USA coach Erik Spoelstra gives his thoughts on FIBA World Cup | Sports Desk - video Dailymotion

CNN Philippines

The FIBA World Cup is just around the corner. Gilas Pilipinas is obviously the team Filipino fans will root for. But the World Cup is also bringing in not only the best players but also the brightest minds in the game.  Sports Desk's anchor Andrei Felix got to sit down with Team USA assistant coach Erik Spoelstra. In this exclusive interview, coach Spo talks about the World Cup, Gilas Pilipinas and Team USA.  Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/  Follow our social media pages:  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/ • Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines

Transcript

00:00 Well, the FIBA World Cup is just around the corner.

00:01 Giles Pilipinas is obviously the team Filipino fans will root for.

00:05 But the World Cup is also bringing in not only the best players,

00:08 but also the brightest minds in the game.

00:10 And they got to sit down one-on-one with Team USA assistant coach Eric Spolstra.

00:14 Now, in part one of this exclusive TV interview with Coach Spol,

00:19 he and I had an all-out conversation about a lot of things.

00:23 Of course, the World Cup, Giles Pilipinas, and Team USA.

00:27 Watch this.

00:28 Welcome back to Manila, sir.

00:30 Thank you.

00:30 Pleasure to be here.

00:31 I got to meet you before.

00:32 Did you-- I showed you the photo.

00:34 Those are great pictures.

00:35 Great to have you again back here in Manila.

00:38 How are you?

00:39 How have you been?

00:39 Doing great.

00:41 And it was a thrill to show up here yesterday and for the players and staff

00:45 to see the reception that we got.

00:47 I tried to explain to everybody what to expect here.

00:51 But unless you actually experience it firsthand,

00:53 there's no way to articulate it.

00:54 How was the clinic?

00:55 Earlier, you had a clinic with some kids.

00:57 That was awesome.

00:58 I see all these kids just really giggling and really, really happy to see you.

01:03 See some players here.

01:04 Coach Steve Kerr was also here, Mikhail Bridges, Tyrese Alleyburton, Cam Johnson,

01:09 Josh Hart.

01:10 How was that like?

01:11 Yeah, it was really fun.

01:12 I mean, it brings me back to the trips I used to come here with the NBA.

01:15 Every summer, that's when we first met.

01:18 That's the part I enjoy about the game is the grassroots level.

01:22 And to have the turnout that we had was amazing.

01:26 Coach Carlos did such a marvelous job with the clinic.

01:31 I know it was just a lot of fun.

01:33 It reminded me of being back here 10 years ago.

01:35 Yeah.

01:36 Coach, it's been 45 years for the Philippines to host the World Cup.

01:40 And you know how it is-- the passion, the craziness, the Filipino basketball fans.

01:44 I want to get your thoughts on that.

01:46 Now it's here, your expectations.

01:48 And finally, it's back in the Philippines, the World Cup.

01:51 Yeah, I couldn't believe it.

01:52 I had to pinch myself when I found out.

01:54 I mean, first of all, having the opportunity--

01:56 it's the honor of a lifetime to be a part of the USA basketball program.

02:00 And then once I found out that the World Championships were

02:02 going to be in Manila, I thought, there's no way.

02:04 Sign me in.

02:04 Yeah, I'm in.

02:06 Right away.

02:06 Yeah.

02:08 So it's really an amazing opportunity.

02:12 And then I'm going to be able to reconnect, obviously, see some family,

02:16 see some friends, and also be able to compete at the highest level.

02:19 It'll be a big challenge.

02:20 It's a global game, as we know now.

02:22 And that's the beautiful thing about it, that the game now

02:25 is spread to every region in the world.

02:27 We still feel that it's the best in America.

02:31 But the last time we played in the World Championships,

02:33 it didn't go well for us.

02:35 We have a great respect for all the countries out there.

02:38 And we know it's going to be a tough challenge.

02:40 And we're looking forward to it.

02:41 Coach, I want to get your thoughts just a bit

02:43 about our very own Gilas Filipinas, the Filipino men's basketball team.

02:46 Jordan Clarkson is there, Utah Jazz star, former six-man of the year,

02:50 Kai Soto also there.

02:52 Your thoughts on the Philippines, and how do you

02:54 think will we do on the world stage?

02:56 Yeah, I think it's going to be really exciting.

02:58 The coaching is going to be phenomenal with Coach Chott and Coach Tim.

03:02 I have spoken to Coach Tim about the team.

03:04 And he's looking forward to it as well.

03:06 And I know they've been putting in a lot of hard work.

03:08 I can't wait.

03:09 Hopefully, I'm going to be able to catch some games.

03:12 And I think adding those two guys are definitely going to help.

03:20 But they put in the work.

03:22 And now it's a matter of just doing it on the biggest stage.

03:25 You mentioned you're messaging with Coach Tim.

03:27 How's your relationship with Coach Tim?

03:28 Still in contact?

03:29 Yeah.

03:29 Yeah, I mean, we're both busy during the year.

03:31 But we check in on each other usually once every few weeks,

03:35 at least just to say hello.

03:37 And then once we found out that the championships would be here,

03:40 obviously, we started to communicate a little bit more.

03:43 And we'll definitely connect while we're out here.

03:46 Coach, Team USA, as you mentioned, in 2019, you finished seventh.

03:49 Now you're bringing in a young team, a young, energetic, really

03:53 athletic team.

03:54 How hungry is this team?

03:55 Coach Steve Kirk, Coach Ty Luke, yourself,

03:58 really distinguished coaches in the coaching staff.

04:00 How hungry is this team to reclaim the top spot again?

04:04 Yeah, this team understands the history.

04:06 First of all, the history of the USAV program,

04:10 which there's a legacy to that.

04:12 There's expectations.

04:14 But also, not having the success that we've always had before.

04:20 And that can be very humbling.

04:23 The last time we were in the World Championships,

04:25 it didn't go the way we wanted it to.

04:27 And I think everybody's aware of that.

04:29 This group has a great spirit about them.

04:31 This is the future of the NBA.

04:33 These are the future stars.

04:35 So some of them might not be household names around the world,

04:38 but they are in the NBA.

04:39 And more importantly, they understand the importance

04:44 of having to come together as a team.

04:47 It's not about playing individually.

04:48 It's about sacrificing and serving for whatever's

04:51 best for this group.

04:53 Coach, undefeated in the friendlies.

04:56 You guys must really feel good about yourself.

04:58 But you know this, not to stay high, not to be too low.

05:01 How's the confidence level?

05:03 Because again, this is a very young group.

05:06 Anthony Edwards, Dylan Brunson, they're

05:08 stars in their different teams, Bridges, Brandon,

05:10 Ingram.

05:11 How's the overall confidence of this group

05:13 from top to bottom, even the coaching staff?

05:15 Yeah, and there's a respect level, too,

05:17 for the competition.

05:18 We were in a really tough game right before we got here.

05:22 Germany.

05:22 Against Germany, yeah.

05:23 We were down most of the game.

05:25 And that's what FIBA is about.

05:27 It doesn't always go smooth.

05:29 And a lot of the games that we played in the Olympics,

05:34 we had to fight from behind.

05:36 So it's going to be really competitive.

05:39 This group has a great spirit about them.

05:42 And we're just looking forward to getting started.

05:46 Well, what is Coach Eric Spoh's favorite Dwayne Wade moment?

05:50 You can catch the answer in part two

05:52 of this exclusive one-on-one interview with Coach Spoh

05:55 coming up after the break.

05:56 And also, who among Team USA's lineup in this World Cup

06:01 reminds him of Dwayne Wade?

06:03 All that and more, Coach Spoh will answer,

06:05 only here on SportsSets on CNN Philippines.

06:08 We'll be right back.

06:09 Stay tuned.

06:09 [MUSIC PLAYING]

06:13 Welcome back.

06:20 SportsSets only here on CNN Philippines.

06:22 Now we will continue our All Out conversation

06:25 with Coach Eric Spoh's show, where

06:27 we talked about his Miami Heat and his former player

06:31 and good friend Dwayne Wade's induction

06:33 into the Hall of Fame.

06:34 [MUSIC PLAYING]

06:36 Coach, to pivot a bit, congratulations, by the way.

06:39 Miami Heat.

06:40 I just want to talk about your team.

06:41 What a run.

06:43 Losing in the play-in and then making it all the way

06:45 to the finals.

06:46 Of course, a two-time champion when

06:49 you were the head coach with the Big Three, LeBron, Dwayne

06:51 Wade, Chris Walsh, and those guys.

06:54 And now, with Jimmy Butler leading the way,

06:55 what can you say about the character of this team

06:57 and just continuing to have that winning tradition for Miami?

07:02 Yeah, I'm glad you used that word

07:04 because what this team had times 10 was character.

07:10 A competitive character, a competitive character

07:13 when things were not going necessarily the way we wanted

07:16 it to.

07:17 The group could respond to adversity

07:19 arguably as well as any group that I've ever been around.

07:22 And it ended up being one of the more memorable seasons

07:25 that any of us had been a part of.

07:28 And it was an honor to be a part of that group.

07:30 And these will now be lifelong memories and relationships

07:32 that we have forever.

07:35 It's amazing.

07:36 A lot of moves happening.

07:37 But of course, you're here for Team USA.

07:39 Lastly, before I let you go, I still have two more.

07:43 But before I ask for your message,

07:44 Coach Dwayne Wade, your good friend, Hall of Famer.

07:48 What makes D. Wade a first ballot Hall of Famer?

07:51 And second question, what is your favorite D. Wade moment?

07:55 He's a first ballot talent, Hall of Famer, without a doubt.

08:00 Hands down.

08:01 But he's a first ballot human being, Hall of Famer.

08:03 And I think that's what makes him really unique

08:05 and why when we went there and celebrated with him

08:08 two weeks ago, it really was a celebration of him

08:13 as the person.

08:13 That's where he made such an impression on everybody

08:16 because he gets the human side.

08:18 He was always able to be a great teammate, a great friend.

08:24 He's somebody now that I know I can always

08:27 count on to text when I need it the most.

08:31 And I hope he feels the same way about me.

08:33 And we've grown up in the business.

08:35 And now we have families.

08:36 And now we're usually texting not about the game.

08:39 It's usually about kids or things of that nature.

08:43 I treasure that relationship.

08:45 I feel blessed to have been able to work with him

08:48 for 15 of his 16 years.

08:51 And yeah, so my memories--

08:53 That long already when you think about it.

08:54 Yeah, you typically don't have that opportunity.

08:57 Usually either the coach is going to be fired

08:58 or a player is going to be traded.

09:00 So I am eternally grateful for the opportunity

09:03 that we've been able to develop that kind of relationship.

09:06 And I have many memories, but a lot of them

09:09 are the friendships and the discussions

09:12 that we had that had nothing to do with basketball.

09:14 One of the recent text messages he gave me

09:19 is he knew we were coming over here for the World

09:21 Championships.

09:21 And he spent a lot of time in Asia.

09:23 And visiting and everything.

09:28 But he wants to come to Manila.

09:29 And he wants to--

09:30 Bring him here.

09:31 Yeah, I want to do it.

09:32 Because he's talked about it for now a few years.

09:34 And he's beloved here for all the right reasons.

09:39 And--

09:39 I miss Jersey.

09:41 I would love for him to be able to really truly experience

09:44 the level of passion for the game and for him.

09:46 Is there a particular player on this Team USA team

09:48 that reminds you of D-Wed?

09:50 Yeah.

09:51 We know who that is.

09:53 It's hard not to look at Anthony Edwards

09:55 and not see Dwayne Wade in him.

09:57 And I'm not a guy for comparisons.

09:59 I'm not.

10:00 But the way he moves, the way he competes,

10:02 the way he electrifies a crowd, yes, that

10:05 reminds me of number three.

10:07 And I have told Anthony that.

10:09 And I feel like I'm going back in time.

10:12 And it's making me younger again.

10:14 I'm really enjoying it.

10:16 Coach, lastly, your message to all the Filipino basketball

10:19 fans.

10:19 Of course, excited.

10:20 We know you're with Team USA.

10:22 But the fans will be rooting for you for sure.

10:24 What do you want to tell all the Filipino basketball fans,

10:26 Coach?

10:27 Go ahead.

10:27 Well, I appreciate--

10:29 we appreciate all the support.

10:30 I can't wait for Team USA to see all the passion

10:34 and enthusiasm for this beautiful game of basketball

10:36 here in Manila.

10:38 And I'm also looking forward to catching

10:40 some games for the national team in the Philippines as well.

10:45 Coach, [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

10:47 OK.

10:47 Thank you.

10:48 And great to see you again.

10:49 All right.

10:49 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

10:50 It's been a while.

10:50 Thank you, Coach.

10:51 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

10:51 Good luck.

10:52 All right.

10:54 Really great talking to one and only Miami Heat head coach

10:57 and assistant coach of Team USA, Filipino-American coach,

USA coach Erik Spoelstra gives his thoughts on FIBA World Cup | Sports Desk

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