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Kristian Kullamae, Lietkabelis: 'I have been waiting for this'

Kristian Kullamae, Lietkabelis: 'I have been waiting for this'

Interviews

6 February 20238 Mins read

Kristian Kullamae, Lietkabelis: 'I have been waiting for this'

7Bet-Lietkabelis is in the thick of the playoff hunt in Group A of the 7DAYS EuroCup and comes off its first road victory of the season, against ninth-placed U-BT Cluj-Napoca. Once again, 23-year-old guard Kristian Kullamae was at the forefront for Lietkabelis when needed. This is Kullamae's first season in the EuroCup after playing in his native Estonia, Germany and Spain and he has averaged 10.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 13 EuroCup games. His father, Gert Kullamae, played in the EuroCup with EiffelTowers Nijmegen in the 2004-05 campaign. "He was more of like my mentor while I was younger, now he just supports me and in case I have any need for advice, he always helps me out," Kullamae told EuroCupBasketball.com. "I think it's a good thing that he allows me to be myself and focus on myself and in case I need any help, I can always ask him and reach out to him."

Hello, Kristian, congratulations on beating Cluj on the road. It was a critical victory in the playoff race. What allowed you to keep your composure and win the game?

"Thanks. Yes, it was really important for us. Until now, we didn't have any road wins, so getting the first one was huge for us. And I think it was a whole team effort, our defense was solid and the fighting spirit was hard. We really played as a team, although maybe the game was not the nicest one to watch, but I think we grinded it out. I think rebounds and defense were the keys."

You have adjusted really quickly to the EuroCup level, which is unusual for a newcomer. What allowed you to play so well right away?

"That's a good question. I have been waiting for this moment for a while. Last year in Spain, I did not have many minutes or a big role, but just being around there, in the ACB [Spanish League], a good league, I think it prepared me also for this EuroCup level and now I have a good connection with Coach. He has trusted me, so I think all those things combined have allowed me to play like this and help my team as much as possible."

"It's exciting times and I'm happy that a couple of us have had the opportunity to play at this level and showcase ourselves."

We have not seen many Estonians in the EuroCup lately, but Maik Kotsar did really well with Hamburg last season and now, you are one of Lietkabelis's leaders. Is that a good sign for Estonian basketball going forward?

"Yes, I think our country has developed basketball really well in the last years, and now we have some young guys who want to achieve big things in their careers. So yes, it's exciting times and I'm happy that a couple of us have had the opportunity to play at this level and showcase ourselves. I'm pretty sure that in the next years, there will be even more Estonians at this level."

The biggest news in Lietkebalis is that Gediminas Orelik returned to the team and has played a big role since he arrived. How important is it that he is back and playing so well weight away?

"He is a huge weapon for us. He was here last year, so he knows the organization and the club really well. He was one of the leaders last year so having him helps us a lot on offense. He is a great shooter. He can stretch the floor and they can't help really on defense against him, so it also opens up stuff to everybody else. And now with him, I think we have a bigger rotation and hopefully we will learn how to play with each other and then in the next games, we will find the rhythm and can have good results."

Everybody in Lietkabelis, from fans to players to everybody else, is on the same page about Coach Canak leading the team. How good is that for the team?

"I think he is probably one of the reasons why this team is like this. He tells us what we need to do on the court and then we need to do it. He gives us orders and we need to fulfill them on the court. And if we do it, I think that in every game we have good opportunities to win or have a positive result for us."

You are a second-generation EuroCup player. Your father Gert played in the EuroCup with EiffelTowers many years ago. Do you remember watching him play? How much of a mentor was he for you?

"I was still a little bit too young at that time. I remember more of his games while he was older, already finishing his career in Estonia. But yeah, I don't really have any memories about it. More or less, I have watched his games from tape or his highlights, but that's it. He was more of like my mentor when I was younger, now he just supports me and in case I have any need for advice, he always helps me out. But more and more, right now, he's more like a fan than rather than a coach for me. I think it's a good thing that he allows me to be myself and focus on myself and in case I need any help, I can always ask him and reach out to him."

In what ways are you two similar players, and what's the difference between you and your father?

"I haven't seen him when he was younger. He was also like a combo guard but later in his career, he was more of a shooter. So I think maybe our game is a little bit different, but I think how our bodies were built, we're pretty much the same. We are both like tall, skinny guys, you know? I think we have more similarities in our bodies than in our game."

What do you think about the EuroCup: the competition, the playing level and the way it is structured?

"Like you said, this is my first year and I like it a lot. The competition is really high, it is the second-best league in Europe, probably, so it's really challenging for me as a young player to compete against all those teams and players. It's nice and having a game almost every week, 18 games in total, I think that's a huge thing for me right now, so I am really enjoying it. And like I said, I hope that I can achieve the goals with the team we have put on ourselves."

"Everything starts from the defense. And if we can get stops, we can run and get some easier baskets, that would help us a lot."

Your next game is against Reyer. It was a close game earlier this season, what can we expect this time around?

"Yes, we were close to beating them last time but unfortunately in the end, we could not close the game. They are really, really experienced and I think they are a really physically strong team, so for us, it's important to be at least even or to win on rebounds and to play good defense because, in our team, everything starts from the defense. And if we can get stops, we can run and get some easier baskets, that would help us a lot. But yes, I think we need to focus on rebounds because Reyer is a big team."

There are only five regular season games left. Which teams do you see as favorites to win the EuroCup?

"We have great teams in our group. I don't know much about the other group, but I think this competition is really, really even, and everybody can win against everybody, especially as the playoffs are only one game. I think everything can happen, but out of the teams we played, I think Joventut has a great chance to reach far, for sure. I don't know if they can win it, but I think maybe Joventut is one of the teams that stands out. But like I said, I think in this competition, everything is very even. Prometey has played good. They also have a really athletic team and are playing really good basketball. They are a really good transition team. I would say it's surprising, but at the same time, also not that surprising because if you watch their roster, they have really high-level players."