Scola always does the right thing

BUENOS AIRES (Martin Seldes' Brave New World) - The guy is always there. Not only for the national team but everywhere.

Luis Scola is in charge of a development programme in Argentina to help young talents become pro athletes. It is not a programme that lasts three or four days - even though those types are also very good - but one that lasts as long as it should: years.

Scola is also in charge of the national team. He doesn't choose when and where to play. He just plays.

FIBA Americas Championships and Olympic Games always have one person in common: Scola.

He's one of those winners, but he doesn't need to show it all the time. In fact, he has been playing for the Phoenix Suns, an NBA team that has lost many more games than he would have expected.

If the NBA wants to do something in Argentina, Scola is there. During last week's Basketball without Borders, he was there. But not only there just to show his presence - which is also very good. He was training those young guys with the same passion as if he was facing Tiago Splitter at a FIBA Americas Final game.

Luis was also part of a course for basketball journalists. The only pro involved in such a thing. Do you know why he does that? Because he believes he can help journalists to become better and know how players feel about them (or us, should I say).

The 2.06m centre is one of few good NBA players that will play in the FIBA Americas Championship in Caracas, Venezuela this August-September. Not only in Argentina, but also in other teams, it has become more and more common to read that players have denied the coach's call. Al Horford was the last one to do so to the Dominican Republic national team. It's no longer important why they say no. For those who will be at or watch FIBA Americas Championship, the only thing that matters is whether they will be there or not. Most of them won't be there, but Scola will.

And Scola will lead a young Argentinean team that has a lot to win and not so much to lose. The worst case scenario would be if they couldn't make it to the qualification spots, but Argentina will still have the chance to get an invitation by FIBA for next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

On the other hand, if the team does as it has been doing since 2001 and qualifies in a good position, kids will become men. Most of them thanks to Scola.

In the last hours before this column was written, Scola decided that his future would go on in Indiana with the Pacers and not in Phoenix as everyone expected. This means that for the first time in his NBA career, he will start the season with a title-contender. It's true that he will have to fight for his minutes. He will do so and don't feel surprised if he will end the season as a starter.

The guy is always getting ready for something else. While others rest, he runs. While others start running, he's on the court improving some new stuff (three-pointers maybe? Low post perhaps?). While others are on court to improve something, he's thinking about his next move. While others are thinking about their next move, he has already made it. You know why?

Because Scola is here. And there. And he will always be everywhere and doing the right thing.

Martin Seldes

FIBA

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of nterest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

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