Frank Kaminsky: “Doncic and Jokic are right about the European game”
The center, who recently signed for Partizan, compared playing in Europe to the NBA and spoke about the differences he has encountered.
Noah Lyles’ words on what exactly constitutes a world champion still reverberate in the basketball world. Last week it was Damian Lillard who was talking about it, and over the past few days there has been an exchange of words between a fan and Kevin Durant on X (formerly Twitter). Meanwhile, Partizan’s recent signing, Frank Kaminsky spoke about how he has been adapting to European basketball after eight years in the NBA. The American center was born and raised in a Serbian community in Woodridge, Illinois. Last month, he joined the Belgrade-based team after spells stint with Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets.
“I’m adapting just fine, it’s easy for me, the team makes it easy for me,” he told Eurohoops. “There are players who have been here for several years and help me with any questions I have. The game is a little different to the NBA, but I’m also learning that as time goes by. It is good that the preparation lasts so long, there are a lot of games and you can understand things early on.”
When asked how European basketball differs in comparison with the NBA - as Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic have both noted, Frank responded: “They are right. The game is more physical, while there are also differences in some regulations. For example, there is no three-second regulation in the paint on defense and it is more difficult to score. So I also try to go to more team plays and think more in this way. But basketball is basketball everywhere. If you’re a good player, it doesn’t matter where you started, where you were born. The NBA is a very demanding league and Europeans are starting to come and play very well and Americans like me are starting to come here. We know how good the level is here, how good the whole experience is” he explained.
Kaminsky admitted that he had already watched some Euroleague games before he touched down in the old continent. “I saw a little [of the Euroleague]. While I was in the NBA, I tried to watch as much NBA as I could. But I had team mates who have played in Europe tell me about the high level of basketball. Bogdan Bogdanovic, whom we were team mates with last year at the Hawks, didn’t miss a game. I won’t say the same about me, but I could watch a little,” he explained. “I was a free agent for the last five summers and there was always interest in coming to Europe. But when I told Bogdan about Partizan he said ‘Go!’ He told me the best about the team, the coach, about everyone. He made me feel comfortable so I accepted the offer”.
As one fan commented: “The NBA is easy... the Euroleague is difficult. Everybody says the same. Joel Embiid cannot average 30 in the Euroleague”. That was the moment when Kevin Durant stepped in...