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Ziga Samar, Hamburg: 'A lot of great young players in the EuroCup'

Ziga Samar, Hamburg: 'A lot of great young players in the EuroCup'

Interviews

17 October 20226 Mins read

Ziga Samar, Hamburg: 'A lot of great young players in the EuroCup'

Veolia Towers Hamburg had a stellar start to the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup, downing host Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 66-73 in the Montenegrin capital. A great team effort saw six of Hamburg's players score 8 points or more, including 21-year-old point guard Ziga Samar, who looked like a well-rounded veteran while making his EuroCup debut in Podgorica. It took just one EuroCup game for Samar, who is to Hamburg from ALBA Berlin, to show his great potential. He came off the bench to collect 11 points on 3-for-4 three-point shooting, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals for a performance index rating of 16. In an interview with EuroCupBasketball.com, Samar gave more importance to his team's win than to his good individual performance. "This is what I always try to do: help the team win," Samar said. "I am the kind of player that does a little bit of everything. That's who I am!"

Congratulations on Hamburg's first win in a tough arena. What made it happen?

"Thanks. We went to this game with an underdog mentality but wanted to win it. We knew it was going to be a very difficult game. Buducnost is a good team; everyone knows it. As the game went on, we saw we had a chance to win. We played as a team and that allowed us to win in Podgorica."

You guys allowed just 66 points on the road. With so many new faces, how did the defense get so strong so soon?

"Truth to be told, we give defense a lot of importance in practice. We got ready for the game in Podgorica, but also Buducnost made a lot of roster changes. They are not fully adjusted as a team, but I am sure they will do better and better in the next games."

"We need to play, take decisions, sometimes make mistakes...In a way, there is a competition between us."

It was your first EuroCup game, but you looked very comfortable doing a little bit of everything for your team How did you feel out there?

"I felt good, yes. In the end, it is important that we won because this is what I always try to do: help the team win. Like you said, I am the kind of player that does a little bit of everything. That's who I am!"

How excited are you to play the EuroCup this season with Hamburg?

"I am very excited, no question about it. The EuroCup is a great competition, the second-best European competition. It is a pleasure to be a part of this competition."

You helped Real Madrid reach the 2018 ANGT Finals and win the 2019 ANGT title. Which are your favorite memories of those two weekends?

"In Belgrade 2018, we felt bad for not winning the ANGT title. We worked all season to do it but we had just finished the Spanish junior championship, playing many games the previous week. But in the decisive game against Rytas, they were better than us and deserved to win. In Vitoria 2019, it was our first goal when we saw each other in Madrid after the off-season. We only changed two or three players from one year to another. We managed to win the tournament, which is the most difficult junior title to get in Europe. We were really happy. In 2018, we saw the Real Madrid [senior team] win the EuroLeague title and came back with them in the same plane. We were very happy, all of us. It was a privilege to be there, with them, traveling back from Belgrade. It was something special."

There are lots of young talents in the EuroCup this season. How exciting is that, to see players of your generation and younger doing so well already?

"It is special. There are a lot of great young players and, in a way, there is a competition between us. All of us want to do as well as we can, but also help our teams to do really well. We need to play, take decisions, sometimes make mistakes, to do better in the next game. That way, we will grow as players, and playing twice a week, in that sense, is a privilege."

Which young players, in particular, do you expect to have a big impact in the EuroCup?

"I played with Matteo Spagnolo [of Dolomiti Energia Trento] in Real. I didn't have that much contact with Juan Nunez [of ratiopharm Ulm], but without a doubt, these are two great talents and will surely be successful. There are three great talents in Gran Canaria: Aleksander Balcerowski, Khalifa Diop and Jovan Kljajic. Fedor Zugic is a great player, too. And I haven't mentioned a lot of other great players. Like I said, it is important to play a lot of games, because that can take you to the next level."

From Union Olimpija to Real Madrid... sounds familiar. How much of an influence is Doncic in your career? How is your relationship?

"We didn't talk to each other too much when we were in Madrid, but he helped me when I arrived to the city in my first year. Now, when you see him in practice with the national team and see what he does, you can learn a lot from Luka: his court vision, mentality, his magic. You can try to imitate what he does, too. No one can compare to him. He is at another level. We stay in touch, but not very often."

Your next game is at home against Turk Telekom Ankara. What needs to be done to stop them?

"Turk Telekom is a good team. I watched them a lot when they played EuroCup last season. Axel Bouteille is a very good player; I faced him in Spain. I don't know any other player as much as I know him, but it is only a matter of time. Winning at home is very important to be able to do something extra in the EuroCup. It will be an important game for us, no question about it."

What would you consider a good season for you, personally, and for Veolia Towers Hamburg?

"For me, it would be a good season if I grow my game as much as I can, improve my game. This should make it a good season, but only if the team plays well. We need to qualify to the playoffs in both the EuroCup and the German League. If we make it to the EuroCup playoffs, anything can happen after that."