"Sporting News" Interviews Griz' Iavaroni
by John Branston
- Mike Iavaroni
SN:You played in Europe for part of your career. What stands out about playing there?
MI: It is something that if you could recreate in the NBA, you would have a lot of success. We're going to try it here. But in Europe, we would go up and down the Italian boot in a bus, and after a game, you would go to a nice restaurant, usually the best one in the town. And very often, the other team would be there, too. So, here you are, a big table, a seven-course meal, the wine is flowing, everyone is feeling good. Everyone is together. You are close-knit. That is a scene that is lacking in the NBA.
SN: Can you do that on an NBA team?
MI: You can try. You have to get people to like other people who are different.
SN: But you bring in Juan, another Spaniard, and a lot of us view that as bringing in someone for Pau to hang out with.
MI: They're friends, and they'll continue to be friends. But it's not okay that it occurs at the exclusion of them being friends with other guys. That has to be part of the picture. Teammates have to be included ...
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