Steven Smith is the starting power forward for the Greek team Panathinaikos, which will be competing in the Euroleague Final Four in Istanbul next month.
After having a successful career at La Salle, where he was a two-time Atlantic 10 player of the year, the Philadelphia native took his talents overseas after a short spurt with the Philadelphia 76ers.
After working his way through the ranks in Europe, Smith will get an opportunity to participate at the highest level of competition in European basketball.
He graciously took the time for a one-on-one interview:
Sheridan Hoops: You’ve gotten many new stamps on your passport, playing in Greece, Germany, Italy and Israel. What are some of the differences between the different countries and leagues you’ve played in?
Steven Smith: “The first real experience I had playing the European game was in Italy with (Solsonica) Rieti and that really was the full experience. The style of basketball they play in Italy is a mixture of everything, finesse, physicality and just some of everything. At the time I was there, there were a lot of strong import players, a lot of Americans throughout the league, so it was a pretty strong league and still is today.
“Israel, I was trying to see where I was health-wise, and getting back into a rhythm of things, making sure that I can perform after my injury. It was a rough season with Nahariya, since we didn’t have much team success, but it was a great way for me to get back into the rhythm.
“The German league is not a very physical league, especially compared to the Greek league, with that style of play. I was only in Germany for a half a year, but it was a good experience as far as just being able to see what the German league is like.
Sheridan Hoops: This season, you’ve gotten the opportunity to play for the Greek powerhouse, Panathinaikos, where you have reached the Final Four of the Greek League and the Euroleague, and won the Greek State Cup. What has it been like being a part of a team with so much tradition and expectation of success?
Steven Smith: “It’s cool to have this opportunity. Playing for two other teams in the Greek league, you get a small taste of how important this team and Olympiacos are to this country and to Greek basketball. To actually get the opportunity to come here is just great, because not too many guys make it to this level.
“The Euroleague is pretty serious business. To come here in my first year and be part of this team, that has had so much success in the past, coming off championships last year in the Euroleague and the Greek League, to come in and be able to come right back to the Final Four with these guys is a great experience.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to get to play on the grand stage in just my first year in the Euroleague. I just need to keep working and try not to get too nervous. I’m just anxious to play these Final Four games, and I want a championship really bad, so we’ll see what happens.”
Sheridan Hoops: You’ve played on smaller clubs where you have had the ball in your hands a good amount. Now you’re playing with a team that uses almost the entire roster in its regular rotation. How has it been transitioning from being a focal point on a small team to being a role player on one of the top teams in Europe?
Steven Smith: “It’s been simple, quite honestly. It’s not that difficult of a transition if you know what to expect. Coming to a team like this, you know your role is going to be reduced and you’re going to have to become a role player. Especially with the way this team is built, it’s pretty much the same team as last year, built around a bunch of people who have been around a while who have won multiple championships together. I’m playing on a team with (Dimitrios) Diamantidis and Mike Batiste, two guys who have been through it all.
“To come to a team with a lot of experience, guys that know how to play basketball and that have been through everything, it’s easy to come in here. That’s what they told me when I came, that I won’t be relied on to create, but they’ll depend on me to execute. A person in my position, I just have to sit back offensively and let the game come to me. To understand that right off the bat is a great thing that’s helped me a lot.
“I’ve been on so many teams and played so many types of basketball, but it’s all about getting the opportunity to play at a high level and play team oriented basketball.”
Sheridan Hoops: “This season you’re playing for legendary Serbian head coach, Zeljko Obradovic. What have you learned playing for Coach Obradovic, and what makes his coaching style so unique?
Steven Smith: “Playing for Coach, you learn how to win games. You learn how to have patience in the heat of some pretty tense moments. To come to work hard every day because that’s all he expects. He’s a great guy, a great coach, and all he wants from his players is just to come to work and give it all of our effort.
“To have the opportunity to play for a legendary coach, who has won so many things, especially here in Panathinaikos, is just a great experience. For them to give me the opportunity to come to the club earlier this season, and then sticking with me, I greatly appreciate it.”
Sheridan Hoops: How would you compare some of the rivalries in the Big 5 to some of the rivalries you have in the Euroleague?
“It’s a little bit different because in the Big 5, especially being from Philly, those matchups are always in your face year round. During the season, you look at your schedule and you know you’re going to have to play those guys. In the offseason, you’re working out with those guys. You see the same teams and the same guys all year round.
“As far as Euroleague goes, you might get matched up with a team you haven’t played in a few years, so it’s a little bit different. The closest thing I could compare rivalry-wise would be our playoff series against Maccabi Tel-Aviv. That was a back and forth nail biter, and that pretty much is how Big 5 games were when I was there, and still are. In the Big 5, there is always history between the two teams, and I would compare it to the series against Maccabi because there has been some history between the clubs in the past few years, especially after playing each other in last season’s Euroleague championship.”
Sheridan Hoops: Panathinaikos is known for having some of the most passionate fans in European basketball. How would you describe the atmosphere at your home games?
Steven Smith: “Passionate is an understatement boy! You see so many things you never think you’ll see within a fan setting. We’ve had bonfires, smoke bombs, sparklers and fireworks. Especially with the big games, you have people not even sitting in seats, all the seats are gone and you have people standing in the aisle.
“We play in the Olympic stadium and it’s filled all the way to the top. The singing, the chanting, just the overall spirit of competition is just crazy. I don’t think there’s a group of fans anywhere else, besides Olympiacos, obviously, where the fans behave the way they do. Sometimes, it may get a little too much, with one or two knuckleheads acting up, but for the most part, they try to keep under control.
“Stuff they do here, you would never see in the States, it’s just indescribable. To come to an arena, 25,000 people, smoke everywhere, fires everywhere, nobody shuts up, they’re singing the whole game. It’s a great environment, a great experience and it definitely makes you feel appreciated to have that type of support with the work that we put in.”
Sheridan Hoops: Dimitris Diamantidis is considered to be among the best point guards in Europe. Can you describe his style of play, and how he compares to some of the top NBA point guards?
Steven Smith: “He’s just a smart player, with a lot of natural talent, and he also works hard. Adding that to his basketball IQ makes him a phenomenal player. Obviously, he has had a lot of success – MVP of Euroleague, multiple championships in Euroleague and in the Greek League. He knows how to control the team, he’s vocal and he leads by example. He can defend the ball and he has size.
“He’s just a great player to watch, especially being on the team with him, I get to see it more and more. In years past, I didn’t pay too much attention to him. I knew about him, but actually witnessing it every day and getting the chance to work with him, he just is one of the best guards in Europe, if not the best.
“He definitely is a player that I’m surprised never jumped to the NBA. I know he could have, but for whatever reason, he stuck with Greece.
“That’s not any slight on his game whatsoever. He definitely has the ability, and I would compare him almost to a Manu Ginobili type player. Lefty, plays defense, can shoot the ball, excellent in the pick and roll and just crafty. Having the opportunity to play with a player like that just makes things a lot easier. He’s a hard worker, a good guy, down to earth and very humble, one of the most humble guys I’ve ever met, and it’s been a pleasure to play with him.”
Sheridan Hoops: How would you compare the level of talent and competition in the Euroleague to the NBA?
Steven Smith: “I would say it’s almost the same. The NBA obviously plays more games, since here in Euroleague we only play one game a week, not counting each team’s domestic games. When those games come around, they are very important and there are no nights off. The level of competition is equal.
“The NBA obviously has more athletic people from top to bottom overall, but the Euroleague is not far behind. There are plenty of Euroleague players who have played in the NBA before and every year, players from the Euroleague are getting picked up by NBA teams. There is a great mix of talent in the Euroleague, so the competition and talent, in my opinion, is equal. The rules are a little bit different, but the level of focus and effort you have to put forth every night is exactly the same.”
Sheridan Hoops: What advice would you give to an American player coming out of college contemplating a career overseas?
Steven Smith: “You’ve got to be patient. Not everyone comes overseas and jumps right to a big team. You might have to go to smaller teams, or you might make it to a big league and play for a small team in that league.
“A lot of things that don’t even have to do with basketball might affect you. You may come to a good team, but the city is not so nice or not something you’re used to, and it can be a real culture shock. You just need to forget all that and stay focused on basketball, because if that’s what you really want to do, and you really want to make it to the highest level that you can, at least in my experience, those are the types of things you need to be able to swallow and just deal with. If you’re not patient and you get frustrated easily, then you’re starting off on the wrong foot.”
AJ Mitnick is an American currently living in Israel and working for Maccabi Rishon Lezion of the Israeli Basketball Super League. A recent graduate of IDC Herzliya, Mitnick also maintains a basketball blog, http://mindlessdribble.net, and is pursuing a professional basketball coaching license from the Wingate Institute in Israel. Follow him on Twitter.