Chima Moneke responds to Crvena Zvezda rumors, shares Teodosic story / News - Basketnews.com

Moneke said he never received an official offer from Crvena Zvezda. The player shared a story how he received Milos Teodosic's jersey, and predicted Markus Howard would break the EuroLeague's single-game and all-time scoring records.

Credit: IMAGO/Ricardo Larreina Amador - Scanpix Credit IMAGO/Ricardo Larreina Amador - Scanpix

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade's president, Nebojsa Covic, has previously declared that former head coach Dusko Ivanovic rejected the signing of Chima Moneke last summer. The player has now responded to the claim.

Points this season

47%84,1Points made:84,1Accuracy:46,8%Place in standings:5Record max:109Record min:62Best scorer:Markus HowardTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Talking with Bojan Brezovac from Mozzart Sport, Moneke declared he never actually received an offer from the red-and-whites.

"If that's true, then it never got to me. I never received an official offer from any other EuroLeague team except from Baskonia. I know there are a lot of conversations that happen before it gets to the player. I will also say this - after my season in Monaco, I knew that a lot of people questioned how good I am, except for me," he said.

First of all, I'm glad to be back in Belgrade again. To me, if I haven't received an official offer from any team, then I can't say that I was ever close to playing there. I've never received an offer from either team ever in my life," the player explained. "I've heard interest, mainly from the fans, but I've never received an offer from them. Obviously, Stark Arena is special."

The last time Moneke visited the famous Stark Arena, he had a special moment after the game with Milos Teodosic, who gifted him his jersey.

"I've been a fan of him. The thing about me - on the court, I'm very competitive and all of this, but I'm a fan of a lot of people, especially guys that were at a high level when I was a nobody and nobody cared about me. Teodosic, I was watching him play for the national team and, obviously, with the Clippers. Seeing the level that he played at in Bologna and now here, in Moscow before that, I'm just a fan of him," Moneke said.

I didn't I was going to ask for the jersey. I saw the Red Star president at halftime of that game, and he had some words to me. He said at the end, 'You know, if there's anything you need, let me know.' 'I need Teodosic's jersey, let me get that!' That's how that came, and he gave it to him to gift it to me after the game. A very cool moment for me," Moneke remembered.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade / Schedule

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv80-84 Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade Panathinaikos AKTOR AthensWed19:00 Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade Virtus Segafredo BolognaFri18:00

Last season was a rollercoaster for Moneke. After dominating in the Basketball Champions League (BCL), Moneke went straight to the NBA and signed with the Sacramento Kings.

The stint on the other side of the Atlantic wasn't that successful, and Moneke returned to Europe after signing with AS Monaco. However, he averaged just 3.9 points for 4.6 PIR in limited playing time. The forward had to search for a new team this past offseason again.

The player says his rise in performance this season is just taking advantage of an opportunity.

"The coach hid it. I didn't just get better randomly, I didn't get better," Moneke said about his offensive potential. "Obviously, I've gotten better, but for me, it's a confidence thing, it's what the coach allows you to do type of thing. Every year, there are 20, 30, 40 players who are going through it. This year, there's a player that's struggling right now, next year they're going to have a great season, and people are going to be like, 'Where was this last season?' That's how it goes, you know. Confidence, opportunity, and everything is very important, especially for a player like me. I've had this, but I've done better as well."

Moneke's teammate, Markus Howard, is one of the most prolific scorers in Europe and doesn't lack confidence in the slightest. He recently attempted 22 three-pointers in the Spanish Liga Endesa (ACB).

This season, Howard has scored 35 points in a game. Moneke believes he can break both the single-game scoring record (49 points, Shane Larkin) and all-time scoring record (4484, Mike James).

"I've never seen anything like it," he said. "Obviously, Steph Curry hits a lot of incredible threes, but it's not like how Markus shoots and takes shots. There's no one like him. Maybe his brother, Jordan Howard, is similar but obviously, Markus is doing it at a higher level. He's just special, you know?"

"There's a lot of great players in Europe. I don't know who makes the decisions on what teams, but him and Codi have a really good chance, in my opinion, of making one of the teams," he said about All-EuroLeague First and Second Teams. "I know it's difficult, obviously, but he's a special player. I think he's going to get that all-time scoring record when he's gone."

"Single-game is possible, and all-time is possible, the most threes is possible," Moneke concluded.

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