The NBA is paying more and more attention to him. Vit Craige (Czech Republic, 2000) outlines the mischievous kid smiles that wowed the NBA this year. atlanta hawks path of 26 years Just like that kid who came here Zaragoza 13 teams will advance to the world’s best league, with 22 teams competing in 2021. The passage of time has not affected Czechs’ fluent or well-accented Spanish.

“I speak good Spanish,” proudly recalls the foreign player, who spent seven years at Casa de Mont Zaragoza in Aragon’s capital Zaragoza. “Right now I’m practicing more with Porzingis,” Kureishi noted as he greeted the MD in good spirits despite the Hawks’ recent loss to the Raptors (134-117).

The hooded sweatshirt and pose gives an even more youthful look, as if it’s no big deal. Snow is hitting Toronto, so you’ll need to dress warmly, but Czech 2.03 He was stuck in the harsh wind. “Zaragoza has always been like a second home for me. I’m glad that I was able to take that step at the age of 13. It helped me a lot to reach the NBA, both as a player and as a person,” recalls his fellow Barça apprentice with a smile. Thomas Satoransky and Jan Vesely.

Vit Krejci is a smiling man, a purebred man because of his accent and stubbornness, a stubborn man because he is a tireless marksman and a stubborn warrior. And the Czech player has gone through a lot to earn a decent contract in the NBA and get the world’s best league talking about him. He averaged 10.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 24 minutes, shooting 49% from the field and 1.6% from the field. 45.7% A triple with 6 attempts, representing a destructive shooter.

Drafted by the Wizards in 2020 at the age of 37 and promptly traded to the Thunder, Kureishi had to survive a serious injury and a tough transition back and forth between the G League and NBA steps. thunder, timberwolves He played with the Hawks until signing a four-year, $10 million contract with Atlanta in 2024. The former took a winding four-year journey. Casademont Zaragoza he never gave up.

“Without a doubt, the most difficult moment was the cross,” the guard admits. “It was like the second game of the season, two months after the draft (he played another year at Zaragoza after the draft). It was a season where I wanted to take a step forward because I could have played a little more in the ACB. It was a difficult period. But then I went to Barcelona.” oklahoma I also felt that my career was not over and that there were still steps I could take. It helped me a lot and they gave me confidence,” Qureshi recalls.

The Czech insists he hasn’t done anything special to break out this season. And in some cases, there’s no better secret than waiting until everything goes well.

“Just being confident and using every game I have and it doesn’t matter what happened in the previous game, whether it was 0-of-10 or 10-of-10. I always go into the game with the same mentality, believing that I’m going to make every shot. That helped me a lot this year,” emphasizes Vit Kureishi, who made his debut as a professional basketball player with just one shot. 16 years With the debut in 2017 At ACB.

The Czech left the NBA after particularly impressing in a game against the Pelicans in late November, when he took a shot. 7/10 Scored 21 points in 27 minutes with a triple.

Atlanta, ranked 10th in the East with a 17-20 record, is looking to regain some stability after additions like the former Betis player made him one of the summer’s great entertainers. Kristaps Porzingis Nickel Alexander Walker, a luxury company for hurting people Trae Young There are also blossoming youngsters like Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Kureishi, as well as his version of a sharp-edged compulsive shooter.

We have as high expectations as the Zaragoza youth team. Aday Maracurrently playing for the NCAA’s Michigan Wolverines, is already known in the NBA as a perfect example of the quality produced by Aragon’s club’s youth team.

He made his debut with ACB when he was only 16 years old

His mentors in Zaragoza: “Carlos Iglesias and Carlos Arocen”

Vit Krejci developed his tenacious talent at Basket Zaragoza’s youth academy. There were two mentors there that he still holds close to his heart above all else.

“Carlos Iglesias “He helped me a lot as a coach and his training also helped me a lot,” emphasized the guard, referring to the historical figure of the Aragonese club who has honed his talent for more than ten years among the lower category teams and the reserve team and is currently the coordinator of the women’s quarry.

However, he was put under more pressure by his teammates, who helped strengthen him in duels in the hardwood forest.

Products of Zaragoza

Vit Craige

“As a player, I learned a lot from Carlos Arocen. Every training session and training match with him helped me improve a lot,” Kureishi emphasizes about the Gran Canaria point guard, who is close to returning from a serious knee injury. Krejci then became the second youngest player at the Zaragoza club, and both occupy a similar place in Zaragoza’s history. Sergi Garcia He made his ACB debut at 16 years and 8 months, 15 years and 10 months after Arocene. Felipe Mintzer It will be premiered in 2023, 11 days before Krejci’s 16th birthday, and he will be demoted to third place in the same ranking.

“Then when I moved to the first team with Porfi Fisak, we had a lot of players who were a bit older and more experienced. Gary NealRobin Benzing and all these have helped me a lot in terms of how to be more professional and how to take advantage of opportunities,” Kureishi added, referring to former Barça players like Niel, who was briefly at Barcelona in 2008.

czech compatriots

Disciples of Satoransky and Vesely

Vitto Kureishi has learned good lessons from former Barcelona players like Neil, but when it comes to former Barcelona players, FC Barcelona There is no one like his compatriots Tomas Satoransky and Jan Vesely.

“I think they are playing well. They have done very well in the EuroLeague, so I would like to see them in the national team in the summer and see what happens. I am sure it will be an example for them to follow. They are playing well,” said Krejci, who had to take the reins as manager. czech republic At Eurobasket without both Barça players.

Krejci role model

Satoransky and Vesely

Both point guards and centers can explain to young shooting guards what the NBA is all about. Satoransky played for the Wizards, Bulls, Spurs and Pelicans in the world’s premier league from 2016 to 2022, while Vesely played for the Wizards and Nuggets from 2011 to 2014.

Krejci will have to wait until the summer, when his compatriot joins the national team. This is because there is no chance of them returning to the NBA and Sato is also there. 34 years On the other hand, Vesely 35.

“They don’t want to get another chance in the NBA. Vesely has had a great career in Europe. Satoransky made a lot of money here and had a good career in the NBA. I think they already want to enjoy this a little more and I think they’re a good fit in Barcelona,” Gard said.

But having a good time in the NBA Vit Craigewho dazzled defenders with bursts of triples, as if making jacks dance. After years of battling adversity in the shadows between his serious injury and his interteam return, the NBA is finally talking about him. Despite everything, he wanted to show that he belongs to the best league in the world. After all, hands are not as stubborn as they say. But they are right.