By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Lille, France – Daniel Theis recorded a game-high efficiency rating of 25, powering Germany to a win against Japan on Saturday. The reigning FIBA World Cup champions went up to 1-0 in Group B of the preliminary round of the Olympic Games.
“I think we had a good couple of weeks of preparation. We knew it was going to be a hard game. Japan never gives up. Even if they are down 15, they come back,” he talked to Eurohoops about the necessary effort for the first win in the tournament, “We know we can not relax, we can not save any energy. It is because they play 40 minutes, and I think we did a pretty good job.”
Among the medal contenders in France, Theis believes Germany faces additional challenges after winning the World Cup last summer.
“I think we kind of got a target on our back. Everybody wanted to be the world champion,” he mentioned, “One of our biggest strengths is we never underestimate any opponent. We did not do it last year. We have not done it this year. Whoever we played, we never took anybody light. So we take everybody seriously, and that is a big strength for us.”
Theis finished with 18 points behind 7/7 field goals alongside seven rebounds in the opener of the Olympic tournament.
💪🇩🇪 Big men took matters into their own hands to lead Germany to the W!#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/fvWlhL5vwq
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) July 27, 2024
“It was the first game, and we get better every game. So now we can enjoy this one. And tonight, or tomorrow morning, we start looking at the next game at Brazil,” he mentioned referring to the clash versus Brazil on Tuesday.
👏🇩🇪 Germany starts with the right foot beating Japan by 20 points! pic.twitter.com/KDZ718brdR
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) July 27, 2024
After 414 games played in the NBA, the 32-year-old big recently signed with the New Orleans Pelicans as an unrestricted free agent.
“I think FIBA is more physical, but the refs let players play,” he compared international basketball to the league based in North America, “When you set a tone from the beginning, they let you play. And that is our identity, too. Especially in the defensive end, we do not want to give up any easy.”
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL