This weekend two American players arrived to Perm: Andrew Wisniewski (26 years old, 191 cm) and Brindley Wright (29 years old, 203 cm). This morning they passed medical exam and in the evening will come to their first practice with Ural Great.
Andrew Wisniewski: I was born in Staten Island, New York. I play basketball since I am 14 years old. Last season I played together with Brent in Cibona Zagreb. We won the Croatian championship and played in the ULEB Euroleague. I know how Anzulovic works and I improved a lot in his team. The chance to play in the Russian Superleague is a good challenge for me. Last season we were good friends with Brent and Drazen, I am happy well be together in the new team too. I heard that Ural Great has big traditions and I would love to become part of its history.
Question to A.Wisniewski: What position you play?
Answer: I am a playmaker.
Q: How did you become the best shooter of the German championship?
A: I have always been a playmaker who shoots the basket a lot. Zula (the way Drazen Anzulovic is called by his players in Croatia) changed my manner. So if I score 10 points and make 8 assists it will make me happy. But if Zula says I should attack the basket I will shoot.
Q: Did you make inquires about Ural Great?
A: I have the same agent as Abdul-Rauf. I spoke both to the agent and Mahmoud who played in Perm before. One year ago I was in the NBA summer camp where I met another Ural Great former player Terrell Lyday.
Q: Did you make Brent Wright sign for Ural Great or vice versa?
A: It was our common decision. We were always online discussing the offer from Perm. Brent signed the contract three days before I did it.
Question to Brindley Wright: Is it true that you brought 107 kg luggage to Perm?
A: Yes, I did. I am a big man, I like hip-hop style clothes of big sizes. I took all my stuff for the next ten months so that I would not feel cold here. I come from Miami, Florida and I am used to hot weather. Andrew warned me not to do that but I did not follow his advice.
Q: Why did you come to Perm?
A: I love to play basketball, love to compete and to win. I want to bring victories back to Perm.
Q: Did you come with your families?
A (B.Wright): I have a wife and three-year old daughter. They will come by Christmas.
A (A.Wisniewski): I have a son, he is only 11 months old. His name is Andrew Wisniewski too. I have two more daughters of 7 and 5 year old. They now stay with their mother but will come to Russia later.
Q: You look like two good friends. Is it a friendship on-court or it goes outside the game gym too?
A (B.Wright): Yes, we are friends and have a good understanding of each other on the game court. It is good that we already played in one team before, we know exactly what to expect from each other.
A (A.Wisniewski): I agree that it is good that we played together in Cibona. Usually it takes two months for new players to build communication on the floor and we already have built such understanding.
Question to Andrew Wisniewski: Do you have Russian roots?
A: No, I dont. My family comes from Poland.
Q: Did you learn any Russian words?
A (A.Wisniewski): No (said in perfect Russian). I hope I will learn some necessary words soon. I did not have language problems in Zagreb.
A (B.Wright): Thank you (in Russian). This is the only word I learned for now.
