The Heat’s wing, the only Italian now in NBA, is the star of the Pozzecco team: “Apart from the Greece of Antetokounmpo in the group we play it with all. I like to have responsibility, it is a push and I have fun”
Serene, concentrated. Ready to unleash his fury on the pitch. Simone Fontecchio, the only Italian player in NBA, today at Miami Heat, is the offensive point of reference of the Pozzecco national team. A role that has always honored with anthology performance. And he couldn’t wait to take it back.
Last year he skipped the pre -olmentary for injury, did he miss the blue?
“I missed the national team, the group. We are well, we enjoy being together. For the NBA rules I could train with the team only from 30, but I agree with the staff, I still came before. Seeing the pre -olmentary with plaster last year was a suffering. I feel a sense of responsibility that gives me a great push”.
Three friendlies, three successes and a growing individual performance. How does the blue summer proceed?
“More than for games, I’m happy for how we are preparing. Everyone, from the first day, have always trained very well: there is the right mentality, intensity, energy. This is the most important thing”.
“More or less the group is always the same, but this year, rightly, in my opinion, the CT has chosen to give much more responsibilities to young people, who deserve it. Spanish, with whom I had trained even in July, Niang, Diodida, Procida. Leaving the bench can give us an energy and an athleticism that we certainly were missing before. a lot “.
What coach is Pozzecco?
“He is the perfect coach for a national team, because in the short time we have available, he manages to instill in us what are his ideas and his vision of basketball, and manages to make you serene and light in a summer that still sees us far from families”.
What does it mean for you to be the first offensive terminal of this national team?
“For me it is an honor, and then it is fun, because it is not the role that I now have in NBA. I like to take these responsibilities and at the same time it is a challenge. I try to use this period of preparation, games and training to improve as much as possible and take confidence to get to the European Championship as efficient as possible”.
In the qualifying group there will be great opponents. From Greece of Antetokounmpo to Spain. How do they face?
“We all know that it is a very particular and difficult group. In my opinion it must be faced one game at a time. Probably, the Greece that I think is a step above the others, and the Cyprus is the part below, the other four teams that remain are more or less of the same level. It will be tough and you have to be careful not to make mistakes those games there”.
Between Doncic and Jokic, who would take away from the European Championship?
“Serbia is already a very strong team, but with Jokic also becomes almost unbeatable. It is nice that the NBA stars respond present to the national team, for the show and for the event. A little less for us who have to face them (laugh)”.
In 2022 with France in the quarterfinals wasted an incredible opportunity: we must make sure that it was not our only opportunity
Do you still think about the elimination of the quarterfinals against France in 2022? Weight or stimulus?
“When we think about it, it hurts. Seen, you realize that it was an incredible opportunity: we would have met Poland in the semifinal and, as we were playing, I think we would have won. We cannot change the past: we just have to make sure that it was not our only occasion”.
Where can this national team arrive?
“Within us we know what we are worth and work to get to the maximum result, we will make ourselves ready. Now we are many to be at a high level of experience, we are in the” first “of our career. One can think” now or never again “, but I hope that there are opportunities this summer and also in the future”.
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