“America can be defeated by its own stars, why not?”

Daniel Theis (Salzgitter, Germany, 1992) can tell us firsthand how different reality is between the two worlds. FIBA and NBA basketballSometimes two parallel realities can never meet.

Plus four different teams in the three years between them Celtics, Bulls, Rockets and Pacersthe German center was forced to resign from anonymity last year with Indiana – just 7 games despite returning from his mid-season injury – and go from that ostracism to being the anchor for world champion Germany last summer.

However, the extent to which other heroes are also able to rely on their teams, e.g Willy Hernangomezthe NBA didn't care what he was going to do in the FIBA ​​Championship and continued to be ostracized by the Pacers.

But the Clippers echoed the great World Cup and Tyrone Lawwho likes tough, tough guys like Theis, recruited him and the German also feels his importance again in the NBA, with good numbers off the bench of 6.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in 17 minutes with 54% on field goals and 40% In a trio.

“The World Cup gave me the joy of playing basketball,” Daniel Theis admitted in his interview with MD, and he is convinced that Team USA She won't be unbeatable with her stars at the Games.

Just three months ago he complained about his few minutes with the Pacers, today he has an important role in a franchise candidate like the Clippers. When you compare your situation with your situation at that time, what do you think?

I'm very happy to be here, playing on a team like this a ring favorite and next to future Hall of Famers like PG (Paul George), Kawhi and Ross, it makes it easier. I want to keep growing and winning.

What makes Tyronn Lue so special about communicating with players?

The fact that he is a former player makes it easier, he understands the needs of the player, especially when we have a team that is a little old. He pays attention to detail, we do individual work to improve as a team, we watch videos… he makes everyone feel accountable. That's how you earn the respect of a locker room, big names and a team that wants to win. Everyone listens to him.

How has the fantastic World Cup you played with Germany, including the title, affected you this season?

You obviously take it with joy. With the success of the summer, I personally found joy in basketball again. When you're part of a successful team, it obviously makes it easier and you want to keep growing and winning.

“If you want to win a medal, you can't give up because Team USA brings the stars.”

Considering cases like yours, who hasn't played much in recent years, and Dennis Schröder, who won an MVP award but never started for the Raptors, do you feel that German players are underappreciated in the NBA?

I don't think of it that way. Dennis has been in the NBA for 10-11 years and has always played incredibly well whether he was off the bench or not, playing 25 or 30 minutes. If you look at the brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner, they are great players. I don't see anyone underestimating his value.

Germany has already qualified for the Olympic Games. The USA hasn't lost at the Olympics since 2004. Do you think if there was ever a chance to defeat Team USA with its stars, it's now?

Yes why not?. I don't understand why there's no chance if you go to the Olympics. You want to win a medal and you want to go for a reason, you can't give up because Team USA brings the stars. You have to have fun and do your best.

At the World Cup, the two NBA powerhouses, the United States and Canada, were eliminated from the final. Given this, do you think European basketball is closing the gap with the NBA?

I think European basketball has always been there. When you look at the last 20 years, European teams have always been there, like Serbia, Spain… but it's different when a team brings in different players in one year.

Is European basketball doing anything better than the NBA to continue closing the gap?

European teams benefit from playing together in the youth ranks and staying together for a period of time. When you look at Spain and the great generation they had with Gasols and Navarro, they were together for 15 years or so, so it depends on the continuity of the young players.

European teams also have tests. The United States and Canada have to pay a lot of players (to go to the national team), while in European teams you still have to come for tryouts, you still have to compete for a position.

Do you see differences between NBA players and European players in the way they understand basketball as they grow up? (As requested by Gigantes del Basket)

Maybe it will help some players to play in the Euroleague when they are younger like Luka (Doncic), who played when he was 16 and came here ready to play. It took Giannis (Antetokounmpo) longer because he didn't play high-level basketball in Europe, and it took him two years to master it.

I don't see a pattern, it depends on how hard you work and how much talent you have. I think the big difference is that when you get to the league, you have to keep working, and you can't be satisfied with what you did (get to the NBA).