Back to Training Camp HomeChecking in on Peja Stojakovic
One of the main questions surrounding the 2006-07 season was Peja Stojakovic. Was he going to be healthy? Could he be the starting small forward? Would he be in shape? After suffering a season-ending back injury early last November, Stojakovic hopes to provide answers to those questions this season.
"I was a little scared in the beginning, but as practice progressed I got more confident and comfortable," Stojakovic said after Tuesday’s workout. "It felt good for the first day, and I was able to do more things than I had planned. “
He was able to participate in close to 80% of all the drills each day.
“We got a lot from Peja both days, and I was extremely proud and excited about the things he did," Scott said. "I didn't expect for him to do as much as he did, but he went above and beyond my expectations.”
In addition, Stojakovic has lost close to 10 pounds through his off-season workouts.
"He really looked good today," center Tyson Chandler said after Tuesday’s workout. "He looked better this year than last year coming into camp. I don't know if he had back problems at the start of last season, but he's moving a lot better than he did last year. He was in front during some of the drills, and in defensive slide drills he moved around and was sprinting."
Stojakovic knows how important he is to the team and no one wants to be out there more than he does.
”It is the most frustrating thing I have gone through in my career, this has been the most time in my career I have missed games,” Stojakovic said of the injury that forced him to miss the final 69 games of the 2006-07 season. “Sometimes you can push it and sometimes you have to take a day off, it is tricky, but I am looking forward to getting on the court.”
“The only thing I am thinking about right now is feeling confident, being on the court and ready to play.”
