Cibona Zagreb to announce Smush Parker, give coach vote of confidence, blasted by Predrag Saric

December 11, 2012

Now who saw this one coming? According to Croatia-based news outlet Jutarnji, Cibona Zagreb, having just activated the previously in-limbo Dario Saric (not to mention already eliminated from Eurocup play and in a 6-7 hole in the ABA), will announce the signing of Smush Parker.

Perhaps best known nowadays for serving as Kobe Bryant’s media-side scratching post, Parker has logged court time in China, Greece, Russia, Iran, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic since last playing in the U.S. with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2008.

Further making things interesting are comments made by Saric’s bombastic father Predrag. As translated by Sportando, father Saric opined that “Cibona owe money to everyone, they don’t have a coach and they expect Dario to save them. The best option for Darius was KK Split…”

(For the record, the same story telling of Parker’s arrival also notes that current head coach Daniel Lutz will in fact remain in the position through 2012-13.)

Predrag further went on to comment that at least 10 clubs were willing to sign his son and immediately loan him back to KK Split; apparently, Predrag had little say in the matter after all, however, since relations among family members has become a bit strained.

And BallinEurope asks could the downward spiral of this legendary European basketball club continue? Kobe’d probably say yes…

Dec 11, 2012ballineurope

This post was published on December 11, 2012

Comments: 7

Panos
12 years ago
Os Davis, we have some great discussion ammo here:

http://www.sport24.gr/Basket/OmadesBasket/A1Panathinaikos/kapono_o_panathhnaikos_o_katallhloteros_gia_mena.2046582.html

What do you know about your new team? Have you talked to the coaching staff?

“My wife and I did a lot of research on the team and its history. Everybody we talked to, told us that Panathinaikos is clearly one of the biggest and most elite teams of European basketball, and therefore it was an easy choice to play with them.

When I spoke to the players of Panathinaikos, it was obvious to me that this is a serious team that aims to be a champion and win titles. When I talked to Roko Ukic, who was my teammate in Toronto, he told me how important the team is, and also how nice it is in Athens. Roko even told me that Panathinaikos is the best team that he’s ever played on, even including the NBA teams he’s been on.”
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- Gabe
  12 years ago
  That’s funny how he would say that considering on Panathinaikos Ukic is averaging 25 mpg and 10 ppg while in the NBA he averaged 11.6 mpg and 4 ppg. So Panathinaikos is a better team because they play him twice as much. I guess the NBA teams just didn’t realize how good Ukic was now that he’s getting more minutes on a better team! (or so he says)
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NBA Guru
12 years ago
That’s funny you would say that, considering you have never seen a Euroelague game………..
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- Gabe
  12 years ago
  1. I have
  2. Whaaa?
  3. The whole point is here is a guy who didn’t even average a quarter while playing in the NBA while with Panathinaikos he is playing over half the game. I mean the guy is basically saying “Yeah Panathinaikos is better than the NBA teams cause they play me twice as much so they must be smart” but in all honestly if Panathinaikos is really better than the Bucks or the Raps wouldn’t this guy be buried even more on the bench than playing twice as much? Sounds like sour grapes to me.
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  - Erik
    12 years ago
    waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    
    Gabe is a big baby.
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    - Gabe
      12 years ago
      Huh? What? Are you okay?
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Locke
12 years ago
Nando de Colo not impressed by the NBA.

http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/sports/nando-de-colo-l-interview-integrale-la-nba-c-est-ia213b0n920419

Is the NBA still a magical level?

You know, I’m not really impressed by it. It’s not magical, but now that I’m in it, I realize that it’s exceptional that the media is talking about it in the whole country. The littlest thing, on or off the court, immediately ends up on TV. The team does everything for you, so that you only have to worry about basketball. I’ve already said it, but it’s the first time that I go to practice without having to carry a bag or sneakers. I’m surprised each day about some of the customs.

The funny thing is how the American fans express themselves. If you do a simple no look pass, then they think it’s the assist of the century! They have a different approach to sports than we do in Europe. If your shot rolls around the rim three times before it goes in, then they claim that you have a good, soft “shooter’s touch”. In France, we would just admit that we got lucky. They do these little things in practice to try to help the players.

They’re all about the show. Every day, after the games, there are Top 5 and Top 10 play lists all over everywhere. They also do the same for all the other sports, which they also follow inside and out. What made me laugh recently during a timeout, in a game in Oklahoma, was that the fans were wearing costumes in the crowd. They don’t care about looking ridiculous, they just come to root for their team. That’s nice.
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