Trinchieri: 'I hope I'm able to keep Hunter out of retirement one more year' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Christina Pahnke/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Christina Pahnke/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Tired of COVID, the missiles in Israel, and the tough year with Maccabi, Othello Hunter just wanted to sit back and think about life. Before this season, he seriously considered retiring from basketball until his agent informed him there was a coach who really wanted to talk to him. It was Andrea Trinchieri.

Player of the Game EFF 30 Nicolas Laprovittola Points 26 Accuracy 7-12 Rebounds 2 Assists 3

Five minutes into the conversation, Hunter changed his mind and committed to Bayern Munich for the 2021-22 season.

After a challenging year for the entire Munich organization, Othello Hunter was there to keep a tiny Bayern playoff hopes alive in the do-or-die game at Palau Blaugrana.

Hunter played his highest-scoring game of the season, starting with a dunk of the year candidate and causing massive damage on Barcelona on both ends of the floor.

A 35-year-old EuroLeague champion scored 18 points and grabbed four rebounds - all on the offensive end, to put Barcelona on heels 72-81.

"The most important thing is to understand where every player's button is. I believe our organization understood the right way to stimulate a veteran like Othello. He gave us nothing more than his best in the locker room and on the court," Trinchieri praised his veteran, answering BasketNews question.

"With Lucic, he is our core in the locker room," Trinchieri added. "He’s one player that makes the coach look better. And I hope I'm able to keep him out of retirement one more year," Trinchieri started his recruiting process.

Hunter turned improbable to possible through blood, scratches, bumps, and top-level opponents. Against the regular-season winners, Hunter averaged 9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, and 10.6 PIR.

While his passion and dedication for the team weren't surprising at all, at 35, he still managed to surprise the EuroLeague fans.

Hunter was 4 of 9 from the 3-point line in the playoff series vs. Barcelona. In the entire 9-year EuroLeague career, he made 3 of 22.

"Believe me, he starts working on his three-point shot with Emilio Kovacic. This is the result," Trinchieri praised Othello's work with the head of Bayern player development.

"These players are like a really good red wine. They get better with the years," Trinchieri concluded.

FULL STORY: How Andrea Trinchieri talked Othello Hunter out of retirement Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.