BC "Prometey" continues the series of pre-season interviews with the club's players. This time we talked to a man-legend, a man-show, a man who everyone is very happy to see in the Prometey again, one of the leaders of the last year's team, who signed a contract for the next season - DJ Stephens.
- DJ, we are glad to see you again in "Prometey". This will be your third season. This is, actually, what the first question about. Why did you decide to return to Prometey?
-Everything that happened last season was something that I really didn't want to happen. We did not finish the previous season due to the fact, that the war started in Ukraine. Yet before the start of the war, my agent, the president of the club and the coaching staff discussed that I would continue playing in Prometey. So, there were talks about it. And then when the war started, everything was put on hold, which was interesting because I didn't hear anything from the team until the summer. Of course, they said they were interested, but I didn't get a contract offer. I saw, other players signing up. I thought that the club had changed their mind or priorities. Eventually I got a call. My agent said there was an offer to come back, and I said of course I agree. After all, in "Prometey" there are great guys, we are like a family, we all liked to play with each other. This team is really special to me.
- Did you have any other suggestions? What was the decisive factor in your decision to return?
- In summer, I had several offers, in particular from Italy. I received an offer from "Budivelnyk". I almost signed it and returned to "Budivelnyk". But when the offer from "Prometey" came, I agreed as I had been part of the team for the previous two years. I feel that the president loves me very much, and the fans love and support me very much, and the Ukrainian basketball players who have played with me for the past 2 years. We feel quite comfortable together. You know how everything happens, you know what we are playing, you know what to do. This is also quite a comfortable situation for the coach, since the "spine" of the team has been preserved for the last one and a half years. I know what he expects from me. And now we will play together in the EuroCup. And this is even higher level, where you have to work harder.
- You said that you are well acquainted with the team and the club. But we all cannot know what may happen tomorrow. It would seem, that choosing a Ukrainian club when there is a war going on in Ukraine is quite a risky act. But you came back. Aren't you worried that anything can happen?
-Of course, there are stresses and nervousness. Yes, this situation already happened last season. The season was suddenly cancelled, all payments were stopped. However, I was assured that everything would be fine this season, everything would be smooth as before, so I felt comfortable signing the contract.
- But I can't help but ask you about the situation in Ukraine. The war continues. What is your opinion about it and about everything that is happening now?
-This is terrible. I ache for all the people in Ukraine, for my teammates, as well as for all the friends and people I met during the years of performances in Ukraine. After all, I played in Ukraine not only for the last 2 years in “Prometey”, but even earlier in “Budivelnyk”. I've met some really nice, sweet people in this country who just want to live their lives and enjoy it, spend time with their families, and all of that is being interrupted right now by a guy who... no one knows what he's up to. He is just hurting all these wonderful people. And it is very sad and painful to see what you and all other Ukrainians are going through. My heart goes out to all of you. Because I can't imagine what it's like to leave my home and go live somewhere else because it's become dangerous to live where a person is from or not know if a bomb will be dropped on me at any moment. I mean it's a huge stress. Many of my teammates had to leave their families and move out of the country so they could continue to play basketball, earn money and provide for their families. So, I can only imagine how stressful it is, how hard it is for them to keep trying to live and keep moving forward. I pray and hope that this will all be over soon so that you guys can get back to normal and start rebuilding your country and getting it back to where it once was.
- Let's go back a little. The previous season obviously ended abruptly. You said that last season's team holds a special place in your heart. I would like to hear more from you, what is so special about that team? And how did you feel when you were told that the Prometey season was over?
- The team was really special. We had big name, great players who signed and came to play for Prometey at the start of the season. D'Angelo Harrison joined later. With him, with Chris Dowe and Sean Evans, it was a pleasure for us to play together. Everyone thought, why should all these guys sign a contract and go to play in Ukraine. We started the season by qualifying for the Champions League, making a loud statement. We have already begun to see how good we can be. Then the coach and the president decided to bring in DJ Kennedy and Miro Bilan, and that made us 10 times better. We stopped at a stage where we could probably go into the top eight in the Champions League and then who knows how far we could go. There was a lot of talent on this team. We were on fire on the court, we were really close and like a family off it. That's what made this team so special. We all wanted to see each other, talk to each other and spend time with each other, and we were just one big family.
- When the competition in Ukraine was suspended and "Prometey" disbanded its teams, you extended the season in France in March to finish it there. Your team was fighting for survival in Pro A. And they did it in the last seconds of the last game. Please, tell us more about your experience. Since you are not new to French basketball, you spent several years there, you were a champion. Maybe about its differences from the Ukrainian one.
- For me it was like two seasons. After all, everything ended so suddenly with "Prometey". Everything was going well, we had everything to succeed, and it all suddenly ended. I was thinking, do I just want to go back home to the US and just rest, take the summer off and then prepare for the next season or do I want to try to go somewhere and finish the season. I was in France, visiting friends and I was waiting to see what offers my agent would find. I received an offer from Limoges. I played in France for many years and depending on the situation, when you get to the playoffs and how far you go there, the season can be very long. When I won the championship with Le Mans, the season ended for us in the first week of July. And they want players back to work in August, so the rest window isn't that big. I know I need enough time to rest in the summer, that's important. So, I wanted to go and play for a team that didn't necessarily have to go far in the playoffs, just play to the end of the season. My agent found me a team that was trying to stay in Pro A. And I realized that I could offer my services to them. And then I saw that the guys had a crazy season, had a lot of injuries, one player got hurt, another player got hurt, and they played a big part of the season without many players that were important to the team. So, I saw that there was a possibility that we could play well enough to win enough games to keep the team in Pro A. So, I said this is my championship, an opportunity to come there and try to help the team stay in Pro A. And we made it. No one expected us to win and keep the team in Pro A. So, I was as happy as they were. And it gave me some peace about the situation that I could not finish that championship, win the trophy with Prometey. Someone still left with the feeling that I was helping them achieve something great.
- Let's go back to "Prometey". The team has already been completed for the upcoming season - 12 players have been signed. Six of them, including you, have returned to the team. How do you feel? And how do you rate the fact that six players are back?
- I am glad that great players have returned. Some of the new signings I don't know very well. Hogue played in "Cluj", we played against this team in the TOP-16 of the Champions League. There are some pretty good players there and I remember we played against a pretty solid player. Clavell played for "Budivelnyk", he is quite a good player, a really cool scorer. I have heard of the Agada. Heard from my friends that he is also a very good player. Heard about Sanon, who played in Dnipro. Pretty good players and I wonder how we'll go together when we start playing with each other. Like the “Lakers” last year, they had a lot of great signings and all great players, but it just didn't add up. These things happen sometimes. There must be special chemistry in the team. This is an important thing.
- Have you already talked to any of your old or new teammates?
-Sure. We have a group chat with last year's and even old Prometey players and we all love to talk in it. We talked about who is coming back to the team, new signings and more. I'm in touch with all these guys and even without this group chat. I mean, I follow them all on Instagram. We have each other's phone numbers. So, I stay in touch with almost everyone even after the season.
- What are you doing now? Are you training? Are you resting?
- From Monday to Friday, I train on the basketball court, practice skills, throws and strength training. Just trying to get my body ready for the long season ahead. I try to work to be in my best shape, to be the best version of myself, to try to help Prometey win matches. We will try to go as far as we can in the EuroCup. And just doing everything I can to help us become the best team we can be.
-Do you do anything special to improve your game or just general work?
-Just general work like dribbling, shooting. It was funny. I had a conversation with coach Ginsburg, and he asked me what I need to work on the most next season. So, I started answering that I was working on my skills and on becoming a better leader. So, this conversation was kind of fun, it was interesting. I'm not going to reveal the details of what he said, but it was pretty funny.
- What do you think about the new tournaments for "Prometey" - the EuroCup and the Latvian-Estonian basketball league? What do you know about them and what do you expect?
- I played in the EuroCup in my second season in Europe. Therefore, I feel that it was good for us that we got there and will play a lot of matches plus the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League. I don't know too much about LEBL, but I know about Riga, VEF Riga, who won LEBL last season. And I feel that we should win there. I believe that "Prometey" will probably be one of the best teams in the league, will compete for the championship. I always want to win the championship. That's always in my mind and that's always my mission, so I try to focus on that and try to help my team every year. Because I won championships - two in Ukraine and one in France, and I made a choice this year to be a champion no matter what country you are in or where you are. It's a great feeling to win a championship. I want to feel it every year."
- What is your personal goal in the EuroCup? Is it the playoffs or maybe the finals?
- I feel that last year we could surprise many people as a young club. And this year we have to surprise many. We have a good coach. I feel that we will be where we want to be. I feel like we will have a good team to make the playoffs, compete and try to win the title.
-Finishing. Obviously, Prometey fans were thrilled to have you back on the team. After all, you are one of the audience's favourites, you make a show. Say a few words for them.
- Now it's even a little funny. I've been getting a lot of questions from fans if I'm coming back. They wrote that they would be very pleased and happy if I returned. I didn't respond, but when I came back, I just sent a lot of messages to people who supported me and were my big fans. I just want to tell them all that I love them and appreciate their continued support. Stay strong, keep up the good work and one day hopefully soon everything will be back to normal and this war and this madness will be over.
-DJ, thanks for your time, thanks for the answers. And I hope we will soon see you on the field in the form of Prometheus, and I hope we will see you raise the cup above your head, and your desire to win the trophy every year will come true.
