TEL AVIV (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Film makers would probably find a seemingly unlimited supply of priceless footage if they could re-capture all the images of Zaza Pachulia's basketball career. But the 33-year-old would love to give those movie men - as well as the country of Georgia - one more backdrop of magic, this one from FIBA EuroBasket 2017.

Zaza - as Pachulia is better known in the basketball world - has had a magical ride, traveling the back lands of Europe's Division B for years, before bringing Georgia to Division A and FIBA EuroBasket, now for a fourth occasion. The journey hits its pinnacle in June, with Pachulia helping the Golden State Warriors to the NBA title.

"I really enjoyed it. It was special being in a team like that - full of talent and guys who played great but were also really hard workers and played the game the right way," said Pachulia, who averaged 6.1 points and 5.9 rebounds during the regular season and 5.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in the playoffs.

Pachulia became the first Georgian to ascend to the status of NBA champion, and the 6ft 11in (2.11m) center was celebrated back home - where he appeared at numerous events with NBA's Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.

"The whole time was crazy, in a good way. Totally different summer - very busy, very emotional. Special and moments I will never forget," said Pachulia, who received the Order of Honor from Georgia President Giorgi Margvelashvili.

"I was fortunate to be in that situation, especially after representing my country for so many years. You cannot take anything for granted.

Zaza Pachulia playing in Georgia's first FIBA EuroBasket in 2011 in Poland.

"I don't know if I am fortunate to experience everything. But I take it as a positive - going from Division B to Division A and now the fourth FIBA EuroBasket. It all happened in my 17-year national team career. It's pretty amazing where we were before and where we are now," said Pachulia, who is averaging 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in the Group B in Tel Aviv.

Georgia have gone from a minnow in the A pool to a team many of the bigger name nations should fear - beating Lithuania, Czech Republic, Greece and Serbia in the preparation games and then knocking off Lithuania in their opening game in Tel Aviv.

"We are just getting more mature, and just like wine, the older we get, the better we get," Pachulia said. "It's just pretty amazing and I appreciate it even more being on top. And I definitely don't want to go back to where I was a couple of years ago … It's not fun playing Division B with that crazy travel."

With better performances also come higher expectations, as Pachulia is feeling from the fans back home.

"There is a different approach. You lose two games and everybody says what happened," Pachulia said, referring to Georgia falling to Germany and Ukraine after beating Lithuania in the opener.

"It's a compliment. It shows what people think you are capable of,  especially after beating Lithuania in the first game. Everybody thought we could compete against the United States. But it's the normal process and part of the game."

Pachulia, who has seen Georgia finish 11th, 17th and 15th over the past three FIBA EuroBaskets, confirmed the high expectations of his compatriots back home.

"I don't think any other result will be satisfying unless you win a championship, that's for sure," he said. "Win or lose, we are going to do everything we can. Hopefully it will be a special year, just like it was with the Warriors and we have the best result we have ever had."

... not to mention, it will give those film makers more great footage.

FIBA