidisAlice Thessaloniki coach

The learning curve has not been steep for Bezenkov, who played for Barça from 2015 to 2018 and won the Copa del Rey and the Super Cup in his three years as a Barça player. He scored more goals in each game he played (8, 10, 11) and when he was free he didn’t hesitate to shoot. He has not scored less than two goals from triples so far. “Sasha is extravagant on offense. To me, he is Doncic without the ball. He knows how to move and is always in the right place” he praised him on Greek radio recently. Sava Kamperidis, coach of Alice Thessaloniki. The Cypriot-born Bulgarian began his professional career with the Greek team. “He’s very intelligent and it’s true that for me he’s not at the physical level of the NBA, but he’ll be successful in the end,” he concluded.

It wasn’t easy to translate the theory on paper into reality, but if Bezenkov can see consistent progress in the NBA, the Kings’ bet could boost them. One of the most dangerous teams in the playoffs. The Bulgarian has a three-season deal worth about $20 million, but his final year is not guaranteed and depends on whether the team decides to renew his contract.

“From theory to action, the NBA is completely different. You have to fight it over and over again and challenge yourself to keep going and get stronger. It’s a different world, but I try to take small steps every day. The game here is very fast, they are very talented” The protagonist of this story clearly approaches the task of contributing the experience of MVP in Europe and applying it to the American style.

Mitch preaches patience

Bezenkov’s situation is in contrast to Micic, who got off to a modest start after a long courtship with the NBA. The 2021 EuroLeague MVP did not play in the Thunder’s debut, but played in the next two games. He had very little time to play, and six minutes into his debut against the Cavaliers, he was able to fulfill his lifelong dream of making his first 3-point shot in the league. In the next game, which ended in a clear loss against the Nuggets, the Serbian played 14 minutes, most of which were wasted. Their average so far is 2.5 points and 2 assists in 10 minutes of playBut he doesn’t seem dissatisfied or hopeless.

“I knew this was going to happen before I arrived, I knew I was going to start on the bench. It’s okay, it was my dream to come to the NBA and I’m in a good organization. ing. “This is just the beginning, the season is long.” The 29-year-old point guard pointed out to Serbian TV.