By Nikos Varlas/ info@eurohoops.net
Eurohoops TV is back hosting another star player. There isn’t a need for introductions when we’re talking about Sergio Llull. Real Madrid’s leader, one of the top and most successful players of European basketball’s modern era and one of the most pleasant characters.
Llull has already offered dozens of great moments with his capability to sink clutch shots. He certainly is the only player to reject the opportunity to join an NBA organization in multiple occasions despite the Houston Rockets continuously knocking on his door, because he prefers to remain in Europe playing for his favorite team.
Talking to Eurohoops about the Rockets and their interest for his services, which resurfaced recently via GM Daryl Morey, he proved once again that the NBA team is way behind Real.
His basketball roots within his family that sealed his future, the day at a young age that everyone witnessed the birth of a top-notch scorer, the most difficult and at the same time sweet season with Madrid and his predictions for the EuroLeague Final Four.
The five toughest opponents he’s ever faced, his pets, how he imagines himself in ten years and his comment on Panathinaikos OPAP. Enjoy the 31-year-old Spaniard sincere discussion with Eurohoops and Nikos Varlas.
– Can you tell me the day or the era at your youth that you realized basketball is what you want to do in your life? What made you love the game and dedicate yourself to it?
“Since childhood, in the family, we have always lived basketball very closely. My father was a basketball player, my grandfather was a coach and it runs in the family. I started playing when I was 5 in my school, in Menorca, in my homeland. When you are young you never think that you can become a professional but luckily I could dedicate myself to what I like the most”.
– You are always with a smile on your face. You seem to always bring positive energy! Is that true and how different is Sergio Llull off the court? What you love to do more in your personal life?
“I think it’s important to be a kind, smiling person, be an optimist and have that good energy. Personally, I think that I am privileged playing basketball and getting paid for it. I think you have to enjoy life and basketball and, off the court, I try to do the same. Spend time with my wife, my family, my daughter and do the things that a normal guy does. Go to the movies, go to dinner and a few more things”.
– When did you realize that you are gifted at shooting the ball with a unique style? You always had that kind of confidence level executing naturally or it’s something that was built day to day trough hard work? Maybe when you scored 71 as a kid?!
“Well, I believe that trust comes by itself. When you get experience through the years you become a better player, you control everything that happens in a basketball court and when you have confidence, you want those last shots. You want to take on that responsibility and try to help the team in the best possible way. The 71 points day was a game I played in Menorca. It was awesome, I saw the basket as a swimming pool. Also, we could win the game, so it was great”.
– Previous season’s story looks like a fairytale for you and Madrid. You got the shock of injury and overcame a big road for your comeback. That comeback happened at the most crucial stage of season… The team had so many injuries, but at the end you guys won it all! Was that season the hardest at the beginning and the sweetest one of your life so far with the way it ended?
“Yes, probably yes. It was a difficult season for the whole team and for me, personally. I was out almost the entire season with serious knee injury. In the end, I think we all arrived well to the important moment. We arrived with confidence. We were able to make a good playoff series against Panathinaikos, winning at home. Then, in the Final Four and in the ACB league, we played very well and deserved to win”.
– All last years Madrid is clearly the boss in Spain. This season Barcelona has won the four out of five derbies. How can you explain it and is this something that has hurt your athletic ego as players and as team?
“It is clear that Barça is having a great season. Lately, it seems that they know how to beat us. They have won us more times during this year, including the Cup final. But hey, this is very long season. Whenever you play against Barça it is a special game, a game that everyone loves to play. Probably, we will play against them again, hopefully in the league final, and I wish we can win”.
– What’s your Final Four predictions?
“It’s difficult to make a prediction about the Final Four. There are many great teams that can make the playoffs and can beat anyone. I believe that Fenerbahce and CSKA will be there for sure, I also expect Real Madrid in the Final Four and. The fourth team, I guess that will be Efes or Barcelona, which is the other matchup”.
– Everybody knows EuroLeague will increase its teams next season and probably at 2020-21 we will have 20 teams and 38 game days! At the same moment you guys playing at the most competitive national league, ACB. How do you imagine the following seasons, do you thing it will be tough for players to respond?
“That’s true. Everyone looks for their own interests and sometimes, the players, who I think are the most important part of basketball, aren’t asked about this type of changes. But I think it’s something that is not approved yet and I don’t know if in the future there will be a league of 20 teams or not. So we have to try to be professional, train hard to win games and try to win titles, which is what we like to do and then celebrate with our fans”.
– Give me the best five players and the best among them you have faced as opponents through your career. You can’t pick from teammates!
“Five players”…
– Yes, take your time!
“I have had the opportunity to play against great players and telling you just five is complicated. But I would start with Juan Carlos Navarro, who has been one of the most difficult players to defend! Also Spanoulis. Tony Parker, when I faced France with the National Team and he is also a very difficult player to defend. There are many… Bogdanovic, who is now playing in Sacramento, is also a great player, and Calathes, who is playing really good basketball. I would choose those five because I had to defend them and I know how difficult it was”.
– Today, we can call you the best player in the world among guys that haven’t played in the NBA. And it’s clearly your decision so far, you had the chance to taste yourself at the best league in the world. You are the only top EuroLeague player that had the chance to go and didn’t. Please give me the main reason for your unique case and how do u see now this option at your 31?
“I have said it many times. I’m very happy at Real Madrid, it’s where I want to be. It’s where I feel affection from the fans, from the people who work in the club with us and what I want is to win titles and fight for winning the Copa del Rey, the EuroLeague and the ACB league. I think I’m in the perfect place for that and here is where I want to be right now”.
– How do you imagine Sergio Llull in 2030 and how your love about dogs started to get established?
“Since I was a kid I have always had a dog at home. From a very, very young age. I think it gives you very good energy, it is a very affectionate animal. When you are traveling for four days, playing games on the road, you arrive home and you are always greeted with a smile. It is an animal that I really like and I am sure that in 2030 I will continue having a dog as a pet because it is something that I like. And I will probably be already retired from basketball in 2030. I will be 43 years old, I hope to have formed a family and continue enjoying sports, but from another perspective”.
– Do you think you will be able to leave without doing anything related to basketball when you retire?
“Hey, one day it has to arrive. You can’t play professional basketball your entire life. I hope it still takes a long time until that moment. I am only 31 and I want to enjoy many more years playing basketball. But when it arrives, I think I won’t have any problem in adapting to that situation and I will try to be linked to basketball but in a different way”.
– Did you expect that kind of comeback from Panathinaikos for the playoffs race?
“I think Panathinaikos is a rival that you should always keep in mind. You can never relax against them. Now they have six wins in a row, they are fighting to make the playoffs, they are a very physical and a very hard team that is always more motivated at home with those great fans”.
Enjoy Llull’s full interview on Eurohoops TV: