 You know that a player really wants to return to the Euroleague when he finds more than one way to get there. When that same player grew up halfway around the world, it's even clearer that the Euroleague's global pull is stronger than ever. Such is the case of power forward Matt Nielsen, whose new team, Olympiacos Piraeus, hosts Real Madrid in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague opening game on Monday night. Before he was scooped up by the Reds this summer, Nielsen was helped his previous team, Power Electronics Valencia, qualify for the Euroleague by winning last season’s Eurocup. Nielsen was MVP of that competition's finals weekend. Olympiacos liked what it saw in Nielsen, whose solid all-around game makes him that rare player who doesn't need to score in order to dominate. After having made consecutive Final Fours and hiring coaching dean Dusan Ivkovic, the Reds chose the 32-year-old Nielsen among the first moves they made to mount a new assault on the Euroleague trophy. In true Aussie fashion, Nielson jumped at the opportunity to make that happen. "At this stage of my career, that's what I'm in it for," Nielsen told Euroleague.net this weekend. "I'm not in it to worry about statistics, or my next contract. I want to make the best of every opportunity. To get the chance to play for a club like Olympiacos and challenge legitimately for these trophies is exactly what I want to do now. Above all, with the time I have left as a player, I would love the chance to lift the Euroleague trophy."
Matt, how important was it for you to get back to the Euroleague again?
"It was very important to me. I feel like I played a big competition in Europe every year I have been here, the Euroleague or the Eurocup, and I've enjoyed every one of those experiences. But for sure, there is nothing like the Euroleague. To get this opportunity to be part of it again, I jumped at the chance. To open up Monday in the first game against Real Madrid is an added bonus. It should be great."
When deciding to sign for Olympiacos, was the chance to challenge for a Euroleague title uppermost in your mind?
"For me, at this stage of my career, that's what I'm in it for. I'm not in it to worry about statistics, or my next contract. I want to make the best of every opportunity. To get the chance to play for a club like Olympiacos and challenge legitimately for these trophies is exactly what I want to do now. Above all, with the time I have left as a player, I would love the chance to lift the Euroleague trophy."
 You had the unusual opportunity to meet your new coach, Dusan Ivkovic, as an opponent this summer, when he coached Serbia and you played for Australia in the World Championships. What was that like?
"It was a bit strange. We had met before, briefly, but knowing that I was going to spend the next two years with him made me want to talk with him in Turkey. We were both understood that we were there to do a job for our countries at that moment, so we didn't talk too extensively then either. We were both focused on getting the job done in the World Championships. And then he beat us, unfortunately. They had a very good team and did well throughout the tournament. I ended up sitting back and watching them play with a bit of interest. I watched Milos (Teodosic) and Marko (Keselj) and of course Coach Ivkovic and how his team played. Unfortunately, we didn't beat them and I had more time to watch them than I would have liked."
How has the transition to Olympiacos been so far, basketball-wise?
"It's been good. Like any time you come to a new team, there's an adjustment period, but the talent on this team is definitely the highest of any team I've played on. As time goes by, I am sure it'll get better, just looking at the guards we have here, they are top-level, world-class guys. Just getting used to their different styles, to the big men and to Coach Ivkovic's style, there's always going to be that period of getting to know each other and what makes each other tick. But I am enjoying the process already and it should only get better with time."
Other teams have chosen to run the offense through you as a sort of point forward. With such fantastic passers on this team, do you see that happening as much?
"I think it'll be less, no doubt about it. With the quality of players we have here who do such a good job running the team, I think my role in that area will be quite a bit less. At same time, I'm not going to change my style a whole lot, because that's one of my abilities and what the club expects from me, to adapt and fill in the missing pieces, to help out as best as possible wherever I can."
You saw Madrid plenty last season when you were with Valencia. What is your take on your opening game opponent?
"I did see a lot of them last year. It's a pretty different-shaped team right now. Only half the players are the same as last year. This one I feel is more a team put together by Coach Messina and therefore will play his style more. They're interesting. They've got so much talent, no doubt about it. With Pablo Prigioni out, they're putting the ball in the hands of Sergio Rodriguez more, and since he was in the NBA awhile, I haven't seen him much. It'll be interesting to seen him play, but of course they have Llull, Garbajosa and Reyes back as big parts of that team. Hopefully, I can help some of our guys who haven't played them lately, but several of our guys have been around long enough to know a lot of the Madrid players well."
 The opening game is also the Euroleague's first Game of the Week, a new broadcast feature going all around the world on TV. Do you see Australian fans getting hooked on the Euroleague once they get exposed to it regularly?
"Definitely. I've been here now seven years, and at the beginning it was like I disappeared off the map back in Australia. But over the last few years, that's changing. Even last year during the Eurocup, I'd have people sending me messages and texts the day after the games. Australians understand more and more the quality of what's happening here in basketball. People are taking notice, no doubt, and looking for a way to follow the Euroleague."
What did you bring with you to European basketball from Australian sport?
"One of the things you are brought up on in Australian sport, whether it's basketball or football or whatever, is playing every play. It's part cultural and part personal, I guess. But the idea of having a go at everything is a trait we are brought up with there. And it's something I pride myself in. I'm no superstar player or massive talent, but I feel like I give what I've got every time. I believe I bring that from Australia and it's a bit of personal philosophy, to walk away from every game knowing I gave it all."
You've spent time in Greece when you first came to Europe. Is there anything in Australia like the Olympiacos fans you'll be playing for this season?
"Easy answer: No. Not at all. Flat out, no. We love our sport and are passionate about it, unfortunately not as much in basketball as in our Aussie football, for instance, but even in other sports, there's nothing that can compare to these Olympiacos fans. The passion and the environment they create is amazing. I only played the first Greek Cup game for them this week - which you assume is a lower level than for Euroleague games or against Panathinaikos - and that crowd and atmosphere was already unbelievable. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like starting Monday."
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