BARCELONA — Olek Balcerowski is settling into life at Barcelona and calls the move the biggest step of his career so far. The 25-year-old Polish center, born in Świdnica in 2000, arrived at the Palau Blaugrana after two seasons with Unicaja Málaga and is returning to the EuroLeague with one of Europe's biggest clubs.
Adaptation has been straightforward. Balcerowski first arrived in Gran Canaria at just 13 years old and knows Spain well. "For me, it's going very well. It has been very easy, honestly. I already know Spain well," he said. The new Barça roster is still building chemistry — "Every day we are improving. I think every day we are becoming a better team than the days before. We have been together for a very short time, but we are doing everything we can, putting in the hours and the practices and building that confidence between us" — and with Josh Nebo and Yoan Makoundou currently injured, his frontcourt role is immediately important. "I feel very good with all the guys. I have a good relationship with both of them. In the locker room we are all still getting to know each other, but the vibes inside are very good," he said. Head coach Sekulic has kept the message simple: "Run, run and run," Balcerowski said with a smile. "He wants me to set good screens and defend hard. That's more or less what he asks from me."
Balcerowski described Barça as a very physical team intent on building its identity from defense. "We want to be physical, defend very well, build from defense and create many fast-break opportunities and more shooting opportunities for ourselves than the opponent. From there, we build together and play at a very high pace," he said. The ambitions are equally clear. "Yes, of course. I think it's in the head of every one of us, the players, the staff and everyone working at the club. We want to be at the very top and we cannot take that out of our heads," he said. "We are a big club, a club that has to win, that has to win titles, and that's how we see it, with hunger and excitement."
He leaves Málaga with fond memories after two seasons. "I love Málaga, as a city and everything about it. During the two years I was there, the fans treated me with a lot of affection and I hope to see them soon," he said. At Barça he finds himself on the other side of a curious exchange with former Barcelona center Willy Hernangómez, who has moved to Málaga. Off the court, Balcerowski describes himself as cheerful, sociable and a little hyperactive but also calm and family-oriented, and he preferred to keep a private hobby away from basketball to himself. He enjoys Spanish cuisine but admits he misses Polish food. "There are few Polish stores, so I would say I mostly miss the food. Almost everything else I have here," he said. On the career significance, he was emphatic: "Returning to the EuroLeague with a very big club. Personally, looking back, every step I take is what I believe is best for me. It's a very important step for my future." And on first impressions: "I came to a big club, I expected a big club, the best, and that's what I found. So I don't think anything has surprised me because everything is great, everything is a 10 out of 10, so I can't complain about anything."