Tomas Satoransky Explains Decision To Play In NBA Summer League

WASHINGTON -- Tomas Satoransky wasn't originally going to play in the NBA Summer League. As he explains it, he needed to begin training for the Czech National Team as they attempt to qualify for the 2013 Eurobasket in August, and why would anyone really plead with him to play in summer league anyway?

But then, he changed his mind after the Wizards surprisingly picked him all the way up at No. 32.

"I was already in touch with the team after I had [pre-draft workouts], and we talked about playing summer league. I said that maybe I'd prepare for the national team, but I didn't expect that those teams were going to draft me for sure. [When the Wizards drafted me], I decided, 'I got to give something back,'" he said.

Well, scratch that: it was actually his agent who made the call and forced him to change his mind.

"Right after I was drafted, my agent called me and said, 'You got to play Summer League. It's an exciting part of your career, so you got to give back something,'" he said.

No matter, Satoransky is here, and he will play in Las Vegas after all. He's expected to spend lots of time playing point guard, but the Wizards are also hoping the 6'7'' youngster learns to play off the ball. So far, that process has been a bit of a struggle.

"You can tell he's played with the ball in his hands a lot, and he's got to now learn to play without the ball some. It's not going to be in his hands all the time," Randy Wittman said.

Santoransky admitted playing off the ball is something new, but he's going to give it a shot.

"I played all my career as a point guard, so I'm more used to playing with the ball in my hands than other players," he said. "But I think it's good to readjust and play without the ball, learn some new things as a second or third guy."

Satoransky will not play with the Wizards this season, choosing instead to go back to Seville, his club team in Spain. However, he does hope his experience playing with more athletic players will help him next year.

"You experience playing more physically. In the NBA, there's more athleticism, more strength, so I think it's going to help me. New experiences always help you with your current team, so I'm going to bring back something for the next season."