25-year-old Lokomotiv-Kuban forward Andrey Zubkov is enjoying perhaps the best season of his career. The December MVP spoke with VTB-League.com about the coach with the biggest impact on his career, Chelyabinsk’s grizzled men, the most unusual road trip he’s ever taken, memories of the All-Star Game in Sochi and the player he thinks deserves to win regular season MVP.
– Andrey, you’re enjoying the best season of your career. Why is that?
– I think the biggest factor has been the arrival of a new coach. Sasa Obradovic believed in me. I started seeing a lot more playing time along with receiving the captain’s armband. That gave me confidence in my abilities and helped me reach a new level.
– You’re in a contract year. Have you thought about where you’re going to play next season?
– Not yet. Right now I’m completely focused on the rest of the season. I’ll wait until summer to look at the different options and decide what to do next.
– If Lokomotiv-Kuban reaches the VTB United League finals and earns a spot in the EuroLeague, will you look at this season as a success?
– Yes, absolutely! Our initial goal was to reach the EuroLeague next season. Right now the only remaining option is to make the VTB League finals. That’s all we’re thinking about right now. And, of course, we really want to finish the regular season strong. There are seven games left and every meeting is worth its weight in gold.
– People say that Loko doesn’t have a clear-cut leader or someone to run the offense through. Do you agree?
– There might be an element of truth in that, but team basketball is a good thing, too. From game to game, anyone can take over and carry the team. As a result, our opponents on defense have to focus on several players, not just one person.
Who do you think is the League MVP this season?
– It’s not an easy choice, but I like Milos Teodosic. He’s playing at an unbelievable level this season.
– You’ve been in the VTB United League for a long time. What was the most unusual road trip of your career?
– The most memorable trip was to Finland and the little city of Loimaa. It wasn’t an easy trip. We went there immediately following a EuroLeague game. Everything was a surprise: the city, the arena and our opponent, Bisons, who were able to upset us in stunning fashion.
– You’ve played for a lot of different coaches. Who would you say has been the best coach in your career? Who had the biggest impact on your growth as a player?
– Right now, I can say with confidence that it’s Sasa Obradovic. We’ve worked together for less than six months, but every day and every practice, I grow as a player under his management. I’m developing and always learning something. He’s not only an excellent coach, but also a good person, since he’s always direct and not afraid to speak the truth.
– You’re in the top-15 for most games played in the League. Has anyone started calling you a veteran?
– Wow, what place am I on that list? I’ll be honest, I didn’t even know about it. No one’s called me a veteran, even though I’ve been at the club for a very long time.
– You’re unique because you’ve been with Lokomotiv-Kuban from start to finish: from youth basketball to the senior team. Do you know anyone else in the League that’s spent their entire career with one team?
– Andrey Vorontsevich is the only person that comes to mind, though even he wasn’t in CSKA’s system from childhood…
– What’s the biggest problem in youth basketball today? Why isn’t there a lot of young talent in the League right now?
– Maybe their attitude has changed somehow, or maybe they didn’t have the right coach at the right time. When I was on the youth roster, we had a very strict, demanding coach in Alexander Chernov. He got us ready for adult basketball in three years.
– In your opinion, who’s the top young player in Russia right now, among players 21 and under?
– I don’t get to see many youth games, but from our team I’d single out forward Ilya Usoltsev. He practices with us a lot. 18-year-old Kirill Popov is another one. He’s got incredible athleticism for his age.
– What’s your biggest memory of the All-Star Game in Sochi?
– It’s hard to narrow it down to one thing. It all made a big impression on me. It was so intense, I had dreams about the All-Star Game for a week. First of all, it was my first time participating in something like that. Second, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen that type of atmosphere and that many fans in the stands.
– Which nickname did you like better: Chelyabinsk meteor of Krasnodar Krai sex symbol?
– I’ve been called the Chelyabinsk meteor before, but not the Krasnodar Krai sex symbol! That’s why I’ll go with the latter!
– How often do you visit your hometown of Chelyabsink?
– I only go to Chelyabinsk after the end of the season, in June or July, in general. I spend about a week in my hometown.
– Are the stories about Chelyabinsk’s grizzled men true or not?
– Of course, it’s true! I’m already tired of changing the toilet at home! (laughs)
– If a team from Chelyabinsk joins the VTB League, would you think about returning home?
– Yes, of course. Not everyone gets a chance to play at home. It’d be cool to play at least one season with a team from my hometown.
– Russia teammate and friend Timofey Mozgov is a big car guy like you, but can’t always squeeze into them. Do you have to worry about that?
– Thank God, no. So far I’ve been able to fit into all of my favorite cars!
– Do you have a hobby most people know about?
– I’m a pretty transparent person and I don’t have any hobbies I need to hide. Cars are my biggest hobby. Everyone knows about that.
– A lot of rich athletes invest their money in real estate or business. How about you?
– Yes, but I’m not going to spill all my investing secrets.
– You often use the phrase “You’ll never know what it’s like to get back up, if you never fall” on Instagram. Does it have a special meaning to you?
– It’s not anything specific, but everybody goes through tough times in life. And it’s a good phrase for those times.
– Live Instagram feeds are really popular right now. Would you be interested in an organized live feed for League fans?
– I do live feeds sometimes and give fans a chance to ask some questions. If the League wants to do something like that, I wouldn’t refuse. I’d love to take part.
