When 24-year-old Krejci went overseas, the first destination where he soaked up the NBA atmosphere was Oklahoma City.
Today, the Thunder are one win away from a title while Krejci remembers his time in OKC here and there. "On the one hand, I'm sorry I'm not there anymore, but I wish all those guys well. It's great to see the guys who were rookies with me a few years ago, the role they have today. I really believed this team would make it to the finals in five years. But I also believe that we can fight for nice positions in the next seasons with Atlanta," says the South Bohemia native.
Will you be getting up for that last game?
"Actually, I don't know, maybe I will. But I admit that I prefer to watch the NHL on TV. I enjoy hockey, I really like it a lot. My friends and I went to the Carolina vs. Florida game this year. We also wanted to see Martin Necas and Radek Faksa, but unfortunately, they both lost in the first round of the playoffs in game seven, which was extremely disappointing. But like I said, I watch more hockey than basketball in the playoffs now." (laughs)
And who are you rooting for?
"I'm more of a fan of Edmonton. But I was rooting for Carolina when Necchi was there. I'm more just rooting for our guys. I remember in 2020, when I first flew to OKC after the draft, I flew with Radek Faksa (St. Louis Blues centre). We sat next to each other on the plane and didn't know each other at all. It wasn't until we landed at baggage claim that we started talking and became friends. So I've been following him in St. Louis, where he's based. They had a good season, but fell in the seventh game against Winnipeg."
But let's get to you. This season has been good for you, you've been given a lot of space, even though you've had some health problems...
"It's true, that's how the NBA works. Sooner or later, you get a chance and you have to grab it and use it to the fullest. I think I did it. I got the opportunity to fight for a spot. And even when the injury came, I was lucky. It happened in the second-to-last game before All-Star weekend, so it was a longer layoff and I didn't miss as many games. In the end, I was only out for a month, although right after it happened, the doctors told me it could be the end of my season."
Do you believe you can maintain your position in the new season?
"Of course, there is some competition. Also, most people who make it to the NBA have a mindset that they have to destroy everything in front of them. But you also have to maintain some team morale, and I think that's working well in Atlanta. We're sharp in practice, we're getting better, we're fighting for that spot, but off the court we're all good."
And if you were to evaluate yourself, how did you fit in with the team? You even managed to tie the club record for threes in a game, making six out of six.
"I definitely felt from my teammates, also because of that moment, that maybe they were looking for me more on the three and that they trusted me. But it's just about finding some of that rhythm of being aggressive. That's what the guys on the team want me to do. But maybe I felt like I got a little worse defensively."
What's your explanation for that?
"I think that first year was the main thing for me. It was obviously a priority this year, but on the other hand, the more I do on offence, there tends to be less energy towards the back. I wouldn't say it was somehow completely bad, but it certainly wasn't as good as last year. But again, I'm working on my fitness now and I put on seven or eight kilos in that first part of the preparation. It's going to continue to shape up, but I think it will help me in the future just for that defensive end."
So what will be the deciding factor for you to continue the way you left off?
"I have to be on the roster on the first day of training camp, which guarantees me the rest of the year. But I'm not that worried about that. It should work out that way, although we saw this year that nothing is ever certain in the NBA and you can be Luka Doncic, for example... And after the season, we'll see. There's a team option, and depending on how I play, they'll decide if I extend and sign a new contract. But of course, there are a lot of different possibilities of what will happen after the season. It remains to be seen how that will play out."
Over the summer, just like last year, you'll have a few days with young talent. Are you enjoying the project?
"We have four days of camp lined up and it's important for me to be there in person, not just lend my name. I mean, it's important for the kids. It's bringing everyone closer to America and the NBA. Hopefully, it will move everybody on, maybe even to the journey that I was able to experience. My coach, Zeph Moore, who's putting the whole program together, will be there. Two days will be in Prague, one in Brno and the last one in Pisek will be made especially for my club Srsni Pisek. And actually, I'll be going straight from Pisek to Vienna airport to join the national team. So I thank the management for accommodating me and I will be able to join the team just before the first preparatory match in Malaga. I will arrive around lunchtime and we will play in the evening (smiles)."
So Eurobasket is already in your mind? The Czech team is changing a lot and obviously they will rely on you a lot.
"It will be something new again. I'm looking forward to this challenge. It's good to be with the guys we play with on the national team. It's been rebuilt a little bit, we have a new coach and Tomas Satoransky will be there at the same time, who helped me as a mentor when I went to the NBA. Actually, all the coaches in Atlanta were happy that I'll be playing in Eurobasket, that I'm counted on. They believe that it will move me on again if I have a more important role. And I already know that some coaches will come to Riga to see me."