Appreciation for Maccabi Tel Aviv • Separation from Mike James ("I don't care what he tells") • The dream of working as head coach at the BBC ("I moved on") • And his relationship with Popovich ("Special Personality"), Overdovitz '(The best in history'), and Shamir ('brilliant basketball brain') • Exclusive interview with Attura Messina

• Atura Messina. Appreciate the work of Janis Spropoulos

  Photo:

  Danny Maron

Atura Messina is one of the greatest coaches in European basketball history. The 60-year-old coach has four wins in the Euroleague Championships, a silver medal in the European Championships with the Italian team and many other personal and team titles.

Last summer, the Italian coach returned to European basketball after five seasons where he served as Greg Popovich's assistant at the San Antonio Spurs and signed in Milan to bring it back to prom after bad years.

In an exclusive interview we held at the Herods Hotel in Tel Aviv ahead of tonight's game (Thursday, 9:05 pm) of the Italian team against Maccabi Tel Aviv, the legendary coach told Israel Today about the period in the US and what he felt when he was not accepted into the position of head coach at the NBA. Island, flattering Maccabi Tel Aviv, Dan Shamir and Zeliko Overdowitz.

Maccabi Tel Aviv celebrates in front of Barcelona. "I told my players it was an unmatched experience" // Photo: Alan Shiber

"Playing against Maccabi in Yad Eliyahu is always a great experience," he opens. "I told my players that it is an experience like no other in terms of atmosphere, tradition and all the knowledge of Israelis in basketball. Israel is a basketball state, so it is always wonderful."

You've had a lot of great games against Maccabi Tel Aviv over the years, what moment do you remember most?
Of course, the two finals we won with CSKA in 2006 and 2008 are great memories. There is a lot of competition between me and Maccabi throughout the teams and players I coached. We respect each other. "

Messina. "Some Maccabi teams have been able to cover their injuries" // Photo: Danny Maron

You are one of the only coaches in history to have a positive balance in Yad Eliyahu as the opposing team coach. Do you have an explanation for that?
"(Smiling) I had very good teams at the right time."

What do you think about what Maccabi does this year?
"They are playing very well. Janis Spropoulos has left a huge impression on Maccabi since he arrived. He started the process last season and now has an excellent roster and is a very serious candidate for the Final Four."

Scula, roll and crises

Milan has opened the season superbly and has been labeled one of the favorites to reach the Final Four Euroleague, but in the past two months has had a steep decline and the Italians have lost seven of the last ten games.

"I think it has to do with the many injuries we have," Messina explains, "There are teams like Maccabi that were able to cover up the injuries and deal with them, but unfortunately we don't have that ability and we have to fix it. We also have a problem that we don't have the same roster in the league Italian and that's how you play with different faculty at both factories. We're a new team like Maccabi last year. I think that's normal. "

What are your goals for the current season?
"Our goal is to reach the playoffs in the Euroleague. As you know, it is not easy at all, because the competition is very high and probably everything will be determined in the last games. In Italy we want to compete for all the titles."

Didn't you fear bringing 39-year-old Luis Scola as a major player on the team?
"Look, Luis was an important decision for us. We needed a player in his position and we knew he couldn't give us any minutes because he wasn't a magician, but he was important to us because along with Sergio Rodrigues he is a very serious caliber player who decided to play in Milan. Understand that this is a good place for good players. In addition, he is a professional, intelligent and will help us establish the right culture in the club. "

Messina. Admits we missed Europe // Photo: Danny Maron

You also brought in Michael Roll, a player that Maccabi Tel Aviv apparently gave up this summer. Are you satisfied with the decision to join him?
"I really like Michael's personality and his skills. I think he is an excellent professional and he helps us a lot. I am very pleased that we brought him."

A few weeks ago I interviewed Mike James and he said he didn't like Milan's behavior towards him last summer. Can you possibly explain what exactly happened there?
"Mike knows very well why he didn't go on, because I talked to him five times and I told him clearly and explained to him why we didn't want to continue with him. Besides, I don't have much to add because he knows what he needs and what he said, honestly - I don't care. Very good player and I only wish him well. "

No disappointment, frustration

As mentioned, for the past five seasons Messina served as Greg Popovich's assistant in San Antonio and even tried to get the head coach position on several teams, but without success.

Why did you decide to return to Europe?
"I decided to go back as head coach because I missed it. I really enjoyed being an assistant coach for five years, but I had this unique opportunity when Mr. Armani offered me the coaching and professional position, I decided to take it and of course it's completely different. Making the right decisions and everyone makes mistakes, so the most exciting thing about being responsible again is that you choose your team and your people. "

Disappointed when you couldn't find a head coach job at NBC?
"I was fortunate to remain one of the two main candidates for the head coach position several times, and of course when you don't get a job you are frustrated but you move on too. Disappointment is not the right word but frustration. Disappointment is if you thought you had to get the job, but that is not the case. "Because the process is very difficult and complex and only to be considered a finalist is an honor. I also have to win that I was fortunate to eventually go back to work in San Antonio next to Greg Popovich."

Greg Popovich. Spurs' heart and face // Photo: AP

Could the BBC still not be due for a European coach?
"I don't think there is a conspiracy. Sooner or later it will happen and even now there is openness to women from European and European art that will probably come after them. You can see it on the players. 20 years ago there were hardly any Europeans who were able to be MVP candidates at all and last year Janis Antocompo won. 30-40 years ago, almost no Europeans were in the NBA and today more than 25 percent are international players. Maybe 20 years from now there will be 2-3 European coaches in the NBA. "

What's special about Popovich and the San Antonio organization in general?
"It's an organization that does everything an organization needs to do right. There is respect for the people and the roles of the employees. They work together and care about the people in their organization. Popovich is the heart and face of the organization and his personality affects all employees. Basketball is very important to him, but he knows That it is not all in life and that there are many other things equally important. "

Are there differences between European basketball that you left in 2014 and European basketball in 2019-2020?
"Yes, I think Guards took over Europe more and five years ago it was much higher based on it. It would be pick and roll basketball and in that sense European basketball would be very similar to the NBI, of course with the differences that everyone knows."

The rivalry with Overdovich and his friendship with Shamir

Except for a few months with David Blue in Benton Treviso, you never had to coach an Israeli player. Is there any Israeli actor you would like to coach?
"I knew Ketch and Hanfeld very well. I really liked Doron Jamchi and I really enjoyed seeing a lot of Israeli players, but they were always too expensive for me (laughs, YM).

"I have found over the years that it is very difficult to take good Israeli players from Maccabi or Israel. It is as if it is for them NBC or Maccabi, but I had an assistant Israeli coach Dan Shamir who was excellent and I really liked working with him, he is still a friend of mine and I consider him very much, He's one of the brightest minds I've ever met in basketball. "

Dan Shamir. Brilliant basketball brain // Photo: Alan Shaver

Expand a bit on your acquaintance with Dan and on working with him in the CSKA in 2013/14.
"I really liked working with him and I'm very close to him for a simple reason, not because of his knowledge but because of his ability to argue with you. He doesn't tell you what you want to hear. He has his own opinion and personality to voice his views and of course fight them. At the same time, He is loyal and respects the decisions that are also made against his opinion and he goes with them to the end. I think it's a very special thing to find in people. "

In conclusion, your Chup with Zeliko Overdovich is one of the fascinating topics in European basketball. Tell me a little about the athletic rivalry that has been going on for almost 30 years.
"I very much respect Zelico and I consider him a friend, even if we haven't spent much time together. He is certainly the greatest European coach in history not only for his degrees, but for his creativity and ability to stay on top for nearly 30 years. Every decade is something I really respect. "