Memi Becirovic: Chinese league has improved a lot. Now they are trying to learn from European bball

This is your third season over there in China. In your opinion, have you noticed some improvement as far as the level of Chinese basketball since you first arrived in the CBA?
The league has improved a lot since I came here 3 years ago, especially after Yao Ming took the job as a president of CBA. More teams are more competitive when it comes to the strategy and tactics, and the whole organization is more standard.

In the past, CBA teams used to sign players coming from the NBA or the NBA G League, but over the last few years several clubs have brought people from the major European leagues, for example Aaron Jackson, Ioannis Bourousis, Edwin Jackson, Miroslav Raduljica, and also yourself as a coach. Do you think the CBA is trying to bring the European style of play?
Yes, not only players but coaches. CBA teams used to just focus on the American style of playing, but now they turned their eyes to Europe and try to learn from European basketball, the style, strategy etc. so, this is why the league has improved and more players and coaches who had European basketball experience are now coming to play in China.

Some of the former NBA players are really dominating in China. Do you think that any of those players deserve to get a new chance in the NBA?
I would like to say in this way, players like Michael Beasley, Bobby Brown and Allen Williams who were playing in CBA when I was here all got chances to go back to NBA and are meaning a lot to their teams. Likewise, players like MarShon Brooks, Miroslav Raduljica, Jared Sullinger, Brandon Bass and Jonathan Gibson all have potential and are qualified to play in NBA, if they got a good chance after the season.

The Jiangsu Dragons have signed Tim Quarterman to replace MarShon Brooks while he’s in the US. What do you think Quarterman can bring on the court in order to help the team?
First of all, the reason why we signed Tim is because MarShon’s first baby will be born in late January, considering about the team’s programs and the target for this season, we need another imported player to shortly replace him when he is away in America. About Tim Quarterman, his style of play is pretty much similar to MarShon Brooks, so he would get used to the team system as soon as possible. We hope him helping us with his capability and talent to achieve the team’s season target. Personally thinking, he could help our team a lot.

This has been an historic year for your country basketballwise, as the Slovenian NT won the EuroBasket for the first time. In your opinion, what was the key to Slovenia’s triumph?
First of all, I want to congratulate to the team’s accomplishment to get the title. I am happy about the team’s result which we have worked a great deal over the past 20 years. The Basketball Association made a good program for the team. The president Erjavec and the secretary Nestorovic did a great job of organizing an excellent plan for the tournament’s preparation and bringing the coach Igor Kokoskov to build up the team. The team’s chemistry is smooth and players’ roles on the team were clear. Since from the challenge round in 2016, the team was confident with the correct strategy and tactics made by the coaching staff.

You coached Goran Dragic at Olimpjia Lubiana and also in the national team. What kind of relationship do you have with him?
I used to coach him on the national team and when he was in Olympia Lubijana, I am also proud of having guided him in his basketball career. I am happy for his fantastic basketball career and all accomplishments he has made so far. He is not only an outstanding player but also a nice, decent person. We don’t talk so often because of the works and places where we are now, but we have a really close relationship, which is unique and will keep forever.