“Prague Rucker Park.” Satoranský opened a reconstructed streetball court in Žižka to the public iRADIO
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The Pražačka sports complex in Žižkov has a brand new basketball court. The credit for this goes to Tomáš Satoranský, who reconstructed the “Czech Rucker Park” with his team for less than three million crowns and now ceremonially opened it to the public. The 30-year-old former player of Washington, Chicago, New Orleans and San Antonio, who after six years in the NBA is heading back to Europe to Barcelona, honed his skills on this very field in Žižkov since he was a child.
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Why did you choose this location in Prague 3 in Žižkov?
I come from Prague 3, I lived between Flora and Želivský since I was three years old, so it was close to me and I often came here to train, even when I played abroad. As far back as I can remember, I started here. It’s a legendary community, a legendary playground for this streetball group. From that point of view, it was a logical step.
Listen to an interview with Tomáš Satoranský after the opening of the reconstructed playground in Pražačka
When did you start thinking about the reconstruction of this playground?
I’ve been toying with that idea for a long time, probably since I played in the NBA. At the same time, I was inspired by players in the NBA, they did something similar, like my who Kristaps Porziņģis. Luka Dončić also did something similar that I saw in the photos. I hoped that this could also be achieved in the Czech Republic, I dreamed about it for a long time.
There is Rucker Park in Harlem, New York, will there be something similar here in Pražáci?
Hopefully, it can certainly follow in the footsteps of this legendary New York course. One of our most important goals is to attract children and people in general to basketball or to a sport of this kind, and on that basis to inspire other projects, not only in Prague. I am very happy that such an event was created, where a lot of people came. I think there is a lot of fun programming here. In addition, we could not have wished for better weather.
What is streetball?
Streetball is an urban form of basketball that is played today on courts and gyms around the world. It is usually one basket, but otherwise the rules of the game are very similar to those of professional basketball. The number of players in one game can range from one forward to one defender to two teams of five players each.
A lot of great basketball players grew up in Rucker Park, probably only Tomáš Satoranský grew up here. What is your strongest memory of this course?
When he once stayed with me in Prague for about a week, I even brought Jan Veselý here. I played here with my community of friends who are all basketball players. One likes to train outside for a long time, it’s such a freedom. And with music it’s something else entirely, it’s more of a freestyle.
We basketball players always believe in streetball, it’s like volleyball players believe in classic beach volleyball. Such a line-up of Patrik Auda, myself and Veselý would certainly not cause shame. At the same time, there is no time for that, in the summer we all devote ourselves to family. But after the end of my career, I would like to stick with the 3-on-3 basket.
Have you ever been to Rucker Park?
He wasn’t, I didn’t have a chance. But of course I saw a lot of legendary videos. Streetball has always been closely linked to the NBA. Basketball and streetball were actually a lifestyle. I am glad that I can support this lifestyle here in Prague.
do you like rap
I’ve been listening to rap since I was little, it’s always been part of the trash for me, and I think that’s the way it is for everyone. Maybe there is too much of him in the NBA sometimes, a change wouldn’t hurt, but he just belongs to basketball.
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