Abdia: "If Slovenia won the Eurobasket, we too can fight"
The Wizards forward concluded two years in the NBA ("With the moves they will make in the summer, I believe we will have a team for the playoffs") and expressed optimism for the summer in the Israeli team: "Not excited by expectations, we have a lot of talent"
Walla!
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24/04/2022
Sunday, April 24, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
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Two weeks after finishing the NBA season in the Washington Wizards uniform and returning to Israel, Danny Abdia is holding a press conference today (Sunday) in which he addressed his two seasons in the best basketball league in the world.
The 21-year-old forward was one of only five players across the league to partner in all 82 games, but even that was not enough to secure a second consecutive playoff appearance for the team from the capital, which finished 12th in the East.
Before returning for a third season overseas, Abdia represented the Israeli team at the European Championships and will try to lead it to achievements.
"I made it clear to Tommy Shepherd (Washington's professional director) that it was very important for me to play for the team. He showed full support and I appreciate him for that, he understands how important it is to me and the people of Israel in general, and feels it can help me develop as a player and try to bring honor to the country." , Said Abdia.
The Wizards player was asked about the clash between having to work personally and the team that will take a long time off from him: "I have a whole team around who knows how to plan so that I can improve as a player in my abilities and help the team. "On the personal ability and then I will try to have a good summer on the team."
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Believes in the chance to win the Eurobasket.
Abdia in the reserve team (Photo: Berni Ardov)
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"For me, Israel is the home," Abdia continued, "I follow everything that happens here and I am aware of everything. Everything I can do to show support and love and praise the country - I will do. , If I did not have the envelope here, I would not get where I came from. I always had a lot of fun on the team, it has a different atmosphere. And waiting to work with them. "
The forward went on to comment on Eurobasket waiting for the team and the high expectations created following the success of the young teams, in which he was a senior partner: "Both the union and I are aware of what can be done. I can, hope that everything will connect. Even before we won the reserve there was not much optimism, but we always believed. In the Israeli team you really feel that you came up to fight. Expectations are not a problem, do not see me think or get excited about it. I believe everyone will come to support us "When people came to cheer we brought receipts, I expect it to be this year too. Anything is possible, I see a situation where we can fight for the European Championship. If little Slovenia, with all the great talents that were there, can take, so can we."
Again in Israel.
Abdia (Photo: Kobi Eliyahu)
The difference between the seasons: "On the pitch, first of all the confidence. The organization pushes me and sees why I am capable and gives me something to do what I know. I am more mature and feel that the game slows down slowly, you learn to read things, even in defense. The senior player in the second team, in the second year I took it a step further. I learn every day and hope it continues like this. The difficulty was not so much in keeping great players, but in combining it with the offensive responsibility I had more at the end of the year. Returning to the defense to keep the opponent's best player, that's something to get used to. "
Personal difficulties: "Not everything is rosy, I had moments of crisis. I live every day on time and know how to improve something I was not good at, in time you become an actor and a whole person. There is no time to look back, you have to work hard and stay optimistic."
After Omri Caspi finished his career as the first Israeli in the NBA without a single playoff appearance, Abdia was asked that he too has only played in the regular season so far and replied: "Getting into the playoffs is never easy, but I believe with our organization and moves made in the summer, "We will have a team that will compete for the playoffs and do beautiful things. I will continue on my way, I believe I can go as far as possible and everything will come in the end. It is important to be prepared for it and enjoy the road."
Summed up two years in the NBA.
Abdia in Washington uniform (Photo: GettyImages, G Fiume)
Abdia's choice to play for the team is not obvious, as many NBA players prefer to rest in the summer than play in international settings: "If there is anyone who wants to represent the team less, it is on his conscience. I really enjoy playing for the team and this stage helped me grow as a player "It helped me get selected high in the draft, for me that's the way to evaluate."
At the European Championships, Abdia will meet his teammate Tomasz Saturansky, who plays for the Czech national team, and possibly Nikola Jokic from the Serbian team as well.
The Israeli forward, who has Serbian roots from his father Zofar, talked about a possible meeting with these two players: "There is a lot of trash talk between me and Saturansky, especially about the team. We laugh about it a lot and try to see the scout report on everyone.
We laugh about it, but believe that meeting at the European Championships would be a little strange to me.
A game against Serbia is a kind of closing circle, even though we have already played against it in the reserve.
Playing against Jokic is always a pleasure,
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