Miloš Teodosić Speaks: "Clippers Are My Kind of Team"

This article originally appeared on VICE Serbia.

Miloš Teodosić and the NBA. Those two have been flirting for awhile now, and by “awhile” we really mean the last five or six years. Every summer, your average Serbian hoops lover will lose sleep wondering whether “Teo”, as he’s casually known at home, will finally cross the Atlantic and start playing in the world’s premier basketball competition. Will he adapt quickly? Will he dazzle American guards just like he has with the Euroleague opposition for the past decade? Will his body be able to withstand the tremendous grind of the NBA season? Or will he rather, much like Dejan Bodiroga, the former Sacramento Kings draftee, opt to stay in Europe for the duration of his career? The questions were never ending, and the answers were in short supply.

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Well, we’re about to find out. Miloš recently signed a two-year, $12.9 million contract with the LA Clippers, and is ready to take the NBA by storm. In a way, Teo going to the NBA at a somewhat advanced age — he turned 30 earlier in March — is a throwback to the glory days of Serbian and European basketball, when ballers would only make their NBA move after proving themselves in the Euroleague and local competitions. When Miloš finally won the Euroleague title last year, we knew that the clock was ticking. Once his contract with Moscow powerhouse CSKA expired, he was free to explore the American market to his liking. European basketball simply didn’t have many challenges left to offer, and Teodosić, as people who know him will tell you, is all about that.

Teodosić arrives in LA with his new team at the crossroads. Chris Paul, the point guard and fan favorite of past six seasons, was traded away to Houston in a blockbuster deal. This transaction suddenly found Clippers needing a point guard, and the Serbian national team standout will be looking to fill that void left by CP3. After all, Teo’s default answer when asked about the NBA was that he is very much willing to go there, but only on his conditions. It’s just that the end choice turned out a slightly surprising one, at least in the eyes of many Serbians.

Initial reports had Teodosić negotiating deals with a diverse bunch of franchises – the Brooklyn Nets, with their Russian connection, were an early front-runner, and the Chicago Bulls pitched an offer as well, looking to draw Miloš with its massive Serbian population in Illinois. Then there were the Miami Heat and the Utah Jazz, the latter coached by Quin Snyder who previously worked with Teodosić as Ettore Messina’s assistant at CSKA, and of whom Miloš has spoken highly on several previous occasions. In the end, however, it was the Paul blockbuster which swung the odds in the Clippers’ favor.

We wished to hear a bit more about all of this from the man himself, so we ventured out to Silver Lake, a popular holiday resort around seventy miles east of Belgrade, where Teo runs his annual “Teo4” basketball camp for kids. After an afternoon practice with the camp staff, it was Miloš’ turn to make his entrance — despite the fact he arrived from California yesterday afternoon, he was eager to run a few scrimmages with the enthralled campers, as well as sign countless autographs and pose for as many selfies. Teodosić, regardless of his club affiliation, remains a well-loved figure within the whole hoop-loving European basketball community, as shown by the fact that at least a third of all children present at the camp were speaking in some language other than Serbian (Russian and Greek were rather prominently heard).

Finally, as the last mini-ballers were sent away to their rooms, we were able to sit down with Miloš for a couple of minutes and hear his thoughts on the recent proceedings. We also managed to sneak in a quiz question, so read until the very end and see whether he nailed it. LA, meet Miloš — you two will get along just fine, we gather.

VICE Serbia : So, you finally made “the” move.

Miloš Teodosić : I’ll admit, it has been on my mind for the past two years at least. But as I said it before, I was not willing to go to the NBA just so I could say I’ve been there. I want to play, and I want to leave an impression. I had options, and I feel I picked just the right club for me.

The choice came as a surprise to many.

Well, you know, one trade can completely change a team’s outlook.

Which is quite the case with the Clippers.

You bet. Once the Clippers entered the fray with their offer, it was clear to me where was I gonna play next. Believe me, it was not a difficult decision – at all. Looking at their roster, it’s as if I put it together myself. We’re that compatible, I feel.

That trade also involved your former and future teammate Patrick Beverley, who had some choice words about you when asked by the press. Actually, it’s not often that a European player gets this much buzz from the American media. Feeling any pressure to deliver already?

Ummm…no. Not at all. Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it right now. Maybe I will feel some once I’m there before the season, but I’m more than ready for it should it happen.

Your new coach is Doc Rivers, a former NBA point guard. Reckon you two will be working fine together?

Oh, no doubt, no doubt at all. We spoke some last week and I feel we’re on same wavelength completely.

But I mean, it’s not just the coach. Check the backcourt we have — there’s Beverley, who’s really a tremendous defensive player. Then there’s Austin Rivers, another great D guy, and a fantastic athlete to match. I can play with either. Doc will certainly have enough options. I’m sure he’ll find a way to get the best out of everyone.

Right, enough with the guards, let’s talk big men. Blake Griffin has had some injury woes recently, but more than a few people think you can bring “lob city” back to Staples Center. In fact, ESPN’s Zach Lowe enthusiastically tweeted “LOB CITY IS BACK” once your signing was made official.

Ha! I didn’t catch that, that tweet I mean. Well, Blake and DeAndre Jordan will surely make my NBA transition much smoother. That’s a pair of quality players right there. I mean, tell you what, I can’t wait myself for the next season to start. I’m really eager to put it all in motion, see how it works firsthand.