Jaron Blossomgame's year 2 at Monaco: Sacrifices and unorthodox Obradovic methods / News - Basketnews.com

Jaron Blossomgame describes the top play in his career and explains why forwards are having a hard time in Monaco and how he's come to terms with being a role player. He also recounts incidents that render Sasa Obradovic a unique case and reveals his feelings about the upcoming clash vs. Olympiacos.

Credit: Aitor Arrizabalaga/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Aitor Arrizabalaga/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Jaron Blossomgame wasn't used to scoring game-winning baskets. In a career featuring several highlights, his late heroics are so far and few between that his spectacular put-up dunk in AS Monaco's away win against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz for EuroLeague Round 10 stands on its own.

Jaron Blossomgame

MIN:16.68PTS:4.2 (39.22%)REB:2.7As:0.3ST:0.5BL:0.2TO:0.1GM:10ProfileEuroLeague2023/2024

Monaco ended their 2-game losing streak in that outing while snapping their opponents' 4-game winning streak under new head coach Dusko Ivanovic. Markus Howard seemed to force overtime with a 3-point shot that tied the contest, but coach Sasa Obradovic called a timeout.

After Elie Okobo's inbound pass, Donatas Motiejunas set up a back screen to get the ball in Mike James' hands. The prolific scorer didn't wait too long before unleashing a 3-point shot, partly contested by Tadas Sedekerskis.

"I thought Mike would have waited a little bit longer," Blossomgame admits.

"I saw he got the ball, and when he shot, there were 3-4 seconds left, and I was like, 'Oh man, let me try to rebound.' The play was drawn for me to be a decoy, run the half-court, and be the last option to get it in-bound," he explains.

Blossomgame's off-ball movement forced Chima Moneke to follow him in the perimeter. Hence, when James released the ball, the Nigerian big man had almost no chance of grabbing the rebound since the distance between him and the basket seemed almost prohibitive.

On the other hand, Blossomgame found an open lane to the rim.

"I ran through one touch, completely," he continues.

"Just the way the ball bounced off the rim, it was so perfect. It felt like slow motion for me. It was a great play."

Everything in that play transpired so quickly that 2.5 seconds were still left on the game clock for Baskonia to find their game-winning shot. Blossomgame was still caught up in the moment, and instead of immediately going back to defend the hosts' last possession, he screamed in front of the cameras.

3-pointers this season

38%8,7Points made:8,7Accuracy:37,5%Place in standings:14Record max:12Record min:4Most made 3FGs:Mike JamesTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"I remember I landed, and I was full of excitement, joy, and energy," he confirms.

It took Moneke a couple of seconds to make the inbound pass, which helped Monaco restore their defensive balance as Blossomgame ran to the rear end of the floor. Mike James disrupted Codi Miller-McIntyre's effort to bring the ball down the court, thus preventing Baskonia from having the last say.

"My dunk against Baskonia was probably the most important play I've had in my career, considering it was a tied game," Blossomgame reflects.

"Me and Chima are really close friends and for him to be matched up with me in the last possession, it was pretty exciting."

Credit Alfonso Cannavacciuolo/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Looking back on his career-best plays, the Atlanta-born forward recalled a moment from his one-year (2018-19) NBA stint. During a Miami Heat-Cleveland Cavaliers regular season game on December 29, 2018, Blossomgame recorded what he calls his No. 1 highlight.

"It was a really nice block against Tyler Johnson of the Miami Heat. It was a turnover in transition, one-on-one. I jumped and blocked it. It was a crazy play. I've had many highlights in my career, but if I had to pick one, that would be the one that stands out the most considering that I was in the NBA," he holds.

Producing spectacular plays, not to mention game-winning dunks, has become increasingly difficult for Blossomgame as of late. A player who used to be a star in smaller teams around Europe suddenly had to settle for a smaller part on a Final Four-contending side.

Blossomgame was an All-EuroCup First Team selection in 2022, averaging16.2 points on solid shooting (55.8% 2FG, 41.9% 3FG) and 7.6 rebounds over 19 games, helping Ratiopharm Ulm reach the quarterfinals.

He ranked fourth overall in PIR (19.8), second in defensive rebounds (6.1), and sixth in scoring.

A year before, while in his debut season overseas with Israeli Ironi Nahariya, he averaged 18.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in 30 Winner League games.

However, in his first season with Monaco, he mostly saw the court in the French league, where he registered 9.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in 21 minutes, as opposed to averages of 5.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 17 minutes of EuroLeague action.

His numbers were far from spectacular, but his overall presence turned out to be enough to convince Obradovic to keep him on the roster.

Blossomgame, 30, is aware of the complications that go along with being part of an ambitious squad that aims for every title available.

"I came to a great team. Last year was a development year for me in terms of adjusting to the EuroLeague and a new role. I had been a different player in my whole career until I came here. I'm asked to do a lot of little. It took me some time to adjust, but that happens when you join teams like that," he acknowledges.

Blossomgame knows he can't be the focal point at Monaco like he's been throughout his whole career and since 2019. That's why he's forced to continue to find ways to be effective and star in his role.

Many players struggle when entering the EuroLeague after being ball-dominant for years. Nevertheless, Blossomgame says he's enjoying it because of how highly competitive the EuroLeague is and because he's on a winning team.

Staying efficient while being given less playing time has been a steady challenge, which Blossomgame seems to have accepted and embraced.

"Last year, it was hard," he admits.

"In my whole career, a great game would have been 15 points, 8 rebounds. Here, my role is very small. So, I had to understand what a good game looks like. Now, it's about rebounding at a high level, making open threes, attacking the rim, being versatile, and guarding multiple positions."

Over time, Blossomgame has come to terms with the fact that fitting the role player mold to the best of his ability can pave the way to longevity at the highest level.

"I want to be a Swiss army knife for us, the guy who's not afraid to step in and dive for a loose ball or can do a tip-slam when Mike James gets all the attention," he elaborates.

"Guys who do all that at a high level on good teams are very valuable. I can see myself as one of those players who are important in what we're doing. When I and Alpha Diallo are on the court together, we can switch a lot and guard anybody."

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For any team on the planet, boasting a stacked backcourt is a blessing. Monaco could be no exception to that rule. However, a predominantly guard-driven offense like the one Monaco is displaying leaves little, if any, room for big men (including power forwards) to showcase their skills. It's a reality Blossomgame -- among other players -- has to deal with.

"We have very talented guards between Mike James, Elie Okobo, Jordan Loyd, and Kemba Walker," he says.

"Our offense is tailored towards our guard play. Alpha [Diallo] is another guy who's showcasing very well in our offense. In Ulm, I was a pick-and-pop, post-up '4', and I come here, and it's a much smaller role. If you asked any of the forwards on our team, they'd all want a bigger role," Blossomgame concedes with the utmost sincerity.

"But we all value winning and understand what it takes to be a good team. We all have to sacrifice things, and we do that. If our guards give us the best chance at winning, with us forwards having a minimized role, we'll accept that," he adds.

Whenever someone brings up the term' guard play' with Monaco in mind, the conversation almost automatically turns to one person in particular.

It would be impossible to imagine how the Roca Team would function offensively without having Mike James in its ranks. James has always been a ball-dominant player. Hence, it's no wonder he's turned into Monaco's leading man.

Blossomgame has emphasized that the attention given to James by the opponents can be liberating for the charismatic scorer's teammates, who often get open looks to the basket.

But how does the team manage to keep a balance so that the rest of the players don't feel like they're invited to his party?

Blossomgame doesn't mince words and says it's a tough task for coach Obradovic, who struggles with it at times.

"We got 14 guys on our team that I genuinely believe everybody can play at a high level, given the opportunity. I think we had 88 games last year, and this year, we're on pace for the same thing," he contemplates.

"We all have to stay ready. It's been tough to manage, and the coach is trying to play some guys more in the French league. He's trying to make everybody happy, and that's a hard thing to do. But everything looks good when you're winning."

It goes without saying that having a player like Mike James, who draws much attention, gives others the opportunity to showcase themselves.

Monaco managed to reap the benefits of opponents doubling their top scorer and helping him when they faced Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in last year's EuroLeague playoff series.

"In Game 1, they didn't expect anyone else to beat them," Blossomgame noticed.

"They were doubling Mike and helping so much on him, but we remained confident. Jordan Loyd had an incredible Game 2, as well as Elie Okobo shooting the ball. We have multiple guys who can beat you every night."

Expanding the notion of the guard-driven game, it's interesting that Chima Moneke has turned into a real force at Baskonia, as opposed to the role he held at Monaco during the past campaign.

Arguably, the league's most improved player, Moneke, is on his way to a breakout season unlike any other in his career. Blossomgame can definitely spot the difference and name the factors that have rendered his former teammate a dominant forward.

"Chima was playing a similar role to what I'm playing here now," he notes. "Some accept their role a bit easier than others. We had [Adrien] Moerman here last year, and he had a hard time adjusting and not playing much. It didn't work out for him," Blossomgame provides another example of a power forward who didn't live up to the expectations.

"But Chima is having an incredible year. He got the opportunity and has been able to showcase himself. He can go out there, shoot the ball, attack the rim, and do the things that fit his game," the Clemson standout points out.

Blossomgame says he and Moneke have discussed how things could have turned out differently.

"He was telling me that it would have been so much different if he could play like that last year, and I was like, 'Bro, that's just not possible with the way we play. Our offense is different.'

But it goes to show you that there's tons of players on these teams that might be struggling and not doing as well, and they get an opportunity elsewhere and become stars. It's so much more about fit and opportunity in Europe than people think about."

Before winning the 2023 French LNB league with AS Monaco, Jaron Blossomgame spent the vast majority of his career in the US, playing in the G-League with the Austin Spurs, the Canton Charge, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, and the Windy City Bulls, while also wearing the Cleveland Cavaliers jersey in the 2018-19 season.

During his time in the league, he faced a prime Kemba Walker. Now that the NBA veteran is trying out the overseas experience after being down with injury, things aren't going as smoothly as one would have hoped for. Walker, 33, averages 3.6 points on 19% from distance in 11 minutes.

His modest contribution doesn't deter Blossomgame, who thinks the 4-time NBA All-Star is adjusting very well to the team.

"The guys love him," he says. "We hang out with him; he's one of us. Some days before, he told me, 'I'm not a superhero, man!' He didn't play a game for seven months. In practice, he's incredible. He doesn't miss a shot ever and makes the right reads all the time.

I think it's a matter of him getting his feet wet. He'll do fine. He's on a good team with good coaches and players around him. So, I'm not worried about him at all. By the midpoint of the season, he'll be a key piece for us."

Blossomgame stresses that it's not easy to come straight to the EuroLeague and dominate, no matter who you are.

Some ex-NBA players, like Jabari Parker or even Kendrick Nunn, have instantly become important contributors on their respective teams, while others keep struggling. Many factors come into play, but the recipe for success is always good health, the right setting, and opportunity.

For instance, Blossomgame had one of his best nights at Monaco during Game 3 of the LNB finals against the Metropolitans 92, which was held at the Roland-Garros.

His 22 points garnered the Roca Team its first-ever championship crown. Moreover, last season, the American forward shot a career-best 42% from distance on the domestic front as opposed to a nearly career-low 25% in the EuroLeague.

The big disparity in Blossomgame's 3-point shooting percentages between the two competitions is alive and kicking this year also, as he goes 34.6% and 25%, respectively.

"That's a great question because I've been thinking about that too," he responds.

"I'm not sure. I touch the ball a lot more in the French league early on. That gets me a lot more comfortable than being in the EuroLeague, where my role is smaller. I'm standing in the corner, and when I get the ball, I have to shoot it. That's not an excuse, but it contributes to it."

Still, Blossomgame isn't too concerned about it because his percentages have dropped over the course of two weeks.

"I think by the end of the year, I'll be back to my normal percentages," he says. "The last key for me is to make those 3-point shots."

It's no secret that the lifestyle in Monaco is pretty expensive by European standards and that not everyone's able to afford it. Blossomgame relishes the experience of living in Monte Carlo and seems eager to keep exploring the culinary delights the Principality has to offer.

"I think one of the underrated things about Monaco is the restaurants here," he observes. "They're some of the best I've been to in the world. The service is incredible, and the people are very genuine and nice."

The perks of living in one of the world's most affluent places are obvious. But Blossomgame and his teammates might need to resort to various forms of escapism and entertainment to get their minds off basketball.

Not only because the combination of LNB and EuroLeague games can be deadly amidst a packed schedule but also because the man in charge wants to constantly keep everyone on their toes.

"A lot of the coaching strategies around Europe are the same," Blossomgame has figured out. "But as far as the mental aspect of it, I've never been coached by anybody like Sasa Obradovic. He's a character, man. You see him on the sidelines how he reacts to everything. He's very animated."

In an interview, Blossomgame spoke of the Serbian specialist's coaching methods.

"They may not be traditional, but it works. We had a double week and won both games and also won in the French League, and he was unhappy. He never gets us too high or too low, and I appreciate that he wants to get the best out of me. He coaches very hard, and that's a big part of why we are successful," the player told Joshua Halickman.

Credit Erikas Ovčarenko/BNS

Blossomgame will never forget the first time he got the first taste of coach Obradovic's philosophy.

"I remember I was still in Ulm. I told coach Jaka [Lakovic] where I was going to go play. He was like, 'Wow! If I was crazy, wait till you see Sasa.' I thought Jaka was hard on me at first. But Sasa is levels and levels worse. I always heard things about him."

Blossomgame wasn't at all discouraged by Lakovic's remarks and took the deal Monaco had prepared for him in the summer of 2022. And if the Slovenian tactician's words weren't enough, it didn't take the EuroLeague newcomer too long to realize what Obradovic was all about.

"The first real incident that opened my eyes up was when we were in Ulm for preseason," Blossomgame recalls.

As a matter of fact, it was September 7, 2022, when Monaco defeated Blossomgame's ex-team 99-72 in a friendly scrimmage in Germany. With Mike James resting for that game, the Roca Team managed to win the first quarter 21-13, but Ulm came back big in the second to win it and make it close (41-43) at the break.

"There were like five fans in the gym, and it was pretty quiet," Blossomgame continues.

"He was literally letting it out. He was going crazy, yelling back and forth, but all the guys that were there the year before were like, 'This is nothing.'

He wants to get a reaction out of people and wants to see who you are when things aren't going well and when adversity comes. He'll find ways to get under your skin. He'll challenge you, man.

It's funny because we players joke around, 'Oh if things are going too well, he's going to find something to get upset about. We can be 10-0, and he'll get upset about some small detail.' But he keeps us sharp, and it works."

Blossomgame remembers that last year, there were games where he would only appear on the court for 30 seconds, and Obradovic would try to see how his player was going to react to that mentally.

"There was another situation in preseason last year where I came in and played amazing in the first half, and in the second half, I didn't play at all with no explanation. I've never dealt with a coach like that at the professional level.

But his methods work, and the guys are happy for the most part. It's his third year here, and he's had success. So, we can't really complain too much and take it too hard," he argues.

As Blossomgame was getting increasingly acquainted with the reality that certain coaches are willing to go to almost any lengths to get the job done, everything started to smoothen.

"You hear a lot about it. Right here, it's like college basketball, where the coach is the main guy. It didn't take me long to get adjusted to that, to be honest."

What Blossomgame and most of his Monaco teammates can't quite digest is the way they went down in the 2023 EuroLeague Final Four semifinal.

Monaco headed to the locker room with a 12-point advantage (41-29) over Olympiacos Piraeus. Then, the perfect storm broke out, as the Reds won the third quarter 27-2. For Monaco, it was all downhill from there.

Blossomgame didn't suit up for the losing side in the Kaunas semifinal game but watched the entire contest from the bench.

As Monaco are preparing to host Olympiacos on Thursday night for EuroLeague Round 11, memories from what probably went down as the most impressive collapse any team has suffered in Final Four history are living on.

"We're going to that Thursday game with the mindset that they took something from us. We want revenge. We're excited about this matchup," Blossomgame warns, leaving no room for second thoughts.

"Everybody who was here last year and returned, 11 of 12 guys, all know what happened. We remember how it felt losing a game that we thought we should have won. It's a bitter feeling and a bitter taste watching that third quarter happen.

We only scored two points off a fastbreak dunk. We really struggled to get things going. It's credit to them. They never gave up, they were down 12 at halftime and fought very hard. That goes to show their character, how well-coached they are, and how much they believe."

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Having watched Olympiacos play this season and taking Filip Petrusev's last-minute addition into account, Blossomgame thinks Olympiacos can improve their initial 6-4 record, the same balance Monaco are displaying.

"They're good, despite missing Sasha Vezenkov and Kostas Sloukas from last year. They still got a lot of experience from guys who are used to winning at a high level. They've had some injuries. [Nikola] Milutinov, [Shaquielle] McKissic, and Luke Sikma were out.

They're still trying to get guys back acclimated, but they have a lot of good pieces. They've kept their core together. It's going to be a tough team to play against when it comes to playoff time. It's always a good game when it's Monaco-Olympiacos. I think a lot of people are looking forward to Thursday night," Blossomgame contends.

Olympiacos and Monaco are good teams, but one squad has stood out from the rest. Real Madrid is the ultimate team to beat this season, going 10-0 in EuroLeague play and turning heads with how spectacularly and effortlessly most of those wins have been achieved.

"Come on, man, they're incredible!" Blossomgame exclaims.

"[Facundo] Campazzo has really put them over the top. They were very good last year. At the midseason, I was telling everyone Real Madrid was the best team we played all year. They're still playing at a very high level, which is pretty impressive.

It's going to be a long season, but hopefully, we will be able to get them. As of now, they look head and shoulders better than everybody."

After facing Olympiacos last year, another clash against the projected No. 1 seed in the regular season would only prove that Monaco have consolidated themselves in the elite.

As for Blossomgame? His game is yet to blossom in the Principality, but - especially after that Vitoria game- he has every reason to believe that he'll be able to come forward whenever the occasion calls for it.

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