The head coach of the Spanish national team, Sergio Scariolo, spoke with Basketball Sphere about the upcoming FIBA World Cup.
Some of the topics were generation change in the national team, challenge and opportunity ahead of Juan Nunez, why Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernandez and Milos Teodosic have so many similarities, and what is main difference between the EuroLeague and NBA.
In a conversation with Basketball Sphere, Sergio Scariolo singled out one of the most important wins in his career, as well as one defeat that still hurts.
Another generation change
From the moment Sergio Scariolo became head coach of the Spanish national team, medals at major competitions become a regular thing. Italian expert won Eurobasket four times with “La Roja” and four years ago, they won Mundobasket in China.
This means that they are coming to the FIBA World Cup 2023 as the reigning champions and one of the main favorites.
“I can say that we really have the quality that allows us to stay at the highest possible level. The vast majority of national teams in all sports stumble after great success. After the incredible generation that made up that first wave, Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernandez and Victor Claver appeared. The fact is that now their time is also passing, and that we have a new change of generations.
I think that gold medals won at Eurobasket and Mundobasket were totally unexpected. From this point of view, we are now here to face a new big challenge. All rankings and world predictions place us among the top six favorites. The main problem will be the fact that already in the second round of the competition we can meet two teams from a very top (Canada and France). The road to the quarter-finals is much more difficult than it was before.
Previously, we used the opening two rounds as an ideal opportunity to play and prepare as much as possible for the challenges brought by the elimination phase. We are now in a situation where we must immediately be ready for the biggest challenges. Ricky Rubio and Lorenzo Brown are not with us, and we have many problems with injuries. This led us to place our expectations on a guy who is only 18 years old (Juan Nunez), and he will play in the starting five. It is at the same time very interesting, but also a huge challenge.“
“NBA and EuroLeague are two incomparable competitions”
The Gasol brothers (Pau and Marc) wrote the history of Spanish basketball in every sense. In the years behind us, Juancho Hernangomez and his brother Willy have proven themselves as legitimate heirs of the Spanish dynasty. Now both are returning to Europe and will be the leaders of their teams. Sergio Scariolo also felt the NBA magic where he won a championship ring as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors.
“At this moment, we are in a different situation when the NBA and Europe are brought into the same context. Maybe people don’t understand that level of talent in the NBA, which they consider average, the best players from Europe can’t keep up on the floor, nor be part of the rotation. Of course, a lot also depends on which team they play for. For example, some players who are greatly underestimated in their clubs lead the national teams as leaders.
Historically speaking, Spain has such players who are at the highest possible level. Also, the level of physical fitness and athleticism is different in the NBA and Europe. It is incomparable. Pace in the NBA is definitely the best in the world. It is impossible to compare it with EuroLeague pace. We are talking about the two most prestigious competitions.”
“Much more than just basketball”
Sergio Scariolo found adequate words to describe the differences, but also the similarities, in relation to coaching job in the club and national team.
“As you said, it is different, but at the end of the day, it’s all about basketball. As in the club, everything is a matter of chemistry, atmosphere in the dressing room and choosing right roles. The most demanding thing is to do all these things in a very short time in the national team. Compared to the club, you have much more time there, and even months to get in the right shape.
It would be best if I would compare the work in the national team to the play-offs in club basketball. Simply, the biggest difference is that in the national team all the players are able to create an incredible mutual atmosphere. It’s much more than just basketball, that’s how I would describe it.“
Lucky Asia
Asia as a continent has brought a lot of happiness to the Spanish national team. They won the gold medal there for the first time in 2006 in Japan. Four years ago they did it again, this time in China.
“That’s right, Asia was very successful for us (laughs). However, I must say that I am not superstitious.“
Every professional sportsman remembers the biggest wins in his career, and therefore it is difficult to erase those heavy defeats from its memory. That’s how Sergio Scariolo spoke openly about the games he remembers the most, regardless of their outcome.
“The previous World Cup was incredible. At that moment, Serbia was the first favorite according to all rankings. Even ahead of the United States. That really rarely happens. We met them in the second round. Something similar to this situation now where Canada and France are waiting for us there.
It was a big and great game. They had incredible players like Nikola Jokic, Vasilije Micic, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nemanja Bjelica… I would say that it is one of the biggest wins. Of course, all titles at Eurobasket and Mundobasket are of great importance, as well as medals at the Olympic Games.
Certainly, the heaviest defeat was in 2010 against Serbia. They eliminated us in the quarterfinals. At that time, Pau Gasol and Jose Calderon were the leaders of that generation, but both of them withdrew a few days before the tournament due to justified reasons. Despite that, we managed to play a game that was decided on last possesssion.
My great enemy and later a really good friend, Milos Teodosic, decided that game at the time. He hit an incredible shot from 10 meters. They deservedly qualified for the semi-finals. When you lose such an important game by one possession, and in such a way, of course it still hurts.“
Basketball virtuosos: Sergio, Rudy and Milos
Rudy Fernandez is the only player in the national team who was there in 2006 when the first gold medal was won. Another veteran in the team is Sergio Llull.
“Those players are born winners, just like Milos Teodosic. What they are able to teach younger players and pass on to them, only a few can do. They know at the right moment what needs to be done in order to win, especially when it matters. They are able to invent something in the moment that can completely turn the moment of the game, but also of the entire competition. They are something special.
Such an approach to basketball, the skill and defensive sequences shown by Rudy, the baskets for the win that Llull is able to score or the knowledge of the basketball game by Milos… What they all have in common is the winning instinct. They have the capacity to lift the team beyond the possibilities. Despite their age and the fact that they are getting old, they are also able to adapt in an amazing way.
Age has affected their physical characteristics, but they are still impressive. Another thing they have in common is this apparent absence. They look as if they are somewhere else, as if they are not listening, but they are able to notice everything that happens on the floor and absorb every word that is said to them. Even coaching gestures and some little things that others don’t see.”
“The basketball DNA that Crvena Zvezda and Partizan have is different from everything else in Europe and beyond…”
Serbia is coming to the FIBA World Cup without Nikola Jokic, Vasilije Micic, Nikola Kalinic, Vladimir Lucic and several other players.
“I will mention two players who lead this team despite all the other absences. They are Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nikola Milutinov. We are talking about extremely high-quality individuals. Bogdanovic has shown and proven his quality in all these years in the NBA. Milutinov is one of the most dominant players in his position in Europe.
Serbia simply has the capacity to produce a huge number of quality players. This is their greatest strength. Now traditionally, a huge number of Serbian players lead their teams in the EuroLeague. The basketball DNA that Crvena Zvezda and Partizan also possess is different from everything in Europe and beyond.
I think that this statement about favorites is quite relative. We can look at all those ranking lists, and then when it comes to the court, some unexpected things emerge. Then everyone is able to exceed expectations.” – Sergio Scariolo said.
“I hope that my new player will play well at the World Cup”
Ognjen Dobric also has part of that basketball DNA that coach Scariolo was talking about. Now a former Crvena Zvezda player, is moving to the “university city” – Bologna. There, he will defend the colors of Virtus.
“I am looking forward to the fact that my new player from next season, Ognjen Dobric, is coming to the FIBA World Cup 2023. I also hope to see his good games and I can’t wait to start working together with him.” – concluded one of the best European coaches, Sergio Scariolo.