"If Zvezda Knocks, the Door Is Open! I Owe Them a Year!" Canaan on Parting Ways, Favorite Derby Memories, and Kalinić: "He's Crazy, He Might Come Back!"

"You want to play where you're wanted. If we could ever reunite… no pressure. If Zvezda knocks on my door, it will always be open. They hold a special place in my heart, and I still feel like I owe them a year." – Isaiah Canaan

"I had an incredible time there. I can't say a single negative thing about Zvezda. The only thing, if I had to pick, is that I really wanted to come back and fulfill the year of my contract that I missed through injury. I wanted to stay, but I completely understand their decision—no hard feelings at all. Going to battle alongside those guys, being part of that organization with the management and the coaches who came and went, it was all amazing. Playing for those fans was unbelievable. The Arena, all those young kids… it showed me I was part of a truly massive club. I loved every single moment. You pull up to the arena and the kids are waiting for you, before and after games. There wasn't a single thing I didn't love, except the way it ended."

"Nikola Kalinić, Tyson Carter, Jordan Nwora… everyone, honestly. We were all close friends. We had a great bond and went through preseason together. Then I got hurt in our final preparation game. That's what hurt the most, because we were all so excited to play together. We could have accomplished so much if I had just stayed healthy. I watched the games from home and, even though I couldn't walk, I'd picture myself out on the floor, putting myself into different positions in the game. I knew I could help, and that's why it hurt so badly. I stayed in touch with the coaches and assistants too—we're still close."

"In a way, it surprised me a lot, but in another way, it didn't. We're older players now. The two of us talked about it quite a bit. I didn't think he'd retire right away, but I could tell he was exhausted. He wanted something different, something that doesn't demand the relentless physical toll of being a pro athlete. But who knows? He's crazy—it wouldn't surprise me if he decided to come back."

"I remember the atmosphere, the fans, the music, the flares, the noise, the chants… and the traffic! Heading to the Arena, you can immediately tell when it's derby day compared to a regular game. Everyone in traffic is on edge. Running onto the court at the Arena for those games is something truly special. Playing at home is great, but I'm crazy—I always loved going on the road. It just fuels my fire even more, and you can truly feel the rich history of Serbian basketball..."

"When you win, the adrenaline and excitement are just unmatched. I loved the Cup in Niš more than any game in the Arena. You had Partizan and Zvezda fans packed on opposite sides of the gym. It was electrifying. I played in the Greek derbies with Olympiacos, but they never allowed fans of both teams in the arena together. That's why the Cup is the absolute pinnacle of this rivalry. It was such a fun derby. I'd hit a three, look over at their fans, then look back at ours..."