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Jankovic still pursuing NBA dream
Posted on: November 10, 2020 at 10:38:43 CT
FIJItiger MU
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https://www.khon2.com/coronavirus/former-hawaii-basketball-star-stefan-jankovic-enters-offseason-striving-for-nba-dreams/
The 2019-2020 season was Jankovic’s second season in the G League. In the 2016-2017 season, he had stints with the Erie Bayhawks and Sioux Falls Skyforce. Between his two G League seasons, he played for teams in Greece and his native Serbia.
Jankovic believes he was finding his niche before the season shut down and still sees an avenue to play in the NBA one day.
“You’re this close, especially being a role player and finding that role. That’s the whole thing because the majority of the G League guys are gonna be role players,” said Jankovic, who is 26. “But there’s nothing wrong with that and that’s what the NBA is looking for and you can only have one LeBron (James) on a team, you can only have one Paul George, one Kawhi. Finding that one team that you can win with, that likes you and then gives you that chance.”
Jankovic declared for the 2016 NBA Draft following a junior season at UH where he was the big West Player of the Year, averaging 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He is the most recent player in program history to exceed 500 points in a season, scoring 516 points in his 33 games played during the 2015-2016 season.
But once he got to the professional ranks, such college accolades were commonplace among the best of the best.
“Every guy on my summer league team was the MVP or the Player of the Year on their respective teams and it’s not easy, I’ll be honest,” he said. “It’s not easy being the best player on your team and then being just another guy, because that’s what you are. And then you have to carve your role.”
As Jankovic officially enters another offseason, he’s itching to get back to work and make more progress towards his NBA dreams.
“We’re pro athletes and we’re freaks of nature and everyone says ‘Wow, you’re this tall guy and you move great.’ Yeah, but I’m just like any other human,” he said. “If I don’t do anything for 10 days, same thing will happen. My body’s just like anyone else’s. We need a month where we’re working out and getting back. We’re not robots. I can’t tomorrow go to a game and think I’m gonna play good. I can’t wait to be in the gym and start to work out.”
The 2019-2020 season was Jankovic’s second season in the G League. In the 2016-2017 season, he had stints with the Erie Bayhawks and Sioux Falls Skyforce. Between his two G League seasons, he played for teams in Greece and his native Serbia.
Jankovic believes he was finding his niche before the season shut down and still sees an avenue to play in the NBA one day.
“You’re this close, especially being a role player and finding that role. That’s the whole thing because the majority of the G League guys are gonna be role players,” said Jankovic, who is 26. “But there’s nothing wrong with that and that’s what the NBA is looking for and you can only have one LeBron (James) on a team, you can only have one Paul George, one Kawhi. Finding that one team that you can win with, that likes you and then gives you that chance.”
Jankovic declared for the 2016 NBA Draft following a junior season at UH where he was the big West Player of the Year, averaging 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He is the most recent player in program history to exceed 500 points in a season, scoring 516 points in his 33 games played during the 2015-2016 season.
But once he got to the professional ranks, such college accolades were commonplace among the best of the best.
“Every guy on my summer league team was the MVP or the Player of the Year on their respective teams and it’s not easy, I’ll be honest,” he said. “It’s not easy being the best player on your team and then being just another guy, because that’s what you are. And then you have to carve your role.”
As Jankovic officially enters another offseason, he’s itching to get back to work and make more progress towards his NBA dreams.
“We’re pro athletes and we’re freaks of nature and everyone says ‘Wow, you’re this tall guy and you move great.’ Yeah, but I’m just like any other human,” he said. “If I don’t do anything for 10 days, same thing will happen. My body’s just like anyone else’s. We need a month where we’re working out and getting back. We’re not robots. I can’t tomorrow go to a game and think I’m gonna play good. I can’t wait to be in the gym and start to work out.”
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Jankovic still pursuing NBA dream - FIJItiger MU - 11/10 10:38:43