The high-flying forward spoke to Javier Gancedo ahead of his team's eighthfinal showdown with Besiktas
Devin Robinson, Cedevita: 'We are locked in'
Interviews
10 Mins read
After a tough season in which it won just a single game, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana turned things around and power forward Devin Robinson has been a big factor. The Slovenian side finished the regular season with a 10-8 record and earned the home-court advantage for its eighthfinals contest against Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul. Robinson has averaged 14.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals for a PIR of 14.6 in 18 games. He believes his team is ready to challenge for big goals and this is a great opportunity to show it, as he told Javier Gancedo in this EuroCupBasketball.com interview.
"These past couple of years, especially the last one, it was a rough year for the club in the EuroCup and everyone took us as a joke. We came back this year with new additions to the team and a new coach, and we tried to turn it around, and that's what we did," Robinson said. "I think we need to continue to push forward and continue to go as far as possible to get Olimpija back on the map. It used to be top dogs back in the day and people have kind of written us off these past 10-15 years. So what we have in front of us is a good opportunity for us."
Hello, Devin. Congratulations on a great season, individually and as a team. How is the team feeling before the big game against Besiktas?
"Oh, we are ready. We have been preparing ourselves during the break and now we are getting back from the break and we are ready. We are locked in. This is a great opportunity for the club to do something special here. So yes, we are trying to really lock in and take care of business."
You had a stint with ratiopharm Ulm and this is your second EuroCup season. Is the EuroCup what you expected?
"The EuroCup competition is great. It's a lot of great talent. A lot of great players, some good basketball. You get to travel to these nice cities and compete at a high level. The game is very much different than maybe a domestic or a different league like ABA. It's more free-flowing and more up and down. It is a faster gameplay, so you have to adjust between your two leagues. And I think it's a great experience. I feel like a lot of guys can play at the next level as well in EuroLeague, so it's a really great competition."
Highlight plays like a big three, a dunk or a block are really essential for the game.
Cedevita Olimpija had a major turnaround, from going 1-17 last season to being 10-8 and getting the home-court advantage in the first playoff game. How important was it to bounce back and be this competitive again?
"We needed it. These past couple of years, especially the last one, it was a rough year for the club in the EuroCup and everyone took us as a joke. We came back this year with new additions to the team and a new coach, and we tried to turn it around, and that's what we did. I think we need to continue to push forward and continue to go as far as possible to get Olimpija back on the map. It used to be top dogs back in the day and people have kind of written us off these past 10-15 years. So what we have in front of us is a good opportunity for us, get a win for the club and continue to let people know that we belong in this league."
You will play against Besiktas, which made it to the semifinals last season, with very experienced players and a coach used to winning these types of games. What are the keys to this game?
"They play super, super aggressive on defense. They play with high energy and they run and gun. They shoot any shot that they see open, crash the boards and play aggressive. They are going to try to break up our schemes on offense and just be a disruption. It's going to be a game of havoc. It's going to be a game of hustle plays, rebounding, and just the little plays to help us get the win. They have great talent. They got great guys and great camaraderie over there, so we've got to put together a solid 40 minutes of just playing a hard-nosed, real physical game of basketball and the best team who comes out and does that will win."
You are one of the most spectacular players in the competition in recent years. How important is a good dunk or a high-flying block to get your teammates and your home crowd involved?
"Oh, yeah. Highlight plays are meant to bring energy to the whole arena: get a good block, get a good dunk, yell a little bit, scream... Get your teammates clapping. The other team maybe calls a timeout because the crowd is getting too loud. I think highlight plays like a big three, a dunk or a block are really essential for the game. It changes the energy and it shifts the momentum for the team that made the highlight, so I think it's really important. So yeah, I try to do as much as I can in that department to give us that extra edge."
How about the environment? How do you enjoy playing in a basketball city like Ljubljana, for a EuroCup-winning coach like Mitrovic?
"I like it. It's definitely different than what I am used to, but different isn't always a bad thing. I am playing with a different style of basketball than I am probably normally used to, but it helps me develop in different areas of my game, to be an overall better player. Playing with great guys and great vets like Stipanovic and Blazic and Ali [Nikolic] makes the game a lot easier. They know what to expect. They know how to play in these types of situations and scenarios and I am learning a lot from those guys. just being around them and watching how hard they work, the passion that they play with and understanding the wants and needs of the coaches and the different styles of play. So it has been great just playing with all those guys."
In previous seasons, Stozice Arena was packed for do-or-die games. How important will the home-court advantage be and what kind of atmosphere can we expect on Wednesday?
"It's very important. It's been a lot of games this season where it's been quiet in the gym and we just needed a little bit of a push. But since the fans started coming out and showing some support, they've been giving us that extra boost and that extra kick to perform. We know how easy it is to essentially lose the fan base when we lose games, so we want to bring our best foot forward and bring some good energy and some good wins together to fill up the gym. I hope everyone comes out and tries to support us to give us that extra push that we need."
Let's talk about you a little bit. You played in Taiwan for a full season three years ago. How was the experience, on and off the court?
"Taiwan was great. It was my first time leaving home to play overseas. I was playing in the G League and two-way and all that stuff in the United States, and I took it upon myself to finally try to make that jump to go overseas. And Taiwan was essentially the only opportunity I had, so I went there with a chip on my shoulder to go and show what I can do. And it was a great overall experience. Basketball-wise. They let me be me. They saw what I had and saw what I could bring to the table and just let me play freely and try to win games for the team. It's a very entertainment business out there in the Asian market where highlight plays are what they love to see. The fans are crazy! And then off the court, it's just a beautiful place. It's pretty much warm all year round. The food is amazing. Different but amazing. I always want to, everywhere I go, to engulf myself in the culture and try new things. I was trying chicken legs and goose liver and all these new things and my teammates there really appreciated that. And I really had a fun time trying new things and exposing them to what I'm used to and bringing my American swag over there as well., so it was an overall great experience. Everything was great: the temples, the night markets, shopping... it has everything you can ever ask for!"
Look good, feel good, play good, I really abide by that.
I asked around and were told that you are into fashion, and you don't mind taking risks when it comes to buying clothes. How important is that for you?
"I love fashion. I love what it's about. I love how you can put on something and express yourself, or how you feel or where you are mentally or where you are culturally. And I just love to put on nice clothes and you know the saying: look good, feel good, play good, I really abide by that. And yes, I just want to express myself without even having to talk. Even though I am an enrgy guy and you see me talking all the time, and I'm loud and bringing that positive vibe, my clothes can do it as well. So it's just a one-two punch."
All of the qualified teams have been working hard to reach this time of the year, the most important games of the season. How much are you looking forward to it, to going out there and competing against the best?
"Oh, man, I'm really looking forward to it. It is always a good opportunity to go play, and these games are fun. It is the opportunity to get to play this game at a high level, wherever you are. It's just a blessing and it's just fun to do. So I am always excited to play wherever we are. I just take every game, every opportunity, and at the end of the day, I love what I do."