GRE – Calathes soaking up world championship experience

ANKARA (2010 FIBA World Championship) – It’s not always easy being the youngest player on a championship calibre team, but Nick Calathes is loving every moment of his time with the Greek side at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

On a team loaded with experienced and talented guards like Vasileios Spanoulis, Nikos Zisis and Dimitrios Diamantidis, the 21-year-old doesn’t know how many minutes he will get from one game to the next and he’s just fine with that.

“Those guys are great players, they’re older. My job is to come in bring energy, run the team while I’m at the point guard position,” said Calathes. “I do what I can to help the team win. Whatever coach needs is what I’m going to do.”

The 198cm guard’s positive approach is down to the fact that he realises he’s in a very privileged position.

“Not many people get to play in the world championships, especially at my age. So I do what the team needs and the main thing is winning. Hopefully we can get a medal and go very far. It’s exciting to be here and I’m just trying to take everything in,” he added.

On Tuesday, Calathes will experience his second official derby against rivals Turkey, having featured in last year’s nail-biting EuroBasket quarter-final in Poland.

He fully expects this fixture will live up to the billing as the biggest game of Group C.

“It’s going to be an exciting game,” he enthused. “Obviously Turkey are at home and they’ve been playing very good basketball. It’s going to be tough but we have everyone now with two guys coming back (captain Antonios Fotsis and Sofoklis Schortsanitis) and we look forward to the game. I think we’re ready.”

The Florida native believes his two team-mates will show no ill effects of their time off the court.

“I think they will be ready. We’ve been going through our preparations for a month now, so these three or four days off aren’t going to hurt them. We’ll still have great chemistry as a team and they’ll be a big help,” he offered.

The crowds at Ankara Arena have been booing Greece in their first two games, but Calathes takes it in his stride.

“These fans love their basketball and they’re rooting against us because of the rivalry,” he reasoned. “This is a great arena and an unbelievable atmosphere.”

FIBA