Pekovic is among two dozen or so players from the NBA who joined European teams on a temporary basis due to the labor dispute between NBA owners and a players’ union across the Atlantic.
The towering Montenegrin produced a masterclass performance in Partizan’s shock 80-79 home win over Real Madrid on Thursday, scoring 20 points against the winners of eight Euroleague titles.
“I came here to help the team and myself and I am glad I’ve been able to do that in the best possible way,” said Pekovic, who is in his second spell with Partizan after joining the Minnesota Timberolves from Panathinaikos Athens last year.
“I am really glad to be here and nothing can replace the feeling of winning a Euroleague thriller against a team of Real Madrid’s stature.
“I can’t think about what’s happening in America because I can’t affect it but when and if the lockout eventually ends I will return fully fit to play because performing for Partizan is helping me stay focused,” Pekovic told Reuters.
NBA owners and players are to resume talks after Wednesday’s 12-hour meeting in New York failed to produce an agreement and with the early stages of the season already scrapped, more games will be canceled if the stalemate is not broken.
Real Madrid forward Rudy Fernandez, who joined NBA Champions Dallas Mavericks from the Portland Trail Blazers before the lockout came into effect on July 1, is also thriving in an albeit temporary return to Europe.
After a scoreless first half, Fernandez hit several tough shots in the second to finish the game with 13 points, demonstrating his NBA class in front of a fervent 8,000 crowd in Belgrade’s Pionir Arena.
“Playing in the Euroleague is a great experience and I enjoy it as much as when I played in this competition for Joventut Badalona before I went to the United States,” he said.
“Honestly, I am not thinking about the lockout because I have a contract to stay at Real Madrid until it’s over and so I am completely committed to playing here right now.
“Madrid is a great team and a great community and it’s really helping me stay prepared to play for the Dallas Mavericks whenever the NBA league resumes.”
On a night of titanic clashes between Euroleague’s top teams, Jordan Farmar got the better of his former Los Angeles Lakers team mate Sasha Vujacic as five-time winners Maccabi Tel Aviv enjoyed a 79-72 win at Anadolu Efes Istanbul.
Farmar racked up 18 points and had six assists while Vujacic, one of the few NBA players to make a permanent move to Europe after signing a one-year deal with Efes, scored 21 points but hit only six of his 17 shots from the field.
CSKA Moscow came from behind in a 78-76 overtime win at holders Panathinaikos Athens while double Euroleague winners Regal Barcelona stormed to a 92-75 home defeat of Italian side Montepaschi Siena.
