Ekipa, 07.08.2007
Beno Udrih - Owner of two NBA championship rings hasn't recovered yet from his problems with the San Antonio Spurs
Psychically hitting bottom.
Beno has, despite only celebrating his 25th birthday on July 5th, already had an impressive career. During the 99/200 season he was named rookie of the year in the Slovenian 1st league, during season 00/01 he, together with Jiri Welsch, led Union Olimpija to a double crown (championship and cup) and was the mvp of the Slovenian league. During the 01/02 season he led Union Olimpija to a repeat of both les adding in the process a third 0ne (Goodyear League). During 02/03 he became Israeli champion with Maccabi and during 03/04 he averaged 20 points a game in the Russian championship and 10 points a game after his transfer to the Italian premier league. He’s the only Slovenian player to boast 2 NBA rings. He played for the Slovenian NT on January 24th 2001 for the first time and since then played in 17 games during which he scored 139 points. We met with Udrih during his visit to Lake Bled.
How come you decided to visit Bled?
I haven’t had the opportunity to have some real holidays in the last 7 years. I wanted to show to my American girlfriend some of the beauties of Slovenia. I of course started with the most beautiful parts: Bled and Bohinj and their surroundings. The other reasons why we started our visit to Slovenia in Bled is a visit to my father’s cousin Stefan Udrih. My girlfriend and I went on a 12 hours trek in the Triglav National park led by my cousin Ales Udrih. I was also happy at the news that Radovljica basketball club honored me for the second time as an NBA ring recipient. The first time it was at the NT game against Finland, that was played in Radovljica and the second time was now during a celebration since the club management is trying to stabilize the situation in the club and with my help attract as much young talent as possible. We were happy to help them and the feelings were great since they are, with the exception of the people of Lasko – who honored me two years ago, the only organization that felt the need to thank me, something similar from the National Basketball Organization never happened.
You are the only Slovenian with two NBA rings. Where do you keep them?
The firs ring I keep at home in Slovenia, I haven’t received the second one. A funny anecdote that happened at the first ring ceremony was a banner in the locker room that read “World Champions”, Manu striked out the word “world” and wrote in “NBA” instead and followed to write that he was the only world champion present.
How satisfied are you with the past championship season?
Before the season the coach promised me that I would get a chance to play during every game. Playing with stars like Manu and Tony I knew I could get 10 to 15 minutes max. The first part of the season (approx. 40 games)
I played great, since I was averaging 8 points and 3 assists playing the aforementioned minutes. ...(!?)
All of the sudden you were confined to the bench. Do you know why?
The reason for me not playing was a small mistake that snuck up on me during a game against Dallas. During that game I played 1 minute and 30 seconds and during a play I didn’t play aggressively enough. The coach immediately yanked me out of the game and to my bad luck the player that replaced me dove after a lost ball and hit the coaches bench. The coach told me after the game that that was what he demanded from me.
But you were confined to the bench for the whole remainder of the season?
The non-American (especially European players) in the NBA are discriminated against and have to pay dearly for every mistake we make. In a champions team like the Spurs we even have big names like Barry and Finley that come from the bench after stars like Tony and Manu. Jacques Vaughn, who has a similar status to mine in the team, took advantage of my mistake - we both fight for the same 10 minutes of playing time.
Were you sad about that?
Of course I was. During 40 games I proved I had what it takes. I knew I was in excellent form, but couldn’t do anything because I wasn’t given a chance. You have no idea how much that influences one’s psyche. After good performances you are forced to seat on the bench and support you teammates, tell them to get over mistakes and comfort them that it’ll be better next time. At the same time you know you could do a better job than them if you would only get another chance – a chance that never came.
In Slovenia in later in Europe you were known as a rational and calm player. Did that helped you in that situation?
<long boring answer basically saying that he only got T’ed once in his whole career and I’m too lazy to translate the end however is quite funny:> Although this year was for me the hardest I had to come to term with my situation in San Antonio. That’s life and with luck will also come injustices and you have to take them in your stride.
Is this also the reason for your absence from this year’s NT?
First I’d like to apologize for my absence from this year’s European championship to all the Slovenian basketball aficionados. I know that my fans will understand that I ‘am drained psychically and that I am still struggling with my recovery. Next year my contract with the Spurs runs out and I have to be prepared to the max for this season. After the 07/08 season I’ll be a free agent and will get the opportunity to pick the team where I’ll continue my career. I will definitely be at the disposal of the NT coach next year. My personal wish would be to continue playing in the NBA. But when deciding where to play I will pay special attention to the playing time that they will be able to offer me. Last year I got a great offer from Barcelona that I had to refuse because of my NBA ambitions. European basketball is definitely an option for me, but I also know that almost nobody has succeeded to come back to the NBA after leaving.
Manu had a similar experience to mine in San Antonio where he spent the first two years riding the bench and waiting for his opportunity. We all know how big a star Manu is now. I hope I will not brag too much when I say that Manu and I are very similar players.( 
) We are both left handed, we’re both shooters and distributors while capable of penetrating to the basket, I do feel however that I am a better play organizer (leader would probably be a better translation?), since Manu plays the number 2 spot more. That this is true is best proven during one on one training sessions where Manu always picks me as his opponent. If the Spurs would offer me a new contract, and of course more playing time, I would definitely sign with them. You don’t change from a championship winning team. But playing time is my main priority right now.
Is there a difference between European and NBA basketball?
Enormous. Above all you must understand that in America basketball is a business where there's no room for sentimentality. The spectators demand a show and the owners demand a profit. Two seasons ago they brought Nick Van Exel to the Spurs, a 13 years veteran NBA basketball player. Us the younger players did not get a chance to play since the spectators demanded to see a legend of basketball play who on top was also an American. Another difference is the organization itself.
As an example I’d like to tell you that I have already earned my NBA pension. Any player that plays in the NBA for more than 3 years will after he reaches the age of 65 receive a pension from the NBA. Of course the value of this pension depends on the number of years played and the value of the contract(s). This year I really suffered mentally, after all that I experienced while following the games from the bench somebody in Slovenia had the audacity to write an article led “Beno reaches his second champions le without breaking a sweat”. This writer doesn’t have the faintest idea that I’ve attended all the training sessions that are even more strenuous for the bench players. After the training is finished and the starting 5 and their backups leave, the rest of us that are waiting for an opportunity have to do another full hour of hard work in the training facility. In you head you are full of doubt and keep wandering why you’re not playing, you are sweating rivers and then you read a le like that…
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