In 2000, Carlos Delfino appeared like a thunder in the basketball scene. He was known by some, but his 14-games experience in the National League made him relatively new to the vast majority. However, his time came during the Pan-American U21, which took place in Ribeirao Preto, wherein he helped a team, also integrated by Luis Scola, to win the championship. A lot of time has passed by; an Olympic gold medal, his arrival to NBA, and his recent trade to the Toronto Raptors.

It seems as if this year could be a turning point in your career: first, your trade to the Raptors in the NBA, which appears to be a good move for you, and more recently, your new role as the leader of the newest version of Team Argentina.

Yes, I feel very optimistic, because it seems to be the beginning of a good year. Been traded to Toronto was positive, no matter the outcome. It doesn’t matter if I play fine or not, I just wanted to get out of Detroit. Not because they treated me bad, but because I felt trapped, without any chance available. I felt discouraged, and the fact of changing environments, and to be in a place like Toronto, full of foreigners, and a coach that likes to use young players, and who doesn’t commit to a few, it doesn’t happens everyday. It is a good opportunity to change, indeed.

There is also the thing about the National team that, because of the sad issue about some players having declined to play for the team, I get to have more exposition in our quest of reaching a spot in the Olympics Games.

What went through your mind every time you opened a newspaper and discovered that another player had turned down the national team’s gig in Las Vegas?

Every time a player stepped out it meant another hurdle for us. Each soldier that goes down makes everything more difficult. This was a strong team, fully armored, and I always said that the more time we get to keep it together, the best it would be for Argentina. It is also truth that a renovation is needed, and all that jazz, but if you have a Ferrari 70, and its engine is working alright, you can definitely take on a Mercedes 2000. I lived the last few years, by the way I’m one of the younger players, but every time I heard of someone’s quitting, it hurt a bit; but at the same time, I have only but respect for all of them. From the one that can’t play because of an injury, to those who just want to rest. Each one has his own right, since the seasons are getting progressively more demanding and the life-span of a player is short. It isn’t bad either to take care of our tool of work. One just has to respect the effort that this group gave to our country. I was sure I wanted, and was more than willing, to play. If I were in doubt, it has nothing to do with fatigue but with issues outside of the court. I had doubts, mainly because of the issue with the knee, but I never said that I wanted to quit. I knew that, when time came, I would be ready, because I love to play for my national team, and it’s still makes me proud to put on a national uniform.

This question is for your heart, does it bother you all this talk about those who aren’t going, instead of those who are?

Yes, with all due respect to those who aren’t going, it isn’t good, both for the fans and the public in general, to talk every time about those who will not be present. I think that we have to support those who will be. Who can, or those who can't, be part of the team, it doesn’t matter to me because I’ll be present. If I weren’t, I’d still say the same. We’ve been talking about those who aren’t going for three month, and counting. It seems to me that it would be better if we just concentrate on the ones that are going and that’s it, instead of being so negative. I’m not jealous; I don’t need someone to give me some pats on the back, but realizing that there were representatives from the Argentinean Basketball Confederation flying to try and convince people who didn’t want any part of this, it surely creates some discomfort because I think that you have to take care of those who do want to represent their country. There’s no need to cry over those who aren’t going; one just has to look for alternatives and move on.

Anyway, there aren’t that many teams who can have the luxury of presenting a roster with you, Scola or Nocioni.

Indeed. One thing is true, if we went with our Olympic or World Championship team, and have to play against USA in the semi-finals, we would encounter the same problems. It’s a sneaky tournament, wherein you have to avoid the local team during the semi-finals. The rest of the teams, we are in the same level as them. It is also true that if we had our complete roster with us, we could be above some of them, inspiring more respect. But those who are making the trip, although lacking on experience when compared with the golden generation, they do have the talent and the hunger. It isn’t like it we are going empty-handed. We will fight, trying to make us stronger in order to achieve that qualification in order to defend the gold medal. There are only two spots available, but I’m not sure if it would be easier to qualify in the World Pre-Olympic, because there will be present some Germany’s and Italy’s. Certainly, it will be more difficult than to face Brazil or USA in this tournament.

What could be a positive aspect resulting from the absences? For example, you will have a main role which you didn’t have before; while Scola will have the chance of being a leader, and Prigioni will have less pressure because of the absence of Pepe Sanchez. One can say that the positive side of things can be certainly seen.

Although it’s true that Paolo (Quinteros) and Roman (Gonzalez) have the same age as those who will not be present, we are looking to renew this group. I just hope that the younger players can take advantage of this chance. As you said, there are some of us who will surely have more of a main role performance; this causes leadership to come naturally.

Have you got the chance to talk to Scola about this new situation in which both are the new leaders of the team?

No, I haven’t. But I hope to have the chance to talk to Luis and the rest of the team. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to give us strength to each other, motivating us to achieve something greater. Our job today is to keep the team on top, to inspire lots of kids to look into basketball and that is something good. It comes with some shadowy issues, like the absences, but it’s still a good opportunity nonetheless.

What went through your mind when you knew about Nocioni’s possible integration to the team?

Great, the more the better it will be. He’s an experienced player, with bravery without comparison. I hope that he can make the team so he can help us. Welcome to the group. It doesn’t matter if I know him well or not, I know that he will give a lot to talk about. He doesn’t know fear and never backs up.

Let’s supposed that you have the chance to talk to this new team before the start of the practice, what would you like to tell them?

That we all have to move in the same direction; we are the ones, we are what we are, and this is what we have available. We will have talent, desire, so we have to keep moving forward. Everybody’s talking about basketball, people watch it, so you have to ignore what the others may say. We have to get to the tournament in good shape, without giving too much importance to the exhibition games.

Now, an uncomfortable question, have you spoken to Sergio Hernandez or not?

Sergio and I have a good relationship. I really appreciate him. He’s really charismatic and I never had any problems with him, it was just that at some point, a message of him arrived late, and he never called me back. If I don’t recognize the phone number of the person who’s calling, I don’t answer it. We sit down and talked about the situation, and we left it behind. When someone mentions that the absences in the team are because of Sergio, I don’t really believe that because none of the players dislikes “Oveja”.

So, are you taking out of the question the fact that the absences are because of the coach?

Yes, each one has their own motives, but I'm not really thinking that that was the main cause. I don’t think of him as a bad guy or a bad coach. He has his point of view, which you could either agree with or not.

If the tournament in Las Vegas started tomorrow, what do you believe is the key for the qualification?

Play each game as it was the final one, while being assertive when time comes to choose a match-up, if possible. It is a tournament in which you have to play well, while having some luck also. We still have to see what each teams bring to the competition, because USA and Brazil are coming with their complete rosters. Puerto Rico and Canada have some players missing from their rosters, and Uruguay is currently going through a renovation process. It’s going to be a tight tournament, competition-wise.

Are you feeling the pressure already?

I don’t think so, at the contrary, because the absences issue just motivates us even more. We are leading, and Brazil is the one that has all the pressure of the world on its shoulders. We feel confident.

What does Brazil inspires in you?

A classic; I’m from the club “Union” in Santa Fe, who wants to play, and defeat, Colon, which is from the same city also, every time they face each other. This feels the same way. You just want to beat whatever steps in front of you. It’s a natural thing, because they might be the team to defeat in the tournament.

If you have to face them in the semi-finals, do you think that the best team will win, or the fact that this is a classic could be bigger than that at the end?

I certainly hope that the “classic” stuff doesn’t overshadow whatever happens inside the court. We’d just have to be smart if it comes to that.

Another important issue is to don’t underestimate those teams with a lower level of competition.

Yes, that is fundamental. It happened to us before during the last FIBA Americas Championship in San Juan, in which we lose to Venezuela. It will be definitively smart to stay alert, and not to think of us as better than anyone.

If you qualify, will it be uncomfortable for the summoning next year?

No, why?

Beacause there’s a lot of people who thinks that those who are making the team now could be displaced by the ones that declined the first invitation.

No, it shouldn’t be like that. If all goes well, it will be good for next year to fight for a spot in the team, because one has to put the best effort into making the team, always.

During the past few months, has it ever occurred to you that this new generation may miss the Games?

It would be certainly hard for us; something that no one wants to think about. We have to try to avoid that; and in order to achieve that, the FIBA Americas Championship is our first step, because it took a lot to get to this point. It would be disastrous for those of us who love basketball.