MKD - Antic looks to pave the way for compatriots to America

ATLANTA (NBA) - If there's one thing that's readily apparent in the NBA these days, it's that general managers and coaches are more than willing to sign experienced players from Europe who are older than 30.

The New York Knicks signed Pablo Prigioni, a long-time playmaker in Spain's ACB (Liga Endesa), in the summer of 2012 when he was 35 and the Argentinian repaid the faith by playing a lot of important minutes and helping the team reach the playoffs.

This summer, the Atlanta Hawks identified 31-year-old Pero Antic of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MKD) as a big man who can help the team write a new chapter in their history.

That Atlanta would be a team to consider Antic should come as no surprise because two of the most important people in the organization, general manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Budenholzer, have a healthy appreciation for the European game.

Ferry played professionally in Italy before launching his own NBA career.

One of Ferry's most important moves several months ago was to make Budenholzer, an assistant to San Antonio Spurs boss Gregg Popovich, Atlanta's new coach.

That move increased the likelihood of having more foreign players involved.

During his long tenure with San Antonio, Budenholzer coached many players who had competed in Europe.

Both Budenholzer and Ferry had an ample opportunity to size up the potential of the 2.11m Antic, who for the past two years helped Olympiacos win the Turkish Airlines Euroleague.

"After the two successful years when we won the Euroleague championship, I know I'm 31 and no one expected this to go this way," Antic said, speaking during the Hawks media day, "I had some offers in the Euroleague but you cannot refuse a challenge like the NBA one.

"When Coach Bud (Budenholzer) called me, I didn't even think about it.

"It will be an honor to be a part of this family, this franchise, and I immediately accepted."

Antic has been hailed for his basketball smarts, and his ability to play from away from the basket, be it to pick-and-pop or to make good passes.

He wants to make the most of the chance in the NBA and not just for himself.

"The first thing is to represent my country," he said.

"I will be the first Macedonian ever in the NBA and to try to do the best and let's hope to open the doors for other Macedonians to work out better and try to be here, (for that) to be a goal, and to pass me if I only stay one year, two, three, four."

Antic has spent many years representing his homeland in international competition.

In 2011, he was a leader of the team that went on a surprising run to the Semi-Finals of the EuroBasket in Lithuania, and the following summer he competed at the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

This year, he turned out for MKD again at EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia.

Antic says that back in his homeland, kids grow up dreaming of one day playing in the NBA.

"I know that since I started to play basketball, you are looking to buy a jersey," he said.

"You are looking to have sweatpants from any NBA team and then you will be the boss in this area.

"I have from this year original sweatpants, shirts from the team.

"It's definitely a dream come true for me and every kid that starts basketball in this (MKD) country, you dream of this. First of all, you don't dream for Euroleague, they dream for the NBA.

"This is the goal for every kid."

Antic won't be the only person who comes from outside the United States to compete for the Hawks.

Mexico's Gustavo Ayon, the MVP of the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, is now on the books of the club as well as Dennis Schroder, a 20-year-old guard from Braunschweig, Germany, who has played for his country's youth teams.

Schroder was the 17th pick in this summer's NBA Draft.

Atlanta's most famous international is Al Horford of the Dominican Republic.

FIBA