By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Toronto Raptors emerging as a possible option for Sergio Scariolo fell shy of impacting his job at Virtus Segafredo Bologna.
Scariolo, 62, talked about the recent months in a press conference held Tuesday.
“I don’t think it is necessary to confirm my presence because I still have another year left on my contract which is the thing that matters and determines,” he stressed.
After spending three years in Toronto as an assistant coach, the Italian tactician penned a three-year contract to take over the team based in Bologna in 2021. The Raptors resurfacing listed him as a potential replacement for Nick Nurse. However, Serbian Darko Rajakovic was eventually named the new head coach of the lone NBA franchise based in Canada.
“This interest on the part of the Raptors that Virtus was aware of, and which I have to thank for not hindering me, understanding that it could be something of a different size and color than normal, allowing it, without affecting the performance, in fact coinciding with the best performance of the whole season,” Scariolo described recent events, “Other teams have also shown appreciation for my work is something you can be pleased with, but until it translates, which it didn’t, into a conversation that, when you have a contract you can’t produce, it’s something more for journalists. There’s no point in talking about things that didn’t get to the concrete stage because they could have gotten there only after the season was over.”
Sergio Scariolo reveals talks on contract extension
Besides being considered by the Raptors for the head-coaching position, Virtus Bologna offered a contract extension.
“It is true that a couple of months ago Dr. Zanetti, whom we thank for his presence and generosity, asked me for my availability to extend my experience in Virtus. I told him a couple of aspects to clarify this availability existed and exists,” he said, “In these days reflecting on the new economic scenario in which the company will have to move, I instructed my representatives to also be willing to make a certain sacrifice on the compensation already agreed and formalized for the contract of the coming year, in case the idea of the extension came up. If it does not come no one should have any doubts about my and my staff’s commitment, about this last season of my contract, because I conceive of being a professional and reputable person who gives everything on the cause he defends until the last second and it is right that it should be so.”
Press conference (Italian)
The 2023-24 season will feature a second straight campaign in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, besides domestic competitions in Italy. Wrapping up the Regular Season at 14-20, the team coached by Scariolo was five games shy of a playoff berth and ranked 14th overall returning to Europe’s premier club continental competition after 15 years.