Denzel Valentine: “Coach Messina taught me a lot”
Denzel Valentine talks about his time at Olimpia Milano and his time with coach Ettore Messina.
Pallacanestro Trieste player Denzel Valentine gave an interview to Basketball Sphere, in which he talked about his time with Olimpia Milano.
Denzel Valentine’s words on his experience in Milan: “After seven years in the NBA, my agent advised me to change and try something new, so I went to Australia. That experience was a stepping stone for me as I went to Milan the following year. I am very happy I made that decision because I won a championship and had the opportunity to see how a well-organised club works. Daily training, a high level of competition: it all helped me grow as a player. It was a wonderful experience”.
On Ettore Messina: “What impressed me most was the concentration and competitive spirit that the coach brought to the team. He tried to push every player to be the best they could be every day, striving for perfection. In a way, his approach reminded me of the qualities I saw in my college coaches. He demanded excellence and I learnt a lot from him about how to approach the game with a great mentality. That experience taught me a lot about discipline and consistency”.