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Chima Moneke Rumors
Chima Moneke on how Pistons would fare in Euroleague: 'They would be play-in max'
On how the Detroit Pistons would fare in Euroleague: Chima Moneke (Baskonia): “They would be play-in, max. That’s what people need to start asking. Think about all the young guys that they have. Dealing with the European coaches, they would not do that well. It’s not about basketball rules and what you’re used to matters. Guys are averaging 20-plus points over there, you come over here, it’s a 40-minute game, and you don’t play the entire first quarter. How are you dealing with that? You’re averaging 14 minutes a game and in the NBA you can play 26 minutes. It’s different.”
Dionysis Aravantinos: Chima Moneke: “The 2024 Detroit Pistons would make the EuroLeague play-in games at max.”
Chima Moneke: “The 2024 Detroit Pistons would make the EuroLeague play-in games at max.” pic.twitter.com/rBC07z0Mav
— Dionysis Aravantinos (@AravantinosDA) February 6, 2024
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Moneke is keeping an eye on him as well. "It depends on how Mike Brown is going to use him," Moneke responded when asked if Vezenkov would be a suitable piece in Brown's schemes. "I love the way he plays because he doesn't need the ball to affect the game. He is shooting the ball and rebounding very well. What he is doing in the EuroLeague, they will find a way to use him in the right way, I hope for him. He is a great player, and he will be fine. He should be fine if they are telling the truth about how they want to use him."
Few know that Moneke's path could have been completely different over the last year. The previous summer, he signed a deal with the Kings but had an opportunity to choose between three NBA teams. "It was Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves," Moneke revealed the other two options besides Sacramento.
His stint with the Kings included just two appearances and eight NBA minutes, but the Nigerian NT member does not regret his decision to land in California. "I think it worked out the way it was supposed to. Obviously, everything would be different, I probably wouldn't be here," Moneke told BasketNews. "Maybe it would have been worse, maybe it would have been better. I don't know, I cannot control that. But I am happy with the connections I made and the experience I had. I am also happy to be here in Monaco. No regrets. "Situation is very important," he continued about the biggest lesson he learned in the NBA environment. "Situation is very, very important. Some people struggle on certain teams not because they are not good players but because they are in the wrong situation. It's very important to play for a coach, play on a team that believes in you, and will give you opportunities to play the way you wanna play."
"The biggest thing I take away from Domas is how humble he is," Moneke underlined. "He doesn't act like he is a multiple-time All-Star and multimillionaire. He is very humble, he is one of my favorite people that I was playing with in Sacramento." "I can text him today, we can still talk and communicate, so I appreciate that. On the court, everyone knows what type of player he is. He is a monster, I have never seen anyone getting as many rebounds as him. But you know, an even better person," Moneke added.
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Jason Anderson: According to a league source, Keon Ellis and Chima Moneke will join the Sacramento Kings in Salt Lake City for Tuesday's game against the Utah Jazz. Ellis and Moneke will remain in SLC with the G League Stockton Kings for Wednesday's game against the Salt Lake City Stars.
James Ham: From Kings: OFFICIAL: @Sacramento Kings recall Chima Moneke from the @StocktonKings During his recent assignment, Moneke averaged 18.2 ppg (58.2 FG%, 78.6%), 12.1 rpg, 2.6 apg and 1.6 spg in 35.4 mpg over 11 games.
James Ham: OFFICIAL: @Sacramento Kings recall Chima Moneke from the @StocktonKings
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