Gigi Datome shared his thoughts on EuroBasket 2025, where Italy is among the competing teams. He expressed his aspirations and insights in an interview about the tournament.
Datome emphasized the importance of being ready to seize opportunities, drawing inspiration from the success of the Italian women’s team that won bronze.
“Is this Italy team worthy of a medal at the European Championships? Why not. It’s my dream, I hope so. I didn’t manage it as a player, although with France, Germany, Serbia, Greece, Lithuania, Turkey, Spain, Latvia, and Slovenia, how can you keep one out?
But it’s also true that the goal is to be there, ready to seize the opportunity, like the girls who won bronze did. Still short under the basket? In fact, if we think about make-or-break games, we’ve always had to deal with Valanciunas, Marjanovic, and others.
This year, however, we have Diouf, a player who’s been missing for years and who allows us to use Melli as a “4,” so as not to have him exhausted under the basket where he has to battle with bigger centers. And then we have a whole series of small and big forwards who interchange.”
Regarding leadership on the team, Gigi Datome added:
“If we’re talking about points, it’s undoubtedly Fontecchio, but there are different ways to be a leader. Captain Melli and Pajola are also leaders: three key players. I’m not saying this to put pressure on them, but because they’re the leaders due to their commitment and their status as players. And they’re role models for the young players who look up to them.”
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