Tiago Splitter on choosing Paris: “I felt ready, I’m excited”

By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net

Tiago Splitter must have experienced worse months than his July 2024.

First getting to the Olympic Games by helping out the Brazilian national team as Aleksandar Petrovic’s assistant coach and then staying in Paris for his first-ever head coaching job, the past few weeks have been unforgettable for the former Houston Rockets assistant.

Talking with Yann Ohnona from L’Equipe, he explained why starting from the French capital. “David Kahn knew Marcelinho Huertas, a lifelong friend of mine, with whom I continue to rub shoulders in the national team. I was talking with him and I saw an opportunity”, he first revealed.

“I initiated contact. They were surprised to learn that I was considering a return to Europe. I was open, I felt ready because I wanted to take the step and become a head coach. They liked my speech, my energy, what I do, and my knowledge of the game”, he shared regarding the conversations with Paris.

Tiago Splitter spoke about what will the be his approach to this new challenge. “I’m excited, a little anxious, impatient to get started, to see the guys, to start teaching them things. I told them that I didn’t intend to turn everything upside down, that I was aware that they had something special here, and that it would be stupid to change everything”, he commented.

Continuing on that topic, he praised his predecessor. “Hats off to him for having accomplished so much in such a short time. It will probably be more difficult to implement all his concepts in the NBA, but I wish him the best. I will try to continue the work he has done here by adding my own touch.”, the Brazilian coach spoke about Tuomas Iisalo, who’s heading to the Memphis Grizzlies as assistant coach.

Finally, the former NBA center commented on Paris’ rookie year in the EuroLeague. “We will have one of the youngest teams and we will be the outsiders. We will have to have good strategies. We don’t expect to aim for the Final Four, but we will fight in every game, I can guarantee that”, he said.

“France is growing at an unimaginable pace in basketball… It’s the future of Europe, I’m convinced of it”, Tiago splitter also commented about the level of basketball within the country.

PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

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