Part 5/8:
His journey, however, was not without its obstacles. He found himself living in humble conditions with a college friend in Huntington Beach, uncertain of his future in the NBA. "I was just staying with him, and I was sleeping on a mattress in a sleeping bag in his dining room." Such realities are often glossed over in sports as the glamorous lifestyles of athletes overshadow their struggles. Knowing he had a fallback option to return to Greece if he did not make the team put additional pressure on him, yet also provided motivation.