Fabien Causeur, the veteran, immediately talks about leadership. “But I don’t have to get the leadership role that Chacho Rodriguez had, because it wouldn’t be right. He had great success in Milan, as in Madrid. I just have to help the team day by day, share advices to younger players because this is the stage in my career where I can and must do it.” Olimpia introduced today its eight new players, all enthusiastic about this journey. Even the returning Zach LeDay showed a lot of first-time enthusiasm: “We are a hungry team, we have hungry players, we also have big ambitions”, he said. Here is a summary of their “first time” in front of the red and white fans who filled the Scalo-Milan Hub to meet them.

Neno Dimitrijevic – “Playing here is a dream come true for me. I have followed the EuroLeague since I was a 5-year-old child and I couldn’t wait to try my hand and try to show what I can do. Personally, I have always played to chase wins and I will do the same this time too.”

Leandro Bolmaro – “I spoke with Nikola Mirotic before coming here and he told me great things about this club. His presence was certainly an important factor. I’m happy to play with him again. In this experience I will take with me what I learned at Barcelona while playing alongside great players but also at Bayern, the lessons Coach Pablo Laso taught me. I improved with him, I will continue to do so with Coach Messina.”

Armoni Brooks – “It’s my first experience overseas. Right now I’m trying to educate myself, I watch the films, I watched games from last season, I try to follow the advice of the veterans who have been here longer than me and can help me in this transition period. From what I see, it is a very competitive and physical brand basketball here.”

Fabien Causeur – “What I have learned in Madrid over many years I will try to teach it to my new teammates. I am at the stage of my career where I feel I can share my knowledge. I have won a lot, I know how its is done: the right approach it’s about approaching the season step by step, staying confidence, believing in what we’re doing. The tournament in Crete will already give us some indications of where we are at. Obviously, this is a new team, patience is requires. Hopefully, we will succeed here in Milan like we did in Madrid. For me it is a great change, of course, after so many years and so many special moments.”

Zach LeDay – “I’m blessed to be here. I have more of a leadership role but it comes naturally to me. I also did it in recent years at Partizan because we were a young team. I try to talk a lot, I always talk, I try to communicate and help the team come together as soon as possible. I have improved over these three years because it is part of my job. But I continue to be a player of energy, enthusiasm and competitiveness.”

David McCormack – “I’m happy to play for such a historical team. I don’t feel any pressure. My game is about energy and athleticism and for the rest I’m trying to learn from teammates, not only the ones playing my position, but whoever is more experienced and can help me day after day.”

Ousmane Diop – “For me, playing here is a great opportunity to grow. I’m preparing to play at a very high level, also in the EuroLeague, a level that I’m experiencing every day in practice against very talented teammates.”

Josh Nebo – “For me, it is a new chapter in my career: the goal is to immediately establish a winning culture. I know that I can still improve a lot, become a more complete player. My approach has always been this: work, be better than the day before. I want to be better now than I was last season. Rebounds and energy can help the team run more on the break as Coach wants, plus I’m also fast for my position on the court. I didn’t have the chance to talk to Kyle Hines, but he is a legend, I don’t have to inherit anything from him. I have played against him many times, I have always been struck by his intensity, the little things, I have also tried to learn from him.”