Sergio Scariolo shares thoughts on scheduling, Dubai expansion / News - Basketnews.com

Experienced head coach Sergio Scariolo gave an interview where he talked about various matters.

Credit: Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images Credit Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images

On a trip to Belgrade, coach Sergio Scariolo had the opportunity to reminisce some past times and reflect on what would be changing in the EuroLeague.

Lorenzo Brown

Team:Maccabi Playtika Tel AvivPosition:PGAge:33Height:198 cmWeight:90 kgBirth place:Georgia, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

This week, he watched the Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens game and had the chance to catch up with some friends, like Zeljko Obradovic, Milos Teodosic, and Lorenzo Brown.

Out of all of them, Scariolo makes sure to give a specific mention to Teodosic, his former point guard in Virtus Segafredo Bologna: "And, of course, to see Milos Teodosic.We haven't met since last summer, and I always have a great time with him," said the coach to Meridian Sport.

Speaking of Scariolo's players, the Italian head coach talked about the upcoming qualifiers for the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket and the involvement of Lorenzo Brown in the Spanish national team.

"I always leave my experienced players the freedom to decide because I know that, especially EuroLeague players, they have a heavy load of an extremely difficult season," Scariolo stated on the issue of national team windows and EuroLeague games.

"I wouldn't be mad if they said, 'Please give me a break, give me a week off.' When I really want them is in the summer, for the Olympic qualifications," he revealed.

The experienced head coach also confirmed that Lorenzo Brown would serve the Spanish national team this year, in the summer.

Back to the topic, Scariolo voiced his concerns about the enormous burden placed on players in Europe, particularly the natively European ones, on a season that involves continent-wide club competitions, domestic leagues, and national team windows.

"There has to be better coordination between the different competitions when it comes to travel and logistics.We have much, much room for improvement," the coach stated. "Even if we play so many games, which I honestly can't say I like, because we're trying to copy the NBA, and we're not [the NBA]..." he criticized the current approach.

Milos Teodosic

MIN:21.85PTS:10.71 (50.66%)REB:2.29As:5.71ST:0.86BL:0.1TO:1.95GM:21ProfileEuroLeague2023/2024

"In the long run, this is debatable, to say the least. Many games can be played, but we have to work on the infrastructure and logistics to make it at least a little easier because, at the moment, especially for key players who have to play 25 or more minutes in every EuroLeague game, that season is very risky due to workload and injuries," Scariolo stated, which was a point that Pablo Laso recently argued.

Although the possible membership of Dubai could lengthen the trips that clubs have to undertake, Scariolo is not under the impression that this could be a problem. Nevertheless, he is concerned that some deserving clubs may not be able to be in the EuroLeague because of overcapacity.

"With the existing number of teams, it gets a bit tight.There are probably more teams or more cities that could add value to the system and the competition.We are at a turning point at this [moment]," said the Spanish national team coach.

"It's painful because there will be teams that probably won't play in the EuroLeague, and they deserve it. Surely someone will be disappointed. It's a negative side that you have to accept objectively, but subjectively, it will hurt some clubs," Scariolo continued.

Later on, Scariolo turned his attention to Teodosic and Obradovic.

"Great basketball mind and a good person you want on the team," he said of Teodosic. "His sporting values ​​are strong, he knows how to be part of a team, he knows what it takes to win.He can be very, very loyal to the mission, the project, and the team."

"I think he still has a lot, or at least something, pretty good to offer. And I'm not talking about his skills because his abilities are not in question," he continued. "I can hardly think of a player with his capacity to predict what is happening on the field, to hand out assists that essentially nobody saw, and to understand the game the way he does. But that's Milos; he's a basketball genius," Scariolo concluded with great praise.

Obradovic, similarly, was high on Scariolo's list of praises.

"Zeljko is a man who improves every year. Every year, he is up to date with what the competition requires, with basketball trends," the Italian coach said. "Although, he turns himself into a trend.I mean, he's one of those guys who dictates where basketball is going to go," remarked Scariolo, reflecting on the immense effect Obradovic has on European basketball. "And he's more flexible than some might believe..."

"Although he's basically a living legend, he still loves the game, works on basketball. And his team always offers a feeling of something above, something greater than the individual qualities of the players.That identity, the way they show which way they want to go, what they want to do," stated Scariolo, praising his colleague.

At the moment, Scariolo is not coaching a club, having lastly led Virtus Segafredo Bologna. He was sacked by the team immediately before the start of the season and was replaced by Luca Banchi.

Full interview with Sergio Scariolo:

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