By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Head coach Pablo Laso, a son of Vitoria-Gasteiz who has brought Real Madrid basketball back to continental glory during eight seasons that include two Turkish Airlines EuroLeague titles, is the latest guest of his former teammate, Joe Arlauckas, on The Crossover.
Laso, who continues to hold Spanish League records from his 18-year playing career, including the most assists ever in that competition, has had even better success as a coach, leading Madrid to 16 different trophies in his eight seasons on the bench.
“When you talk about championships, of course, you’re very proud of what you get, as a coach and as a team, but for me, the best recognition is the people,” Laso says. “When you go to el palacio to watch a game, you see all the people who support the team, every game is packed, the atmosphere… And even away from Spain people recognize yours as a great team, a team they love to watch. You go to Tel Aviv, and people say ‘I love to watch your team.’ That recognition for me is even better than the titles.”
Madrid had gone 20 years without winning the EuroLeague until Laso led Madrid to the trophy on its own court in 2015. Last spring, three years later, an injury-plagued campaign finished with Laso and his players celebrating another continental title that they are seeking to defend again this season if they can make it to the Final Four in his hometown, Vitoria-Gasteiz.
“I always try to make my team understand that the first day of practice is as important as the last game of the season,” Laso tells Arlauckas. “Of course, the last game of the season is probably what will judge you. But if you want to arrive to that last judgement day in a good position, let’s say you have to do your homework. And your homework starts the first day that you start practicing.”
With a one-hour format of exclusive one-on-one interviews, The Crossover with Joe Arlauckas goes well beyond the playing court with each podcast to delve into the life experiences that have made his guests protagonists and legends of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
The Crossover debuted with Olympiacos Piraeus head coach David Blatt and has since featured Nikola Vujcic of Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv, Nick Calathes of Panathinaikos OPAP Athens and Robertas Javtokas of Zalgiris Kaunas, among others.
The Crossover with Joe Arlauckas is available on iTunes, Audioboom, Spotify, Deezer, iVoox, RadioPublic, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, CastBox and other platforms.
Source: EuroLeague