Tomas Satoransky opens up about being Barcelona’s only point guard, his friendship with Jan Vesely, and Jabari Parker’s EuroLeague adaptation.
Throughout its previous 15 seasons, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade have faced FC Barcelona eight times at the Palau Blaugrana but have yet to get away with a win.
| Player of the Game | |
|
EFF
29
|
| Kevin Punter | |
| Points | 25 |
| Accuracy | 7-11 |
| Rebounds | 0 |
| Assists | 4 |
For Round 29, the Catalan side prevailed 87-80, securing its 16th win of the season. Tomas Satoransky recorded 11 points, three rebounds and as many steals while being the only point guard for coach Joan Penarroya.
Satoransky is in his fifth season with Barcelona, his third since returning from a six-year stint in the NBA. While his skill set is invaluable for his team, he faces one of the most challenging tasks of his career - leading Barca in a crucial playoff push following the serious injuries of Nicolas Laprovittola and Juan Nunez.
"It’s a challenging period - maybe the worst moment or even the worst season since I've been in Barcelona," he admitted in an interview with Meridian Sport.
"Of course, we can say that injuries have had a big impact, like Laprovittola and Jan Vesely, but honestly, we haven't been consistent enough. We've had a lot of ups and downs - not only in the Euroleague but maybe even more so in the ACB league," the Czech guard admitted.
Barcelona entered this season with high expectations. The team made key reinforcements with the hope of improving upon last season, which ended without a single trophy. However, they have already lost two chances at silverware - the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey - and their performances in both the Euroleague and the ACB league have been inconsistent.
Satoransky said he's dealing with pressure by putting it on himself.
"I have high expectations, which helps me block out external noise. It’s not easy to play for Barcelona, even though we haven’t won the EuroLeague many times to feel that kind of pressure. But it’s still Barcelona, one of the biggest clubs in Europe, particularly because of football. There will always be pressure from fans and the media when you lose.
It bothers me when we don’t play as expected, but we try to change things internally in the locker room and not let outside noise affect us," he explained.
Teaming up with Jan Vesely was big for Satoransky, as the two players talked before joining the club together in 2022.
"At first, we didn’t know what it would be like, but now we live close to each other, our kids know each other, and we have a great time. Sometimes we joke that we’re like an old married couple on away trips," Satoransky laughed.
"Having someone you’ve known for a long time helps you through the season. Having a Czech by your side, even though he's more Serbian."
Of course, the last sentence required a more precise explanation.
"Whenever he swears, it's in Serbian. People also told me that his Serbian is great, he spent more time in Serbia than in the Czech Republic," Satorasnky elaborated.
"I always had a hard time convincing him to play for the national team," he joked.
"His whole family is in the Czech Republic, but he simply loves the Serbian mentality, the people, and I understand that. He became a man there, got the opportunity to play basketball at a high level, and his wife is Serbian. Simply put, he's in love with Serbia."
Kevin Punter, another former Partizan player, returned from injury for that game. His presence provided much-needed depth at the point guard position. But more importantly, Punter gave the offensive firepower Barca was looking for by scoring 25 points against his former team.
"He played as a ball-handler before his injury, and Dario Brizuela did a good job even though he’s not a natural point guard. When I’m off the court, it’s up to them to share the responsibility.
But our biggest issue this season has been defense, not scoring. The lack of point guards has hurt us defensively more than anything," he stressed.
As Barcelona continues to struggle with depth at the guard position, players like Jabari Parker, a former NBA teammate of Satoransky, could play a crucial role. The Czech point guard notes how much Parker has evolved since their time together with the Washington Wizards.
"The Jabari Parker in Barcelona and the one in Washington are two different players," he highlighted.
"It surprised me at first, but his success here is due to how much he wanted to come and learn. He’s still adjusting. After all, he spent most of his career in the U.S., where things are different.
But he embraced European basketball quickly and enjoys it. What impressed me most is his desire to learn about European culture. Whenever he can, he travels and meets new people, which has helped him adapt."
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