FAN MAIL: Tadija Dragićević - "I am enjoying in Podgorica"

In the very first ABA League fan mail for this season, Tadija Dragićević has answered on your questions. Take a look at all the answers that came from Budućnost VOLI player.

How did you start playing basketball?

It was all just a game at first. My brother and me firstly started practicing karate, while then we chose basketball. Our father had played basketball for years, so we just followed his path.

What is your biggest motivation in career?

It's that privilege of doing what I love the most. With sport, I can travel a lot and meet other people. Thank God for that!

Would you ever accept to play for Partizan NIS, if you received an offer?

Honestly, no. Anyway, I have utmost respect for a big club such as Partizan. Still, I have spent so many years in Crvena zvezda, I was the team's captain... Therefore, Partizan is not an option in my career.

How do you like Podgorica?

I am pleasantly surprised how beautiful it is here. I am telling that to many people. Everything is just on 5 minutes from you. There are numerous nice restaurants, bars... You need only one hour to reach the seaside, while mountains are on two hours by car... And here, December is like summer, can't have better than that.

Have you enjoyed your time in Adodolu Efes?

It was amazing in Istanbul. Big club and fantastic players. I spent there two months. Semih Erden helped me to get to know the city. I have spent most of the time with him. He is a great guy and my brother!

What is the favorite win in your career?

I would pick three of them:

1. Against Real Madrid with Crvena zvezda (Eurocup)

2. Against Turkey with Serbia (U20 European Championship)

3. Against UNICS Kazan with Crvena zvezda (Eurocup). Man that game was unreal!

You changed a lot of teams in your career. What was your favorite teammate and why?

There were plenty of them. Perhaps I would point out Omar Cook. With him I made the best season in my career. I was only 22 and we played in Crvena zvezda. Now, after 7 years, we are again playing together. Also, I need to mention Milan Gurović. Gurke is a legend!

Is there any club that have a special place in your heart?

Of course, Crvena zvezda. I have spent the best moments of my career there.

What is your favorite foreign club?

I would pick Berlin as my favorite city, but speaking about the club... Hmmm, I can't decide, perhaps Roma, Alba, Efes...

From this point of view, how do you see that defeat against Cibona in the semifinals of the regional league back in 2014?

We all had hard times after that game. There was a huge pressure, while they came totally relaxed. When you are playing in single game elimination format then everything is possible. My opinion is that everything would have been different if we had played that game in Pionir Hall, and not in half-empty Belgrade Arena.

How many tattoos do you have?

I have somewhere around 10. Wherever I played and wherever I had nice moments I decided to make some tattoo. I am pretty religious, so my tattoos have that meaning.

What foreign languages do you speak?

I speak Italian, English and a bit of Russian. But, I love Italian language the most, so as everything connected with that country. Italians are true hedonists.

Is it true that you have forgiven Crvena zvezda a debt worth almost 150.000 Euros when you left the club back in 2010?

I have forgiven even more than that. That club has given me a lot... Although there was some unpleasant things as well. But, I have loved Crvena zvezda since I was a child, while I have never bragged about being a huge fan nor making some kind of show out of that.

What is your favorite away game in ABA League?

I have always loved to play in Zadar. Especially in that smaller Hall. Those were the games...

What is your opinion about Varvari (fans of Budućnost VOLI)?

I have a good opinion. On every single game in Eurocup we had a great support. They are indeed making a good atmosphere. My compliments go to them.

Which teams do you expect to qualify for the ABA League Playoffs?

Budućnost VOLI, Crvena zvezda Telekom, Cedevita and Mega Leks.

What is the best coach that you worked with?

There are many of them. Stevan Karadžic, Luka Pavićević, Miroslav Nikolić, Vlade Djurović, Dragan šakota...

For which club would you like to play before you finish your career?

For Chicago Bulls, they have the rights on me from the Draft. But, it sounds pretty far away. In Europe, I would like to play for Barcelona.

What is your favorite move on the court?

A three-point shot! I like that the most.

--------------------

Tadija Dragićević - "Uživam u Podgorici"

U prvom ABA liga fan mejlu za ovu sezonu, Tadija Dragićević je odgovarao na vaša pitanja. Pričitajte sve odgovore košarkaša Budućnosti VOLI.

Kako je došlo to toga da počnete da se bavite košarkom?

Sve je to krenulo kroz igru neku. Brat i ja smo prvo krenuli na karate, pa smo se upisali u školu košarke. Inače, otac se dugo bavio košarkom. Tako da smo tim putem krenuli i mi.

Koja vam je najveća motivacija u vašoj karijeri?

Najveća motivacija je to što sam privilegovan da radim ono što volim. I da mogu kroz sport da proputujem i vidim dosta toga. I upoznam neke nove ljude... Hvala Bogu na tome!

Da li bi ikad igrali za Partizan NIS u slučaju da dobijete ponudu?

Iskreno ne bih. U svakom slučaju poštujem mnogo Partizan i njegovu ogromnu veličinu. U Zvezdi sam proveo mnogo godina, afirmisao se kao igrač i bio njen kapiten. Tako da ta opcija ne ide.

Kako ste se privikli na Podgoricu?

Prijatno sam iznenadjen koliko je lepo u Podgorici. To i mnogima pričam. Nekako sve je tu na 5 minuta. Ima mnogo lepih mesta, restorana, kafića.. More je na sat vremena, planina na 2 sata. A decembar kao da je leto... šta ces bolje.

Da li ste uživali za vreme igranja za Anadolu Efes?

U Istanbulu je bilo fenomenalno. Veliki klub i veliki igrači. Proveo sam tamo 2 meseca. Upoznao sam grad dosta brzo, zahvaljujuci Semihu Erdenu. Sa njim sam najviše vremena provodio. Veliki čovek i brat! U svakom slučaju lepo iskustvo.

Koja vam je najdraža pobeda u karijeri?

Tri pobede bih izdvojio:

Protiv Reala sa Zvezdom u Pioniru

Protiv Turske u finalu (Izmir) i zlato

Protiv Uniksa sa Zvezdom pre dve godine u Areni. To je bilo nestvarno.

Promenili ste mnogo ekipa u karijeri - sa kojim saigračem vam je bilo najlakše da igrate i zašto?

Ima tu mnogo sjajnih momaka i saigrača. Možda bih najviše izdvojio Omara Kuka. Sa njim sam napravio najbolju sezonu u karijeri sa 22 godine u Zvezdi. I sada smo ponovo zajedno posle 7 godina. I izdvojio bih Milana Gurovica! Gurke legenda!

U vašoj bogatoj karijeri sigurno vam je jedan od klubova ostao najbliži srcu iako ste profesionalac. O kom klubu se radi?

Naravno Zvezda! Najlepše trenutke u karijeri sam proveo tamo.

Koji vam je najdraži inostrani klub?

Izdvojio bih Berlin kao najbolji grad na svetu! A oko kluba ne mogu da se odlučim... Roma, Alba, Efes...

Kako danas gledate na poraz od Cibone u polufinalu regionalne lige 2014. godine?

Mnogo nam je teško pala ta utakmica. Ogroman je pritisak bio. A oni su došli krajnje rasterećeno. Na jednu pobedu sve je moguće, tako je i bilo... Moje mišljenje je da bi dosta drugačije sve izgledalo da smo tu utakmicu igrali u Pioniru, a ne pred polu praznim tribinama u Areni.

Koliko tetovaža imate i šta vam one znače?

Imam oko desetak. U gradovima gde sam igrao i gde sam imao mnogo lepe trenutke, tu sam i tetovaže radio. Dosta sam pobožan, tako da su tetovaže u tom značenju.

Mnogo puta ste igrali u inostranstvu - koje jezike ste uspeli da naučite?

Pricam odlično italijanski, engleski i malo ruski.. Ali italijanski mnogo volim kao i sve što je vezano za tu zemlju. Italijani su pravi hedonisti.

Da li je istina da ste Crvenoj zvezdi oprostili dug od 150.000 evra kada ste 2010. godine otišli u Romu?

Jesam oprostio i više od te cifre. Najviše iz nekog ljudskog razloga. I prema klubu koji mi je dao mnogo toga. Iako je bilo i nekih ružnih stvari. Zvezdu volim od malih nogu. Ali se nikada nisam udarao u grudi, isticao na sva usta i pravio šou od toga.

Koje vam je omiljeno gostovanje u ABA ligi i zašto?

Voleo sam gostovanja u Zadru dok se igralo u maloj hali. To su bile utakmice.

Kakvo je vaše mišljenje o Varvarima, navijačima Budućnosti VOLI?

Imam super mišljenje. Na svim utakmicama Evrokupa imali smo sjajnu podršku sa njihove strane. Prave odličnu atmosferu. Sve pohvale.

Koga očekujete u borbi za titulu u ABA ligi ove sezone?

Budućnost, Zvezda, Cedevita i Mega.

Koji je najbolji trener za koga ste igrali?

Ima ih dosta. Stevan Karadžic, Luka Pavićević, Miroslav Nikolić, Vlade Djurović, Dragan šakota...

Za koji klub bi baš voleli da igrate pre završetka karijere?

Za Čikago Bulse, oni imaju prava na mene sa drafta. Ali to zvuči dosta daleko. U Evropi - Barsa.

Koji vam je omiljeni potez na terenu i šta po vašem mišljenju najbolje izvodite?

šut za 3 poena! To mi je najdraže!