Pablo Laso names Doncic's advantage over Wembanyama, says EuroLeague is clubs league / News - Basketnews.com

Pablo Laso touched on various topics in his one-hour-long interview with the Italian show Area 52. The Spanish coach thinks Luka Doncic took the ideal path to the NBA and pointed out that clubs are more important than any athlete or coach.

Credit: AP - Scanpix Credit AP - Scanpix

Since he began his professional journey, with his debut as a player in 1984 at Baskonia, still at the age of 16,Pablo Lasohas spent half of his career either on the court (19 seasons that rendered him ACB assists and steals king with 2,896 and 1,219 respectively, in 624 games) or on the bench (another 18 campaigns, one in Castellon, another in Valencia, one in Cantabria, four in Gipuzkoa and eleven at Real Madrid.

Luka Doncic

MIN:36.41PTS:33.19 (58.02%)REB:8.77As:8.08ST:1.49BL:0.51TO:3.62GM:53ProfileNBA2022/2023

While waiting for a good offer to come his way, Laso keeps watching matches from any competition. So much so that after a specific time, he had to be more selective.

In an interview with Area52 on Twitch, the Basque tactician remembered Xavi Pascual's advice in his first months of rest following his dismissal from Real Madrid due to medical concerns over his health.

"I remember that I spoke to him in September, and he told me, 'Pablo, you're going to go crazy in the first month. You're going to watch every play, every situation. Then, you will relax.'

It was a little bit like that. Now, let's say I get more selective on EuroLeague and also on local leagues. But I watch different basketball, leagues and situations. I watch the Italian, German, and Greek leagues. When you're coaching Real Madrid, you don't have time to watch those games," Laso admitted.

Throughout his career, Laso, 55, has coached more than 1,000 games (860 in Madrid with 659 victories). At one point, he recalled a dinner with current Real Madrid football manager Carlo Ancelotti, where coachPierro Bucchi was also present.

"Two basketball coaches and Carlo in Madrid. Do you know what Carlo's wife told him? 'Go with them to see if you learn something.'" Laso recounted and laughed.

Ancelotti looked at her in disbelief.

"He's a great guy, he's doing great in Madrid. I really love him, the way he treats his players and his team," the former Real Madrid basketball coach continued.

During the URBONUS podcast, veteran American basketball players Errick McCollumandMalcolm Delaney said the EuroLeague is a coaches' league.

Luka Doncic

Team:Dallas MavericksPosition:SGAge:24Height:201 cmWeight:104 kgBirth place:Ljubljana, SloveniaProfileNewsStatistics

"What makes Europe different from America is that the coach has all the power. It hasn't worked financially when you're talking about it compared to the NBA. But it's worked for them as far as putting together a good product having good games, and creating that passion," McCollum explained.

Laso has a different view on the subject.

'I don't want to be too hard, but if you think you're going to come to Europe and do what you want, you won't do it on Pablo Laso's team," he clarified.

"Clubs are bigger than players. Delaney and McCollum are two of the best American players that have played in Europe. But I don't think Delaney's going to win games by himself. He's going to win them with his teammates and his team," he added.

Laso said it would be "very stupid" to talk about the EuroLeague being a coaches' or players' league.

"It's a basketball league, and the way you make the team is the most important. You want to have the best players. Zeljko Obradovic has won 9 EuroLeagues. Did he win them by just [Dimitris] Diamantidis scoring?" he wondered.

"No, he won them with [Dejan] Bodiroga and [Mike] Batiste playing great. It should be a clubs' league. Milano and Bologna are above everything and everyone. ALBA Berlin have much more history than any of the players and coaches that we know. We have to go together," Laso argued.

In a recent interview, Kris Clyburn experienced referred to the problems he faced when playing with Maccabi Rishon Lezion last year, where he was already averaging career-low three-point percentages.

When he transferred to Buyukcekmece, the three-point percentage dropped even more. Clyburn was going through a challenging emotional stage, but the local fans didn't care, he says.

"As an overseas player, all you're expected to do is perform. No matter what's going on in your life, they want you to perform and win games. If you're not doing that, you're not really much value to them," Clyburn explained.

"The next man is up. It's a business. They pay money for you to come here and win as many games as possible and perform the best you can."

Pablo Laso said he really caresabout personal situations.

"They are very important. If you want a guy to perform at his best, he has to be at his best personally."

The two-time EuroLeague-winning coach was also asked about Victor Wembanyama and Luka Doncic choosing different paths to the NBA. While the Slovenian star went through the Real Madrid system and got tested in the EuroLeague, the French prospect has opted for a more protected environment at Metropolitans 92, playing only in the French league.

Laso didn't need a second to reflect on which path he'd take.

"Luka's way because he won the EuroLeague," he replied and remembered an episode when Doncic asked him to be moved to the men's team.

"It all comes down to one's personality. Luka was a competitor since he arrived in Madrid at 13.

One day, when he was still 15, he came up to me and told me he wanted to play with the first team the following year. I was like, 'I have all these players.' 'Yes, but I want to know because I have to be ready.' His way was very mature for his age, and he showed the competitor inside of him."

Laso admitted to not knowing Wembanyama personally but added that everyone's waiting for him.

"Great talent needs time to develop. Luka did it very quickly, and I think Wembanyama will need more time to develop. Luka's performing every night. I always knew Luka's basketball potential is up here (his mind), and you can't buy that. That's why I respect his way so much," Laso explained.

"He has incredible adaptability. He goes somewhere, and he knows what's going on. At Real Madrid, we worked very much so that he could be like that."

In his interview with Area52, Pablo Laso also touched on teams needing to find a balance between offense and defense while referring to the current EuroLeague leaders.

"If you're good on offense, it's because you're good on defense," he thinks.

"If you have to play 5-on-5 all the time and they score on you, you won't be able to run the court. Olympiacos have the second-best offense and defense. For me, they are the most solid team in EuroLeague. They're playing very well from the beginning and have clear roles. That talks about how important that balance is."

Laso clarified that even though "offense wins games and defense wins championships," he wants to win both. He mentioned Jeffery Taylor, whom he called "one of the best ball defenders ever in the EuroLeague."

"He was unbelievable. Was he playing only because was good on defense?" Laso asked.

"No, it would have been stupid on my part," he answered. "He was very effective from the corner 3, he was good on cuts, was able to drive, make plays and penetrate."

The Spanish play-caller said he's not keen on people asking for coaches to play certain guys just because they're apt scorers.

"Well, if he receives 60 points from his guy, it won't matter. It happened when I was between Joe Arlauckas and Orlando Woolridge. Arlauckas got 63 points and Woolridge got 48.

In the end, I went to the locker room and told Arlauckas, 'You're a good friend of Woolridge, right?' He told me, 'I beat him by 15.' It wasn't easy to win that game, but we did it. Your team has to play well on both ends to be good," he concluded.

Full interview:

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