When you look at the Spanish basketball team’s track record, it’s quite impressive. Much of this success has been down to you, and a generation (or a few generations) that have even come intimidate the US team. Did you ever imagine all those years ago, before your success got started, that you would have such a legacy behind you now?
Not at all. The truth is that we’ve had an amazing generation over the last fifteen years. We’ve won so many titles, we’re one of the top teams in the world at all levels and we’ve taken on the US team as equals. As a child you dream of making the national team and playing a few games at this level, but I would never have imagined it would come to this.
Over the last 23 years, the lowest that the Spanish team has ranked in the Olympics, the world championship or the European ones has been seventh place. To see the Spanish basketball team out of the top ten, you need to go all the way back to the Munich games of 1972. Back then it was a lot more difficult to win medals, but you could see that something would be coming along in the future...
The truth is that you could tell that we would be a winning generation in 1999, when we were called the “golden juniors”. We shocked everyone by beating the US and people started to see that we were a winning generation, that we weren’t scared of anything. After that of course, we were given a boost, but we had to keep working hard and doing well. Times have changed and now we’re respected across the globe, although logically, in the future it won’t be as easy to win as it is now.
This line-up has a strong back-up from young players such as Ricky, Marc Gasol, the Hernangómez brothers, Abrines, Llull, etc. Do you think that this mix, alongside those of you with a lot of experience under your belts will be good to keep up your style and your high level for competing?
Of course. All the players that we have coming up have a lot of enthusiasm and they know what they’re facing. Those of us that have been in the game for longer are just as enthusiastic and driven, which is hugely important. For example, the players on important contracts with the NBA and are staying true to the Spanish team, foregoing their holiday time to be here with their second family. So, things are changing, we’re changing players but we’re still doing well.
Now you have another chance to win even more medals. This opportunity also offers good possibilities for success, with all due respect for the rivals. What other teams do you feel have the possibility to take you on?
The Eurobasket is one of the toughest competitions. From Serbia to France, who have always been our rivals. Lithuania, Greece and many other teams are also doing very well. However, we’re going to start out slowly, as we always say in our group, and we’ll start with Montenegro.
You've said we have a good chance of getting to the finals. This idea doesn’t come from any kind of euphoria, I take it, but rather from having analysed our team and our competition.
It’s all about believing in ourselves and we always have. Why should this year be any different? We have players off the team. Not having Llull is a big issue and he’s difficult or impossible to replace, but we still have a team to take on the rest. Since the first day of training, and I’m the one who’s played the most games, we’ve always thought that we could win a medal and get on to the winner’s podium.
Juan Carlos, will this be your last championship on the team?
I never say never, but I have said quite a few times that the end of the Eurobasket would be a good time to make way for younger players. I’d like to leave on a high note.
Thanks for your time. Good luck for the upcoming championship.
