Kevin Punter returns to Belgrade with Barcelona to face Crvena Zvezda, reflecting on his time with Partizan and the business side of basketball. Punter acknowledges the special connection he has with the city and his former teammates.
Kevin Punter, a former captain of Partizan MozzartBet Belgarade, tonight returns to Belgrade, a city that was his home for three seasons.
Now playing for Barcelona, Punter will face Crvena Zvezda MeridianBet, a team he played for earlier in his career.
In an interview with SportKlub, he spoke about his time at Partizan and his special connection to the people in Belgrade, both on and off the court.
Punter expressed his fondness for his time in the Serbian capital, highlighting the relationships he built during his longest stay with any team in his career.
"The match against Partizan will be interesting for many reasons. I'll see some old friends. Belgrade and Partizan will always have a special place in my heart," he said.
Reflecting on his departure from Partizan, Punter explained the reality of professional sports, where business often takes precedence over personal feelings.
He mentioned that players and coaches frequently move between clubs, and emotions can interfere with decision-making.
"What keeps me focused is understanding that this is a business, and I have to separate emotions from it," he added, stressing that there are no hard feelings regarding his move from Partizan to Barcelona.
When asked about the possibility of playing for the Serbian national team, Punter was non-committal.
He noted that there had been rumors last year, but nothing serious came of it.
"There were no official talks, and I’ve left it behind me," Punter concluded, indicating that while the idea was floated, it never materialized into a real opportunity.
