Ivan Rakitic He was born in Möhlin, in Switzerland, since his parents emigrated from Croatia due to the problems in the former Yugoslavia. Although Rakitic played in the lower categories of the Swiss national team, he ended up being international with Croatia, a country he has represented in three European Championships and two World Cups. But if there is something that Rakitic has become, it is a Sevillano, something that the player himself has recognized on many occasions. “I was not born a Sevillian, but I will die a Sevillian”says the Sevilla FC footballer in the NBA documentary ‘Hoop Cities’.
The world’s largest basketball league re-launched content related to Europe to enhance the product NBA in the old continent. With this intention he made documentaries about European cities with a very close relationship with basketball such as Paris, Bologna, Cologne, Istanbul, Belgrade, Kaunas and Thessaloniki. These cities are joined by Seville, where Rakitic is one of the protagonists of the documentary.
“It has to do with the way in which basketball engages. Not only is the game of interest, but also the spectacle. That is the big difference with football, there is time for the ‘show’ and it is a great achievement, since you can spend a whole afternoon with your friends and family”, explained the Sevilla player about his love of basketball.
“Being able to have access to all the training sessions and all the details of the teams, through media and social networks, seems outrageous… It’s very interesting and you can even bring ideas and things to your territory, like I did in the football,” the Croatian continued, referring to the opening of the NBA through social networks and its media.
The episode focused on Sevilla of the documentary series ‘Hoop Cities’ can be seen, under subscription, on the NBA website. It reviews the history of basketball in Seville and emphasizes the Croatian connection with the Petrovics. Aleksandar Petrovic achieved a historic milestone for Sevillian basketball, reaching the ACB runner-up position with Caja San Fernando in the 1995/96 season.
“As children we always heard things about Drazen Petrovic. In Croatia, even if you didn’t like basketball, you knew what was going on. He was the great figure, the personification of basketball in our country,” Rakitic explained in the documentary.
“Then, on top of that, our country had a lot of continuity in the NBA, with the luck that Toni Kukoc played for the best team in history and with the great teacher… So, it’s normal for you to get hooked!” croatian soccer player
The financial problems of CB Sevilla almost cost its demise in 2016, when the Real Betis and took over the team. The Sevilla player also spoke about this in the documentary, who does not go to the San Pablo Pavilion for logical reasons. “We’re not going to go too far into topics about the team, which is complicated (laughing). Seriously now, of course I follow it and I like that Seville breathes more and more basketball. I love playing with the girls in home, we have a basket in the garden. It’s very nice to see clubs that take care of all sports. When I was at Barça I loved being able to get closer and watch basketball, handball and all the sections. It’s a very good initiative”, Rakitic said.
More recently, players who are stars today like Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangómez, recent MVP of the EuroBasket.
In addition to Rakitic, Isabel Sánchez, Canales, Raúl Pérez or Porzingis himself appear in the aforementioned documentary.
BASKETBALL ❤️???? SEVILLE
Art, culture, sport.
Rakitic, Canales, Porzingis, Raúl Pérez, Isa Sánchez, etc.
NOW AVAILABLE! #NBAHoopCities
— NBA Spain (@NBAspain) October 20, 2022
