Satoransky’s confidence builds
Czech point guard raises his expectations despite postseason snub
Tomas Satoransky is wearing a different jersey number and playing a strange role. It’s the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers in mid-September between the Czech Republic nationals and its historic rivals from Russia and Satoransky, the Washington Wizards’ backup point guard, is dribbling as the clock winds down in a tied game.
Wizards’ fans may recognize Satoransky from his No. 31 red, white and blue jersey, but on this Czech court, players clear out for No. 8, their best player. Satoransky has the ball and he’s about to make one of the biggest plays in Czech basketball history. When Satoransky floats in the game-winning shot, he’s really lifting his national team to what will become the country’s first trip to the World Cup.
“It was a very emotional game for us,” Satoransky recalled. “It’s special to play for national team. It’s something different. You proud of that. Wearing your national team jersey, it makes your family proud.”
In this particular game, Satoransky reigns as “Czech King Tomas,” as he was once described by a Czech basketball publication, and he’s a thousand miles removed from being a bench guy in Washington.
A few months before hitting that momentous shot, Satoransky was wondering why he couldn’t get on the court during much of the Wizards’ first-round playoff series against the Toronto Raptors. However these moments — both as royalty and reserve player — have strengthened Satoransky for this third season in the NBA.
“Fresh start,” Satoransky has said often this month.
Satoransky - who wears the No. 8 when playing for his national team to honor a legendary point guard from his country, Vaclav Hruby — has returned to Washington with his confidence soaring. His team has plotted all the ways to utilize him on the versatile roster and new teammates speak of the eagerness to share the floor with him.
“Tomas has been so easy to play with because he wants to make the extra pass, so it’s not like Tomas is a jack,” Austin Rivers said. “Tomas wants to go on the floor and make the right play.”
Satoransky has enjoyed this reputation since he arrived in Washington: a selfless teammate and point guard who protects possessions. However over the summer, Satoransky needed time to process why these skills were not needed by the end of the Wizards’ playoff run.
Last season, Satoransky was the starting point guard, and a capable one, when John Wall missed eight weeks of the regular season due to knee rehabilitation. Satoransky had matched up against superstars Russell Westbrook, Kyle Lowry and Stephen Curry and for the first time in his professional NBA career, played in clutch moments. Though he’s no Wall, he proved to be a steady replacement and a big reason the Wizards held on to a playoff spot despite the injuries to their franchise player.
However when Wall returned and the playoffs began, the Wizards brought in veteran Ty Lawson and suddenly, Satoransky tumbled down the depth chart to the limited role as a deep reserve guard.
“With Ty, he brought an element with those small guards in Toronto,” coach Scott Brooks said in explaining Satoransky’s benching. “It was that quickness that he could counter against Toronto . . . . It was matchups. If we got by them, it may be the other way around.”
Intellectually, Satoransky understood why Washington went to Lawson. But as a competitor, Satoransky disagreed with the decision. After the playoffs, Satoransky returned to the Czech Republic and talked openly about the “bitter” - his translated words from an interview - end of his second season.
“It was right after the season,” Satoransky said, explaining the various interviews in which he aired his grievances. “I was frustrated that we lost. It was a frustrating season. A lot of ups and downs. We felt like after tying the series up 2-2 that we had a chance to beat Toronto. We didn’t. And obviously I felt after the season that I could play some bigger role, but this is behind us.”
Brooks didn’t mind that Satoransky vented his feelings while back home. In fact, Brooks appreciated the emotion.
“I like guys who care and I love Tomas’ care level. It’s high and if it didn’t bother him, I don’t think we would want him on our team,” Brooks said. “I’ve coached guys and been on teams with guys — coach didn’t have to play them. They were fine just collecting the check twice a month. So that I love about him. I hope that he wasn’t happy. I wouldn’t have been happy either. But he’s a team player. He knows that you have to sacrifice.”
Brooks kept up with Satoransky’s games over the summer and texted him after the big shot over Russia. Brooks texted again following Czech’s win over Bosnia that clinched a World Cup berth.
“With his national team,” Brooks said. “I think he’s taken another step.”
Satoransky said he needed only a few weeks to let go of what happened at the end of last season.