Isiaha Mike opened up about his early struggles at Partizan, including fears of being dismissed, and credited his teammates, coach, and personal support system for helping him regain confidence and find his role.
Isiaha Mike's journey with Partizan Mozzart But Belgrade hasn't been easy, with the Canadian forward expected to start the season as the team's power forward but only finding his rhythm as the New Year approached. His early struggles were compounded by a leg injury that caused him to miss much of the preseason.
But things started to turn around as he gradually earned more playing time, eventually becoming a key player in coach Zeljko Obradovic's rotation.
Reflecting on his challenging start, Mike shared how the injury and his struggles made him feel uncertain about his future at Partizan. He admitted to having doubts and even fearing the worst.
"I had my best season of my career last year in Bourg. The injury really shook me at Partizan. I felt like I was at the back of the 'pack.' I had the feeling they might forget about me, maybe even fire me.
A lot of negative energy was running through my head. But the more time I spent training with these guys, the more I got back to what I know how to do. I started understanding better what the coach wants from me and what I can do," he noted in an interview for Sport Klub.
When asked about who helped him most during this difficult period, Mike pointed to the support system that made a difference.
"I wouldn't say just one person deserves credit, it was a joint effort, honestly. Our team psychologist, Nikola, helped me a lot. I talk to him often. My wife, of course, is my biggest support. My teammates always tell me to stay confident.
When I miss shots, they always say – if the shot is good, keep shooting. That's the team spirit. Even when I'm hard on myself, I have great support to help me," he concluded.
Mike has been averaging 3.5 points and 2.3 rebounds this season in the EuroLeague.
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