The way Pat Riley went out of his way to learn everything he could about Giannis Antetokounmpo and his entourage—even traveling all the way to Greece for that purpose—was something that impressed the Greek Freak. The legendary coach—and now president of the Heat—won over the 31-year-old superstar in this way.
“Pat Riley has countless stories to tell. It’s not just about how he treats me, but also how he treats my inner circle, my people. Pat showed respect and took the time to connect with each person individually. He came all the way to Greece, to the court where we grew up playing, trained with me, and spent time with everyone who was at the gym. “I was truly amazed!” he said on his brother Thanasis’s vidcast.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Mayer: “I’m enjoying soccer at AEK—Everything is going smoothly”
As for his coach, Erik Spoelstra, he said: “I think he’s a great coach and a wonderful person. I can’t wait to play under his guidance. When I was on the opposing team, I had a completely different impression of him; I thought he was very tough, maybe even… a jerk, to put it bluntly. But no, he’s incredibly supportive, he cares, he’s honest… he fills you with confidence. He doesn’t pressure you; he doesn’t want to bother you. He shows tremendous respect, and that’s exactly why he’s been with the same team for about 21 years.”
*photo source: AP
