Catching Up with Krstic

Nenad Krstic is running a camp this week at Hoops Heaven in Whippany, NJ

by Matt McQueeny, NJNets.com
June 25, 2007

Nenad Krstic is back. No, not yet fully to the basketball court but the Nets center returned this weekend to New Jersey and is running a basketball camp this week at Hoops Heaven in Whippany, NJ.

Krstic had been home in Serbia for five weeks, where he continued the rehabilitation routine that he had been doing in New Jersey after his operation for a torn ACL suffered in December. He said he took just a few days off right when he arrived but did not miss a workout when he started back up. He did no on-court work, just weight room, alternating days by upper and lower body routines. All the lifting he has been doing over the past six months has added a noticeable 10 pounds to his upper body.

As to what’s next, he said that he is itching to “be more on the basketball court; less in the weight room.”

He looks for a newer daily rehab routine – only for monotony’s sake - in the coming days and said he needs to see the doctor for a routine look at the knee after being away for over a month. There is a chance he might not go down to Orlando for Summer League, where he would have gone to participate in team practices. He is still not quite ready for contact. First, he needs to be able to run at 100%, cut, and be comfortable backing down a big man.

“I’m not a doctor but I feel like maybe in a month, month and a half I can be ready for that.”

“The biggest thing is with cutting and on the low post; you need to back down somebody. You need the strength.”

Krstic was asked whether he was upset with the fact that the injury could have put a hamper on getting a contract extension this summer. He said that he was way more upset just with not being able to play basketball than any financial ramifications.

“I really try to not think about that but really I just want to relax and I want to comeback. I’m really upset about not playing basketball right now.”

“I’m more upset about not playing basketball than the contract.”

The seven foot center talked about the positive of the injury.

“Maybe it will take a little time after this injury but I think every injury helps me to develop something else in my game. So, I’m really moving forward to see if my shooting skills get better. I added 10 pounds in my upper body. Every injury helps me to get better.”

Krstic je rekao da bi za mesec, mesec i po dana mogao da bude spreman i za jace treninge, koji bi ukljucivali i kontakt igru sa drugim centrima. Obzirom da je intervju uradjen krajem juna, tih dodatnih mesec dana nas dovode do kraja jula, pocetka avgusta. Pocetak priprema reprezentacije se poklapa sa njegovim ulaskom u puni trening. Hm, mozda je on zaista ta "bomba"....

krstic ce da igra.