A unique choice that combines ambition, athleticism, speed, height, and long-range shooting. Former national team coach and expert Michal Ježdík sees enormous potential in the men’s basketball team. However, at the same time, he does not live in a cloud. September’s EuroBasket quarter-finals and a competitive game at best, he will personally consider that a victory in the tight competition of teams around Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Luka Doncic.
Two matches in preparation, two wins in the Pardubice tournament against weak Bulgarians and ambitious Croatians. It’s just a foray into other games where the screws start to tighten. On Friday and Saturday there will be action in Hamburg, a clash at home Germany and a subsequent clash against Serbia or Italy. However, the first steps towards the EuroBasket encourage cautious optimism.
How did the team impress you in the first two EuroBasket warm-up matches against Bulgaria and Croatia?
“Very good. That team has a lot of talent inside and at the same time a healthy ambition in individuals and as a team. It’s always very difficult to combine and find that kind of player. And we just have them. The third something that impressed me was the fact that even though the team is in a very raw state in terms of the number of days together, it has a face and the players know what their role is.”