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“It’s boring man,” said Vesely, 21, whom the Washington Wizards selected sixth overall pick last June. “Boring.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Lockout, Jan Vesely 

But after helping his team win its 10th consecutive Serbian title, Vesely’s dedication to joining the NBA has come up empty thus far, with the league and its players’ union still unable to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. The first month of the regular season has already been canceled. “It’s disappointing,” he said. “I was ready to play in the NBA. You wait one more season for Partizan, then you have lockout and you have to wait longer. It’s November and nothing is happening for me. It’s really sad, you know?” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Lockout, Jan Vesely 

Wizards top draft pick Jan Vesely has finally made a decision about where he will be in the fall. And the 21-year-old, 6-foot-10 power forward from the Czech Republic is not going to play for Partizan Belgrade -- or any other team in his native continent. Vesely is going to wait out the lockout, so that the next uniform he wears is the red, white and blue of the Wizards. “He will not play for any club in Europe. He will come to USA by end of September to work out till end of lockout,” Vesely’s agent, Alexander Raskovic, said in an email on Monday. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Lockout, Jan Vesely, Partizan Belgrade 

“We don’t want to risky any injury,” Raskovic wrote. “Why put in risk future career and why not show respect to the Wizards? They drafted him! He should come ready and healthy to play with the Wizards.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Lockout, Jan Vesely, Partizan Belgrade 

But a week after the Wizards chose the energetic 6-foot-10 forward from the Czech Republic, the league locked out its players and raised questions about whether Vesely would return to Partizan, where he played the past three seasons. Vesely is currently at home with his family. “We are looking for the developing of the lock out situation, and by the end of the August we will make decision where he will play in Europe, or no,” Raskovic wrote in an email on Monday. “Jan may wait for the end of lockout with no playing in any of the team]s] in Europe.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Jan Vesely 

Vesely said on the night of the draft that he hoped to make basketball more popular in the Czech Republic, which has produced two other NBA players in Jiri Welsch and George Zidek. But Vesely elected not to play for his national team as it played a series of exhibitions this summer. The Czech Republic did not qualify for the European championships, which will be held in Lithuania from Aug. 31 to Sept. 18. “He did not play for the national team by his mutual agreement with the national team’s coach,” Raskovic wrote. “There was no important games so they did not need him to be in the national team.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Jan Vesely, Czech Republic 

Jan Vesely will make a decision about returning to Partizan Belgrade in late August, according to agent Alexander Raskovic. Zurnal

Lockout, Jan Vesely, Partizan Belgrade 

Vesely seems optimistic about labor peace. “I think that they find an agreement sooner, everything will be okay and there will be no reduction of games,” he told denik.cz. “Even with less games, nothing terrible happens. I don’t care how many games I play in my first season, I’m mainly looking forward to my premiere game.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Jan Vesely 

In this piece, Vesely talks about his lockout options, saying “I hope we start playing by the end of year. I will talk to my agent about all possible scenarios. Even playing in Europe if there is a long lockout.” And in this longer Q&A, Vesely answers key questions such as what he would bring to the wedding of Petar Bozic, who captained his Partizan Belgrade squad. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Lockout, Europe, Jan Vesely 

The 6-foot-11 forward from the Czech Republic was the sixth overall pick by Washington in the NBA draft last Thursday — and he couldn't have been more thrilled during an introductory news conference. "I'm happy to be here," Vesely said Monday. "I hoped that Washington picked me." He sure showed it, too on draft night. Vesely made some headlines when his name was announced and he passionately kissed his girlfriend Eva on television. "All the news, nobody knows about the picks on draft night," said Vesely, who wasn't embarrassed by the attention the smooch got. "It was all about the kiss." Oklahoman

Washington Wizards, Jan Vesely 

Charles Barkley on If he caught the kiss Jan Veseley had with his gorgeous girlfriend after being selected by the Washington Wizards: “I like the fact that she was marking her territory. She wanted everyone to know that ‘this is my millionaire and nobody can have them.’ I like that. Hey, millionaires don’t grow on trees.” Sports Radio Interviews

Washington Wizards, Charles Barkley, Jan Vesely 

Vesely’s draft-day kiss with girlfriend Eva Kodouskova was an impromptu reaction to the Wizards choosing him sixth overall. But the response it elicited at Prudential Center, from viewers at home and from anyone who watched the replays on YouTube, was further evidence of the natural showmanship of the 21-year-old forward from the Czech Republic. “He connects with the crowd so well,” Gist said in a telephone interview. “He’s a crowd favorite everywhere he goes.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Jan Vesely 

The Wizards will formally introduce Vesely on Monday at Verizon Center, but the organization has been hoping to add him to the roster for some time. He could’ve entered the draft last year but opted to return for another season at Partizan that allowed him to mature into a greater role with more responsibility. “I have to grow up mentally and work on my game,” said Vesely, who averaged 10.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in Adriatic league play and 9.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in Euroleague play last season. “I was one of the more important players on Partizan. Two years ago, I was a different player. I learn basketball. I learned almost everything else. I feel like that’s my home. The people they treated me like I’m from there.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Jan Vesely 

Vesely said it would take “a long story” to explain his free throw struggles but offered a condensed version, about losing focus under the pressures to perform for a rabid fan base. “He wants to get better. His whole motivation was trying to get to the NBA. I wish the best for him. I think he’ll do much better in the NBA than he did in Europe,” Gist said. “Jan brings a lot of energy to the game. His presence is always felt on the court. Not too many people in America are doing what Jan’s doing. He’s got to work on his jumper, got to work on his ballhandling, but his raw talent can’t be taught. That by itself helps teams win.” It also endears him to fans. “He likes to be in the center of attention,” Kodouskova said. “People in Serbia loved him. They were crazy over him.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Jan Vesely 

For all those who are desperately searching to find more information on Jan Vesely's girlfriend after the little smooch the new Washington Wizards' draft pick gave on live TV upon being picked, Vesely himself cleared up a few things about her in an interview with Washington D.C. media. She is Eva Kodouskova, and she is also a basketball player. She's 6'3'' and has also played for the Czech national team. In fact, Vesely said they ended up meeting "on the court," which I imagine means while they were traveling and playing basketball. When asked if she was any good, Vesely was pretty coy. "She's good," he joked. "So-so. She's OK." SB Nation

Washington Wizards, Draft, Jan Vesely 

As for the kiss itself, Vesely didn't see what the big deal was. "It's my girfriend. It was a big moment for me and for her for my family, so I don't know. It was just casual, so I don't know what to say." SB Nation

Washington Wizards, Draft, Jan Vesely 

There was also his post-draft interview with ESPN’s Mark Jones, in which he said “I like the John Wall game.” Jones then asked about being the European Blake Griffin. “I don’t know, I think Blake Griffin is American Jan Vesely,” the kid replied. (Go to 3:50 or so.) Washington Post

Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards, Draft, Blake Griffin, Jan Vesely 

For what it’s worth, the Wizards have invited staff members from the Czech Republic Embassy to attend the team’s draft party at Verizon Center on Thursday. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the Wizards will take forward Jan Vesely with the sixth overall pick, but it certainly is an indication that he is in strong consideration to join John Wall in Washington. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Draft, Jan Vesely 

One place in which basketball never really caught on, though, is the Czech Republic, far better known for its imports to the NHL than to the NBA. But that could change in the coming years if prospective draftee Jan Vesely turns out to be as good as some of his boosters believe. Vesely is expected to go in the top seven of tonight’s draft. “Right now, basketball is bad in Czech, so, I hope in a few years, it will get better,” Vesely said. “This is a chance to make basketball more and more important in Czech. I am happy to be here, and I hope that I can succeed and that it will make basketball more popular for my country.” Sporting News

Draft, Jan Vesely 

Part of the problem with basketball taking hold in the Czech Republic is that the country has produced only two NBA players, and neither fared very well. George Zidek, who helped UCLA to the 1995 NCAA championship, was chosen with the 22nd pick in the ’95 draft, but played just three seasons in the NBA, averaging 3.4 points on 40.8 percent shooting. Seven years later, Jiri Welsch was the 16th pick in the ’02 draft, and he didn’t fare much better—he was out of the league four years later, with averages of 6.1 points on 40.3 percent shooting. Vesely said that, ahead of the draft, he has leaned on advice from both Zidek and Welsch. “I know both of them, yes,” Vesely said. “I talked to Zidek many, many times about this. Welsch, too. They gave me a lot of advice about what to expect, what it is going to be like to play here and live here.” Sporting News

Draft, Jan Vesely