LThe NBA also played a leading role during the second day of the MARCA Sport Weekend that is being held in Seville. As representatives, two relevant figures on and off the courts such as the former player Dino Radja and Technician Neal Meller.
Radja is nostalgic for his time because of the defensive toughness that has now been lost by the spectacle: “The matches seem like an All Star Game. The referees whistle a lot. In the nineties there was a tougher game in which less was whistled But people like what they like. The business is expanding like that and you have to accept it. In today’s basketball, Jordan scores 50 points on a bad day. ”
The Croatian, who was part of the historical Jugoplastika, a team without foreigners, emphasizes that “now it will be impossible to win what was won without foreigners.” Likewise, it is clear to him that a team of the best Europeans would be in a position to surpass any of the United States’ dream teams: “If we Europeans have something, it’s talent. Nobody beats us at that.”
Radja, in his appearance in Seville, revealed that Boza Maljkovic had him signed for Madrid: “I had already retired and there was a verbal agreement that ultimately did not bear fruit. I would have liked to play in Spain“.
On the recent retirement of Pau Gasol, the pvot had words praising the Spaniard’s career: “What he achieved with the Lakers and the national team is there. He has been one of the greats.”
For his part, Meller recognized the importance of the European player in the current NBA: “If I had to build a team from scratch, I would sign Doncic, Antetokounmpo or Curry. The style of American basketball has changed and this has favored the adaptation of the European player“.
