HoopsHype.com Interviews

Kosta Perovic: "I will probably declare if I know I'm in the lottery"
by Jorge Sierra / October 12, 2003

How was your experience at the Global Games and the European Championship last summer?

Kosta Perovic: The Global Games were fine. As for the European Championship, it was really kind on their part selecting me to join the National Team. It was a pleasure to be there being just 18 years old. I hope I will be with the team in the future -- in 2004 and so on.

The Serbian team had a pretty disappointing performance at the European Championship. What went wrong there?

KP: I don't know. Maybe we missed some players. We had several injured players, you know. We made the team that we could, not the team that we wanted.

Individually, what are your goals for this season?

KP: Just playing well for Partizan. Hopefully we can win the national championship again. In the Euroleague, I would like to play the Top 16 [second round of the competition].

With your teammate Nenad Krstic out with an injury, you'll get a bigger opportunity to shine, but there will also be more pressure on you. How do you feel about that?

KP: A lot of journalists are asking me that question. Obviously, I want him [Krstic] to be back soon. Meanwhile, I hope I can play well. I know I'm going to play more minutes now and I'm definitely going to enjoy that.

Do you follow the mock drafts on the Internet?

KP: Yes, I do.

You are in the Top 5 in most of them.

KP: I know that, but I don't think much about it. I know there is some interest in me in the NBA. But I'm basically thinking on Partizan now. I will start to think about other things at the end of the season, not now.

So you are not giving much thought to the idea of the NBA?

KP: I think about that, too. But I'm not as interested in it as I am about what I have to do now. I'm in Belgrade now and I have to think on Partizan while I'm here.

What are the possibilities that you declare for the draft this year?

KP: I don't know. Maybe there is a possibility that I declare early. I could declare in 2004 or I could declare in 2005.

If you knew for sure you are a lottery pick next year, what would you do?

KP: I will probably declare if I know I'm in the Top 14, in the lottery. If one of the first teams in the draft tells me I'm going to be their pick, I would probably go.

There are some players that get drafted and stay in Europe for one or two years. Your teammate Nenad Krstic, for example. Would you do something like that?

KP: It would depend on the position in which they selected me. If it was one of the 14 first picks, I would have to work something out with my club. If it is below the 14th pick, I would rather stay in Europe.

Is there any NBA player that you admire in particular?

KP: There are some players, but I don't want to name one in particular.

And anyone you think you are similar to?

KP: I don't think about that. They compare me with some players, but I don't really agree with most of those comparisons.

You are usually compared to Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

KP: Yeah, I know. I like that, but I don't think we are very similar.

What areas of your game do you think you have to work on the most?

KP: I have to get stronger. I have to get faster. And they also have to teach more moves so that I can become a bigger threat in the low post.

One last question. I read that you were still growing. Is that true?

KP: No, I'm stuck now.

So you are 7-2, right?

KP: Yeah, 2.17 meters [7-foot-2]. I'm not growing anymore.

Jorge Sierra is the editor of HoopsHype.com

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