Vladimir Jankovic - Episode #29 - Winning the Journey Within

Born in Belgrade, raised in Greece, Vlado Jankovic has built an 18-year professional basketball career across Europe, playing for Panionios, Panathinaikos, Valencia, Aris, AEK, PAOK, and now serving as team captain at Peristeri BC.

But his journey is about more than basketball statistics. It's about facing loss at a very young age, navigating different types of pressure, and building his own identity in a sport that demands everything from you.

Now, Vlado is using everything he's learned to help younger players navigate the same challenges - serving as a mentor, a leader, and a guide for the next generation, while still playing. So, we are super excited to see what he does next, after basketball.

In this conversation, Vlado opens up about:
Growing up between two cultures - Serbian roots, Greek upbringing
Facing loss at a young age and how it shaped him
Building an 18-year professional career across multiple clubs
The different types of pressure athletes face (performance, cultural, identity)
Finding his own identity in a demanding sport
His relationship with his father and what he learned from him
The role his mother played in his journey
Fatherhood—his relationship with his son and what he wants to pass on
Serving as team captain and mentoring younger players
And so much more...


📢 Guest: Vladimir Janković
🎧 Host: Milica Jovanović

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes where we explore the minds of top performers and the strategies that drive success in sports.


This video is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. The content shared in this video is based on general information and personal experience, and should not be considered a substitute for professional sports psychology guidance or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified sports psychologist or mental health professional for personalized advice and support.


#WinningTheJourneyWithin #SportsPsychology #MentalGame #AthleteMindset #HealingJourney #BasketballLife

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:54

We are talking about the relationship. It's another thing. Vladimir, ladies and gentlemen.

SPEAKER_01 1:10

Vladimir, welcome. Welcome to Winning the Journey Within. Thank you for accepting my invitation. It's my pleasure to have you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 1:18

Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

As you may know, I uh start all my episodes with uh one question, and I love to ask uh all my guests, who are you without basketball?

SPEAKER_04 1:30

Who am I without basketball? Uh I'm uh let's say character that uh really really enjoys learning, real really enjoys uh getting to know things, getting better, and uh basically a family guy.

SPEAKER_01 1:44

Yeah. How much uh did basketball influence your character or was it the other way around?

SPEAKER_04 1:51

To be honest, uh because of what I've experienced through the through the years of playing basketball, uh it has really changed me as a character to the better. Uh I have been through a lot of hard and a lot of nice things, so all these uh ups and downs are what have created me as a personality.

SPEAKER_01 2:11

That that's awesome. And I am gonna try to make this interview as comfort as comfortable as possible so that we can learn all of about all of these things that you went through. Okay, perfect. Um, so the beginnings, very beginnings. Uh you were born into basketball family, your dad was uh great basketball player. Um, and uh do you even remember uh living in Serbia? Because you were born in Serbia and very soon you came here.

SPEAKER_04 2:36

Yeah, we we came here when I was two and a half years old. It's it's basically very close where we are filming right now. So uh yes, uh I remember my life uh basically been in Greece.

SPEAKER_01 2:46

Yeah. And uh how how did that feel like uh learning basketball from a very young age? When did you start playing? When did you decide that this is your own?

SPEAKER_04 2:56

Yes, I I started playing very late basketball. I was basically 13 years old when I started uh actually caring about playing basketball, and uh it was tough, especially in the beginning, you know, uh being in the shadow of a basketball legend that my father was. Uh it was quite quite difficult, you know, to overcome the the shadow or the cloud that I was in. So it took quite a lot of time to to become something in this world. Yeah, when was the first time that that you actually felt that pressure the pressure of being his right of the start because uh fortunately or unfortunately I was playing in the in the team where he he he played here in Greece, so from right of the start it was uh oh the son of uh Yankovich is playing in Paneones, so it was from the from the beginning.

SPEAKER_01 3:46

Yeah, a lot of comparison.

SPEAKER_04 3:48

Only comparison.

SPEAKER_01 3:49

Yeah. Um and uh obviously we the world knows that what happened with your father, and uh how did that um influence you? Did you understand right away what was happening, what was going on? You were very young, what was going on in in your mind in those years?

SPEAKER_04 4:08

It was basically uh natural for me, you know, because from the moment I was I remember myself until uh when he passed, uh passed away is is the fact that everything was normal. It wasn't like nothing was different. It was uh a normal relationship between father and son. Uh he had his uh because he was handicapped, he had uh his everyday problems, but it was natural it and I I dealt with it like it's normal, you know.

SPEAKER_01 4:37

Yeah. Do you remember some advices that he would give you about basketball in your career?

SPEAKER_04 4:42

Well, he was quite harsh and tough on me because uh he wanted to see if I could mentally uh reach to a point of to play basketball, and uh what he said is whatever you begin, whatever you start to do, don't uh don't stop it in half. So one of the most important advices that I got is that part.

SPEAKER_01 5:04

Strong, yeah. Yeah, sounds like a like a Balkan guy. Yeah, definitely guy. But also I feel like um Greek mentality is very similar to ours. It is. Do you agree?

SPEAKER_04 5:17

It is in a way. Uh they are not as harsh as the Balkans, to be really honest with you. Uh the Balkan way of uh raising raising uh young people, young men or young women is is a bit different than the Greek. The Greeks take it a little bit a little bit more easier, a little bit more, you know, comfortable, more comfort zone. Uh Balkans, not exactly. I think you will agree with me that the way that we were brought is a little bit more, you know, you have to do this, you have to do that, a little a lot more pressure, a lot of more uh ability to withstand uh harsh way of you know, training, harsh way of living, harsh way of uh uh teaching. So it's a little bit more different, but in a way, there is like on the calm side, there is a similar mentality. On the calm side.

SPEAKER_01 6:13

Yeah, I feel like um with us it's a lot of sacrifice constantly, like sacrificing um yourself to become this person, uh do this correctly, um, do that correctly, work hard, always be on that side. And then like I feel like when I came and played here in Greece, they're like, enjoy life. You know, play hard, work hard, then enjoy life. Did you like get this balance from from living here and uh um having your life here?

SPEAKER_04 6:41

There is a balance. Uh fortunately, uh I had the mentality of you know, uh, as we say in the like Balkan ways, that uh from a very young age, when you step on the basketball court or when you step in life, you have to be capable to survive. So uh getting that mentality from the Balkan side really helped me in the Greek mentality. So I was ahead of uh my age, ahead of the people that uh were uh competitive to me, and uh that made me become something bigger because of this mentality, you know.

SPEAKER_01 7:19

No, I I definitely can see that, and I love that for you. I love that we can, you know, travel, live in different places and be influenced by by these other cultures and see what works the best and implement it in our lives.

SPEAKER_04 7:34

As you you have done, you have traveled, it has helped you uh experience different things around uh Europe, around the world. So uh yes, some some of these things really do help us in in reaching to where we want to be, you know.

unknown 7:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:50

Um and to uh go back to basketball. Let's stick to basketball. Let's try. Um so you started playing in Panonius, um, and um you were very talented as I uh know, and uh you were you were called to to a decision to play either for Serbia or for Greece, and you had to make decision pretty early because of the younger national teams. How did this feel? How did you make this decision?

SPEAKER_04 8:18

To be really honest, uh I I never got the call from the Serbia side. So uh my decision was very simple. It was only one thing to decide, but uh I believe that even if I uh had the decision to choose, I would choose Greece because I basically I wasn't born here, but I grew up here. So uh I feel more part of uh playing for the Greek national team uh than playing for the Serbian team. But nevertheless, like I feel both Serbian and Greek. It's not that I decide to be one. As you said, uh as cultures and as people, we are very similar. So for me it doesn't change what I feel, and when people ask me what do you feel, I feel both, you know.

SPEAKER_01 9:01

Yeah. Did um did you maybe uh come about any encounters in in Greek basketball, playing for a national team where you were like maybe looked at different because you were not Greek but played here?

SPEAKER_04 9:13

Yes, to that's a very nice question because to be really honest, uh it's very normal to be, let's say, American Greek. It's not very normal and not very easy to be Serbian Greek. So a lot of guys that are half Greek, half Serbian haven't really made a career playing in the national team of Greece. Yeah, there are many, there are many examples.

SPEAKER_01 9:36

Yeah. But uh how do you feel about that?

SPEAKER_04 9:40

I'm okay. Yeah, it's it's something that passed, you know. It's something that probably made me a stronger personality and character because I I understood it in a very, very young age.

SPEAKER_01 9:52

Yeah. And as a young boy, how did you deal with that? Do you remember those?

SPEAKER_04 9:57

I was I I was angry. There was a period that I was angry about it, but uh on the other side I I learned to control it in a very very young age as well.

SPEAKER_01 10:08

Oh, that's nice, that's good. And um then going to seniors, so you played um, you started in Panionius, you played for Panatenaikus for quite some time, uh, one a lot with them. Yeah, um, it was also uh a different kind of Panatenaikus, we'll touch we'll touch on that. Um you left Greece, you played abroad for a few years, uh Quebec, yeah, uh also in Serbia, right?

SPEAKER_04 10:33

Yeah, I played in Serbia and when I was uh 17 years old, I had that experience also. Unfortunately, I had that experience uh coming off an injury, but yes, uh I had uh uh international experience as playing, and uh I'm really I'm really lucky. You know, I I wish I could do it a little bit more. I wish I had uh my mind more mature that like it is now when I was younger to keep on staying abroad, keep on being an international player and not being treated only like a local. It's something that has uh had an impact to a lot of uh people out there and really helped, you know, even uh kids from Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, uh playing as a as a foreigner in those countries.

SPEAKER_01 11:19

Yeah. And uh did uh did you notice like the difference in the work that you had done here in Greece and then going to Serbia, let's say, for example, and then Spain? Can you compare the type of work that you've seen in those uh different countries?

SPEAKER_04 11:34

So to be honest, uh it's it's totally different. Uh when you are a local player, let's say, when you are a Greek player or a Serbian player and you're playing local, uh you have you are being treated different uh than you are as a something else. When you go as an international to play in Spain, you're treated like you know, professional, 100% professional. So yes, uh it's totally different being something local, and it's totally different being professional basketball player.

SPEAKER_01 12:07

And how do you how did you mentally process this? Did you like have to adapt? How did you adapt?

SPEAKER_04 12:12

You don't you don't need to adapt, you're just professional. You just care about basketball, you care about your well-being, you care about uh how good you sleep, how good you eat. Just what what you basically need to care about.

SPEAKER_03 12:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:24

And um you also had an opportunity, there was a moment when you had an opportunity to play for Red Star. And that was one of your wishes.

SPEAKER_04 12:33

Yes, well, it it was one of my big uh wishes, to be really honest, as uh in a younger age to play for the team that my uh my father had played as well. Uh I if I was gonna say the possibility there was like a 70-80% possibility of it happening. Unfortunately, the circumstances were not exact so for to reach that level, but I would really like that, to be honest.

unknown 12:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:58

And also uh not to mention the the part of uh playing for Panatenaikus, uh, which is the name and the club, the yeah, the brand. Um, how was that? Uh that was uh the um era after Jelko Radio?

SPEAKER_04 13:13

Yes, it was an era after Zelko. Uh to be honest, it was uh I really enjoyed it because uh it really helped me reach to the peak of my career. Uh playing for a big club, you know, playing for a very big fan base in Greece. I think you understand what it feels like, what it looks like. Um you go around, you know, people say that they support you, or people go straight up to you and say, Hey, we don't support you, we are Olympiakos fans. Uh the meaning it it gives to a lot of people, you know, in their everyday life to to be a player of Panatnacos, to win something for the club that they they support and that they it's like a way of living, you know, and it uh it it made me grow a lot like uh like a basketball player because going out there to su to play for a club being supported by so many people means a lot, you know.

SPEAKER_01 14:11

Definitely. It's a it's a different type of feeling. Um I've uh I haven't played in in a crowd as uh Panatanaikus has, but I know like once you see that crowd was the was once the arena is full, like they carry you. You you don't even know what you're capable of.

SPEAKER_04 14:27

No, the adrenaline goes in. The adrenaline is a very big part of those games. Of course, you have to stay focused and concentrated, but it's wonderful, you know. I've played uh I've had the opportunity to play in a couple of pack gyms throughout my career. And uh, you know, even the day before, sometimes you don't get a lot of sleep. But when you go to those arenas, when you go to uh 20, 21,000 people watching you live and so many watching you on TV, you know it's it's something you know different, and uh it gives you like uh an experience which I don't know uh uh if people that don't play sports can you know really uh enjoy.

SPEAKER_01 15:10

Yeah, that that's awesome, that's very true. Um, also you had an opportunity to go to NBA, you know, summer league, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 15:19

Yeah, that was wow.

SPEAKER_01 15:21

How is that? Tell me about that experience.

SPEAKER_04 15:23

To be honest, uh the organization playing and uh even in a summer league for a club because it's basically the club that is being played the regular season of the NBA and the playoffs, it just keeps on in the summer league. So uh everyone was there. The GM, assistant GM, head coach, assistant coach, uh all the team was there. It was like a a dream, you know. I uh I really in a nice way I'm really jealous of all the people that are have played or are playing in the NBA. I know a couple of them, and uh like this is the the ultimate goal for everyone that wants to play basketball is to reach to that level and uh to reach the potential of playing, and that is something wonderful.

SPEAKER_01 16:08

Yeah, that's uh another question I wanted to ask you. Like, did you ever set goals for yourself like growing up? How did you go about those goals also?

SPEAKER_04 16:18

Well, uh unfortunately throughout my career I I didn't have a lot of people that influenced me uh in a great way. So uh I I would really want to have somebody to influence me to reach my potential and to really work on me to get better every day. And that is something that uh I'm jealous of the younger generations coming up. That uh I I wanted to have somebody to push me, I wanted to have somebody to reach me to to help me reach my potential, and that is something that I really didn't have uh throughout all my career. I I've had people uh all around, but the only people that that were like standard is my family, a couple of my friends, and my uh that's that's it basically. So uh if I had more of a group next to me, I I would have done better for sure.

SPEAKER_03 17:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:12

Is that uh maybe something that you aspire to be or to do for 100%.

SPEAKER_04 17:18

My uh my goal is uh ending my whenever it is, maybe soon, maybe late, uh ending my active basketball playing career is to uh to be the one that uh to be a person that is gonna influence the next generation, to be a guy that can basically guide to the next people, to the next generation of players not to do the same mistakes that I have done. Unfortunately, I have done a lot of mistakes. It's not something that I don't hide. It's something that I I want to uh emphasize on because we are people, you know, we are uh uh guys, players that do mistakes, and that's perfectly normal. But uh I I want to help the next generation reach their potential and avoid the same mistakes that I have done.

SPEAKER_01 18:05

That's the most beautiful thing you can do, you know, like to take something from your journey, things that didn't work out for you, which you've been missing uh during your career and life, and to become that person for somebody else. So that's that's very important.

SPEAKER_04 18:19

It's important for me personally, it's important to uh to know that what they have the what they are encountering or what they are close to doing, I have been there. You know, I have done that, uh, I have surpassed that uh obstacle, or I have avoided that mistake, or I have done that mistake. So, you know, uh it's like a manual of what not not to do and what to do. So yeah, maybe uh I would like somebody that to do that for me when I was younger, you know.

SPEAKER_01 18:54

Yeah. Is there um something specific that you would want to do? Like, is there how do you see that happening? Like, how do you see uh how how how you want to build that life after basketball?

SPEAKER_04 19:05

To be honest, uh I wanna be able to pressure in a nice way the next generation to become better, uh, guide through what they need to do, uh guide through all the levels, and uh basically build the path uh as a player together.

SPEAKER_01 19:27

Yeah, to reach their full potential.

SPEAKER_04 19:29

Yes, something that uh most of the players that are playing or me basically didn't reach the full potential. So it's normal.

SPEAKER_01 19:39

Yeah, it's it's pretty amazing.

SPEAKER_04 19:41

It's to be honest, it's uh it's normal not to reach your potential than to reach your potential. So I would like to change that, you know, if it's possible.

SPEAKER_01 19:51

Yeah, and um since uh I'm about mental health, um, do you see a big influence of of taking care of your mental health uh in this uh journey that new generations are gonna be on?

SPEAKER_04 20:05

Yes, uh mental health basically is I would say uh 70% of what we are, you know. Mental health is what guides us to become better. Uh I as uh personally have been to a psychologist. I have a mental coach, I would say it. I would prefer to not call it a psychologist, but that's what their job is, you know, it's to to work on your psychology. Uh so my mental trainer is uh has helped me a lot. Uh unfortunately I went to to him, to her, her, she's a female, uh very late in my career. Uh maybe if I had uh if I had took a decision to to go earlier, it would have helped me a lot a lot more. Because you know, uh she gave me a path, a different path, she gave me a different approach and uh methods and ways of uh you know uh concentrating, methods of ways of becoming better, and methods of ways of of avoiding higher stress. Yeah, but uh it's never too late, even if maybe No no no no uh giving me the opportunity at 30 when I was to do this, it changed a lot, you know. Uh so she has helped me a lot on uh on the way to to withstand stress and to keep stress away from me. So I'm really glad that I've done it, you know. And I uh I would really advise all of the people that work with stress, if it's athletes, if it's uh work or whatever it has to do, uh, to to take that approach similar with mine and to go to a mental coach.

SPEAKER_01 21:51

Yeah. What is something that uh some mental tools that she's giving you that breathing? That's the most important one.

SPEAKER_04 21:58

Breathing, yeah. The technique called mindfulness really helped me. It's a way of introducing all the senses in one moment. It's a way to sharpen your mind. That really helped me. Concentrating on breathing in, breathing out is also a method. There's another method that it's like a shield that you basically put a shield in front of you when there are some situations that you don't like, and that shield avoids that those situations coming in to you and intaking them. So yeah, there is a there's a lot of methods. I think I'm just in the beginning of those.

SPEAKER_01 22:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 22:42

Do you use them only in basketball or the the reason I went to the mental coach was because of uh I didn't know how to deal with some situations with my newborn. So it helped me a lot uh protect myself and my family in that way.

SPEAKER_01 22:58

Oh awesome. And how was it uh being an athlete and becoming a father?

SPEAKER_04 23:04

Oh nice. Nice because it uh it changed me a lot, you know, it uh it made me more mature very early, and uh that helps you also on the basketball court about guiding your teammates and being now, let's say, uh the oldest guy on the team, being able to uh to teach the rest, you know, being able to guide the rest of my teammates. And uh especially this year, they look up on me like uh a guy that's there to help them in the situations where things are not going right. And uh even my coach that is a young coach, his his first year, uh he wants that part of me. So I'm in that role of being there like a like an older brother for everyone.

SPEAKER_01 23:52

Before I get into that, like what is something that your your son uh has taught you in in those early years?

SPEAKER_04 24:00

To be patient, you know. You have to really be patient when you have a young young boy to grow up. You have to really be patient and uh you know you have to accept his mistakes because if he doesn't make them, he will not learn what is right and what is wrong. And that has also a very big impact in the my teammates. So I accept their mistakes easier right now.

SPEAKER_01 24:23

That's awesome. Um so you've you went through all the stages as we all did, but now like you went from being a young player, coming into seniors, uh being that player that was like 12th, then becoming more important, more important, playing on your peak, as you said, like and then now you are in this uh maturing age, you become a leader of your team, you're the captain for like these last two years in your team, and you're influencing the team in different ways. So, throughout this journey, what are some lessons um that you would uh give to all of those stages? Like, not all, like we can't go into 23.

SPEAKER_04 25:06

The the biggest lesson that I would give is to enjoy every moment, you know. Uh there are uh a lot of guys out there and a lot of people that I know that think about what is coming next year, what is coming in the future, what has happened. So uh my biggest advice would be to enjoy the the day. Enjoy what is happening today. Don't think about what has happened yesterday or don't think what what should happen tomorrow. Just it's you know, uh playing basketball or living life is a process, you know. And if you don't live the process, you are not present there, you know. You know you are not there. So if you don't do that, if you are not present, you will not achieve anything.

SPEAKER_01 25:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 25:56

Simple, it's very simple.

SPEAKER_01 25:57

Yeah, it should be very simple. It is, it is. Yeah. Um, and what do you think about this uh uh new age thing that everybody wants everything so instantly?

SPEAKER_04 26:09

It it's okay to want everything, you know, it's it's okay. The uh what has to happen is the supporting cast or the crew supporting crew that you have is to tell you that, yeah, you want you want this, yeah, to show you the path. So it's perfectly okay to want everything right away, but uh it's also important to discipline the person that wants that, what way you will get it. So yeah, you want to play the NBA, yeah. The path, this is the path. You wanna bridge play Euroleague, yeah, this is the path. You wanna uh be the best in your class at school, yeah, this is the path. So just like if you want to impact on somebody's life, is to give them the way through discipline.

SPEAKER_01 26:52

Awesome, I love that. Um, and how do you compare um the times? The times when you were growing up, when you were getting uh uh into professional basketball and uh having the opportunities that you had, and like seeing now the opportunities that these generations have.

SPEAKER_04 27:10

Yeah. Unfortunately, with social media and so much um things to think about and do and games in PlayStation and uh Facebook and Twitter and uh all those things. Uh me personally, I didn't have that. You know, what I had was uh 10 hours of playing basketball. I even forget to there were days that I forgot to eat lunch or dinner, or there were days that my family was looking for me and was ready to call the police because like uh I was out of the house for 10 hours playing basketball on an open court. So uh the things that this generation is missing is that, you know, go play for 10 hours, like forget to eat, forget to drink, and play, enjoy yourself. And uh not not everything is on screening, on uh your phone or on TV or on Netflix or on uh like there is more to that. You can do that for a couple of hours, but you can also go out and enjoy doing things like playing games, playing basketball, playing uh interacting, uh even go for coffee. You know, maybe right now it's for people it's easier to do a video call than go for coffee.

SPEAKER_01 28:23

Yeah, but you can't practice on a video call. How would you in how would you say, what would you say to these young boys?

SPEAKER_04 28:30

Um You can practice on video call.

SPEAKER_01 28:33

You can?

SPEAKER_04 28:33

Yeah, you can explain to somebody the the drill and practice, but no, uh you cannot practice on video call. You like don't do everything. Video call is not everything, you know. You you have to go interact, you know, touch people, like hey, are you are you real? So yeah, this is uh the technology has not really helped about being able to have uh you know uh human touch.

SPEAKER_01 28:59

Yeah, definitely something that's missing, and from this playing and just uh playing basketball to play because you love it. And now it becomes your job super super fast.

SPEAKER_04 29:10

It's not for me, it's not bad to become like even what is going on with the with uh college basketball with the NIL. This is something that can save a lot of families, you know. Like you can take you can take a different perspective on everything in life, positive or negative. You can take from a thing the positives or the negatives. Yes, you can judge this NIL with, oh, it's bad that people are professionals in a very young age, or you can say that, hey man, uh somebody who is poor and really works his ass off to reach to a level and earn money through NIL can really support his family and his father that works 16 hours a day. So it's basically from which angle you look at it, if you look at it at this angle or at that angle, and that's it basically.

SPEAKER_01 30:04

Definitely, and that's where uh you're gonna come in. That's how you're gonna guide you're gonna guide them through this so that they uh know how to take uh advantage of what they were they are given uh through these deals or different deals in Europe and stuff like this. Definitely guidance is is necessary.

SPEAKER_04 30:22

I I believe that I will do uh big part of that guidance, and I'm I'm really looking forward to see what I'm gonna do after playing, you know.

SPEAKER_01 30:30

Me too. Me too. I really look forward, and I love that uh when basketball players who have given uh so much of their life to the game, uh that now they wanna give back to these new generations. And I love that you have you have that in your in your mind.

SPEAKER_04 30:48

Yes, uh I'm fortunate enough to be able to do this and because like uh I'm giving to I want to give basically to the next generation, to the next players, uh, from my position, uh my uh angle of what I've done and what I have accomplished and what I have been through, you know. It's very important to be able to, you understand it as well. It's very important to be to be able to explain to somebody who wants to go through the path that you have gone. That doesn't matter the scale, big or small, that you have been through it, you know. Like, why are you working so hard? You can work even more harder. I've been through it, you know. I have uh reached my uh body to extreme pressure and to extreme practice to the part that I have vomited, you know, and this is normal. Like when you go past that and when you go through that, only then you can explain to the next people what you have done.

SPEAKER_01 31:58

What is uh what are some of the greatest qualities that you think that basketball instilled in you in these years?

SPEAKER_04 32:06

The the the the biggest qualities you mean what are what are characteristics how uh how much uh how much practice and how much um pressure you can put to yourself is is unlimited. Basically that like uh psychological pressure because playing uh to win championships, playing to win cups, playing to win medals with a national team, this is a lot of you know pressure because you are not only out there supporting yourself in your career, you're out there uh supporting a nation, supporting a club, supporting supporters, you know, and that is you reach yourself to a lot of limits, you know. And practicing to reach that level is also you can really push the limits.

SPEAKER_01 32:58

Yeah. How do you transfer that for your life after that specific quality?

SPEAKER_04 33:05

You cannot teach, you cannot teach it. You can you can explain it, but you cannot teach it, you know. You can uh you you you can narrate the story, but you cannot be the be the character. It's simple as that. You are you can explain a lot, but if you if if if the next person doesn't experience it, you have done nothing.

SPEAKER_01 33:25

Yeah, and uh they're gonna have to go through it uh uh by themselves.

SPEAKER_04 33:29

Yes, you cannot you or me, like we are uh at a specific age, we are very young, by the way. Yeah, but uh we cannot go through the what is the 16, the 15 or the 20-year-old is going through. Yeah, simple as that.

SPEAKER_01 33:48

Yeah. And uh when you look back now at uh that uh young boy, 15, 16 years old, uh and if you can uh give yourself an advice from this perspective.

SPEAKER_04 34:01

Oh, I I could have gone more much more. Yeah, I could have reached a bigger limit. I could have pushed more, I could have disciplined more, I could have uh practiced more. There is like I think there is never uh it's never enough. So I'm sure that I could have advice I I should have advised my younger self, but it's all there's always more to everything.

SPEAKER_01 34:29

You think that would have helped you to reach your potential in the world?

SPEAKER_04 34:34

I don't think I don't think that there is a specific potential for everyone. It's just that you could always push more. You could always reach a higher potential than you you put to yourself. It's just you know, it's just a limit that you put to yourself that hey, that's my potential. No, there is like there is a very, very, very nice example of a of an athlete, you know, a world athlete, Novak Djokovic. He's a person that didn't reach his potential. He's a person that reached the the limits of possibilities to play on a high level. This is like something wonderful because like he never stopped. Even now that he's uh I don't even know his age, to be honest exactly, but even now that he's He's older than us. Yes, yeah. Even now he's still pushing to become higher, you know, and those are the examples that people should follow. These, especially the the athletes that do individual sports, these are the these are the the real examples of people.

SPEAKER_01 35:36

And knowing his story and he's been open about how he's been practicing and how he's been training his mind and uh body and how he's been living. Like, what is something that you take the most out of his story?

SPEAKER_04 35:49

That he never stops. He he's um he's my neighbor here in uh Athens, by the way, and I I have spoken to him a couple of times. So uh he even takes care of how many grams of food he eats, what he eats, like come on. That's how it should be done. He is not who he is by mistake, you know. So he controls even the how many hours he sleeps for throughout the day. You don't become somebody if you don't do it to the highest limit.

SPEAKER_01 36:29

That is very true.

SPEAKER_04 36:30

No, you don't.

SPEAKER_01 36:30

Yeah, that is very true. And uh do you have uh uh perspective on women's basketball?

SPEAKER_04 36:36

Yes. I I believe that uh it is very undergraded, unfortunately, and uh uh it's difficult. It's a difficult thing to be undergraded, it's a difficult thing not to be in the spotlight. Uh I would love to treat it as equal because uh it's hard, you know, not to be uh on that level, but uh I have experience and I have friends that played basketball on uh uh women's side on the highest level, you know, and uh I I really look up to them because they are uh examples because of, you know, uh in some countries uh it's not a professional sport, it's semi-professional, and uh they reach to to be paid and to be really uh highest professional that they can be and play even in the WMBA. So uh I I would really like people to approach that uh women's basketball sport in a different way and really help it evolve and become something better, you know?

SPEAKER_01 37:37

That would be awesome.

SPEAKER_04 37:39

I would really it will be really be my wish.

SPEAKER_01 37:41

Yeah. Is there something specific that you can say that you love about women's basketball? Have you seen many games?

SPEAKER_04 37:48

I I have seen uh uh women's women play basketball uh harder and more physical than men. So I uh it's something that I enjoy. Uh I enjoy watching sports. I'm a person that really likes it, and uh I I would love to to see the potential grow in uh women's basketball. Maybe the the NIL will help also uh younger women really take care of themselves and really work harder to reach that. And uh why not? Sports is something that has to be looked upon in a very, very nice way, and uh women's basketball is one of that.

SPEAKER_01 38:28

Yeah, for sure. I'm gonna go back uh for the closure of our episode. I'm just gonna go back and ask a few things about uh some stuff that you said today. And um, you said that uh you wish that during your career you've had somebody to push you to your limits and to show you the way and all of these things. Do you think that person was supposed to be your dad?

SPEAKER_04 38:53

Not exactly. Uh because my circumstances didn't allow it, first of all, but second of all is that I believe that every everybody has to be a part of their role, you know. The role of a father is to be a father, the role of a mother is to be a mother, the role of uh sister and also on is to be a sister. So the basically the total of it has to be uh the image that you need. A little bit of father, a little bit of mother, a little bit of uh teammate, a little bit of good friend, a little bit of sister. So it's it's a whole you know, total of people, it's not only one person, you know.

unknown 39:29

That's nice.

SPEAKER_04 39:30

And uh, we haven't mentioned your mom, but uh I know it's a big part of what it's she's a big part of what have uh I have achieved because uh in a moment of of uh our lives she had to be and a mother and a father, and it's it's not easy, you know. Definitely not easy because you have to be uh the person basically is there to feed you, and on the other side is she has to be the person that puts limits on what you do. So uh I mean limits on going out, having fun, and limits of sleeping and practicing. So she had a really big part of it.

SPEAKER_01 40:07

Yeah, she had a tough job, but a very big job.

SPEAKER_04 40:10

A very, a very a very difficult teenager she had.

SPEAKER_01 40:14

Well, don't don't they all? Yeah, it's uh pretty normal thing also, but I really admire um these women, you know, like that on their own they had to handle uh us, you know.

SPEAKER_04 40:28

They are they they are out there, they they are everywhere.

SPEAKER_01 40:31

Yeah, yeah. And I I really admire them and uh one big applause for your mom. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 40:37

True.

SPEAKER_01 40:38

Yeah, and um now looking forward, I know you said uh um this is something that you want to do, you want to be that person for new generations, for the basketball players, you want to be that guidance and all of that. And you've said like dad is supposed to be a dad, agent supposed to be an agent, coach supposed to be a coach, and all of that. Uh, but how do you see your relationship with your son evolving uh in case like he wants to be a basketball player or he doesn't or he does something different? Like, what is something that from your life you are um taking uh and bringing to him?

SPEAKER_04 41:14

Very I'm very competitive with my son, unfortunately. Unfortunately, my wife does not does not agree with that at all at all. But I'm trying to make him a very competitive person, you know. And uh I have started doing this in a very young age, and I think it's really helped him. Maybe I have overdone it a little bit, he's overcompetitive, but I I want to, you know, prepare him for what is out there, you know. You never know what you can uh you can encounter as a young guy, as a young kid. So uh my job is to prepare him as a father and as a parent to be ready for what is coming, you know. That is very important for me, and I'm trying to do my best as a role of a parent. It's it's very simple, you know. Uh it's the relationship that we have, father-son, period. Nothing more than that.

SPEAKER_01 42:03

Yeah. And this is uh the Balkan guy in your identity. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 42:08

The competitive part is the Balkan person, but the competitive guy towards my son is also to what I've experienced, you know. Maybe it's it's my way of saying saying to him or showing to him what to he has to prepare for. Yeah. No matter what he does. Yeah. Because he is competitive in school, he is competitive in basketball, that he started practicing, and he's competitive in every day. And that is something that I like, you know. Don't want to do don't don't want to overdo it. It has balance is very important.

SPEAKER_01 42:41

Yeah. Um, and uh what is uh what is what would you say that it's your core in in the system of your beliefs, in the system of your support system?

SPEAKER_04 42:53

Discipline. You you we are nothing without discipline. Nothing. Discipline puts limits, this discipline puts right from wrong. Uh I I am a very disciplined person, you know. I'm very passionate about whatever I do, but discipline is the what is the most important thing that guides you throughout whatever you decide to do as a personality, player, father, friend.

SPEAKER_03 43:20

Awesome. Awesome.

SPEAKER_01 43:22

And um to conclude this conversation, which has been full of wisdom and great lessons. Hopefully. I know, I truly appreciate that. I think it's very important uh uh for the younger generations for sure, but also the people that know you to hear you speak at at this stage of your life.

SPEAKER_04 43:41

I haven't I haven't done a lot of uh interviews or uh conversations in English, so uh it's something first for me as well.

SPEAKER_01 43:48

Yeah, so we can uh you know reach many more people than with Greek or or our um but uh to conclude, uh can you tell me what does it mean to you when you hear winning the journey within?

SPEAKER_04 44:04

Winning the journey within. It's a nice, it's a very nice motto quote. Because basically every day that we we have, every day that we experience or every day that we are out there, it's a it's a journey, you know, with our inner self, with uh what we have to uh experience, achieve, uh see, learn. So winning the journey within is something that is an everyday motto, you know, every day when you wake up and you brush your teeth is that what am I gonna do today? How am I gonna um go through this day? How am I gonna experience this day? Or how am I gonna put this day in the past with knowledge? So this motto or this saying of yours, which is very nice you know and very creative is a way of life, you know. And I think that everyone that does it and wins the wins the journey within ourselves basically is something that is very self-creative and very coming out of our ego our uh our character so it's something that is very nice and very powerful. I would say that would conclude everything.

SPEAKER_01 45:23

I think that was beautiful and I thank you for that thank you now I hear um so many different explanations and I love yours.

SPEAKER_04 45:31

Thank you that was nice pretty powerful pretty powerful thank you thank you so much for this conversation thank you for coming to Athens to to enjoy this um it's always beautiful to be here to be back here um good luck with everything good luck with making your decision good luck to both to both of us yeah and thank you thank you this is uh something that you do is uh what you do what you're doing is something that's very nice and I think that it's another way of uh giving eyes to people.

SPEAKER_01 46:00

Yeah that's what I'm trying to do. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_04 46:03

Thank you.