He spent an unsuccessful season in the NBA, he partially adjusted his mood only at the end of it after moving to Washington. Tomáš Satoranský is now even considering returning to Europe, the Euro-league giants Barcelona and Anadola Efes are interested. “It’s a big decision, I’m leaving more time,” he said of his future. But he trains with the ball again and looks out for the national team. The long basketball summer, full of World Cup qualifiers, will culminate in the September EuroBasket.

Are you looking forward to the European Championships with great anticipation?
“It will be special for me. I’m from Prague and I haven’t played so many matches with the national team here. Of course, with that comes a lot of pressure from the surroundings and friends – especially on tickets… (laughs) I hope that we will fly on the wave of success from the 2019 World Cup and the Olympics. But it will be a new situation for us, we are co-bavarian groups. “

You ceremoniously cut the ribbon in front of the EuroBasket 2022 inscription. Do you feel that there are only less than 100 days left until the championship?
“I feel that it is approaching, because I am back in the Czech Republic and I will join the national team in qualifying for the World Cup (July matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Lithuania). We’ve all been looking forward to it since we got the organizers. Last year we managed to advance to the Olympics and now hopefully it will be our peak. “

How did you rest after the challenging range you started in New Orleans and ended in Washington?
“Most of the time, after this, which ended so soon, I spent time with friends. Now I have two children and I haven’t seen a month and a half, so I have the most time with my family. But my wife and I were also alone on holiday in Milan after three years. We enjoyed a slightly different perception of time. (smiles) “

Have you been to play basketball?
“Coincidentally, I just started for the first time. I can’t last long. I’ve been training with a fitness trainer for about three weeks now. “

What was the most club-changing season for you?
“Probably mentally. When you get into an uncomfortable situation, you take a lot of effort. You try to change it, but sometimes it doesn’t work. I don’t have much patience when I’m not playing. So it was probably the most mentally difficult thing to do. Anyway, the season didn’t work out for me at all. “

Did you improve your mood by moving to Washington?
“My engagement in New Orleans did not suit me. The interest of the team was not the way we used in the beginning. After a few months, I felt that change was coming. I’m glad I ended up in Washington. It was an entrance to the same river for me, maybe I had a coach. My enthusiasm returned to the basket because I hadn’t played at all before and I missed it terribly. I’m glad I didn’t close the NBA gate. It would be difficult for me to go back if I didn’t go to Washington. “

Wizards can you play your game?
“Yes, they let me play the game I do best. After some eight years, I also competed with Kristaps Porzingis, which were plus points. I remember this month and a half very well. “

You are dealing with the future of basketball. Euroleague clubs are also interested in you. Where is it going to take you?
“Europe and the NBA are at stake. It’s a big decision, I keep more time. It’s not just about me, it’s about the whole family living with me. The decision has not yet been made in my head. “

In addition to you, Barcelona is also fond of Jan Veselý. Is it a big attraction?
“It would be one of the factors that would make me happy and I would consider it even more. Honza Vesely and I once had a chance to play outside the national team – in the Washington Wizards, but then it didn’t work out. Our cooperation is an attraction for teams in Europe. We’ll see, it’s his decision. I haven’t even decided for myself yet. “

In your situation, returning to Europe would mean more peace and security
“The situation has changed for me since I went to the NBA. I already have two children and it is extremely difficult for the family when there is no stability. And it will never exist in the NBA for me again. This is one of the factors we are talking about. It is always up to the player to find out what situation he is in, what he would like to prove. All these things are going on in my head, but also in conversation with my wife. “

How closely does he watch the NBA playoffs?
“I will always see how it turned out in the morning. There are surprising results for me. I would like to see the finals of the Golden State – Boston Celtics. “

Serbian Nikola Jokic won the MVP award. Deservedly?
“He is an incredible player. What he can do with his athletic parameters is extraordinary. He can do almost anything, the team built his entire system on it. He has been amazed by the NBA for many years and I think he won deservedly. It just proves that the European or international basket is approaching the American one every year. “

Why will EuroBasket be so attractive?
“The European Championship is an incredibly demanding competition because the competition for European basketball is high. Alibistically, I would not give up the role of favorite. The Czechs do not have a good role in team sports, but we have great motivation to change it. There will be a lot of pressure on us, but we can deal with that enthusiasm. “

There is information from Serbia that the start of Jokič in Prague is uncertain. On the other hand, Bogdan Bogdanovič, Vasilije Micič and Nikola Kalinič will come…
“Bogdanovič has already told me during the NBA that he is looking forward to Staropramen. I told him that this is not the best beer that can be in the Czech Republic. (laughs) We were joking because he’s a great friend of Honza Veselý. They played together in Partizan and Fenerbahka. Everyone is looking forward to Prague and they know that it is a great city. I’m glad for that. This will probably confirm the assumptions that a lot of spectators will come. We have opponents with good fans like Poland, Finland. The atmosphere here will be during EuroBasket. “

And you are convinced of the atmosphere that Serbs can create, aren’t you?
“I remember the most tumultuous match with Barcelona against the Red Star. The spectators were on their feet, shouting the whole match. Serbs are stormy. Interest in the tickets indicates that the atmosphere will be created. It will help us tremendously, because all our successes were outside the Czechia. Now we can experience it together with our viewers. “

Have you already written any knowledge about the championship in your well-known communication group?
“It simply came to our notice then. (laughs) When we’re back together, it’s mostly intense. Some players still have a season, so we didn’t sign up. But I think we will experience it once we join the national team in qualifying. Except for Honza Veselý and Vít Krejčí, everyone should be there. It is only good that we want to be together so long before the European Championships. It confirms that the atmosphere and chemistry in the team is great. “

Do you set goals only over time?
“The biggest mistake would be to rely on past results. Our first task is to focus only on what will happen. We are co-Bavarian groups, the largest being Serbia. The first goal should be to move from the group. “

EuroBasket 2022 (September 1-18)

Scene: Prague (O2 arena), Tbilisi, Milan, Cologne, Berlin
Group A (Tbilisi): Montenegro, Georgia, Spain, Bulgaria, Belgium, Turkey
Group B (Cologne): France, Lithuania, Slovenia, Germany, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C (Milan): Greece, Italy, Croatia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Estonia
Group D (Prague): Serbia, Czechia, Poland, Finland, Israel, the Netherlands

Tomas Satoransky

(season statistics 2021/22)
Matches: 55 (Washington 22, San Antonio 1, New Orleans 32)
Minutes per match: 16.5
Body to match: 3.6
Rebounds per match: 2.3
Match assistance: 3.3
Field shooting: 37.7%
Shooting for 3 points: 20.8%
Free throws: 79.6%