Kori Ellis
07-18-2005, 07:55 AM
ESP - Calderon has NBA in his sights
http://web.fiba.com/pages/en/news/latest_news_article.asp?r_act_news=8305&r_cat=8&page=1
BARCELONA (ACB) - Spanish international Jose Manuel Calderon will only leave Tau Ceramica if he can secure a move to the NBA.
The point guard, who has been included in Mario Pesquera's squad for September's EuroBasket in Serbia & Montenegro, is being tracked by a number of NBA teams, as well as Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Dusko Ivanovic, Calderon's coach at Tau, recently left to take over at Barca.
"The NBA is now my first option," said Calderon, who is in Barcelona attending Nike's NBA Madness.
"There are many possibilities of doing things well and I can't let go of this opportunity."
Calderon, who is 23, has been linked with a move to the Toronto Raptors, although the Milwaukee Bucks and the Detroit Pistons have also been tracking him.
Pistons coach Larry Brown, who coached Team USA at the Olympics, was among those captivated by Calderon's performance in Athens.
"He could play in the NBA if he wanted," Brown said.
"He is one of the best point guards that I've seen."
Calderon's undoubted talent and ambition will make it difficult for European basketball to retain his services.
"The truth is that NBA is the dream of any basketball player," admitted Calderon.
The 1.90m Calderon underwent an appendix operation during the ACB play-offs but returned to play in the finals for Tau.
Tau, who lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Euroleague Final, also slipped up against Real Madrid in a best-of-five game ACB title series.
"We've had a very good season," said Calderon.
"The only thing we have lacked is to put the icing on the cake.
"They have been two big blows for us, sometimes when you deserve it less you end up winning."
But the reported interest of NBA teams has put a smile back on his face.
"To go to the NBA is something that I hadn't thought about in the short term, but I think that considering my personal and professional situation this is the time to do it."
http://web.fiba.com/pages/en/news/latest_news_article.asp?r_act_news=8305&r_cat=8&page=1
BARCELONA (ACB) - Spanish international Jose Manuel Calderon will only leave Tau Ceramica if he can secure a move to the NBA.
The point guard, who has been included in Mario Pesquera's squad for September's EuroBasket in Serbia & Montenegro, is being tracked by a number of NBA teams, as well as Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Dusko Ivanovic, Calderon's coach at Tau, recently left to take over at Barca.
"The NBA is now my first option," said Calderon, who is in Barcelona attending Nike's NBA Madness.
"There are many possibilities of doing things well and I can't let go of this opportunity."
Calderon, who is 23, has been linked with a move to the Toronto Raptors, although the Milwaukee Bucks and the Detroit Pistons have also been tracking him.
Pistons coach Larry Brown, who coached Team USA at the Olympics, was among those captivated by Calderon's performance in Athens.
"He could play in the NBA if he wanted," Brown said.
"He is one of the best point guards that I've seen."
Calderon's undoubted talent and ambition will make it difficult for European basketball to retain his services.
"The truth is that NBA is the dream of any basketball player," admitted Calderon.
The 1.90m Calderon underwent an appendix operation during the ACB play-offs but returned to play in the finals for Tau.
Tau, who lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Euroleague Final, also slipped up against Real Madrid in a best-of-five game ACB title series.
"We've had a very good season," said Calderon.
"The only thing we have lacked is to put the icing on the cake.
"They have been two big blows for us, sometimes when you deserve it less you end up winning."
But the reported interest of NBA teams has put a smile back on his face.
"To go to the NBA is something that I hadn't thought about in the short term, but I think that considering my personal and professional situation this is the time to do it."