The state of form Alex Abrines It is one of the good news for the team, which this Saturday will face the last friendly against the Dominican Republic (22:00, La 1), before facing the World Cup in a week. the eaves of Barça could not be in 2019, in the last World Cup due to injuries or in the Eurobasket del 2022but he did go to the tokyo games. Also, as has happened to Ricky Rubio, He had to take a break and temporarily leave basketball to take care of his mental health, after suffering from anxiety problems during his time in the NBA. That happened in 2019 and after a few months away from the courts he left Oklahoma and returned to Barça, where he has recovered his best level after four seasons. Just turned 30, the Mallorcan forward feels prepared to contribute to the outside line of the team that will defend the title won in 2019 in Beijing.
-From your experience, how do you assess Ricky’s decision to step aside to take care of his mental health?
I think it’s the right decision. Obviously I talked to Ricky. He asked me for advice because the situation was a bit similar to what I had experienced and my advice was to put himself in the hands of professionals and that what was important was him. He has to be okay with himself and he has made the decision that is best for his health. I was in the same situation and until I got rid of basketball and began to look at everything with perspective, I did not begin to relativize the problem I had.
-He returns to the national team after assuming a key role in the League title with Barça. At what point in his career is he?
-I think that I am in a moment of important maturity. This year, for whatever reason, because each year you gain experience, perhaps also because of the stoppage of the injury in December, which meant that I wasn’t so overloaded at the end of the season, I’m in a good moment. Confidence is everything and now I believe it a little more. If you are at a good offensive and defensive level, in the end you enter a streak that is difficult to get out of and ambition makes you always seek to go one step further. I know I’ve played very well this season, but that doesn’t mean anything right now. Now I’m with the national team and this starts again.
Ricky asked me for advice because his situation is similar to the one I experienced. He has made the decision that is best for his health.”
-But he has also improved on a defensive level, Has Jasikevicius helped him?
– I think that for years there has been an evolution in my game. But this year, perhaps because of the configuration of the team, I have had to sacrifice myself, a little more and I don’t mind scoring zero points and defending the best of the rival, as Musa could have been in the final. We had many players with points in their hands, like Lapro or Mirotic, and I do what the team asks me to do, be it scoring or defending.
-His last appearance was in the Tokyo Games and although he has achieved some medals (the bronze in Rio, the bronze in Eurobasket 2017), he has missed some of the great successes.
-It’s true, I’ve left the big gold by the way and you look at it with a bit of envy. You come to think: ‘Let’s see if I’m jinxed when I come to the national team. What if it’s my fault?’ But in the end it’s not just up to you. I am here to try to do my best and there are 12 of us who made it to the competition and each one has to contribute their grain of sand. This is not a selection like others in which a single player can decide.
We have to compete for gold, but everything starts from humility. We don’t have to go to our heads to have won so many golds and medals”
-Return to a team that is world champion, European champion and number one in the ranking.
The truth is that the level is high. There isn’t a differential player, like Pau Gasol could be, but I think we all reached a medium-high level. Maybe Willy is the only one who is a little above the rest. But we all have a high level of competitiveness, we are able to add in attack and defense and not depend on anyone.
-With what mentality do you face the World Cup?
-We have to compete and try to bring home the gold without losing sight of the Olympic qualification. The first thing Sergio (Scariolo) told us is how the bookmakers are and Spain is between sixth and eighth. They don’t value us much, but in the end we have to leave with humility. Obviously we have shown in recent decades that we are probably the most solid team in terms of being there every year competing and winning. But everything starts from humility. We don’t have to get into our heads having won so many golds and medals. If we get past the group stage, we’ll play against really difficult opponents, so we’ll have to try not to drag any defeat for the first matches. The reality is that in terms of talent, I think we are inferior to many teams, but in terms of team and teamwork, no one beats us.
-Which rivals cause you more respect?
-United States, it may not bring the big names, but as was seen in Malaga, it is always a favourite; Canada has a very good team, Slovenia, France, Germany, Serbia… in the end there are many teams that are there with options to compete. Obviously I include us in that group of candidates. Through the past, through the way we play, we have shown that we are a very difficult team to beat and that is our strength: chemistry, the group, is what makes the family. That is our forte.
You have to look with respect and confidence at the new stage that is opening with Grimau. Very good signings have arrived and hopefully he will do an excellent job.”
-He was the only Barça player when the call-up was made and the summer market brought him a few teammates with whom he will share a dressing room.
-The truth is that I am very happy, because in the end I think the line is clear: having a Spanish block for many years and well, and I think the first step has been taken this year. It is a group of six or seven Spaniards, plus Satoransky and Laprovittola, who are also like Spaniards. I think it is a group that can be together for many years and at the highest level. In the end, the team that won the Euroleague in 2010 had a lot of people from here. In the end, having a Spanish nucleus, at home, is very important. In that sense, we take a leap in quality.
It’s been a strange summer. They barely enjoyed the title and the departure of Mirotic and Jasikevicius was already confirmed and then the signings of Parra, Willy Hernangómez and Brizuela have arrived. How have you lived it?
-It all happened very quickly. About Saras (Jasikevicius), about Niko (Mirotic). As captain you try to get a little more involved and I knew a little more or less what the line was going to be. Niko is a great player, but I understand both parties. He had a contract that was not tenable. Saras is perhaps one of the best trainers. But you have to look with respect and confidence at the new stage that is opening with Roger Grimau. Very good signings have arrived and I hope Roger does an excellent job. He is a completely different trainer than Saras, a bit more calm. And as for how he is going to react, it is a bit unknown, because it is not the same to be in the first team. But everyone respects him simply for what he has done as a player and what he means for the club and if you have the respect of the players, the rest goes by itself.
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2023-08-19 10:11:23
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