Twenty-six years have passed since Italy`s men`s national basketball team achieved a memorable gold medal victory at the 1999 EuroBasket in Paris. Gianluca Basile, a key player in that historic squad who later added Olympic silver in 2004 to his accolades, recently reflected on that triumph and offered his perspective on the current state and future prospects of Italian basketball.
Basile recalls the rocky start to the 1999 campaign. An early group stage loss to Croatia, featuring star Toni Kukoc, put the team “immediately with their backs against the wall.” This initial setback, coupled with performance issues from key players, created significant pressure, even visibly affecting coach Bogdan Tanjevic. Basile humorously recounted seeing Tanjevic`s hand tremble while drawing up a play during a critical timeout against Turkey, highlighting just how high the stakes felt for everyone involved, even for a coach known for his composure.
The turning point, according to Basile, wasn`t just qualifying from the group, but the dominant quarter-final victory against Russia (102-79). That performance secured a spot in the Sydney Olympics and instilled a crucial belief that they could compete with the best. However, the true psychological hurdle was the semi-final against the formidable “Great Yugoslavia,” featuring legends like Divac and Danilovic. Tanjevic had constantly challenged the team by comparing them to this powerhouse, making the eventual 71-62 victory over them feel like the real final.
The team`s celebration after beating Yugoslavia wasn`t quite the wild party some imagined. Basile shared a lighthearted anecdote about coach Tanjevic waiting up all night in the hotel lobby after hearing a mistaken tip-off that the team would be out late clubbing. In reality, Basile and several teammates had simply gone out for dinner and returned discreetly, highlighting the coach`s intense dedication and perhaps a minor communication breakdown.
The final against Spain (a 64-56 Italian victory), while a gold medal game, felt less contested after the Yugoslavia battle. Italy secured a comfortable win, cementing their place in history. Basile points to tactical flexibility, particularly the strategic advantage provided by having the two-meter tall point guard Andrea Meneghin, and the wake-up call delivered by the initial loss to Croatia, as key factors in their ultimate success.
Looking ahead, Basile is focused on the current national team under coach Gianmarco Pozzecco. He stresses the immediate need for a podium finish at the upcoming European Championship, stating frankly that for this generation, “there isn`t much time left” to achieve this goal. A hopeful note concerns Nicolo Fontecchio, currently with the Miami Heat, with Basile expressing optimism that the NBA club will release him for national team duty – a common point of tension for national squads relying on NBA talent. He also drew inspiration from the recent success of the Italian women`s national team, acknowledging they`ve set a high bar and perhaps added a welcome pressure on the men`s side.
Finally, Basile addressed the difficult situation facing forward Matteo Polonara (currently dealing with significant health challenges). Expressing deep solidarity with Polonara and his family, Basile made a strong plea for his club, Virtus Bologna, to renew his contract unconditionally as a gesture of human support during this “very tough moment.” While acknowledging that sport is often viewed through a “business” lens, he believes a commitment from the club now, following the affection shown by teammates, would be a truly significant gesture of closeness.
Basile`s reflections bridge the past and future of Italian basketball, emphasizing that while the memory of the 1999 triumph shines brightly, the focus must now shift to the current team`s urgent need to add new chapters of success to the nation`s rich basketball history, while also remembering the importance of human solidarity among its members.
