Dzanan Musa recalls early career struggles, addresses contract extension talks / News - Basketnews.com

Dzanan Musa spoke about how he had to live all by himself when he was 11, the tough times he had in the NBA and the possibility of extending his contract with Real Madrid.

Credit: Angel Martinez/GettyImages Credit Angel Martinez/GettyImages

Dzanan Musa is only 24 years old, but he has experienced a lot in his career.

Dzanan Musa

MIN:21.58PTS:13.58 (60.88%)REB:2.65As:2.42ST:0.23BL:0.19TO:1.35GM:26ProfileEuroLeague2023/2024

"Look, man, I have four lives in these 24 years," the Bosnian guard of Real Madrid told Marca's Nacho Duque in an interview before the latest version of the Spanish Cup tips off.

"There have been very hard moments, but now I am happy. Now I am happy here in Madrid, we play good basketball and my family is also very happy," he added.

Musa left home when he was only 11 years old and had to live all by himself in his home country.

"I didn't have my family with me, anyone. I wanted to play basketball. It's the only thing I've had in my head since I was eight or nine years old. Without mom's food, without friends, without brother, without anything... Very difficult. I was alone in this new different life. I looked at a player and he had a family, another one had a girlfriend," he recalled.

Still, his 11-year-old self pales in comparison with Musa the NBA player, who only checked in at 49 games spread over two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets.

"My sensation in the NBA the second year was better than in the first. All in all, it was a good experience for me because I am mentally stronger now, but then it was a very difficult time," he admitted.

Musa joined Madrid in the summer of 2022, following an MVP-worthy season with Rio Breogan. His performances with the reigning EuroLeague champs have caused much speculation about where he might be playing next. A few days ago, his agent, Misko Raznatovic, posted a message on social media pointing out that Musa is under contract with Real until 2025, unless an NBA offer comes along.

"I signed a three-year contract, two plus one," the player confirmed.

"But with the club, with Juan Carlos [Sanchez, head of the basketball section] and the president [Florentino Perez] we don't talk about the extension, we only talk about this year and in the summer we will talk about all this," he clarified.

"I am happy here in Madrid. I am happy with Juan Carlos, with Florentino... We are here as a family. You never know what is going to happen in the future. I wear the same shirt that Mirza Delibasic wore and that makes me happy for my family and for my entire country," the Bosnian international concluded.

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