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Shaquille
O'Neal: "When you are 60, hang out with 60-year-olds, not 20-year-olds.
That is all I got to say about Jerry Buss."
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HoopsHype.com Interviews Roko-Leni
Ukic: "Improving is my priority"
Roko-Leni Ukic: I started playing basketball very young, when I was 9. Basketball was very popular in Croatia and even more in Split, so that's the sport you played. At the time, Split was the European champion with that generation of Toni Kukoc, Dino Radja and others, so everybody played basketball. I started playing seriously with Split, and that's the only club I've played for. I was good since I was a youngster and I went to play with the National Team and we were European champions U-18, so I knew early this is what I wanted to do. I always played for fun, but at the same time I take this very seriously. Everything I do, I always try to give 100 percent – especially this. Did the war in Yugoslavia affect you or your family in any way? Did you have to move to any other place like other Croatian players? RLU: No, I didn't have to move. I was lucky. The war affected much of the country, but not my city after 1991. After that, it was alright. Of course, my father went to the war, but he stayed alive, so the war didn't affect me like it affected other people. In Split, you didn't feel the war like other players felt it. Anyway, it was terrible for all the country, for all of us. When exactly did you realize you were going to play basketball for a living? RLU: I realized about that very young. I knew I was good when I was 13 or 14 because coaches told me. They were always telling me to lead the team, to play an important role. So I pretty much grew up knowing I was going to make this for a living. You know, I was 15 when I started playing with the senior team of Split. I was 15 and already playing with the first team in the Suproleague (a short-lived FIBA-sponsored league) and other competitions. How was playing with the old guys being just 15? RLU: It was a great experience playing with them and playing for the coaches we had. We had very good coaches. Jasmin Repesa was the coach at the time. He is now the coach of Climamio Bologna. It was great learning from him. I gained a lot of experience when I was just 15-16 years old. And I was already the captain of the team when I was 18. This is my third season being the captain. For me, it was very good playing with the first team so young. Playing with people like Nikola Vujcic (one of the top centers in Europe, now with Maccabi Tel Aviv). It helped me very much. How would you rate your season with Split? RLU: Very good. We didn't have much success as a team because this is a team with a lot of very young players, but anyway I'm very pleased with my season and how I improved in several aspects of my game. Hopefully, I can get better and have more success from a team perspective next year with another club. Which aspects of your game are those you think you have improved the most? RLU: My three-point shot. It wasn't very good before, but it's a lot better now. I'm also more consistent. And I doubled my assists. I lead the league in assists now, and I'm very satisfied for that. But I still have many things to improve to be ready for the next level. For example, I'm not so strong, so I have to improve physically. When I improve that, I know I will play much better. You had a strange injury earlier this season. What happened exactly? RLU: I dunked, then I grabbed the rim very strong and the backboard broke into pieces. All the glass fell on me and I got cut in the calf. But the injury wasn't very serious, right? RLU: I was out for a month. It wasn't serious, but they told me it could have been very serious had the glass touched other parts of the leg. I was lucky, I guess. Playing for a club like Split, do you miss not getting the chance to face better competition? Not playing the Euroleague, for example. RLU: Yes, that's something I miss. I feel like I have to go to another team next year to keep improving. If I want to get better, I should go to a Euroleague team. I care a lot about improving. I don't feel I can get much better playing for my club another season. Will you go to play in Chicago this year? RLU: I went last year, but it was not for the pre-draft camp. I went to work out for some NBA teams. And no, I won't go to the pre-draft camp this year. How was the whole experience with the workouts? RLU: It was a great experience, just having the chance to play with the top players... Players like Ben Gordon or Devin Harris. I feel like I will be in advantage just for doing that last year. I was lucky to have the chance to do that. You mentioned before you would like to play for a Euroleague team next year. Would you rather do that than play in the NBA? RLU: Playing in Europe another year is what I want. I think the best for me would be to sign with a Euroleague team. But I don't know if that will be possible because I have a big buyout. European teams would have to pay a lot of money. Maybe only NBA teams can pay the buyout. So the contract buyout would be bigger if you want to join another European club, but cheaper if you go to the NBA? RLU: Yes. My first option is Europe... But anyway... For me, it's not that important playing in the Euroleague or playing in the NBA. I want to improve. Improving is my priority. I want to go to a place where I have the best chance to keep getting better. That's my goal. Last question. Is is true that your father plays for a rock band? RLU: Yes, he plays the drums for a band. They are very popular in my country, but not abroad because of the language. But in Croatia they are famous. Jorge Sierra is the editor of HoopsHype.com Tell us what you think about this interview. E-mail us at HoopsHype@HoopsHype.com _____________________ |
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