Sometimes life pays off. And if you don’t ask Luca Vildozawho in May 2021 reached the NBA with all the illusion of making history in the best league in the world. However, his stay in New York Knicks was not what was expected and he had to leave a few months later, in October, without playing officially due to an injury to his right foot.
In spite of that, the man from Mar del Plata, from 26 years, He knew how to be patient and, after a 2022 in which he started without a club, he received a new call from American lands: this time the one who required it was none other than milwaukee bucksdefending champion. The ex baskonia of Spain signed his contract and He already played his first minutes officially, nothing less than in playoffs.
Vildoza signs contract with Milwaukee.
Vildoza spoke with TyC Sports and stated: “I can’t ask for more from life. I am very happy to realize the dream of many“. The point guard made his debut with the Bucks on April 23, when he played eight minutes and scored three points to which he added a rebound and three assists.
“My agents did a spectacular job, especially the one from the United States. They brought me here to show me off, to see how I was doing and they ended up liking me and playing with the best player in the NBA (NEW: the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo),” Luca pointed out. He added: “Seven months ago I couldn’t walkI couldn’t do anything with my foot. I needed to feel good again and today I am enjoying a spectacular series against Boston“.
A postcard of his time in New York. (AFP)
Vildoza and the series against the Celtics
After his debut, the one formed in Quilmes de Mar del Plata added minutes again against Chicago: It was 120 seconds but without incident. His other appearances on the floor came in the first two games of the current Eastern Conference semifinal series against Boston, which will 1-1. Vildoza played 1 and 2 minutes, respectively, and did not change his statistical sheet.
“It is difficult to have minutes now, knowing that I was not there all year. They know I’m 100%. Whenever there is a need, I am there so that the team trusts me. I feel that they enjoy when I play. Especially in Chicago they showed it,” he said.
In addition, he told his routine and how he lives day to day in the NBA. “I am enjoying it a lot (…) the routines are totally different, the minutes and how they communicate between the players. I am really seeing everything, I’m like a kid arriving at Disney,” he asserted.
What is it like playing with Giannis Antetokounmpo?
The 2020 Endesa League champion also referred to the fact of sharing a team with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Finals MVP 2021, whom he described as “the best in the NBA”. In this sense, he commented: “Is awesome. It is to give it to Giannis and let him do what he has to do. He scores a lot, reads the game a lot and gets the ball to him at all times“.
Antetokunmpo was the MVP of the 2021 finals. (Reuters)
“Defensively he’s also tremendous and above all he is an amazing person. Sharing the day to day as if it were a normal partner makes me enjoy it even more”.
His future with the National Team
Although his head is set on the NBA, Vildoza did not omit to refer to his return to the Argentine National Team, whose next challenges will be to play the third qualifying window towards the 2023 World Cup and play the AmeriCup from September 2 in Brazil.
He played the Tokyo Games with the National Team. 8AP)
“I haven’t analyzed it yet. I want to earn a place in Milwaukee. They want me to stay to train next year, so when the time comes to go with the National Team or stay here training, I’ll analyze it well. For now my priority is in Milwaukee.”
This is how the playoffs continue
After winning the first match and losing the second, the Bucks will host the Celtics for the first time in the Eastern Conference semifinal serieswhich is played to the best of seven games. The third duel will take place this Saturday from 4:30 p.m. (ESPN 3).
Bucks and Celtics go 1-1. (AP)
In the other Eastern semi, Miami defeats Philadelphia 2-0 and this Friday will be a visitor to the 76ers for the first time in a duel that can leave match point to the Florida team.
Miami could get match point this Friday. (AP)
Meanwhile, in the West, phoenixleader of his Conference in the regular phase, will go to Dallas also this Friday -at 10:30 p.m.- with the advantage of 2-0. The Mavericks will have to light candles to Luka Doncićtheir best player, who scored 35 points in the last game but did not play a good game in defense.
Finally, Golden State and Memphis will star in the third chapter of one of the most even series this Saturday at 9:30 p.m. in San Francisco. Those of Stephen Curry and Ja Morant go 1-1.
Golden State and Memphis star in one of the most even series. (AP)
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Vildoza, on the NBA: “I’m like a boy arriving at Disney”