HOLDING COURT WITH ... SPURS ASSISTANT COACH ETTORE MESSINA

How did you first start coaching?

I started coaching at age 17, coaching the U-14 team in the club where I had played.  This was in Venice.  

I would imagine that the two primary things you did then were teaching the players the basic skills - shooting, ball handling, passing, etc. - and understanding the game and widening their knowledge regarding how to play basketball.  So if you compare what you do now as an assistant coach in the NBA to what you did then with the kids, is there anything that connects you with your roots?

It's funny that you ask this because especially when you come here (to the Spurs) and you look at who is probably the best basketball coach in the world and the way he teaches and coaches, he's still going back to the basics all the time. As a young coach I had little experience, I was just a kid who had played and was watching the head coach of our pro team and how he coached the players. I saw that he was really focused on teaching the fundamentals. So what I saw him do was what I was trying to teach my players. And now, after almost 40 years, I am with another coach who does the very same thing. 

Of course the game has evolved over the years; it's played by better players, better athletes, but nevertheless teaching the basics is at the core of coaching.

You have had a great career yourself as a head coach in Europe. Now you are working alongside arguably - as you said - the best coach in the business these days.  What is it that makes Coach Popovich such an exceptional coach?

First of all I would say his culture, because he is a person who has a lot of interests beyond basketball - whether it's politics, history, or whatever.  He is a person with a special talent to relate to people. Overall I would say it is the person he is that makes him such a special coach.

Can you point to some of the things he does in particular?

The way he prepares himself for a game. The way he prepares the team for a game? His ability to squeeze what is really important to tell the team without wasting time, without talking too much, without overloading the players with information or requests.

The way he reacts in the game, the way he coaches the game.  This is the reason that so many coaches from all over the world come to watch our practices.

"It's not necessarily only in practice that you can improve."

In the college game practice is at the heart of the team's foundation - they have more hours of practice than of play. In the NBA it's nearly the opposite.  What role does that relegate practice to?

True we have less practice time, but there are other ways to teach, whether it is in the shoot-around when there is some time to go out on the floor, or in a film session or a development session, not it is not necessarily that only in practice that you can improve. It can be done individually or with a small group of players, and I think that what NBA coaches do very well is to maximize the utility of their time and still accomplish a lot.

When you reflect on your coaching career thus far, what gives you the greatest sense of satisfaction or pride?

It is the times when I have had the opportunity to work with people who were all focused on trying to do what we were doing in the best possible way: players, coaches and management. Each time I had the opportunity to experience this feeling that we were all on the same page in this regard it was great - whether we won or lost the game.

HOLDING COURT WITH ... MIAMI HEAT STAR GORAN DRAGIC

Ten years ago Goran Dragic was the “new kid on the (NBA) block.” The start of the current NBA season sees Dragic as the leader of the 2017-18 Miami Heat, on and off the court. The one-time student is now the teacher, who brings with him the success of the Slovenian gold-medal performance during last month’s European Championship.

How much did your years of NBA experience impact you were able to contribute to the Slovenian success in this summer’s Eurobasket victory?

Every year is a learning process and you try to get better. With each passing year I have tried to become a more vocal leader.  We had a good young team and I felt that Igor put a great system in place for us and that we played well as a group. To me that is the key – it’s not just one or two guys but the whole team and that was what we were able to bring to the European Championship.

How much was this the factor critical compared to previous Eurobasket Tournaments where Slovenia came up short?

It was huge. In the past we may have had better players but we didn’t have the chemistry that allowed us to reach that last step and win a medal. This year we really connected as a team and we played amazing.

Did that chemistry mean greater intensity of play? Did it mean greater trust in each other? What did it produce on the court?

It meant that everybody knew what their role is and everybody was on the same page. It meant everybody was battling for each other and at the end of the day everybody was happy for each other if someone else had a good game.  And off the court we were hanging out together all the time.

And for you going against the best players in the world for the past ten seasons had an impact on what you were able to achieve as one of the team’s veteran players?

When you are competing against the best players in the world you get better too. All the work I have put in during the past, getting experience, trying to learn, trying to get better, defense, playing different styles, all this helped me as a leader of our team. But at the same time, in Europe it’s a different game and different rules so you need to adjust.  It’s not only about being able to play the same game here in the NBA as in Europe.

Luka Doncic, the 18-year-old who is projected as a 2018 NBA lottery pick, had a big role in the team’s success. Former national team stalwart Sani Becirovic posted on Facebook that “when you see Luka Doncic play you understand why we love this game.”  What did Luka bring to the success of this team, and to the spirit of how you all played?

What Sani is saying is that Luka is playing for fun. He’s not putting pressure on himself and when you watch him it is just him playing with his friends. He plays to give the fans something to cheer. What separates him from most other players is that he is not afraid.  He is playing with such calmness – it’s unbelievable for such a young guy – only 18 – to play at a level like this. He plays with a whole lot more experience than his age would suggest. Maturity-wise he is like 30! How he plays – his relaxed manner – he plays like a veteran and not like other players his age.

When Luka will presumably come over here to play in the NBA what else will Americans learn about him?

They will see what a diamond he is and what he is capable of doing.  That is the thrill of sports – you always want to play against the best, and Luka is one of the best.

You talked about Slovenia’s success though as a true team effort.

Well really everybody played an important role. Klemen Prepelic was a big part of our team, he played unbelievably. And then Gasper Vidmar, probably had his best European basketball tournament of his career. That was huge for us. And of course Anthony Randolph was great.  But you can’t single any players out. It was truly a team effort.  You had Aleksei Nikolic, Jaka Blazic – really everybody emerged as a leader and a player you wanted to have on this team. This was something very special.

From the beginning of Slovenian basketball, the national team qualified for European Championships but did not do manage to reach the medal rounds. What do you see now as being different, and does this suggest a new era for Slovenian basketball?

The main thing, as I said, was that everybody was on the same page, and accepted their role and what was asked of them.  And also, the important contribution of Igor (Kokoskov). He was a great leader and had a vision of what he wanted from the very beginning and up until the last game.  He was always calm and he conveyed that feeling of calmness to the team.  And you felt that he trusted you and that was the biggest thing – when we played through some tough situations we always had the feeling that we were going to be okay.

What does it mean to a small country like Slovenia to have this kind of success?

It’s great. We’re a country of some two million people and we have qualified for every major (basketball) tournament.  We are only missing an Olympic participation. And not just qualifying, but usually just one or two steps away from a medal. We have a good foundation for young kids learning the game.  At the moment there are some financial problems we face. But now we are seeing Olimpija getting back on its feet so hopefully we will again have a major club in European basketball.

You play in the NBA; this is your career and your livelihood.  It’s a long season and you strive to make the playoffs. Representing Slovenia is a different side of your basketball journey. What has it meant to represent your country in international play?

It means an awful lot. Slovenia has given me a lot. It’s my country; it’s where I grew up with my friends and was educated there. I cherish those things and to be able to represent my country is a privilege and an honor. And to be on the biggest stage in European basketball and win a gold medal for your country and your people is unbelievable and probably it will go down as the biggest achievement in my career. Of course, I am hoping to get an NBA ring … we’ll see.

I always try to represent my country in such a way that I can be a role model for young kids. For me, I don’t play basketball because it’s a job.  I play basketball because I enjoy it. And that is why I have always played for our national team, and even though there is the risk of injury and then you are in trouble when it comes to your team here (in the NBA) but I never thought about that.

Did the Heat have any concerns in that regard? 

The only time I didn’t play was when I signed with the Heat but I was also having problems back home because my wife was pregnant and there were some complications with the baby.

Does the prospect of getting to the Olympics spur you to stay with the national team?

I don’t know at this point.  We will see. That is three years away.  I said that I am retired, but it is always tempting to play in the Olympics.

Just outside of the Heat locker room where we are at the moment there is a photo of LeBron and D-Wade and Chris Bosh holding the NBA trophy. Does that motivate you to try to bring another title to Miami in the Goran Dragic years?

Of course. Every season you want to do your best, and would love to hold that trophy up.  In Slovenia no one gave us a chance and you’re always dreaming someday to become a champion. Everything is possible and that is why you work hard and try to get better every day.  And you hope that you will have that unbelievable chemistry with your team that results in being able to achieve your dream.

What do you think the Heat need to do to have a chance to get the trophy in 2018?

We need to rebuild the chemistry we had last year. We need to get back to that mentality. We feel we are on the right track. It’s still early but if we want to be a contender for the title we need to get a lot better.

Early on in your career (before you were a big star) we used to talk about when you would become more of a leader as a veteran and now you are.  As you look back on these past ten years in the league, what have you learned and what do you try to pass down to the newer players?

I know how tough it was for me when I came to the league so I want to help the young guys. I think the most important thing is to be an example for them. And I am now a much more vocal player and teammate. I am talking to the guys and giving them some advice.  When I was young Steve Nash and other veteran players helped me a lot with their advice so now it’s my turn to be in that position and try to help the young guys.

Considering the role that Steve Nash played as a mentor to you, does he continue to be someone in your own mind who you pattern your leadership style after?

Yes, of course. I always like to go back to my beginnings in the NBA and Steve Nash was one of the best and Grant Hill too.  And then in my time here in Miami I learned a lot from D-Wade and Chris Bosh.  These guys are leaders and Hall of Famers. You want to pick from guys like that to develop your own style.

You have been with Eric Spoelstra now for three years.  What sticks out in your mind concerning your relationship with him as player and coach?

He’s a very open guy and great communicator.  He has visited me twice in Slovenia including this year.  It’s a privilege to learn from someone who won two championship rings and I just want to keep improving under his leadership.

When you returned here to Miami after the European Championships, what was the clubs reception to your success?

Everybody was happy for me.  They were all following the games – probably because of me! I think the games were being shown in the treatment room. I had gotten a lot of text messages and tweets. When I got here there was a big poster showing me lifting the trophy and all the team signed it.

How hard was it for you to go from the European competition almost immediately right to Florida and training camp?

It was pretty hard. Physically I was okay but mentally I was pretty burnt out. When you are winning you don’t sleep a lot and you are out celebrating after games. Between all of that and the jet lag I was struggling for a few days.  But now I am totally back in my normal rhythm.

Having had the chance to play with your brother Zoran during his time with Phoenix and then here in Miami, what was the highlight of that for you?

I would say his last game playing for the Heat when he scored 24 points. I was on the bench cheering for him and that was one of the best moments. But also I would have to say in Phoenix the first time we shared the court together in an NBA game. That was truly special.

We have talked about your transition from student to mentor. You had a mentor-relationship with Luka Doncic’s dad Sasa early in your career.

Sasa was my teammate and mentor when I was playing in Slovan and in Union Olimpija.  He was the leader of our team and Luka was a ball boy in those games. So I knew him when he was a kid.  It’s nice to see how life circles back – first playing with the dad and now playing with the son.

Does that make you feel old?

A little bit.