Luca Vildoza addresses tough season with PAO, compares Greek and Serbian derbies / News - Basketnews.com

Luca Vildoza names the factors that handed Panathinaikos another win over Olympiacos, reflects on his subpar performances, and compares the atmosphere in the Greek and Serbian rival games. He also comments on Pablo Prigioni's and Ergin Ataman's recent remarks on him.

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

On April 9, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens secured a hard-fought 79-74 away win over Kolossos Rhodes, but the aftermath was far from positive.

Luca Vildoza

MIN:15.38PTS:5.58 (40.27%)REB:1.63As:1.5ST:0.67BL:0TO:1.08GM:24ProfileEuroLeague2023/2024

Coach Ergin Ataman did not mince his words when he appeared on live television, expressing disappointment at his team's performance, singling outLuca Vildoza's poor contribution.

The Argentinian guard had a rough evening, finishing with just 3 points on 1/7 from the field, along with 2 rebounds and 2 assists.

"Unacceptable performance, lousy game," Ataman told ERT after the end of the match.

"I want to complain about the players, and especially Vildoza," the Turkish expert said.

"Vildoza went 1/7. Everyone has to play well in every game. Players like Vildoza can't miss so many shots. It is not possible to ask for more time in the EuroLeague. You will say that I am attacking my player, but we have to be ready," Ataman stressed.

In response to Ataman's criticism of Vildoza, on April 9, Argentina national team head coach Pablo Prigioni wrote in his X (formerly Twitter) account: "He should have more respect for his players and help them to play better instead of blame them on the media!"

Talking to the press before the game against ALBA Berlin, the Turkish specialist had a strong response to Prigioni and his criticisms.

"In the teams, some things happen between me, my players, and the club. For me, it is something normal," Ataman explained.

"What I found strange was that I found out today that a guy who used to be a player and now coaches as an assistant coach in the NBA started getting involved in our own situations," he slammed Prigioni.

"The NBA is a serious organization [and] for this, and I will not answer [Prigoni's criticisms]. The NBA should act for their coach so that he does not get involved in the internal affairs of other clubs in Europe," he continued.

Luca Vildoza

Team:Panathinaikos AKTOR AthensPosition:PGAge:28Height:191 cmWeight:86 kgBirth place:Buenos Aires, ArgentinaProfileNewsStatistics

Ergin AtamanCredit Vangelis Stolis

Ataman is critical of the fact that Prigioni got involved in what he perceives to be an internal matter for Panathinaikos.

"For the first time in my life, I see someone from the NBA dealing with what is happening in the other clubs... I know what I'm doing, and our only goal is to qualify for the playoffs through second place, go to the Final Four, and fight for the title," he noted.

"That's our goal, not reacting to what former players who I just found out are coaching NBA teams are saying," Ataman concluded with a stinging remark.

Vildoza's underwhelming season has been the topic for discussion despite Panathinaikos' excellent EuroLeague campaign and a club record of 23 wins in 34 regular season games.

Vildoza is averaging 5.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 4.2 in PIR in 24 games, 5 of which as a starter.

His average playing time clocks in at 15:23. Excluding his rookie season with Baskonia, these numbers are all career lows.

Luca VildozaCredit Dainius Lukšta

With less than two months left in the current campaign, the 28-year-old combo guard can unabashedly admit that this is the strangest season he's ever experienced.

"It's weird," Vildoza said after Panathinaikos downed Olympiacos Piraeus 77-71 in the third Greek league derby of the season, thus securing the home-court advantage in the playoffs.

Vildoza was the first addition of the Ataman era. His agreement is set to keep him at OAKA until 2026.

"When I signed, I knew I was coming to a place where people had a lot of expectations," he further added.

"I had expectations from myself also. Things aren't going as we all had hoped for - even myself. I'm the first guy to be criticizing myself. I'm going to do everything I can to be better and show my support to the team."

Throughout the season, Ataman has given Vildoza plenty of chances and playing time. Still, with the exception of PAO's game in Valencia, the player hasn't been able to return the favor. Two injuries and seven weeks of missed action didn't help him find his rhythm with the team.

"It's been tough all year. It's hard for me to play less minutes than last year. I think I need more time to adjust to the squad," Vildoza said before Panathinaikos traveled to Munich for Round 33.

"I feel well. I hope to give the team what it needs. I have to accept my role in the team."

Despite scoring only 2 points on 1/4 FG, Vildoza added 4 assists in an overall positive, albeit unimpressive, performance in the latest derby, Ataman took the chance to praise his player, stressing that "Vildoza was good tonight."

"I'm busting my ass in practice," the Argentine reflected.

"I'm coming to the gym every day. I've just been unlucky. Sometimes, you just need one ball to get through the net and get that confidence back. I swear, I'm trying to be me and get my shot again," he said before letting out a deep sigh.

"But it's ok, that's how professional basketball works. If you're not good on the court, you're going to sit on the bench. I'm going to do whatever I can to help my team on the court.

Luca VildozaCredit Vangelis Stolis

If the coach wants to use me, it's on him. But I think he's doing a great job since we're second in the EuroLeague and second in the Greek league. You got to enjoy being on a great team like this."

Vildoza last played for Crvena Zvezda Meridanbet Belgrade, where arrived on October 13, 2022, becoming the first Argentinian player in the team's history.

He then signed a two-year deal, which reportedly had an exit clause.

Since day one, the agile guard became one of the main pieces in Crvena Zvezda. Vildoza was named EuroLeague's December MVP, finishing the month with an average PIR of 17.7 and 15.8 points per game, both team highs.

He averaged 12.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 12.3 PIR over 29 EuroLeague games this past season. However, Vildoza and his team made the EuroLeague playoffs and won the ABA League title in 2022-23.

Nevertheless, he led Zvezda to the Serbian League and Cup double.

Being involved in the Greek and Serbian derbies has given him the chance to meet some die-hard fans who would go to any extreme to support their team.

"They're similar, to be honest," Vildoza commented on the rival games between Partizan-Zvezda and Olympiacos-Panathinaikos.

"But I think derbies in Pionir and Partizan are a little more aggressive. Here, you have the net controlling all the lighters and everything. Maybe we can cut that," he suggested in a proposal that would make Greek authorities shriek with horror at the idea.

"I feel really grateful to be able to enjoy this kind of games. It's a lifetime experience, very nice," Vildoza continued.

Vildoza began his career in his homeland with Quilmes Mar del Plata before moving to Spain with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, where he played from 2017 to 2021.

He made his EuroLeague debut with Baskonia, where he won the 2020 ACB League championship.

He then played for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA during the 2021-22 season and returned to Europe almost a year later.

"In Argentina, things are a little more aggressive, but basketball isn't as good as it is here. You can feel the atmosphere in Serbia and OAKA, but when you play away and you win, it's a great feeling."

Panathinaikos were up by 17 (34-17) midway through the second quarter. However, Olympiacos bounced back, took the lead, and only went down when Kostas Sloukas sunk a contested 3-point shot on his former teammate, Kostas Papanikolaou, to make it 75-71 with less than half a minute left.

"I think we stuck to the game plan, even though Olympiacos were coming back all the time," Vildoza commented.

"But we were up for the entire game, and in the end, clutch players like Kendrick [Nunn] and Kostas [Sloukas] did a great job. They took all the pressure from us. You just need to give them the ball and make some space. At the end of the day, we're a team. We beat one of the best teams in EuroLeague, and we're happy about that."

Luca VildozaCredit Vangelis Stolis

And if Ataman wasn't happy at all with Prigioni's remarks, Vildoza prefers to stay away from the controversy stirred by the two coaches' quotes on him. As he clarified, he hasn't talked to Prigioni lately, but he's also trying to avoid exposure.

"Nowadays, you can read everything," he said. "Focusing on the media isn't worth it. I'm trying to focus on myself and be better. I'm really trying, and I wish people could understand that."

In this context, not understanding the language can help. Before the 2023-24 season tipped off, Moustapha Fall explained why he chose to refrain from the toxicity surrounding the Greek rival games.

"We make too much of those games. The goal is to win trophies, not win one game against Pana," the French big man told BasketNews in September 2023.

"We need to relax and focus on the main goals. People were telling me, 'You're not Greek, you don't understand.' Everything here is blown out of proportion. That's why I don't speak Greek, and I don't want to learn."

Vildoza, by comparison, seems to be more open.

"Greek is a hard language, but it would be nice to learn it," he responded.

"But I have to learn Serbian first. My girlfriend [editor's note: Serbian volleyball player Milica Tasic] would kill me if I didn't. It's great to feel that I have someone there. Whenever she's here, I have a big smile on my face."

Tasic stood by as her boyfriend was talking to the media and making photos with fans. After going through a tough period, Vildoza is trying to combine consistency on the court with happiness in his personal life.

Making Ataman smile would be the next bet for the Argentinian international as the season enters its final stretch.

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