The Portland Trail Blazers welcomed Vít Krejčí to their roster as they prepared to face the Phoenix Suns at the Moda Center on Tuesday night. Krejčí, who was traded from the Atlanta Hawks over the weekend, donned jersey number 27 and was set to enter the game off the bench. His arrival followed a difficult travel experience, including multiple flight delays that extended his journey to Portland.
Adjustment Period Involves Physicals and Team Integration
After landing in the Pacific Northwest on Monday, Krejčí immediately underwent a physical examination and met with his new teammates. The following day, he participated in an intensive session reviewing the Trail Blazers’ offensive and defensive schemes to prepare for his debut. With limited time to acclimate, he aimed to quickly understand the team’s playstyle and his role within the squad.
Reflecting on His Reaction to the Trade and Initial Impressions
Krejčí described the trade experience as unexpected and stressful but expressed gratitude for the support from the Blazers organization. He said,
“I mean, obviously surprised. It was a long, long 48 hours. But everybody in the organization is helping me (adjust) as smoothly as possible. It’s been really great meeting everybody and getting to know everybody. And I’m looking forward to the next few days, where things calm down a little bit and just get to know everybody on a deeper level and just build some connections around here.”
Overview of Krejčí’s NBA Journey So Far
The 22-year-old recalled a challenging path entering the league, which began with a torn ACL while with the Oklahoma City Thunder. From playing in the G-League, facing waivers, signing a two-way contract, and eventually securing a standard deal, Krejčí emphasized the importance of resilience.
“I started with a torn ACL in OKC. I played in the G-League, got waived, signed a two-way, worked my way up to a standard contract. So there’s been a lot of up and downs. But I’m grateful for the journey. Obviously, I learned a lot during this stretch and hopefully there’s a lot more lessons and years left,”
he shared.
Family Support Played Crucial Role During Difficult Times
When asked how he managed to stay motivated during setbacks, Krejčí credited his family’s unwavering encouragement.
“I had amazing support from family, especially that first year when I got drafted with the torn ACL while I was in OKC. They helped me a lot to keep my confidence up and just rehab the right way and just keep working on my game, keep getting better, keep getting better and just stay with it. Obviously I love the game of basketball, so that’s what kept me in it,”
he explained.
How Focused Practice Improved His Three-Point Shooting
Initially not regarded as a reliable shooter, Krejčí worked diligently to develop this skill.
“Coming to the NBA, I wasn’t really known as a shooter. That was kind of actually my flaw. But the last couple of years I just kept working on it. I was always the guy that tried to shoot every day like a thousand shots, a thousand shots. What I changed the last couple years, instead of shooting a thousand shots, I shot 300 shots, but made them game-like. So that’s the thing that helped me get more confidence, just making sure that every shot that I shot feels like (in) a game,”
he detailed.
When asked for clarification on the shooting routine, Krejčí added,
“Around 300, yeah. Obviously it depends on the day. But just making sure that every shot that I take is not just a lazy shot, but it’s really a game shot. And that’s what helped me become a better shooter.”
Integrating Shooting and Driving to Strengthen His Game
Krejčí explained how his improved shooting opened up other aspects of his play.
“Well, I think, because … I wasn’t known as a shooter, I was always (getting) into the lane to find open shooters. And now with the shooting, people obviously close out closer to me, and that opens up driving lanes and getting to the rim and finding open shooters. So it goes hand-in-hand. Everything is working together. So I think that’s a perfect skillset to help this team to get some more wins.”
Getting Acquainted with the Blazers’ System and Role
Although still new to the team, Krejčí has begun learning Portland’s style of play.
“We haven’t talked about it yet. We talk (in) general about just how we play defense, how we play offense. Obviously, there’s a lot of information in the last couple days. But, like I said, I’m excited to get to know everybody, get to know how this team plays a little better and just understanding what my role is with the team,”
he stated.
Previous Encounters with Deni Avdija Highlight Shared History
Krejčí reminisced about competing against Blazers teammate Deni Avdija during their youth in Europe.
“I remember, especially that one game in Under-18s. But I still think he beat me more times than we beat them. It’s awesome. I’ve also been at some basketball camps overseas with him. So I’ve known Deni for a very long time. And I’m super happy for him and super happy that he made the All-Star (team) this year. He’s an unbelievable player and I’m looking forward to play with him.”
Positive Outlook on the Blazers’ Roster Dynamics
Discussing the team’s makeup, Krejčí praised the players’ competitive nature and commitment to defense.
“I think it’s a really great roster. The guys play hard. That’s what they’re known for; their defense and just playing hard 48 minutes. So that’s the guys you want to play with. And I’m very excited.”
Trade Offers Opportunities as a Shooter in a Fast-Paced Team
Krejčí believes his skill set complements the Blazers’ slashing style.
“I think this team has a lot of good drivers and that opens (things) up. As a shooter, you love playing with guys like that, because they keep slashing, they keep going at the rim. So everybody’s got to collapse and that opens up an open shot. As a shooter, you always want to play with guys like Deni, that’s on the rim all the time, penetrating, penetrating.”
Adapting Quickly Despite Exhausting Circumstances
Facing a grueling travel schedule, Krejčí acknowledged the difficulty of arriving and playing so soon but is optimistic about settling in.
“It was tough. My flight got canceled twice. I had to stay overnight in Miami. I slept like two hours. So it’s been a long 48 hours. But, like I said, I’m excited. Just getting more and more comfortable. Obviously, it’s going to take a couple days to get to know everybody, get to know the system, start to feel more comfortable on the court. But everybody in here is trying to make it more comfortable, as smooth as possible, and I’m excited to play.”
Building Rapport Beyond Basketball Through Shared Connections
Krejčí mentioned some existing links within the Blazers organization, including other Czech-speaking individuals and coaching staff familiar with his background.
“I know Sidy played with a friend of mine from Czech Republic, so he knows a little bit of Czech. Mostly bad words (laughs). But it’s nice. Obviously, when you play in the league for a while, you get to know people and you play against them again and again. So I know a couple guys on the team, also the coaches. One coach, he was in Prague or in Czech Republic coaching for four years, so he knows Czech pretty well, even more than just the bad words. So it’s nice. I never thought I’d hear so much Czech in the league, so it’s awesome.”
Language Skills and Support from Veteran Players Aid Transition
Reflecting on his command of English, Krejčí outlined years spent in different environments that facilitated his fluency.
“I’ve been here for a while. Five years. And then, obviously, when I was in Spain, when I transitioned to that first team, it was mostly English anyway. But I appreciate it. Thank you.”
Furthermore, he noted the assistance of CJ McCollum in helping him adjust to the Trail Blazers’ culture.
“Yeah, yeah. We’re also going to hop on a call soon and he’s going to help me with the transition. He’s an amazing guy, really, really helping me with this transition. So I know he’s a really good guy. So I’m glad that I have some connections here with a guy that had been in Portland for a long time, knows the city and knows the organization really well.”
Learning Game Plans and Emphasis on Confidence
Krejčí shared insights from his initial study sessions with the team’s coaches.
“I’m still learning the names. There’s a lot of new names. But I went through offensive sets, defensive sets, just the basic stuff. Obviously you don’t want to rush it on the first day with too much information. The from the coaches was just play with confidence, play freely, and just go out there and have fun and compete.”
Significance of Krejčí’s Debut for Portland’s Season Outlook
Vít Krejčí’s arrival brings fresh energy and skills to a Trail Blazers team striving to secure more victories during a challenging stretch. His development as a shooter and ability to drive the lane complement the roster’s existing strengths in defense and aggressive play. With the trade deadline approaching and the team facing mounting pressure, Krejčí’s integration could influence lineup rotations and offensive strategies as Portland aims to improve its standing. His adjustment speed and connection with teammates like Deni Avdija may accelerate his impact on the court in the coming weeks.
