League’s executive director Ilona Korstin and Khimki’s guard Egor Vialtsev in with anchor Sergey Belogolovtsev discussed season’s start, Russian National team’s chances, upcoming All-Star game and basketball superstitious beliefs.
Interview text version:
– First question addressed to Ilona: you are managing main and basically the only men’s basketball league in Russia. How does such a delicate woman manage to do it?
Ilona Korstin: I’m still from basketball world and I came a long way as a basketball player of Ntaional team. When I retired I was offered to be the deputy executive director, and I had been working on this position for three years. Then they thought that I’m ready my candidature as League’s executive director was put forward on the League’s council. I was supported, and I think I do good. Of course, it’s hard to be a woman among this amount of men and make them get me right.
– Egor, this question is for you: you hold the record of made three-pointers in VTB League. How many threes have you shot and against what teams?
Egor Vialtsev: During regular season home game against Astana in 2015/16 season I hit 12 of 14. It wasn’t my goal, stars just alligned.
– Beast. It’s a wonderful stat even for international basketball.
I.K: I was in the arena that night – it was spectacular and fun to watch, fans were happy.
– Were you cheered in the locker-room?
E.V: I wished it had happened but no. When i got on fire the whole team supported me and were passing me the ball. Thanks to my coach – he gave me the opportunity to play in the ending, and I saw that there is an opportunity to hit many threes in one day. I stopped in the end – I could hit more.
– And why did you stop?
Е.V: You know, I felt kind of uncomfortable. Thought that I already scored enough, I had to pass the ball. I could score more though.
– I think it shouldn’t stop an athlete.
Е.V: After the game guys that follow the statistics told me that I shouldn’t have stopped and beat Culpepper’s record and score 50 points.
-Let’s talk about Khimki. Will Khimki win the title?
I.K: Season have just begun and, of course, Khimki look impressive. This season all the teams powered up and championship is really intersting, thus it’s hard to say who is going to be a champ.
– Egor now you have sniper competitors – everybody in the team can shoot three, even Mozgov.
Е.V: Yes, everybody shoots. Now it’s hard to find an open space on the arc, I have to fight for it, show my best on practices. I think not only this year, within 8-9 years shooters have been coming to our team. From my point of view, you should prove that you are worthy to shoot during practices.
– A little more about Khimki: team did well on the transfer market previous summer. Who is the most impressive among team’s rookies? Jerebko, for example.
Е.V: We are glad that our team has such an experienced player – 10 years in NBA and finalist on Golden State Warriors roster. I think it’s worthy.
– Is it great that Mozgov came back?
I.K: It’s amazing for the League! The fact the he signed with Khimki attracts additional attention to our league and club. Probably, for now it’s our most famous player. Sincerely, we all have been waiting for Timofey comes back in Russia. Everebody saw him on TV, and now he is real, you can take a photo with him or ask for a sign. Everyone is eager to see him on the court.
– What are Khimki’s expectations about Karasev?
Е.V: First of all, results, because most of the time in Zenit he played under his father’s coaching. He was trusted a lot, he was a centrepiece of the team and the leader and proved it on the floor. He had great seasons with nice team stats but he makes a step forward signing with Khimki. We are always aiming to win. In tough competition on his position it won’t be esy for him – it’s time to show his skills and talent. It’s all up to him – just deserve the place on the floor. I repeat – big names mean nothing on the court.
– By the way, tell us, do Shved and Bazarevich have some kind of disconnect? Why he doesn’t want to play for National team?
I.K: I don’t know these details. On the contrary, I thought the got on well together. Alexey just had an injury like other players that weren’t playing for National team. Thay explain it that they weren’t ready because of health issues and that there is an upcoming regular season where they have to work hard for the club. But I remeber myself, a had been playing for National team for 13 years in a row, and it didn’t matter personal life or vacation – those days there were 3-month camps and everybody participated and played. I think this question is up to each athlete.
– Egor, is Russian National team is capable of qualifying to the Olympics?
Е.V: 100% yes. You mean that it was a miracle that we qualified to World Cup with such roster. I even thought, that we could beat Poland and move further – it would have been a great achievement. I think, we easily can qualify to the Olympics
– It was awful to lose to Poland. Maybe, Bazarevich should have called up more experienced players? It seems like team was lacking the experience. For example, why Egor Vialtsev wasn’t in the final roster?
Е.V:Egor Vialtsev haven’t been in the final roster for a long time and that’s a question to Bazarevich. My opinion is that all worthy players shoud be called up. But it don’t mean that they will be in the final roster. Everybody should be given an opportunity to practice and stand up against the competition. But again, it only coach’s call.
– In other words, you got something to say Bazarevich?
Е.V: I always got something to say, but should I?
– Why not? I think it’s important to converse.
Е.V: If we are talking about me in particular then I think that I’m not ready to play for National team because of one thing: I have to play more minutes in my team to deserve a place in National team.
– From my point of view, Khimki is the basis for National team.
Е.V: Basically, this season yes, it is.
– How did you react to CSKA loss in Krasnoyarsk? Did you discuss it with temmates?
Е.V: Of course, we had followed the game.
– Were you laughing or rubbing hands?
Е.V: Laughing – no, rubbing hands – yes. It wasn’t expected but it always tough to play first games in Krasnoyarsk because of jetlag. CSKA had twice more problems – big roster changes and the lack of time to prepare. I think CSKA will boost untill the winter: there are great players and head coach is respected. Then will see.
– Winter? isn’t it late?
I.K: No, I guess. Euroleague and United League have the same round system – each team play against each team. They have chances to vendicate themselves, they just have to make it to the playoffs, and then the most interesting happens. I agree with Egor – it’s too early to write off CSKA, because team has been rebuild. I talked to Zielona Gora: they had no idea how is it to play in Krasnoyarsk. They came there during winter and were shocked. Couldn’t hadle with jetlag, wheather, time zones and as a result lost with 20-point differential.
– As for Zenit, UNICS, Lokomotiv. Red-blues are now not the only contenders. Maybe it will motivate teams to be stronger mentally?
Е.V: 100%. League only grows because of it, just as its popularity. Zenit play in Euroleague and for Saint Petersburg it is a big deal. On the opening night against Barcelona there was a sold out, great atmosphere. Zenit showed good basketball, but they were lacking bench players and experience. Next game against CSKA was at VTB Arena – they beat Red-blues in a tough game. I’d like to mention Russian veterans – Anton Ponkrashov and Evgenii Voronov – they made great effort and helped team win. Technically, nowadays age makes no sense. Look at Michael Jordan, who played in his early fourties and still was averaging 20 points easily.
– Many NBA players now move to European teams. What does it mean?
I.K: Of course, players look at financial component and minutes on the court and then decide. In USA there there are huge taxes. We got them too, but they are smaller. I mean everobody is paying taxes. We open our budgets you must have seen, I guess.
– I think it’s the right way and your great merit. Hockey and football do not have it, and you are clear. How did you decide to do it?
I.K: Sergey Borisovich Ivanov, honourable president of the league is always stands for transparency and honesty. This is a very wise idea, because we don’t have much to hide – we are following the rules. Of course clubs were hostile about this idea: because everyone will see their accountancy. However, this disciplines the league and now clubs are okay with sharing their information, and are answering all the press’ questions after publications.
– Egor, when we will find out your salary?
Е.V: I am not in the list – I have one of the lowest salaries and I am in the end of the log, written in a low string.
– Let’s talk about the all-star game. We are always waiting it eagerly, and now as there are so many star players in the league, maybe we should add two more teams to the existing two? Maybe we should add a semi final and a final.
I.K: You know that we have really heavy schedule – we have only one date for the all-star game.
– But wasn’t it your initiative?
I.K: I’ve talked about it when I was deputy executive director. I’ve been told: «Expensive, demanding». Well, of course it was a hard work. The first year was a real challenge, but we coped with it and now we know whom to engage and with whom to work, what mistakes we made and how to correct them. Naturally, all-star game is becoming such a central event, for which we are preparing and waiting, we want this to be a show from the non-basketball too. Players are first taken away by fans, then by journalists. Only then, according to the residual principle, the League has 2 votes – for one and the other team. And so the fans and journalists decide by voting who will play.
– Egor, you have been playing for Khimki for almost 10 years. What is the story of the number change?
Е.V: I have played under number 9 for almost entire career. When Dushko Ivanovic was appointed instead of Rimas Kurtinaitis, we had enough in only one and a half years… I do not want to talk about his achievements , he won the cups and was a good player, but for us it was the most fierce trainings, a year passed as two. And I decided to change the number, because I played a little, something did not work out. This is a pure superstition.
– Is it important for a player?
Е.V: For those who believe in superstitious, yes. For example, I don’t believe in many superstitious, but thought: “let me turn the number upside down” – and this gave some kind of impulse in the basketball aspect. Coach Bartzokas came and I played a good season, cheered up internally, and now returned the number.
– Superstition in sports is evil or is it something that helps?
I.K: I believe that this is all individual. I tried not to get attached to this, but I remember how I moved to France and at first a lot did not work out. Somehow I got my nose broken, but I had to play, and they gave me a black mask. I put it on, and all rivals look at me with fear in their eyes. And I got it! Everything started to work out for me. Believe me, but a broken nose helped me.
– Egor, a question for you: at some point you will finish the basketball career , and you will begin a new life. Many athletes now – Korstin, Kirilenko – are becoming big officials. Is that good, do you think?
Е.V: On the one hand, it’s good when a good athlete has a desire to develop the same sport. But, again, you need to learn a lot, because from a sport point of view, as a player, you look at things from one side, and then dig inside and discover a lot of things that you did not know about. Studying is easy for someone, and one moves up the career ladder, but there are examples with failures and when you need to look for your place in the world again.
I.K: Egor is right: it is possible and necessary to study and receive education in parallel with the athlete’s career. And I also did it in parallel. I knew that when I finish my career, I will already have diplomas of higher education, a business school, and I can do something in sports after my career ends. But it should not be that I finished my career, went to study, and after 3-4 years, when everyone forgot me, I will come and say: “Hello, employ me somewhere to work.” This years will be wasted.
E.V: That’s right. You need to take time to learn and think a few steps forward, where you will be and what you will do.
I.K: I only want to have more basketball players in our world. Because they understand some points better, and they have better school of life. We have a wealth of life experience that ordinary people do not have, and it must be applied.
– Egor, your son plays basketball at the CSKA school. Is it awful? CSKA are your rivals!
E.V: Let’s start from the beginning: I also played at the sports school of CSKA. Therefore, my formation as a player in basketball took place there.
– So you think that the CSKA school is better than the Khimki school?
Е.V: I didn’t mean it. It’s simple: we live 10 minutes from CSKA, and it is comfortable for our son l to go there and study there after school. In Moscow, the location is worth a lot. Taking him to Khimki and back is half of the day, and when he will do homework, when he will spend time with family?
– How old is he now?
Е.V: He’s ten.
– Is he big already?
Е.V: Normal human growth. Not an Avatar yet.
– Can grow into a master? Is there a character, an aspiration – what made you your career through?
Е.V: Well, he has a temper, it appears itself in everyday life. And whether he will become a basketball player or not is still far from that.
– Do you attend his games?
Е.V: Of course
– Are you scolding him?
– I am telling him off. I teach him in a tough manner. Here is a recent example: he played a great match against St. Petersburg Spartak, and I was glad that there was progress. But he scored several times and starred, did not work in defense. I wrote it down, and then, when we got into the car, I told how it should be. I’m saying, don’t stick your nose up in the air.
– Ilona, tell me about your family successes. Are you a young mother?
I.K: Yes, my child Victoria is 1 year and 7 months. It’s too early for basketball, but we already go to gymnastics. I think that basketball will not go away from us. Just recently my basketball academy has opened and we are recruiting children. We have groups and are already training. I invite everyone. Egor, if your son doesn’t like CSKA, bring him to me. We train girls and boys from 6 to 17 years old. We have a very good specialist Sasha Glishic from Serbia, he worked in the Crvena Zvezda Academy in Belgrade and raised more than one generation of Serbian stars. Milos Teodosic is one of them. I am very pleased with how the training process goes.
