Filip Petrusev made his first statement as member of Olympiacos team after he arrived in Athens to finalize his move to the club. The Serbian big explained why he did not pursue a deal in the NBA and why he chose Olympiacos over a chance to continue in the United States or another European team.
Petrusev signed a 3-year deal with the club and he will boost the “Reds” frontline playing alongside Nikola Milutinov and Moustapha Fall.
“I feel I would be better off in Europe. I went through some things in the NBA that I didn’t expect. It wasn’t my fault but I’m a young player, I have to play and I believe I can help Olympiacos,” Petrusev noted (via Sport24).
Petrusev started the season with 76ers and became a part of a blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the Clippers. The Clippers waived the Serbian big and he was signed by the Sacramento Kings and played alongside former EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov.
“He told me the best. We spent a lot of time together since I went to Sacramento. We talked a lot, he told me the best and told me that I should probably go to Olympiacos because I had some other offers.”
Petrusev returns to the EuroLeague after spending last season with Crvena Zvezda, averaging 10.7 points and 5.2 rebounds. He does not rule out a return to the NBA at some point in the future but now he’s focused on playing more.
“I’m obviously still a young player and I think there will be time to come back. I went there, got experiences. I saw what it’s like and I really had to leave,” Petrusev told the reporters.
Philadelphia had my rights and now coming back if I want to go to the NBA in a few years I can go to any team, it doesn’t have to be one team, so I still have time. I just want to play.”
