Daniel Hackett wants to close the circle with scudetto with Virtus Bologna

Daniel Hackett in an interview with La Repubblica recalled the days when he played for CSKA Moscow when war broke out in Russia: “I haven&#8217t been back to Moscow since that terrible February 2022. I liked the city, its slow pace, silent, protective of’anonymity. Then, it is clear, I was a Cska player and certain benefits count. All erased in a few hours. The morning the war broke out we were in Munich to play Bayern. We watched the tigers, went down to the technical meeting, and among the most shocked I remember Shved. He had Ukrainian parents, so he would not take the field. German TV would not broadcast the match. At the palace the Euroleague informed us that the game was not being played.”

“Me in Siena and Milan? I was strong, yes. You could say decisive. Young, full of energy. In Siena I touched my peak. It formed me in work ethic, I entered with the right head in a winning group, ready to absorb what it took to do it. I reluctantly agreed to go to Milan. Where we uncorked that scudetto that had been awaited for 18 years. If I look in the mirror I confess many mistakes, on the field and off, of little maturity. Then a lot is said, even though I only went to bed a few nights a couple of d’hours later. My fault, but it served me well. I made a lot of mistakes, I grew a lot.”

“I don&#8220t regret anything, I had so much from basketball, touched different countries, wore emblazoned jerseys, played to win in places where’they used to do it. Beautiful and difficult career, because the habit of winning then becomes an obligation. I sum up: I was a very good Euroleague player.”

“It is the culmination of the journey. A glorious club and a place where they know the game, love it, discuss it. Won the Eurocup, entered the Euroleague, a Scudetto we want. Something was always missing, but it was little and sooner or later we will find it. Meanwhile, I thank those who gave me confidence. I hope to reciprocate. As for me, the beer in my legs is there. And there&#8217s fire inside. In fact, it is back. I had a difficult last year, physically horrible. In March d’a year ago cartilage trouble in my knee, I wasn&#8217t me anymore. Then I added problems of my own. The fire was not out, but faded. Now I feel it rekindled, in a team that has regained stimulation, even if it has taken good slaps. I accepted the challenge of age. And I&#8217ve stopped saying too many OKs. I am not what I used to be. Okay. I can also play fewer minutes. Okay. I can count less. Okay. I did a battle with myself not to listen in the voices around this false perception that my time had passed. It has been long, but now I want to play it with everyone.”

“Then, when I’m done, I don’t see myself coaching. Too complex, and I have wandered around enough to not see myself finally standing still, in Pesaro, with my family, and maybe in the gym raising a team of kids. A little bit like my father Rudy, who came to Italy to play, then coached, now retired in Los Angeles, but two pieces of advice on the court he still goes and gives. To me included. He watches the games and writes afterwards. “You were not smart” last time I got technical and it was a fifth foul. Yeah, it&#8217s happened to me a lot. I have to improve. I keep trying.”