Z.LeDay made a warm comment on Kaunas – on the ambitions of Olympia, Marius, Nigel and Roka | Euroleague

Communicate with 15 minutes Zach LeDay looked out the window and enjoyed the sunlight streaming into the room. In Italy, the weather pampers people more and more warmly, but former Kaunas legionnaire “Žalgiris” and now “Olympia” legionnaire in Milan are in no rush to enjoy the pleasures of spring.

First of all, these conditions in Italy are still dictated by the coronavirus. The Ministry of Health has divided the country into four COVID-19 zones according to colors: white, yellow, orange and blue.

The Lombardy region, home to the Milan Club, jumped from yellow to the most intense orange a few days ago, so freedom of movement is shrinking again.

“We could have eaten in restaurants, but now they are closed. If I’m not mistaken, it is mandatory to be home from 10 at night. until 6 pm The numbers increased dramatically, so the restrictions were tightened. ” 15 minutes said Zach LeDay, one of the leaders of last season’s “Žalgiris”.

Second, Zach is a stay at home mom who enjoys cooking, relaxing, and just concentrating on basketball season. As the 26-year-old and 201 cm athlete himself says, his life at the time of the pandemic has not changed much.

And the former “Žalgiris” basketball player is doing very well so far, although he was somewhat held back by a thigh injury, which ended the possibility of running to the field in front of his former team.

This season, Olimpia has already won the Italian Cup, ranking first in the national championships and third (17-10) in the Euroleague. Z.LeDay is the second most useful soldier of the Italian professor Ettore Messina.

In the Euroleague, the forward earns 10.3 points (50.4% double, 50% trit, 91.2% penalty) in 24 minutes, recovers 4.7 balls and records 13 utility points, according to which only lower Shavon Shields (average of 15 points of use).

Z.LeDay discusses a good game in Milan during the season in Kaunas – Šarūnas Jasikevičius school provided him with invaluable experience, reflected in the fantastic “designers” season.

“I will say openly and sincerely,” Žalgiris “will always remain a special place for me. When I came to Kaunas, I learned a lot. It is amazing how much I learned in just one year in Lithuania. I am grateful to Shar for that, 15 minutes Z. LeDay said. – I knew that “Žalgiris” is a great club, but you will not buy for money the experience acquired in Lithuania, which Shar and other people who work at the club transmitted to me. They helped me become a better person, personality and player. I am very grateful. Lithuania and “Žalgiris” will always hold a special place in my heart. “

On the website 15 minutes – Interview with Olimpia tall Zach LeDay, who played in Žalgiris last year – about the season in Milan, the club’s ambitious goals, coach Ettore Messinas and their differences compared to Šarūnas Jasikevičius, eternal friends left in Kaunas, great season player Marius Grigonis Rokas Nigel Hayes and a short stay of brother Seth LeDay in Šiauliai.

– Zachai, how is the Milan team?

– We try to watch from one game to another. We want to do something special, and we all come from different basketball worlds and philosophies. Few players remained on the team since last year. We met early and decided we wanted to do something memorable. We must continue to do so. If we don’t hurry, success will follow. The talent in Milan is unlimited.

– You are the second most useful player in Olimpia, currently in third place in the Euroleague. Maybe the next step will take him to the NBA?

– I don’t think about the future. I feel blessed to play in Milan. At that point last year, I couldn’t have said that he would play here for a year, and Shar wouldn’t have said that he would train for Barcelona. The future is unpredictable.

I just try to work hard every day. I want to become a better player, help the team win and be successful. I want to win as much as possible during my career. God is pushing me forward and I have to continue the work that I started.

– What are the ambitions of the Milan club this season?

– The goal is to win everything. That’s what all teams have to think, that’s why we play basketball. But we cannot rush, we have to look from one game to another and learn from mistakes. We can control the things that we can control.

– How did you manage to adapt to the philosophy of Ettore Messina, how is a coach?

– E. Messina spent a decade in the NBA and won many titles in Europe before moving to the United States. He has won several championships with the San Antonio Spurs and has acquired a new experience and a different philosophy. He worked for many years at the highest level with the best players, saw their work every day, and on his return to Europe he combined the philosophies of two different worlds of basketball.

I was born and raised in America, and he had one leg in Italy and the other in America. Ettore emphasizes the skills of basketball players and has clear working principles that he tries to convey to the players. The mixed philosophy of European basketball and the NBA is its advantage. I managed to understand her and become a successful player. We want to finish the season on the right note because we have two more goals.

– How similar or different is E. Messina compared to Šarūnas Jasikevičius?

– In terms of demand, they are very similar. As you know, Shar has a system. If you don’t play under the system, it doesn’t matter if the sky can start to snow in gold, you don’t play. Shar has a system and Messina demands appropriate action based on what he sees and how he reads the situation. According to him, he must play correctly for the good of the team.

These coaches are different but similar in requirement and rigor. I am the youngest player on the team, so Ettore is the one who trains me the most. I always have to be ready for anyone.

– Are the matches against “Žalgiris” usual or something special for you?

– I will say openly and cordially, “Žalgiris” will always remain a special place for me. When I came to Kaunas, I learned a lot. It’s amazing how much I learned in just one year in Lithuania. For that, I am grateful to Shar.

I knew that “Žalgiris” is a great club, but I will not buy for money the experience gained in Lithuania, which was passed on to me by Shar and other people who work at the club. They helped me become a better person, personality and player. I am very grateful. Lithuania and Žalgiris will always have a special place in my heart.

– The best advice Shar has ever given you?

– What impressed me the most is Shar’s preparation for the match. He does it at an elite level.

You see, Barcelona are a great team, wonderful players, but Shar’s work ethic and preparation for the match alone can take the team to the top. The things he does before the game are the analysis of the opponents, the search for weak points, the preparation … I want and try to catch up with Shar on this aspect. I want my mentality to be the same. Now I take every game very seriously.

– Are you still in contact with the people of Žalgiris? What do you talk about most often?

– I communicate with the players and employees of the Žalgiris club. Of course, and how else? We communicate, I sincerely wish you success.

Together last year we were able to achieve something great, our form improved, we entered the playoffs, we wanted to meet the established goals, but everything was interrupted by COVID-19. Many things in the world have changed about COVID-19 in general, not just basketball. I wish the people of Žalgiris good luck and happiness, there is no doubt.

We talk about the present or how our loved ones are, what life is like and how things are going. We communicate both before and after the game because we love each other.

– What impression does “Žalgiris” leave this season?

– I cannot go into details because all my concentration revolves around the Milan team. We have goals and we want to achieve them. I can’t look askance, I want to focus on my daily work.

I wish the Žalgiris players the best of success, but I focus only on my own business. I want to help the Olympia team.

– Marius Grigonis became a true leader of “Žalgiris”, could you expect such a breakthrough?

– Marius does not surprise me at all, he is one of the best defenders in the Euroleague. That’s obvious. You have talent and proper reasoning. He’s not afraid of anything and I respect him a lot. We are similar: we both work a lot and fear nothing.

Last season was short and difficult for him due to injury, he was already preparing to return to the game in Barcelona, ​​but everything was interrupted by COVID-19. The long rehabilitation process, rested body and mind allowed him to show his talent to the whole world this season. I knew it would be.

– In Lithuania, there is more and more talk about Rokas Jokubaitis and his game. What impression does it give if Rock can reach the NBA?

– There is no doubt that he is very talented. Another thing he learned from Shar every day, which he sees in the field. Last year, Rock and I did the releases together, and we did it every day.

He has talent and the right work ethic, he works very hard every day and now we see the result. It didn’t surprise me that the focus on rock was growing. It’s like a free soul playing free basketball. This is American basketball: fast, free, creative. You have to go to the court, do the right action, and play hard on defense. I think it has it all.

– Nigel Hayes became a very important player for “Žalgiris”. What could have led to this?

– Nigel had the freedom to do more things on the field. He had a different role in the Shar system, but now the coach has changed. Nigel shows what he is really capable of.

He is a worker, last year there were many working men in “Žalgiris”. They wanted to improve and improve the game every day. No individual improvement in “Žalgiris” surprises me. They loved him very much, they loved him and I think they want to continue helping the team to win.

– Your brother Seth could not establish himself in the Šiauliai club, what were the reasons for this?

– I cannot speak about the situation at the Šiauliai club. I don’t know what is happening there, how you work there. It would be too difficult for me to deal with something. My brother’s basketball journey is different from mine.

He recently won the Kosovo Country Cup. The newcomer showed off his skills and took the team to the next level. Before Seth’s arrival, the team took last place and now won the cup. He has proven his worth in being able to help a team win.

I don’t know anything about “Šiauliai” and what his goals are, but my brother already in the first professional season proved that he is the winner. Improve every day, work, enjoy situations.