Crvena Zvezda have started their EuroLeague season with back-to-back home losses.
In that situation, plenty of coaches would become more combative with the media. Others would reduce their answers to the bare minimum.
There have been examples of both in Belgrade before.
Ibon Navarro has chosen a third path.
Navarro has remained relaxed, good-humored and willing to openly discuss almost anything basketball-related – even when the questions are anything but comfortable.
It is clearly part of Navarro’s broader philosophy, in basketball as much as in life. But it also reflects his belief that the system will work – and that this Zvezda team eventually will, too.
“I can’t control the pressure,” Navarro said after the loss to Hapoel Tel Aviv. “I don’t understand Serbian, and that’s great for me. I don’t read anything. I just want to do my job. That’s why I’m here.”
More Patience Than Usual
Everyone knew hiring Navarro was a gamble.
Every coaching appointment is, to some extent, but Navarro’s vision of modern basketball strays further from the usual mold.
Zvezda’s management, with Miloš Teodosić at the forefront, believe in that vision. Which is why Navarro’s leash should be unusually long – even in an environment where it has traditionally been short.
Besides, Zvezda are hardly alone.
They are one of six teams to start the EuroLeague season 0-2, alongside Real Madrid, Virtus Bologna, Baskonia, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Paris Basketball.
Navarro’s openness also extends to one of the subjects coaches are asked about most often: rotations.
“Actually, Dobrić and Miljenović played more than in the previous game,” Navarro replied when it was suggested that the two Serbian internationals had made a positive impact against Hapoel.
Navarro continued with his trademark smile.
“You people want everybody to play more. You know the game lasts 40 minutes, right? You want Butler to play more, you want Nwora to play more, you want Dobrić to play more, you want Miljenović to play more… Everybody can’t play more.”
“Whose Responsibility? Mine – 200 Percent”
Navarro is just as willing to break down the basketball in detail.
After Round 1, Zvezda’s poor transition defense particularly bothered him.
After the Hapoel game, he openly said Chris Jones did not play in the fourth quarter because he had struggled defensively, particularly in the opening period.
But Navarro also stands firmly behind his players and takes the public frustration onto himself.
Asked why Zvezda’s offense had looked slow and short of ideas, Navarro did not hide.
“Good question. The guys I work with are afraid of making mistakes, and then they go from one mistake to another. Whose responsibility is that? Mine – 100 percent. No, 200 percent!”
Standing Behind Jonathan Motley
Jonathan Motley has been almost unrecognizably poor through the first two games.
Ahead of the matchup with Anadolu Efes, we asked Navarro what coaches and teammates can do when a player’s confidence falls that low.
His first instinct was to talk about what Motley had done well.
“We also have to talk about the good things he did. Jonathan Motley played excellent defense on Tuesday. I wouldn’t say good – excellent. He helped us a lot.”
“Excellent” might be stretching it, but the answer itself said plenty about Navarro’s willingness to stand behind his players.
He then put Motley’s mistakes into context.
“Some of those misses came after the effort he made defensively on three consecutive possessions in less than 53 seconds. Motley is a EuroLeague player. He isn’t missing because he has suddenly become a bad player.
“We have to put what happened into context and help him in different ways – with substitutions, with an extra timeout.”
The Approach Is Refreshing. Wins Still Matter
Anadolu Efes are next to visit Belgrade Arena.
They narrowly lost to Barcelona before beating Real Madrid, and have played considerably better than might have been expected considering how extensively the roster was rebuilt over the summer.
At the end of his latest media session, Navarro once again reached for a little Serbian.
“Do viđenja.”
There is usually a Serbian word or two – another small sign of his respect for and willingness to immerse himself in the country’s culture, basketball and otherwise.
Navarro’s way is refreshing.
But ultimately, only wins count.
