Sasa Obradovic discusses small European market of players, Tyler Dorsey's case / News - Basketnews.com

Sasa Obradovic says it's difficult to change the mindset of a player who has decided to be in the NBA and wants to wait for that 10-day contract.

Credit BasketNews/D.Repečka

AS Monaco head coach Sasa Obradovic touched on the small European pool of available players since many of them are choosing to fulfill the NBA dream or to play in the G League and improve in the U.S.

Tyler Dorsey

Team:Dallas MavericksPosition:SGAge:26Height:193 cmWeight:83 kgBirth place:California, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

"In many cases, the EuroLeague and EuroCup are excellent competitions for the development of young players. I don't have a clear opinion about playing in any other development league.

"For us, it's challenging to sign G League players because you never know how their integration process will go, especially if that player hasn't played in Europe before. And coaches don't take too much risk with such players unless it's someone with a special talent," Obradovic told Nikola Stojkovic of Mozzart Sport.

Why is that?

"It's very problematic because when you [as a player] reach a certain level or limits, then you may not even be interesting anymore. Moreover, in our clubs, it's mentioned that you are Carmelo Anthony...

"It's also risky to sign players who are at the end of their careers. For example, many of them think Monaco is a place to rest, not a club where they will make results. Younger players should take advantage of playing time in the EuroLeague because it guarantees their progress," the Monaco coach pointed out.

"However, many hope that they will get an NBA contract for 10 days, then another 10, or that they will go to the G League, where neither the quality nor the intensity of basketball is there," he continued. "That competition does not help to the extent that it could and should help. European demands and pressure are completely different from what is there."

Can that mindset change? Obradovic has doubts about that.

"It's difficult to change the mindset of a player who has decided to be in the NBA and wants to wait for that 10-day contract. Just look at the case of Tyler Dorsey who is wanted by several teams in Europe, but he doesn't want to leave the U.S., he just cares about staying there," the 53-year-old said.

"Maybe we need to monitor the situation better, to notice someone who is on the way out, who can't wait any longer and has potential, then react in time as a club. In the current conditions, it's difficult to expect that to happen either during the summer or throughout the season.

"In my opinion, it is a very fortunate circumstance, no matter how much money you have, that you can bring a player who can change your season. For Red Star, for example, it is both Argentines. It is difficult to expect that any team can find a player who can have such an impact on the season," Sasa Obradovic concluded.

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