Tiago Splitter: “I’m not Ivanovic or Popovich, I’m Tiago”
The Paris Basketball head coach spoke about his impact as a coach, the team’s great start to the season, and their expectations.
Tiago Splitter is the coach of the moment in Europe. The former San Antonio Spurs and Baskonia player led Paris Basketball to the top of the Euroleague standings with a spectacular debut season in Europe’s top competition.
The Brazilian coach, with an iconic playing career, appeared on "La Pizarra de Quintana," a Radio Marca program, to talk about Paris’ start to the season, his coaching style and his goals for what promises to be an exciting season.
"It’s a problem. That’s what I told the guys: we have to stay with our feet on the ground and keep that hunger, that desire to play, to get on the field and beat our opponents," Splitter told Radio Marca. "Maybe we don’t have the same pressure as Madrid or Barcelona, who have a much stronger one to get wins. Maybe I don’t have that pressure. It’s also an opportunity for me to work, bring my ideas, play the way I want, make the changes I want without having to deal with the pressure of the media, the club, the soccer team or the fans… and that’s a little bit different," he explained.
Despite being coached by legendary figures such as Dusko Ivanovic and, most importantly, Gregg Popovich, Splitter is very clear that he wants to forge his own identity and personal style.
"There are things, but I’m certainly not Dusko Ivanovic or Gregg Popovich. I am Tiago. I have my own way of being, coaching and conducting games … but you learn a lot about motivation, how to push players. What I saw that worked and was good as a player, I kept it for myself and I try to use it now," Tiago Splitter concluded.