A COFFEE WITH… PETAR NAUMOSKI

"For Macedonia, the experience of naturalized player is positive."

Petar Naumoski, one of the best guards of the 90´s. He currently runs a men’s clothing business. Its elegance on the court has moved to fashion.

If you want to read the interview translated into Spanish, please click the following link.

UN CAFE CON… PETAR NAUMOSKI

Q: You were born in 1968 in Prilep, then Yugoslavia and now Macedonia. When and where did you start playing basketball?

A: I was born in Prilep, a town that at that time (1968) was a part of Yugoslavia. Macedonia, as you probably know declared its independence in 1990. I started to play basketball at the age of 15, but years before that I played soccer. My first “official” contact with a basketball team was with Rabotnicki in the midst of 1983.

Q: When you played as a kid, did you ever think you could be a professional player, or it was just a hobby?

A: At that time, as well as today, sports have always been one of my greatest loves. Even today, I use every free time that I have on my hands to play a game of soccer, basketball and tennis. When I was younger, my mind was focused on outsmarting, outplaying and proving myself on the court, against every single of my opponents. Because of these traits I was able to become a professional athlete.

Q: In 1989 you started as a professional in the Jugoplastica of Split, where you won two Euroleagues. Were you aware of the magnitude of the team you were playing in?

A: I started playing in Jugoplastika Split right away after finishing serving the army that was obligatory. The previous year Jugoplastika became the European champion so I was very aware of the magnitude of the team as well as the my teammates that were a part of the team.

Q: Kukoc, Radja, Tabak, Perasovic, … What was it like to share team with them?

A: Not only these, but I would add the names of Ivanovic, Savic, Sretenovic, Sobin as well as the coach Bozidar Maljkovic, etc… which were in the team but didn’t have the attitude of a higher class players. They were down to earth and their friendship on the court as well as outside of it meant a lot. I was accepted as a part of the team very quickly because of the players and the coach that helped me in fitting in and setting my mind as a player of the team that was the European champion.

Q: In the early 90s, you lived one of the saddest situations of our time, the Balkan war. How did this situation affect to you (sports and personal)?

A: Unfortunately, in the early 90’s a big tragedy happened on the Balkan Peninsula that tear a huge sports nation apart. Yugoslavia was a force to be reckoned with when it came to sports both in Europe and the world. Many people lost someone closest to them as well as their homes. No one wants a situation like that and I can say that I was affected by it. Still, life goes on and I honestly hope that something similar to that will never happen again.

Q: Did you lost some friends due to the war?

A: Luckily for me, I didn’t lose any friends of mine due to the war or anyone closer to me because that war wasn’t set in Macedonia.

Q: In 1992 you signed by Efes Pilsen and later in 1994 by Benetton Treviso. How were those signings?

A: In the summer of 1992 I signed for Efes Pilsen I played two amazing seasons there which made me as a player more interesting to multiple clubs in Europe. At that time, the most attractive name of them all was Benetton Treviso where my good friend and former teammate Toni Kukoc played. My coaches in both Efes Pilsen and in Benetton Treviso characterized my time spent there as very successful. If the teams weren’t that good I wouldn’t have played there.

Q: The bulk of your career developed between Turkey and Italy. Did you ever think about changing?

A: Taking in consideration what I stated earlier, me having great seasons in these two clubs made me more interesting on the basketball “market”. I speak both Italian and Turkish fluent and living in these two countries was amazing and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. There was no point in me changing my surroundings.

Q: Throughout the 90’s, you were one of the best players in Europe. Was there ever a NBA interest in playing there?

A: In 1996 I was pronounced the best player in Europe by a French sports magazine so the interest from the basketball scouts rose. I had offers from 4 clubs in the NBA (Detroit Pistons, Toronto, Indiana and Chicago Bulls). The most persistent club was Chicago who had a specific offer.

Q: If there was, why did not you go?

A: In 1996 I was 28 years old and I made decent amount of money so the paycheck wasn’t the only prerequisite for me to transfer to the NBA where to be honest the numbers where smaller compared to those from clubs in Europe. My request was at least 20 minutes on court per game (if I am healthy). That kind of requirement wasn’t met so I didn’t want to take on an adventure and risk my career.

Q: I think that Aíto García Reneses wanted to sign you to play for Barcelona. Were you ever close to signing for Barcelona?

A: I played against Barcelona quite a lot but unfortunately Barcelona was a club (at that time) that wasn’t financially stable. Their budget was smaller compared to the one of Efes Pilsen and that was the reason it never came to me playing there. Regardless of that I think that Barcelona Is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and they have definitely grown as a team.

Q: I would like to know if now seen with perspective there is some decision you made in your career that you would now take otherwise.

A: Looking at it from today’s perspective I couldn’t and wouldn’t change anything. The development of my career had a pretty natural course. Sometimes the decision making wasn’t depending on the players only but the coach and the club as well. That’s why we call it professionalism.

Q: Who was the coach who influenced you most and why?

A: Bozidar Maljkovic and Aca Nikolic were the tho coaches who by signing me and training me gave me the opportunity to develop as a great player. In the later years of my career the coach that implemented the most knowledge in me was the NBA coach Mike D’Antoni. He helped me raise my confidence and climb the biggest staircase of my career. He was a great player and later on proved to be an amazing coach.

Q: Could you tell us any fight that you had inside of the court?

A: I have never fought on court. I was always full of positive energy, positive to my teammates as well as to the players from the opponent’s team. That is the reason why everywhere that I have played I have great relations with the fans and my former teammates.

Q: Tell us some funny anecdote that happened to you related to basketball.

A: I couldn’t think of a funny anecdote because I always took my job very seriously. The one anecdote I can think of is this one. Efes Pilsen was on Europe’s basketball throne but never had its personal army of fans but not a game was played in front of empty seats. The sports hall was filled with the fans of Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas and every single one of them cheered our way to the top. When it came to playing in the Turkish domestic championship, where the games were played during the weekend, my team played against these exact teams and in some way against those same fans. The fans were trying to help their team win the game and at the same time prevent my team from doing that. They were not amicable to my teammates but that wasn’t the situation with me. Instead of getting “booed” I would get applause, and the fans were waiting for me after the game to take pictures and sign autographs. I was curious to that, so I asked them why they were motivating me on the court when I was playing against their favorite team. “You are our hero and we come here to support you to help Efes Pilsen win in international games. There is no reason for us to not cheer you in other games”, was the answer.

Q: As a Macedonian, I would like to ask you about the current situation involving your country in express nationalizations. Players like Bo McCalebb, Jeremiah Massey, … were nationalized with little ties to the country. How do you see this situation?

A: Not only as Macedonian but as a player from earlier when only two foreign players by team were allowed. I support that idea that contributes to the development to the game and the players. With the change that FIBA made (only one naturalized player by national team) contributed to Macedonia to have these names (Massey, McCalebb, Hendrix, etc) in the roster. After Eurobasket 2011 in Lithuania, McCalebb (who is a Macedonian since) helped our team to have its greatest success on any European Championship (we finished 4.). So the experience is positive and I can’t think of anyone who would deny this “rule”. Since it was approved by FIBA, who are we to judge and complain when we have such a positive experience. Almost every one of Europe’s teams used this kind of rule.

Q: In 2007 you were very close to being Efes Pilsen coach, but at the end could not be. Did you have more offers to be a coach?

A:  My great relation with Efes Pilsen is based on me being on good terms with the owner of the club. There was an initiative for me to become the head coach of the team but due to some small misunderstanding it didn’t actually happen. I haven’t had any other offers to take on a team, but I must admit that deep down there is interest in me to see how I would manage one, to test myself out. Like I said, the sport in general is a big love of mine as well as a challenge and an opportunity to prove myself but that being said I wouldn’t want to start something over, I would rather coach a team with a bigger budget so that I can spread my previous experience.

Q: In 2015 you were appointed president of the Macedonian Basketball Federation. Tell us about your functions there.

A: On May 1 2015, I was elected as the President of MBF and unfortunately I must say that the state the basketball was at that time (financially) was devastating. The bank account of the Federation was blocked due to debt for 16 years, along with many other problems. That wasn’t fun but after 2 years and 2 months I can say that we changed that completely. Not only did we unblock the bank account, we also manage the youth categories that were neglected in the past. The youth teams are the future of our basketball and we must be aware of that. Up until now, I am satisfied with my work to some point. You can always do better so we strive for that every single day. The only thing that bothers me is the lack of result with the senior men’s national team. The change of generations took a very big part in the lack of results and the fact that no one actually thought what should be done after the success in Lithuania in 2011. I sincerely hope that one day we will get back to where we were.

Q: If I’m not wrong, you have a men’s clothing line. Tell us a little about this project.

A: Me and my team got involved in the fashion business by placing a new product on the market which (officially) will be out this fall. The idea is to put out a sports menswear, first it will be based in Turkey, and that is all I can say for now.

Q: You have three children. Are they going to be basketball player?

A: The first one is Adrian, Mihail is the second and the third is Kristina. Both of my sons started walking in my shoes by playing basketball but no one can tell if they are going to be as successful. I am here for them but everything depends on themselves, their characters, work ethics and their wish to strive for greatness. They both want to become great players and I must admit that they have talent. My daughter is not involved in sports, but she likes horses.

Q: How do you see the new Euroleague format?

A: The new euroleague format brings European basketball closer to the format of the NBA where in certain weeks of the championship you play multiple games. That attracts much more sponsors that helps the league and the clubs to benefit more. A tighter schedule means less time to relax for the players that can cause exhaustion to the players. Regardless of everything I think that the new format gives much more pleasure to the viewer.

Q: This new format is much more demanding, but do you think this format penalizes teams that play in very competitive leagues (Spain) and favors those with weaker leagues? At the end it is a great requirement throughout the season.

A: This format forced the teams to enlarge their roster with more quality players and it that way the coaches can time the form of each single player, to give them enough time on the court and in general “attack” on every front that they play whether is domestic or international championship.

Q: Thank you Petar for taking your time for this interview and good luck with your new project related to fashion.