During a press conference in 2008 he said: "I would like to thank to everyone, especially federation, all the insurers for all their efforts and determination. They have been working in days and in nights so that my dream – to play for the national team in the Olympics would come true... It's a pity that I was unable to do that previously... I think everyone of us aren't friends with Cleveland currently, but that is the way we had to go and we did... During the season I got elbowed into my back... After the season I rested a few weeks and began training because I wished to arrive the training camp from the beginning and to prepare, however the pain returned... Doctors told that there are two moves: resting or operation after which you have to rest for two months... I really wished to play a lot and it would hurt in my heart if I would have to sit and would be unable to play. If I did not want that, I wouldn't have gone through all these roads of the cross... Of course, the club and the NBA didn't helped, were throwing sticks into the wheels... It's a business for them. The life doesn't end with this".