Jaleen Smith explains why he chose Partizan, what went wrong in Virtus / News - Basketnews.com

Jaleen Smith shares his journey from a strange situation with Virtus to seizing an opportunity with Partizan, citing the allure of playing under legendary Zeljko Obradovic and the impressive fan base.

Credit: ZUMAPRESS.com - Scanpix Credit ZUMAPRESS.com - Scanpix

Jaleen Smith recently moved from Virtus Segafredo Bologna to Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade to conclude his season in Serbia.

Jaleen Smith

Team:Partizan Mozzart Bet BelgradePosition:PGAge:29Height:193 cmBirth place:Texas, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

This decision came amid changes in his representation, as he shifted from Misko Raznatovic and BeoBasket to Teddy Archer.

Providing insight into his move, Smith shared the following:

"As the season progressed, I was put in a strange situation," Smith told Nikola Stojkovic of Mozzart Sport. "Prior to the season with Virtus, Sergio Scariolo had a plan for me to function as a combo guard. However, when the situation with [Iffe] Lundberg wasn't resolved, a new coach stepped in, and Iffe remained with the team. At that point, Virtus had three guards with similar skills, and it was just a matter of time before someone would be left out. The coach had the luxury of choosing who he wanted to build the game with, and unfortunately, I ended up being left out."

Regarding his agency switch, Smith did not want to delve into small details, saying, "I wouldn't want to say much about it. I was in a strange situation, something I've never experienced before -- essentially depending on whether someone would leave or be removed from the team."

When asked about his negotiations with Partizan, Smith revealed the timetable of talks.

"Fast forward to the last seven to ten days," he said. "I didn't play in Virtus, so I told my new agent, Teddy [Archer], that it was time for me to go. Then, word got out that I was seeking a departure. After the double round in the EuroLeague two weeks ago, the coach [Luca Banchi] stopped using me on the court. After that, my agent contacted Partizan to ask what the situation was, as he knew that the team needed a player in the point guard and shooting guard positions. In the end, everything turned out perfect."

Last but not least, Smith shared what attracted him the most to Partizan's project.

"They have players like [Kevin] Punter, [James] Nunnally, [Zach] LeDay... The whole team is great. The opportunity to play for probably the best European coach of all time is something you can't miss. You have to come when he calls you. Not often do situations happen when you play for a coach like Zeljko Obradovic. In addition, the fans are another important factor. To have such support at every game, to play in front of 20,000 fans is something incredible."

The 29-year-old Smith averaged 5.3 points on 48.3% three-point shooting in 13 EuroLeague games this season. He spent the previous two seasons playing with ALBA Berlin.

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