Luca Vildoza explains why he rules out a future NBA comeback / News - Basketnews.com

In an interview with Greek EuroLeague broadcaster NOVASPORTS, Luca Vildoza looked back on his short-term NBA spell and explained how he decided that his time overseas was over.

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Since Manu Ginobili's retirement, no Argentinian player has been able to establish a firm footing in the NBA. Right now, only Leandro Bolmaro is still competing in the world's top basketball league.

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Nicolas Laprovittola has been playing in Spain (Joventut Badalona, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona), while Gabriel Deck returned to Madrid last season after his brief spell with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Luca Vildoza's case was a bit different.

The 27-year-old guard checked in at only seven NBA games on very limited playing time before packing up. He first signed with the New York Knicks in May 2021 but was waived on October 3 after playing two 2021 NBA Summer League games.

He then had to miss the biggest part of the 2021-22 season due to having surgery on his right foot before being picked up by the Milwaukee Bucks, with whom he made his NBA debut in the playoff series against the Chicago Bulls last April.

In July, the Bucks re-signed him to an Exhibit 10 contract. But Vildoza had grown impatient to get more minutes, which led him to give up on his NBA plans and return to Europe.

The former Baskonia guard, who has already changed Crvena Zvezda's outlook this season, regrets that he was not given an opportunity.

"I didn't get the chance I was hoping for in the NBA, but I'm here to show that I can play basketball.My time in the NBA has helped me tremendously. I feel better physically, stronger," Vildoza said in his first statements as a Red Star player.

Almost two months on, he has become his team's game-changer, as his arrival almost coincided with Dusko Ivanovic taking over the coaching reins. Right now, the NBA is nothing but a bad dream for Vildoza, who looks back on his time overseas with a sense of regret.

3-pointers this season

33%8,1Points made:8,1Accuracy:33,2%Place in standings:14Record max:11Record min:5Most made 3FGs:Luca VildozaTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"To be honest, I'm not thinking of coming back to the NBA," he told NOVASPORTS' Dora Panteli a week ago.

He admitted that it was a painful process he had to go through, mainly because he didn't feel he was part of the team.

"Actually, it was hurtful. I started off with the Knicks, where I was injured. Then, I went to the Bucks, where I was cut. I played there, but it was tough for me. Being there, not practicing, and watching how they're practicing.

I had to wait 48 minutes to get onto the court. When they were winning or losing by 20, I came in. I was like, 'I don't want this for my life,'" Vildoza reflected.

The Argentinian player said coming back to Europe made him realize how useful he can be for any team.

"I'm not that guy from the Bucks without confidence. I'm Luca. I'm doing my job here, and I want to build something," he stressed talking about Zvezda.

Vildoza thinks he wasn't the best fit for NBA teams, mainly because of how the competition inside the team works.

"It's different. It's another level, the best league in the world. You have to fight every day. You have 4-5 guys playing in your position, trying to win a spot on the team. So, every time you miss a shot, you know if somebody makes one more, he will take your position, no matter who you are."

In hindsight, he has no doubt that he "didn't fit there."

"It was just like that. It hurt, but that's how it was," he repeated.

In his interview with BasketNews, Facundo Campazzo commented on the inability of his generation of players to stay in the NBA.

"It's about trying to fall in the right place, in the right team that needs your game and way of playing. It's important that you win games, that you achieve important things, and that you have an impact in a short period of time.

There are cases when it happens, as it did with [Luis] Scola, Manu [Ginobili], Chapu [Andreas Nocioni], Pablo [Prigioni], Carlos [Delfino]. It's another generation, totally different than ours. They arrived at the right place, and NBA teams needed their game," the new Red Star point guard said.

"We Argentinians look at the NBA as the best league," Vildoza said.

"If you're there, you're great. But if you go back to Europe, nobody in Argentina cares. We've got that goal in mind since we were young. Our dream is to play in the NBA. So, if we go back to Europe, people think we're a failure," he poignantly pointed out.

Vildoza went on to underline that he lost his confidence in the NBA, which isn't the case with Crvena Zvezda.

"I believe we can build something here. The support Red Star are giving me is awesome. I'm the guy I want to be," he said.

Of course, having a familiar face on the team can't hurt. Facundo Campazzo's arrival came at the right time, just when the team had started to take off under coach Ivanovic and Vildoza's on-court leadership.

"Knowing that Facu's coming was awesome. I was by myself at first, and I missed that connection with my countrymen and my language. I believe that Facu and I will enjoy it together. He's going to fit in with our guys very quickly," Vildoza maintains.

Credit ABA League j.t.d./Dragana Stjepanovic

The Argentinian combo guard repeated that the Serbian side can make it to the EuroLeague playoffs based on their "great offensive players" and "tough defense."

"Who's saying we can't?" he asked. "After we beat Partizan, I said, 'We're here.' Everybody was talking about Red Star. Until we lost to Milan, we were the team to beat."

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