Barcelona guard Kevin Punter shared insights on European basketball and his career on the Fullcourt Passport podcast with Ric Bucher and Bostjan Nachbar. Reflecting on his time at Partizan, Punter described the rivalry with Crvena Zvezda as unmatched in intensity and culture.
“You got to physically have 10 toes in the arena to really understand the magnitude of what people feel and how intense it is,” Punter said. He described the atmosphere as a combination of crowd energy, cultural weight, and emotional investment that players must navigate while still executing on the court.
When asked to compare it to NBA rivalries, Punter was emphatic. “Lakers-Celtics? Beating that by a landslide. Cavs-Warriors? Beating that by a landslide,” he said. He added that unlike the NBA, the Partizan-Red Star derby involves “a lot of other things that play a role in the game,” including history, culture, and fan expectations.
Punter traced his European basketball journey back to his second professional year with AEK, highlighting the Greek Cup Final and hosting the FIBA Champions League Final Four as early lessons in intense environments. He credited his agents for helping him understand the European system.
Adjusting to EuroLeague play required Punter to expand his game, especially in terms of versatility. “I can score in many different ways, whether it’s isolation, pick-and-roll, or catch-and-shoot,” he said. He emphasized that adaptability is key for success in Europe, where systems and defensive schemes demand flexibility from players.
Punter also shared how Partizan became a special experience off the court. “That second year, with guys like Zach LeDay, Dante Exum, Yam Madar, Danilo Andjusic… we did everything together. It was like a real family,” he said. He highlighted team chemistry as a major factor in both on-court success and fan engagement.
Reflecting on his career choices, Punter acknowledged passing on NBA two-way offers to focus on building a successful European career. “It didn’t make sense to go back to the NBA without leverage,” he explained, adding that his focus on continuous improvement, summer training, and adapting to new systems helped him carve out a lasting presence in EuroLeague.
At 32, Punter described his current period in Barcelona as the prime of his career. “I’m playing my best basketball, feeling great, and being consistent every night,” he said, emphasizing the value of perseverance and perspective in a demanding sport and life abroad.
