With the Toronto Raptors’ 2008-09 season winding down (”2008″ – that felt weird to type), the local beat writers are looking to the future, specifically the development of Our Roko Ukic.

There continues to be concern over Roko’s playing time during this last handful of games. How do minutes help you now, Roko?

With minutes, you get more comfortable. It helps with your decision making first of all because you are not afraid you will go out if you make one mistake. With everybody it is like this, but especially with me. I am the type of player that needs to have at least five or seven minutes to feel comfortable and then I can be much more productive.

Coach Jay Triano is more comfortable now giving him those minutes. Why, Coach?

I think he’s starting to share the basketball a bit more and a bit earlier. He’s not dribbling it so much. When he does that, it makes him more dangerous as a driver. I thought (Friday) night [vs. the Thunder] was one of his better games as far as his balance between sharing the ball and driving to the basket.

So, Roko, will you be following Jose Calderon’s example and work really hard this summer?

Basketball is not like working in a factory: so I will work 10 hours and I will produce 10,000 pairs of shoes.

OK, I’m sure Jose worked (that summer). But I think that gold medal in ’06 (at the world championships) in Japan helped him more than all the work that he did.

Confidence is something that you can’t buy. You can practise your pull-up for 10 years, but if you don’t have the confidence to make it . . .

[pointing to his head] It’s in here.

Back to your playing time, Roko. Do you often ask the coaches why it goes like a yo-yo?

They don’t have to be so nice to me and talk with me all the time, and tell me why this, why that. I know I’m a rookie and I know sometimes I’ll sit without an explanation. That’s cool with me.

[...] I’ll try to work hard on my (weaknesses) and I know what I’m not good at.

Good to hear. Let’s hope you also get a good run with the Croatian nationals this September.

Here’s Roko with the winning basket at the Croatian Cup five years ago. Listen to the crowd chant his name!