Anthony Randolph:
I Want To Win Now With Loko

After being named VTB United League February MVP, Lokomotiv-Kuban forward Anthony Randolph spoke with VTB-League.com.
Krasnodar went 6-0 last month, including a victory vs. reigning champs CSKA. Big man Anthony Randolph led the way for Lokomotiv, averaging a team-high 22.8 points per game, including a huge 28-point outburst in the win over CSKA.

Randolph spoke with VTB-League.com about his team's recent success, described what it's like to play with Malcolm Delaney, recalled his time at Golden State with Stephen Curry and previewed the upcoming showdown with Khimki for 3rd place in the standings.

- You've played CSKA three times and defeated them each time. Is that a coincidence?
- The team gets most of the credit. We go into every game with a good attitude and hunger to win. Of course, every team in the VTB United League takes a special approach to CSKA. You have to play your best to beat the Army Men.

- You knocked down five of six 3-pointers vs. CSKA. Was that your best performance from the perimeter in a game?
- I don't remember for sure, but I had a couple games in the NBA where I knocked down a lot of shots from beyond the arc.

- From the stands it looks like everything is easy for you: grabbing an offensive rebound over an opponent, dunking on a fast break, finishing an alley-oop or hitting a '3'. But which team's defense has given you the most trouble in the VTB United League?
- It's hard to name one team. There are times when I'm pretty well covered and my shot isn't falling. But I can't remember a specific team orgame when I was completely shut down on offense.

- You had a great month in February and it all started with a tough win in Astana. Do you remember that game? Is it fair to say that you turned a corner then?
- Yeah, I guess that's where it started. Overall, my offseason was a little disjointed. I missed the start of the season and barely even remember my Euroleague debut vs. Zalgiris. I got thrown into the fire and didn't have any time to ease into the season. I had to play at 100% right from the start. At the end of the game vs. Zalgiris, I couldn't catch my breath at all. But I was a lot closer to being in ideal shape against Astana.

I'm happy that I played well in February and got better each game. I think the team did, too. I get a lot of questions now about whether I've hit my peak. I think I'm close.

- Your teammate Malcolm Delaney was named league MVP in January. How well do you two understand each other on the court?
- I think he's one of the best point guards in Europe. Watch how he plays on the court. He doesn't just score. He's always looking to get the ball to his teammates. He's not afraid of contact and leads the team. Malcolm is a smart player and I think we've got a good connection on the court.

- You played with Stephen Curry at Golden State for two seasons. Could you have predicted back then that he'd turn into such a special player?
- Steph always worked really hard on his game. He was always looking for the perfect moment to shoot. Curry never relaxed. He was always looking to make himself better. I think the reason for his progress over the last two seasons is that he was completely healthy and refreshed entering the season.

- Do you think about being on that team when you watch Golden State play?
- I wouldn't say I watch a lot of their games, but everyone wants to witness the type of basketball that Golden State is playing. I don't want to think about whether I could play there or not. I play for Lokomotiv-Kuban and I know that since I'm here, it means I should be here. That's how it worked out for me, but I'm happy that I ended up at such a wonderful organization like Loko.

- Your style of play fits perfectly in today's NBA. Do you agree that you'd have a better shot of making an impact there? The game is getting faster and more reliant on 3-point shooting, while becoming less physical under the basket...
- You know, I'll have a chance to return to the NBA if I keep playing like I am now for Lokomotiv. But right now I want to win and bring home titles together with Lokomotiv-Kuban.

- Loko is in the midst of a brutal stretch of games. On Monday, you play Khimki with 3rd place in the standings up for grabs. What makes them dangerous and what do you need to do to win?
- Khimki, like CSKA, is a strong club with championship ambitions and a solid budget. If we play against Khimki like we did against the Army Men, then we'll have a great chance of success.