Based on preseason matches and early United League games, CSKA looks even more dominant than in its championship run in the last few playoffs. Of course, the fact that coach Andreas Pistiolis was able to fully prepare the team, as well as the fact that the basketball players adapted to his ideas, plays a role here. But I would like to highlight another important factor: Alexa Avramovich.
Any European basketball fan has long known the high level of the Serbian defender. Over the last few years he has been one of the key players for Partizan, a strong EuroLeague core team, despite serious competition at the back. However, the general public remembers him from the Paris Olympic Games.
The video can be seen on the Eurohoops TV YouTube channel. The video rights belong to Euroleague Ventures SA.
Avramovic was no less an important part of the Serbian national team than stars Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Especially in the playoffs, where Svetislav Pesic trusted only the most proven players with minutes. Alexa gave it her all on both sides of the court, hitting crazy three-pointers and then running to contain the best players in the world on defense. A statuette was even given to the best defensive player of the tournament.
At the beginning of the Games it was officially known that the Serbian was moving to CSKA. This was a surprise and made us feel proud of national basketball. Still, the status of our championship and the Moscow Club is still valued abroad, despite more than two years of isolation.
Aleksa Avramovic and Svetislav Pesic
Photo: Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images
As the vice president of the club, Natalia Furaeva, immediately stated, the military team had long needed a player like Avramovich. The Moscow team’s defense is full of players with excellent scoring skills, but there are problems when it comes to working on their side of the field. To break up and strengthen the scoring duo of Melo Trimble and Casper Ware, they needed someone who could back them up and get them the ball. But of course, Alexa can cast very well!
The Serbian’s contract included an option that until August 20 he could be released from his contract to be able to move to the NBA. As it turned out, active negotiations took place, but things did not work out. It’s not entirely clear what exactly was wrong for the parties, however Avramovic apparently demanded a guarantee of playing time. And given the prejudice that still exists against Europeans in North America, they couldn’t promise him that. Although the Serbian could definitely help even the most prestigious franchises in the league, such as Denver, where his compatriot Jokic plays. They simply lack depth in the team.
Therefore, the transfer of such a player is an event for our basketball, taking into account all the circumstances. But how does this affect its benefits in the soil? Everything is just wonderful. Alexa joined the team as if she had been playing for CSKA for several years.
Alexa Avramovich and Dmitry Kulagin
Photo: VTB United League
Pistiolis constantly experiments with the rotation, throwing in different combinations of defenders at first. Avramovic comes and goes from the bench from the first minutes. But this does not prevent it from being useful. An excellent example is the recent match against Uralmash, where the Serbian came off the bench and in a few minutes lit up the court so much that the intrigue in the match practically disappeared. Until the big break, he scored 15 points, without spending much time on the court.
It is worth noting that Avramovic is a true Serb with traditional values. He is religious and considers Russia a historical friend of his native country. Alexa has great respect for our championship and for CSKA, which she considers a top-level European club. That’s why he gladly took the opportunity to play here and is working 100%.
The video can be seen on the VTB United League YouTube channel. The video rights belong to the VTB United League.
How successful can Alexa achieve this season? Winning regular season MVP will likely be difficult because it requires a lot of points, like Xavier Rathen-Mays did with Enisey last season. CSKA does not have a clear leader due to its strong composition. But playoff MVP is a goal worth taking a closer look, especially if the military team becomes champion. Now, the probability of this happening seems very high.
Following the departure of Nenad Dimitrijevic, the status of best player in the league remains open. Can Avramovic fill this spot? Undoubtedly! Already in the first week of the season he was in the top five and is ready to spend the entire season at the highest level.
Still, I would like to see him in the NBA one day. It is unknown if there will be offers next summer, as the post-Olympic hype may have died down by then. But it is clear that for Alexa this would be a dream come true. And there will always be time to return to Russia. However, these are thoughts for the distant future. Now Avramovich is happy in Moscow and is ready to give the army team a second consecutive title.
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