Chima Moneke reveals NBA clubs he could've joined, eyes Vezenkov in Kings / News - Basketnews.com

Despite not finding a major role in the NBA, Moneke does not regret his decision to join the Kings, although he had offers from Utah and Minnesota. Moneke also comments on the differences between the EuroLeague and NBA, discusses Domantas Sabonis, and the possibility of Olympiacos star Sasha Vezenkov landing in Sacramento.

Credit: IMAGO/PanoramiC, USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix Credit IMAGO/PanoramiC, USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix

AS Monaco forward Chima Moneke is a good reason to buy a ticket for a basketball game. His playing style is impressive and sadly less common in Europe.

Aleksandr Vezenkov

Team:Olympiacos PiraeusPosition:SF, PFAge:27Height:206 cmWeight:102 kgBirth place:Nicosia, Côte d'IvoireProfileNewsStatistics

He always tries, makes hustle plays, leaves 100% of his energy, and enjoys the crowd. Partizan's Mathias Lessort could be his closest comparison on the EuroLeague court.

Interestingly, Lessort also played in Monaco and won the EuroCup in 2021.

Moneke, instead, is a reigning Basketball Champions League MVP who arrived on the French Riviera as an NBA player. His rising story is as unique as his game: from getting cut in the second French division to signing an NBA contract four years later.

Yes, his NBA stint in Sacramento was not the most eventful one, but just entering the strongest league shows that you have a lot of potential to be successful elsewhere.

As we all know, being a EuroLeague rookie is tough, too. The first EuroLeague taste tends to be a bitter bite for most European top-club competition debutants, facing a unique physicality level and every-possession-matter mentality.

"A lot of adjustment and learning," Moneke described his rookie EuroLeague season to BasketNews. "Joining a Top 4 team in the middle of the season is definitely different, so I am just taking it for what it is. Every game is going to be different, but I am happy to be on the winning team, and that is the most important thing."

Monaco suffered a 70-79 defeat at Zalgirio Arena on Wednesday night but still has very good chances of having a home-court advantage in the EuroLeague playoffs since the fourth-placed Roca Team is two wins in front of Fenerbahce and Maccabi.

Meanwhile, after becoming the co-MVP of Round 28 and setting a new Monaco's club-record with 13 rebounds, Moneke could not match his stellar performance in the last three EuroLeague games, accumulating 24 minutes and four points.

Aleksandr Vezenkov

MIN:28.5PTS:17.47 (59.91%)REB:7.03As:1.83ST:1.03BL:0.27TO:1GM:30ProfileEuroLeague2022/2023

The 27-year-old earlier echoed Luka Doncic's comments that it's tougher to score in the EuroLeague than the NBA when talking to Leonard Solms of ESPN: "Whenever [a team] scores 100+ in the EuroLeague, it's a big deal, so that tells you everything you need to know."

What else is distinct between these leagues?

"It's just a tough game," Moneke referred to the EuroLeague. "Roles are different, coaches are different, and everything is just different. Some teams have different situations than others, you cannot really compare to any other team or any other situation, so I take it as it is what it is."

Few know that Moneke's path could have been completely different over the last year. The previous summer, he signed a deal with the Kings but had an opportunity to choose between three NBA teams.

"It was Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves," Moneke revealed the other two options besides Sacramento.

His stint with the Kings included just two appearances and eight NBA minutes, but the Nigerian NT member does not regret his decision to land in California.

"I think it worked out the way it was supposed to. Obviously, everything would be different, I probably wouldn't be here," Moneke told BasketNews. "Maybe it would have been worse, maybe it would have been better. I don't know, I cannot control that. But I am happy with the connections I made and the experience I had. I am also happy to be here in Monaco. No regrets.

"Situation is very important," he continued about the biggest lesson he learned in the NBA environment. "Situation is very, very important. Some people struggle on certain teams not because they are not good players but because they are in the wrong situation. It's very important to play for a coach, play on a team that believes in you, and will give you opportunities to play the way you wanna play."

Moneke played under well-known coach Mike Brown, who also guides the Nigerian national team. The two previously worked together in the summer of 2021.

But even having a familiar name on your side does not necessarily make your NBA role bigger.

Sacramento picked Moneke in the last off-season, thus silencing the talks about Sasha Vezenkov's departure from Olympiacos Piraeus.

EuroLeague MVP favorite stayed in Europe for another season, but his move to the NBA seems imminent, as Vezenkov is making Kings executives have flights to Greece and watch him live.

Moneke is keeping an eye on him as well.

"It depends on how Mike Brown is going to use him," Moneke responded when asked if Vezenkov would be a suitable piece in Brown's schemes.

"I love the way he plays because he doesn't need the ball to affect the game. He is shooting the ball and rebounding very well. What he is doing in the EuroLeague, they will find a way to use him in the right way, I hope for him. He is a great player, and he will be fine. He should be fine if they are telling the truth about how they want to use him."

Sacramento has assembled the roster that clinched an NBA playoff berth after a 16-year drought. Undoubtedly, a three-time All-Star, Domantas Sabonis is one of the main contributors to reviving Kings.

Moneke spent almost six months alongside Sabonis, and he relishes his experience with the dominant big man.

"The biggest thing I take away from Domas is how humble he is," Moneke underlined. "He doesn't act like he is a multiple-time All-Star and multimillionaire. He is very humble, he is one of my favorite people that I was playing with in Sacramento."

"I can text him today, we can still talk and communicate, so I appreciate that. On the court, everyone knows what type of player he is. He is a monster, I have never seen anyone getting as many rebounds as him. But you know, an even better person," Moneke added.

He is now playing next to another Lithuanian big, Donatas Motiejunas.

"They are just both great people. Lithuanians are incredible people," Moneke said. "D-Mo is a great leader, Domas has the potential to be a great leader as well. Yeah, I am happy that I get to experience and learn from both of those guys."

No doubt, both Lithuanians could learn a thing or two from Chima Moneke himself.

A force of nature with glasses, dreadlocks, and plenty of charisma. His full name is Nwachukwu Iheukwumere Chima Moneke.

Do not try to pronounce it, just enjoy him.

URBONUS podcast with Chima Moneke:

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