Ante Zizic rejoices Croatia's football success, talks NBA return / News - Basketnews.com

Ante Zizic talked about Croatia's success in the FIFA World Cup, his transition to Anadolu Efes, top-level EuroLeague perimeter players, and Ivica Zubac's progress in the NBA.

Credit: Alius Koroliovas-Contributor/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Alius Koroliovas-Contributor/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

30 minutes until Zalgiris-Anadolu Efes jump ball. The Croatian national football team looks on its way out of the FIFA World Cup 2022, but suddenly Zalgirio Arena starts an early roaring when Croatia fights back and scores an equalizer (1:1) in the 117th minute of the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against Brazil.

Ante Zizic

MIN:14.49PTS:5.85 (68.66%)REB:3.31As:0.77ST:0.38BL:0.54TO:0.62GM:13ProfileEuroLeague2022/2023

Croatia successfully takes the game to penalties, and now the pressure and high expectations are on Brazil.

Two huge Zalgiro Arena screens shut off a nail-biting football match untimely, leaving the gathering fans disappointed. Seconds later, Zalgiris and Anadolu Efes' players exit the arena tunnels and appear on the court for the last shooting and physio drills before the EuroLeague game.

The only Croatian player on the floor -- Ante Zizic -- probably knows what's going on in Qatar, but his eyes are now aiming at a Zalgiris basket.

Roughly 12 minutes until Zalgiris-Anadolu Efes jump ball. The multi-thousand crowd begins clapping and cheering for the second time. Meaning? The result of the Croatia-Brazil football match switches to 2:1 for the red-white-and-blues after penalties.

People's mobile devices start buzzing from notifications while one small European nation recognizes another one's accomplishment.

Croatia, a country of 3.89 million population, presents a massive underdog victory, eliminating football giant Brazil, reaching the second consecutive semifinal in the FIFA World Cup, and marking an unparalleled sporting feat.

"Feels amazing," Zizic shared his joy with BasketNews following the EuroLeague game in Kaunas. "First of all, it's a big thing for Croatia, for all people in Croatia. For such a small country to make such a huge impact in soccer, it's amazing. I am really proud to be Croatian at this moment."

Your country makes the headlines, your club becomes one of the two hottest EuroLeague teams after beating Zalgiris 86-60 on the road, and you make an impact coming off the bench in front of a sold-out away crowd. It's hard to imagine a better Friday night scenario.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul / Schedule

Anadolu Efes Istanbul Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz78-83 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade Anadolu Efes IstanbulFri19:30 Anadolu Efes Istanbul Panathinaikos Athens12-2317:30

"For us, it is a big win. Zalgirio Arena is always a tough court to play. I think we did a great job, we just kept our winning streak going in the EuroLeague. We are in the right spot right now," Zizic said of the latest EuroLeague win.

The Croatian center sent Anadolu Efes fans in a frenzy with a pair of ferocious dunks, although it wasn't the most thriving game for him. Zizic played almost 8 minutes, scored 6 points (3/3 2PT), grabbed 3 rebounds, and blocked 1 shot.

He did not check in the second half when Efes broke the game to their side, hitting 8 triples in 10 attempts in the third quarter. The back-to-back champs made 17 long-range shots (of 29) in total and achieved a new season high.

Zizic is not known for his outside shooting abilities but for his ability to dominate under the baskets. He was instrumental in helping Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv reach the EuroLeague playoffs last season, averaging 12.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 15.5 PIR per game (20.5 minutes), cementing himself as one of the best big men in the competition.

However, the transition to the championship team is never easy, as Serbian talent Filip Petrusev experienced it the hard way in 2021-22. Zizic's case is a bit different because he is an established EuroLeague center who also previously competed for the other Istanbul team, Darussafaka Basketbol.

"It [my adaptation process] is going all right. It's not a big deal to adapt to Eastern Istanbul because I played in Darussafaka before [during the 2016-17 season]," Zizic stressed. "It's not a huge transition for me," the 25-year-old pointed out. "But I spent two amazing seasons in Tel Aviv, playing for such a big team like Maccabi with amazing fans, and I really enjoyed the experience over there."

"Now I came to the back-to-back EuroLeague champions team. Efes have become a really powerful basketball club in the last couple of years, and I am really proud to be here and play with all these great players.

I am waiting for my opportunity. When I have a chance to play hard and do everything that's in my ability," Zizic continuedand then referred to the slow start of the season when Efes had a record of 2 wins and 5 losses before this active five-game winning stretch.

"Yes, we started a little bit slow, but it's normal when you got new guys and some players joining us a little late after national teams. We struggled in the first couple of rounds, but most of the guys have played here together for many years. So they know each other very well, and in the past several seasons, Anadolu Efes started the season very slowly as well. But at some point, they turn it around."

Meanwhile, Zizic entered his fourth EuroLeague season, but he has already played with some of the best perimeter players around the league.

Zizic has had Will Clyburn and Scottie Wilbekin at Darussafaka and Maccabi, current Zalgiris standout Keenan Evans in Tel Aviv.

Finally, at Efes, he met First-Team selection Shane Larkin, reigning Final Four MVP Vasilije Micic, and Clyburn again.

Asked to draw a comparison between the top-tier backcourt players, Zizic distinguished his three current teammates, placing them among the Top 5 players in the entire competition.

"Keenan is on his way to being on a level like all of them. Wilbekin, Micic, and Larkin are more experienced and spent a little bit more time in the EuroLeague than him," Zizic began.

"Playing with Scottie in Tel Aviv was a reunion after a time at Dacka. He is an amazing all-in-one player: scorer, passer, and dribbler. Scottie was the main guy in Maccabi, and he was playing under a lot of pressure because everybody had high expectations of him. He is doing a great job playing for Fenerbahce, and the entire team is having a great season – it's not a coincidence. He has been very helpful to them," he continued.

"And now playing here with Will, Shane, and Vasilije – it's amazing. For sure, Top 5 EuroLeague players at this moment. Shane is coming back after injury, but, I am sure, he will be on the level he used to be. All of them are amazing players and people. I am really happy to have them as my teammates," Zizic added.

Four of the five mentioned EuroLeague stars have never played a game in the NBA, with only Shane Larkin possessing experience across the Atlantic.

For his part, Ante Zizic spent three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Drafted 23rd overall by the Boston Celtics, Zizic was later involved in a trade that sent the Croatian to Ohio state.

Current Anadolu Efes big man holds NBA career averages of 6.0 points and 3.9 rebounds over 113 games (27 starts). In 2018, he participated in the NBA Finals run, where the Cavs became the ninth team to be swept in the final stage.

Golden State Warriors handed Cleveland a 4-0 series loss and a second-place finish.

At the moment, three Croatian players are gracing the NBA court: Bojan Bogdanovic (Pistons), Dario Saric (Suns), and Ivica Zubac (Clippers).

The latter Zizic's countryman played a monster game couple of weeks ago, dropping 31 points, grabbing 29 boards, swatting away 3 shots, and matching legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Moreover, Zubac once more showed that traditional centers are still relevant in the 'Small Ball' revolution.

"Ivica is doing a great job in the NBA during the last couple of years. Every year he is getting better and better. I am really happy for him," Zizic praised his teammate on the international front.

Nevertheless, seeing Zubac putting on a show on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean does not inspire Ante Zizic to look out for the NBA return as the closest potential career goal.

"I was playing in the NBA for three years, I gained my shot. I want to focus on this moment and get better every day. I am still 25, and you never know what's going to happen. But right now, I am only focused on Efes," he concluded.

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