By : Vedran Modric
This week KK Cibona won Croatian Championship U-16 by beating Split in the finals 75-73. Eurohopes talked to the MVP of the tournament Kresimir Nikic. He averaged 22.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in semifinals and finals. His height at the moment is 2.13 cm in shoes but there is a chance kid could grow up to 2.20 cm. You could say that basketball flows through his veins because both of his parents played basketball, so its really hard to imagine him playing some other sport. Nikic is a very skilled big man with high basketball IQ reminiscent of young Ante Tomic. And that explains interest of Barcelona in this kid.
When did you start playing basketball ? Was KK Cibona your first club ?
Well i started playing basketball like 7 years ago when i was 9 years old in KK Zapad and after less than a year i went to Cibona. So basically Cibona is my first and only club.
Ok. Lets switch it up a little bit. Croatian Championship U-16 couple of days ago. I know opponents dont have players as tall as you so you probably faced double teams all tournament right ?
Against KK Zadar in the semifinals there was some zone defense and also double teams because their tallest guy is 2.01 cm but against Split in the finals things were different because they have Spanjic who is not as tall as me but its hard to play against him. Im happy for the MVP trophy but im more happier for the trophy Cibona won.
Now after the season finished you are going to the Croatian National Team U-18 camp ?
Yeah the camp starts June 20th and i will be there probably until Zizic and Zubac return from the U-19 World Championship and after that im going with my age group U-16 to play for European Championship in Lithuania. And that would be my first official tournament for Croatia because last year when i was 15 years old i didnt make the final cut for U-16 team. Month and a half ago i played with Croatian National Team U-18 in China, but that was a friendly tournament so this summer it will be my first official tournament.
How come you are not in Treviso this year for Adidas Eurocamp Next Generation ?
I got an invitation but i injured my right ankle in the finals game vs. Split so i need to rest for 5-6 days.
Jordan Brand Classic in Zagreb, Croatia. I know you was disappointed because they didnt elect you to play All-Star game in front of the home crowd.
True i was disappointed because i expected to play that All-Star game at least but they didnt think that way so...But i hope i will prove them wrong on a U-16 championship where most of the players from the Brand Classic will play.
Do you stay after practice to work on your game ? I ask this almost every player because working last year as a scout in KK Cedevita i noticed the huge difference between players who come early and also stay after practice and the ones who dont do that.
Sometimes i cant stay because of school but i try to work extra on my game almost every day. In the offseason i work with Luka Svilar (strength & conditioning coach,works with Dario Saric in the offseason also) and during the season i work with Danijel Lutz,Ivan Kapov and Ivan Tomas on a basketball elements. And also with the coach whos been with me from the start Jozef Dulibiæ.
Photo : Eurohopes
Twitter of the author : @vedranmo
This week KK Cibona won Croatian Championship U-16 by beating Split in the finals 75-73. Eurohopes talked to the MVP of the tournament Kresimir Nikic. He averaged 22.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in semifinals and finals. His height at the moment is 2.13 cm in shoes but there is a chance kid could grow up to 2.20 cm. You could say that basketball flows through his veins because both of his parents played basketball, so its really hard to imagine him playing some other sport. Nikic is a very skilled big man with high basketball IQ reminiscent of young Ante Tomic. And that explains interest of Barcelona in this kid.
When did you start playing basketball ? Was KK Cibona your first club ?
Well i started playing basketball like 7 years ago when i was 9 years old in KK Zapad and after less than a year i went to Cibona. So basically Cibona is my first and only club.
Ok. Lets switch it up a little bit. Croatian Championship U-16 couple of days ago. I know opponents dont have players as tall as you so you probably faced double teams all tournament right ?
Against KK Zadar in the semifinals there was some zone defense and also double teams because their tallest guy is 2.01 cm but against Split in the finals things were different because they have Spanjic who is not as tall as me but its hard to play against him. Im happy for the MVP trophy but im more happier for the trophy Cibona won.
Now after the season finished you are going to the Croatian National Team U-18 camp ?
Yeah the camp starts June 20th and i will be there probably until Zizic and Zubac return from the U-19 World Championship and after that im going with my age group U-16 to play for European Championship in Lithuania. And that would be my first official tournament for Croatia because last year when i was 15 years old i didnt make the final cut for U-16 team. Month and a half ago i played with Croatian National Team U-18 in China, but that was a friendly tournament so this summer it will be my first official tournament.
How come you are not in Treviso this year for Adidas Eurocamp Next Generation ?
I got an invitation but i injured my right ankle in the finals game vs. Split so i need to rest for 5-6 days.
Jordan Brand Classic in Zagreb, Croatia. I know you was disappointed because they didnt elect you to play All-Star game in front of the home crowd.
True i was disappointed because i expected to play that All-Star game at least but they didnt think that way so...But i hope i will prove them wrong on a U-16 championship where most of the players from the Brand Classic will play.
Do you stay after practice to work on your game ? I ask this almost every player because working last year as a scout in KK Cedevita i noticed the huge difference between players who come early and also stay after practice and the ones who dont do that.
Sometimes i cant stay because of school but i try to work extra on my game almost every day. In the offseason i work with Luka Svilar (strength & conditioning coach,works with Dario Saric in the offseason also) and during the season i work with Danijel Lutz,Ivan Kapov and Ivan Tomas on a basketball elements. And also with the coach whos been with me from the start Jozef Dulibiæ.
Photo : Eurohopes
Twitter of the author : @vedranmo
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