interview
The past few years have been special for basketball players Daniel Theis. With the national team, he won the World Cup gold, among other things, and was an important part of the team. In the NBA he found no team to plan with him for a long time. Now he has decided to leave the USA and play in Europe.
Sports show: Daniel Theis, they are now playing with AS Monaco in the Euroleague and after eight years in the United States in the NBA. How did this decision come about?
Daniel Theis: I think it was less a decision against the NBA, just more for me and my career. The whole business in the NBA is not always easy. With all the trades. If you are alone, it’s not a problem, but with family, with a woman, with children who go to school, it’s not easy. Taking the children out of school and pulling everything out everywhere, packing everything and going to the next city.
Sports show: Her past few years in the NBA have been turbulent, they were often part of player trades. Six teams in five seasons. Finally, they were sent to Oklahoma by the New Orleans Pelicans and released there. How did these years feel for you?
Theis: Turbulent is the right word. Over the years I have learned to see the business page of it. When a trade happens, it is often not against you. But of course you question yourself over the years. Is it up to you? Is it due to basketball, your personality? After the whole years I said to myself that I would like to concentrate 100 percent on basketball. I don’t want to worry if a trade can happen.
Sports show: They also had offers from the NBA and could have stayed in the league.
Theis: I had a few options, one was with the New York Knicks. I could have put myself on the bench, but then I would have been in the same situation in summer. Then what do you have to show in summer so that the next team is signing you?
Sports show: Could there still be a comeback in the NBA for you?
Theis: The topic of NBA is not completely complete for me, but that’s not a must. I am now glad that I decided to go to Monaco.
Sports show: Monaco is in 4th place in Euroleague. What are your goals for this season?
Theis: I personally have the goal of getting to the Final Four. There are definitely some difficult games. But the goal is to play the Euroleague title. With Mike James we have the best Euroleague scorer there is, with Vasilios Spanoulis, a player legend on the sidelines. I’m looking forward to it. Perhaps it boils down to play against Bayern in the playoffs.
Sports show: It is a much and popular topic: What are the basic differences between European basketball and that of the NBA for you?
Theis: Defensive it is simply physical. As a player, you can do more defensively, not everything is whistled. The superstars in the NBA simply have certain advantages, they have developed for years. I think and hope that this is not the case in the Euroleague. The athletics is a little less here.
As Monacos Mike James in action
Sports show: Basketball also differs aggressively. In the NBA there is a lot going on around the stars. The whole team is more involved in Europe.
Theis: I look forward to being a bigger part in the offense. It is not about scort, it is about getting the ball, playing passes. Not as in the NBA, sets a screen and runs up and down.
Sports show: Let’s look again briefly in the NBA: there a message has surprised players, fans and media, partly shocked. Super star Luka Doncic was sent to the Los Angeles Lakers by Dallas. How did you react when you read that?
Theis: Of course I also thought that these were some fake news. I have been saying for years as if you had Panini stickers at the World Cup as a child and then swap a bit. Then the human side simply no longer counts. You can count on one hand or maybe two players who are safe in their teams.
Sports show: Franz Wagner plays his fourth and by far the best season at Orlando Magic. It is becoming more and more a leader. How do you observe its development?
Theis: He plays at an all-star level. What is impressive: he signed a mega contract and he still grabs another one. There are many NBA players who sign such a contract and then maybe do a little less because they think I’m sure I will take care of my body a bit.
Franz has never been like that. Pay attention to his body, extra strength training. His game got better from year to year. He is incredibly good away from the ball, good in cutting, his Euro-Step when he puts his body in between. It is big, he uses perfectly to complete the basket.
