GRE - Theo switches gears from Greece to CSKA

COLOGNE (FIBA) - Theodoros Papaloukas didn’t have much time to rest from his busy summer with Greece at the FIBA World Championship in Japan.

The tall point guard had to return to the hardwood with Russian and Euroleague champions CSKA Moscow and play in games against the Los Angeles Clippers, Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Philadelphia 76ers.

CSKA beat LA 94-75, defeated Maccabi 90-81 but lost to the Sixers, 85-71.

Papaloukas spoke to PA Sport's David Hein on behalf of FIBA about the transition of going from representing Greece to CSKA.

FIBA: “Theo, how does it feel playing in big summer games as you have in the past week?”

Papaloukas: “This is a celebration. For us, (the Maccabi showdown) was a very important game. It's always hard when the best teams of Europe play. And according to the end of last season, we were one of the best teams. Even if it's only the beginning of the preparations, we had to play well and win this game. It was important for us to play in the final.”

FIBA: “You mentioned before that you would have loved to play against Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns, but they lost to Philadelphia so instead, after beating Maccabi, you took on the Sixers.”

Papaloukas: “The Sixers are a great team. And Iverson is good too. But personally, I would like to have in my memory have played against Steve Nash. I think he's great. Nash is something different. He's a great point guard.”

FIBA: “After the long trip to Japan and all the emotions from losing Nikos Zisis to a serious facial injury in Hamamatsu, to beating the Americans before falling hard to Spain in the gold medal game, how hard was it for you to get back into playing club ball again?"

Papaloukas: “It's very hard. When you play on a stage like that and go to the final by beating the United States and losing to Spain by 23 points it's very hard to refill your batteries. But it's our job, it's our life. You have to get used to doing this and find the strength for a very hard season.”

FIBA: “Considering the NBA Europe Live experience this summer, with so many NBA teams here as a part of their pre-seasons, would you expect to see NBA teams in Europe full time?”

Papaloukas: “I think it's a matter of time - maybe four or five years or longer. But it's going to be a different league with some teams from Europe. I think the Euroleague has shown, and how the European teams have played in these friendly games that we can play. We have good enough teams to play with some teams in the NBA.”

FIBA: “These games are being played with a mixture of rules between the international and NBA regulations. You think European clubs could be NBA teams by NBA rules?”

Papaloukas: “Of course if we played European rules, it would be easier for us. Or if we only play with NBA rules it would be much easier for them. It's normal. But I think the solution they found to split the regulations was fair enough for both.”

Exclusively for FIBA