Calathes: 'When Barça called I was sure I wanted to come'

Nick Calathes was presented officially as a Barça player until 30 June 2023. On Friday at the press room in the Ciutat Esportiva the new signing appeared before the press, claiming the move to Barça is "the biggest challenge of my career". He added: "When Barça called I was sure I wanted to come. I will have team mates like Niko, Cory, Víctor..." 

Calathes was delgihted to begin a new stage in his basketball career: "It's an honour to play at a first class club like Barça. The decision has been an easy one. There are great players and settling in will be easy because I know the coach and some of the players. I hope to win a lot of trophies and that the Club becomes he best in Europe again." 

Reunited with Jasikevicius

Nick Calathes and coach Sarunas Jasikevicius will be reunited at Barça as both played together for two seasons at Greek club Panathinaikos. "When I came to Europe aged 20 I played with him at Panathinaikos and he gave me a hard time. Later I saw he did it to help me and give me advice and to set up a good relationship." The new Barça signing is clear about what the Lithuanian coach can bring to the team: "He will bring a winning mentality, as a player he won everything and he will want to do the same as coach." 

Calathes also had praise for Thomas Heurtel, who plays in the same position as the Greek-American: "I respect him a lot, I have played against him a lot and he is one of the best passers in Europe. We can player together and work together well. We have a lot of respect between us and there will not be a problem." 

Finally, the director responsible for Barça basketball, Joan Bladé, clarified "Barça have not negotiated a possible return for Pau Gasol as a player and will not do so. He is doing a great job as an ambassador in the North American market."