Jaka Lakovic, the Slovenian coach who is now in his fourth season at the helm of Gran Canaria, spoke exclusively to Basketball Sphere in an extensive interview.
Quiet continuity in a sea of coaching changes across Europe – perhaps that is the best expression to describe his coaching journey. He stepped from basketball sneakers into coaching shoes in the same environment where he won the biggest trophy of his playing career, the EuroLeague with Barcelona.
He was part of the development staff of the Catalan giant, then worked as an assistant coach in Bilbao and briefly as head coach, followed by a stint in Joventut, after which he decided to take full responsibility by leading Ulm, achieving very strong results during his three years in Germany. That paved his path to the Canary Islands, where with Gran Canaria he earned the full trust of the club’s management, coaching stability, and that ultimately brought him the biggest trophy of his coaching career so far – the EuroCup.
As a player, he was coached by Xavi Pascual, who was recently his rival on the bench of Barcelona in the Liga Endesa. We also discussed his coaching philosophy, the influence Zeljko Obradovic had on his career, and just how great Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic truly are.
Answers to all these questions in the following lines were provided by Jaka Lakovic, a coach whose great career still lies ahead, with all of this representing steps on his developmental path, as what he has achieved so far has certainly not gone unnoticed.
Claim Now Why a coaching career after outstanding achievements as a player? It is well known that the vast majority of point guards who were great players often continue in the same rhythm as coaches.
“It came gradually over the years. As my playing career was coming to an end, I started thinking more and more about it. Basketball is my life, I studied and earned a degree from the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education. I had the prerequisites to turn toward a coaching career. I love basketball, I love competition, being part of it, and it was a natural sequence of events and a logical next step.”
Playing for Panathinaikos and Barcelona, you won an impressive 15 trophies with just those two clubs, with the most important one certainly being the EuroLeague title in 2010. You were coached by Zeljko Obradovic and Xavi Pascual, from whom you surely learned a lot even as a player. Was one of them decisive in your choice to become a coach, and how did that period influence you as a person? It is known that after your move from Panathinaikos to Barcelona, the relationship was not ideal, but there was certainly an influence.
“Of course all those people influenced my development, both as a player and as a coach, as well as my mental preparation and way of thinking about basketball. These are coaches I worked with at the highest level, but I would especially like to single out Zeljko Obradovic. Four years at Panathinaikos under his leadership is something I remember very well. He simply puts you into a mode where you constantly think about basketball.
How you look at things, why you think that way, what are the reasons behind it, what can be done differently. All of that greatly influenced my development as a player, but also mentally, in how I view what happens on the court and how I read situations. Zeljko Obradovic played a major role in my decision to ultimately take this path.” – said Jaka Lakovic.
While we are talking about all of this, after just three months of the EuroLeague season, six teams have already changed coaches. In the EuroCup, some clubs have also decided to make such moves. You, however, are someone who has enjoyed quiet continuity in work and progress, especially in Ulm and now in Gran Canaria. We often hear the saying that coaches live with a suitcase always packed in case of such an outcome. What is your view on that?
“As you said, I had stability in my work environment, three years in Ulm and now this is my fourth year in Gran Canaria. That is something positive and speaks to good and quality work. Another positive thing is that I personally enjoyed such stability, while on the other hand there is a lack of stability across many environments.
Especially because everyone wants to win immediately, without long-term plans or understanding that everything in life has its process. You have to work hard to be successful. For the biggest clubs competing in the EuroLeague, there is no room for that. In the end, that is the reality, although in my opinion it should not be that way. As a coach, I view all my colleagues with maximum respect, whether they were replaced or not, because they are all excellent at their job.
Sometimes a moment comes when a club decides to make a move that many may not agree with, but it has to be respected. The only reality is that such situations do not diminish the quality of those coaches, and as you said, all coaches must be prepared for these moments that happen during a career.”
Based on what we have seen so far, it seems your coaching philosophy revolves around controlling the pace of the game, a somewhat slower tempo, finding situations where the team can benefit, while also masking weaknesses and highlighting strengths. Over the years, you have had players who respected the ball through team play, while few stood out with individual scoring, such as Caleb Homesley last season. What is your coaching philosophy?
“In my philosophy at Gran Canaria, we play with more control within a game. At the same time, in every possession, especially on offense, we look for the best possible shot. That does not depend on individual players, but on the team. In this roster, we do not have just one protagonist. I would say that in my philosophy, the protagonist is the team. Every individual has their role, and every role is important and different. It is crucial that players understand their role and what is expected of them.
The current trend in Europe is that some teams, like Paris or Valencia, show a faster pace of play. I am not afraid of that, and I am open-minded toward it. Maybe I would also like our team to play at a faster pace, but that depends on the roster you have and the players who are capable of playing that way. Not everything is for everyone. For now, with this team, our philosophy has been to maintain a high level of control in our offense.
With a good and controlled offense, not always slow, we also dictate our defensive transition. It is very important for every coach, including myself, to adapt to the players you have, the type of roster you possess, and their characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. The tendency to play faster is interesting, and I am not against it. I am open-minded about it.” – Jaka Lakovic explained.
I know coaches rarely like to single out individuals, but throughout your coaching career many quality players have passed through your teams and later made an additional step forward in their careers. Jaron Blossomgame may be the best example, as he is one of Monaco’s key players and played in the EuroLeague Final last season.
There are many others as well, and trophies alone are not the only measure of coaching quality. If that were the case, everyone except the one coach who wins a trophy would be unsuccessful, which is clearly not true for those who observe basketball, and sports in general, more closely and thoughtfully.
“I completely agree with that. In Ulm, we did not win trophies, but I am very proud that some of my players took the next step and moved to a higher level. Jaron Blossomgame, Karim Jallow, Andreas Obst, Dylan Osetkowski, Derek Willis, Killian Hayes, who went directly from Ulm to the NBA as the seventh overall pick. These things are very important to me and make me proud, because I know that with the work we show as a team, we help not only the club through results, but also players who want to make progress.
Spending one or two years together at that stage of their careers is a great satisfaction for me. Also, in Gran Canaria, after winning the EuroCup, some players moved on as well – Damien English, Aleksander Balcerowski, Khalifa Diop – all of them played in the EuroLeague. It is a great level of satisfaction when you see your players progress.”
How do you view the club’s decision not to play in the EuroLeague after winning the EuroCup with Gran Canaria, which is your biggest achievement so far as a coach? You earned the right to compete through excellent performances on the court, but it did not happen.
“I think these past three years have been one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. During this time, we played in two EuroCup finals, winning trophy in one of them. Last season, we reached the semifinals of the Copa del Rey, and in each of these three seasons, we made the Liga Endesa playoffs. We are satisfied with what we accomplished over the past three years.
From a sporting perspective, the decision not to play in the EuroLeague of course brought some disappointment, but beyond the sporting aspect, you also have to consider what the club’s real possibilities are. Especially geographically, where we are located and what that means for our club. From that standpoint, the decision may be more rational, but still, from a sporting and competitive point of view, there was some level of disappointment for the coaches and players.”
The departure of many young players to the NCAA is a topic we hear about frequently lately. Times are completely different compared to your generation. What is your view on this issue?
“There are two sides to this. The exodus of young players to the NCAA is certainly a negative thing for clubs, especially those that develop players and are not EuroLeague clubs, but come from smaller environments. The other reality is that the money being offered to these young players is enormous, and the conditions they have there are phenomenal, so it is very difficult to control this from the European basketball side.
This is where FIBA should take a step forward, at least to protect smaller clubs that develop players in some way. We also have to understand young players who decide to take this step, because when they go there at 18 years old, they gain great stability. The majority of them will return to Europe, so we need to know what to do at that moment, how to welcome them back, and what we can offer them so they can remain productive.”
Luka Doncic from Slovenia and Nikola Jokic from Serbia are leading figures in the strongest league in the world, the NBA. Are people truly aware of their achievements?
“When it comes to the genius and quality of these players who shape the very top of NBA superstars, a lot has already been said and analyzed, so I will not try to invent something new. It is incredible how they have positively influenced European and regional basketball as a whole. I am also thinking of young players who look up to them and want to start playing basketball just because of them.
That influence goes beyond what we usually consider and is extremely important for all our countries in developing new players. We must understand that we are not talking just about superstars, but about players who shape the very top of the NBA. In their clubs, they are the ones being asked what should be done. That is a level that is very difficult for us to fully comprehend.
I was fortunate not to see it with my own eyes, but to hear about it from people who were there. The impact they have, not only in basketball terms but on the entire American and European public, is incredible. I am happy because they are outstanding individuals and great people from our region. It is impressive.” – Jaka Lakovic answered.
New European markets are opening on all fronts. The ABA League has expanded with teams like Cluj-Napoca and Vienna, while Dubai has completely broadened the framework of the EuroLeague. Still, basketball in Europe is not a profitable sport, while in the NBA, regardless of results, every team benefits financially at the end of the season. How do you see the future development of European basketball?
“Exactly, that is a major difference between the NBA and Europe. I find it hard to believe that this will change quickly in the near future. As for the current trends, everything points toward moving closer to the NBA model – more games, more television broadcasts, more overall exposure, and therefore a greater inflow of money.
The difference is that in Europe, domestic leagues are still being played, and they are no less important for the clubs. This will eventually lead to a problem that decision-makers will have to resolve. Whether it is creating groups in the EuroLeague or adjusting the calendar, it is clear that changes are necessary. The number of injuries shows that the main protagonists, the players, are suffering.
Without them, there is nothing, so changes and a more balanced calendar are essential. Domestic leagues must retain their importance, as the Endesa League is a very significant competition. Everyone wants this level of quality to remain. A compromise must be found so that everyone can be successful and satisfied.”
Gran Canaria – goals for the current season? A perfect 6-0 record in the FIBA Champions League group stage, and a somewhat slower start in the Liga Endesa, followed by a clear rise in form. What would be considered success at the end of the season?
“We may have started a bit slower in the Liga Endesa, especially due to a very difficult schedule. In the FIBA Champions League, we played excellently and remained undefeated. We played a tough game against Le Mans in France without four important players who we rested, but our goals remain the same. In the Liga Endesa, we want to reach the playoffs, and since this is our first time playing in the FIBA Champions League, our goal is to go as far as possible. Of course, it is an open secret that reaching the Final Four would be considered a success and a very good result.”
Carlos Alocen suffered a serious knee injury that has kept him out for an extended period, and he was projected to be one of the team leaders after arriving from Real Madrid. When can we expect him back on the court?
“He is progressing well with his rehabilitation and has been included in some parts of team practice in December, which means things are improving. Step by step, and I hope we will see him on the court later this season. Everyone in the club is aware that we must be patient, as it is an injury that kept him out for a year. Patience is essential, and we will bring him back gradually, because we are counting on him for the long term, not just for this season.” concluded Jaka Lakovic at the end of his interview for Basketball Sphere.
