The experience was short, but rich in lessons. Finally arrived at the Sixers last summer, Philip Petrusev thought he could make his mark over time. Training camp, pre-season matches…
“ I had my chance, which I took advantage of, I even moved up a little in the rotation in front of some good players. Everything was going fine », describes the interior in the columns of the Serbian media Mozzart Sport, taken up by Basketnews.
Until ” transfer “. That of last November 1 involving James Harden with whom he was sent, along with PJ Tucker, to the Clippers. “ Literally, I had nothing to do with it, but it was amounts and other elements of the contract that got me traded. I received calls from the coach later, at a time when I didn't know I was going to be traded », Reports the 23-year-old player, whose career took a big turn that day.
The Clippers jersey, he will not even have the opportunity to put it on, because it was exchanged a second time immediately towards the Kings, before being cut. “ It's like that in the NBA: when superstars move from one team to another, there's a lot of collateral damage, so to speak, and I was part of that. », he says.
Difficult to prove yourself
Winning in Sacramento? Impossible. “ In the NBA, when you're a young player who hasn't proven yourself yet and you change teams in the middle of the season, it's very difficult to prove yourself. During the season there is no training. If the team is complete and ready, like in my case in Sacramento, you don't have time to prove yourself and find a place. Then we send you to the G League “, he summarizes.
The former Gonzaga player will indeed make one appearance with the Stockton Kings, and two with the first team, without managing to shine. “ It was very different for me, having played in the EuroLeague and had success there », Adds the interior who preferred to return to Europe, to Olympiakos.
With a few months of hindsight, he now considers that “ the fact of being or not (in NBA) is not a guarantee of quality. You're not automatically a top player by being in the NBA. If another opportunity presented itself, of course I would come back, but after some time in Europe and a bigger role. »
| Philip Petrusev | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 3 | 3 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| 2023-24 * | BAG | 2 | 3 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
| 2023-24 * | PHL | 1 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Total | 3 | 3 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
