SLO – Nachbar hails influential Smodis

ISTANBUL (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Matjaz Smodis led Slovenia into the FIBA World Championship in Turkey but not with the power, finesse and all-round basketball skills that have made him one of the best players in Europe for many years.

Hobbled by injuries, Smodis was in Jure Zdovc’s squad and made only brief appearances at the EuroBasket in Poland.

He still inspired the players, though, by his presence and words of wisdom and they reached the Semi-Finals for the first time in the competition.

“Just him being around meant so much to us,” Slovenia forward Bostjan Nachbar said to FIBA.com.

“He's won pretty much everything in Europe as far as club basketball goes.

“He's so experienced and so well respected by basketball people that when he's in the locker room, the things that he says - it's almost like you are listening to the head coach because he just knows stuff.

“He's been there, he's experienced and everyone believes that what he's saying is true.”

Anyone that saw Slovenia play in Warsaw, Lodz or Katowice would have noticed Smodis pull players closer and whisper something in their ear.

Nachbar, who plays for Efes Pilsen in Istanbul, remembers numerous occasions when Smodis, a star with CSKA Moscow, offered him advice or instruction.

“Even in the game, sometimes he'll call you on the side and tell you about a certain situation, he'll explain it to you,” Nachbar said.

“You'll do it a minute later and prove that he was right.”

It remains to be seen if Smodis will have a role with Slovenia this year when they go up against Team USA, Brazil, Croatia, Iran and Turkey.

Injuries have kept him out of action this season with CSKA Moscow.

He is such a respected figure in the game, though, that no one should be surprised if new Slovenia national team coach Memi Becirovic asks Smodis to be involved in some capacity.

“He's one of those players that brings a lot of confidence and we're just lucky to have him around,” Nachbar says.

FIBA