USA - D’Antoni lovin’ life back in Europe

COLOGNE (FIBA) - Mike D’Antoni grins when asked how much basketball has changed in the past decade, and especially in Europe.

"European basketball is really developing, and the players are getting better,” D’Antoni said.

“The biggest thing is the national teams. They're playing better than the US national team is.

“And that's a tribute to the players, coaches and the organisations.”

D'Antoni is getting a first-hand look at exactly how far things have come with his Phoenix Suns in Europe as part of their pre-season preparations.

The Suns beat Lottomatica Roma 100-93 at the weekend and now D'Antoni's men are in Germany to take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.

Next will be a game against CSKA Moscow or Maccabi Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

D'Antoni played and coached in the NBA and Europe, spending his time in Italy where he won a number of championships as a player with Olimpia Milano before two stints as a coach in Italy's top flight with Olimpia and then Benetton Treviso.

In 2002, he brought Benetton to the semi-finals of the Euroleague before returning to the States and eventually becoming head coach of the Suns.

This summer, he coached Team USA alongside Mike Krzyzewski at the FIBA World Championship in Japan.

The Americans lost to Greece in the semi-finals but then beat Argentina in the bronze medal game.

D'Antoni, speaking to reporters in Cologne, says the Suns’ experience in Europe so far has been good.

"I don't see any down sides,” he said. “You can really do your work wherever. I think it's a great experience for them.”

He then joked: “I definitely think we've eaten a lot better than if we had stayed at home."

Phoenix like to get up and down the floor and score a lot of points, but when asked about what he had borrowed from Europe and given to the Suns, he spoke of things off the court.

"Every coach has his own thoughts and ways to do things. I was kind of odd when I was in Italy. They thought I was probably nuts," he said.

"One of the things I may have taken over is maybe the bonding and how to create a group.

“I think that's one of the things that Europe does better. They eat together, they travel together. They really like each other.

"I'm lucky to have players that do that as well - Steve Nash, Boris Diaw, Leandrinho Barbosa and Raja Bell really create a great atmosphere around the team. So that's where we have an advantage. We share the ball and play the right way."

The European - or international - way.

By PA Sport
Exclusively for FIBA