National team basketball too important to be devalued, warns Greece captain Bourousis

HERAKLION (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Just about 4,500 miles or slightly over 7,200 kilometers - that's the distance Ioannis Bourousis has to cover to leave his club in China and join the Greek national team these days.

But rest assured, he never has any doubts about accepting the call. 

"THIS TEAM HAS HELPED MY CAREER SINCE I WAS REALLY YOUNG. I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT I WAS ON THE ROSTER IN THE EUROBASKET WINNING TEAM IN 2005, ONLY 22 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME. THIS TEAM GAVE ME EVERYTHING. I WANT TO REPAY IT" BourousisBourousis

"As long as I can stand on my legs, I will be a member of the national team," the 34-year-old said. "I have zero reasons not to be part of the team because I feel amazing every time I play for Greece. The national team is my second home."

A play late in the first half of Greece's win over Estonia on Friday in Heraklion symbolized Bourousis' full commitment and dedication to the national team.

With Greece leading by 8, the visitors had a chance to get an easy lay-up in transition. Most players would have just given up on the play and focused on the next offensive possession to finish strong heading into the break. But Ioannis Bourousis is not "most players."

The legendary big man went up high for the chase-down block, then came down hard with a nasty fall. It was a scary moment, but rest assured that he would do it again if he had to.

"Every time I hit the floor, I give my all to the national team. Greece has offered me so much and I want to give something back. This team has helped my career since I was really young. I'll never forget that I was on the roster in the EuroBasket winning team in 2005, only 22 years old at the time. This team gave everything to me. I want to repay it," the captain explained.

Young Bourousis (fourth from left) celebrating Greece's EuroBasket title triumph in 2005 (Photo: Catherine Steenkeste/DPPI Trophy Awards)

Repaying the debt requires traveling halfway around the world during the windows. Bourousis, a member of the Zhejiang Lions in China's CBA, does a 9,000 miles (or close to 14,500 kilometres) roundtrip to join Hellas in these European Qualifiers and then head back to East Asia.

"It's not easy to make this trip, it's quite tiresome. But since it's New Year's celebration in China, the team gave me the green light and then there was no way I was going to miss out on representing my country."

"THROUGHOUT MY CAREER I PLAYED IN THE EUROLEAGUE AND REALLY ENJOYED IT. BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE INTEREST OF THE NATIONAL TEAMS. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO DO SO. WE NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT MEETS NATIONAL NEEDS. NATIONAL TEAM BASKETBALL IS TOO IMPORTANT TO BE DEVALUED" BourousisBourousis

Bourousis played for a number of EuroLeague teams. After starting out at AEK, he went on to represent Olympiacos, Olimpia Milano, Real Madrid, Baskonia and Panathinaikos in 284 games.

However, he is quite clear in his assessment of where the priorities ought to lie.

"Throughout my career I played in EuroLeague and  really enjoyed it. But we have to look at the interest of the national teams. It's very important to do so, " he warned. "We need to find a solution that meets national needs. National team basketball is too important thing for it to be devalued."

"AS LONG AS I CAN STAND ON MY LEGS, I WILL BE A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL TEAM. I HAVE ZERO REASONS NOT TO BE PART OF THE TEAM BECAUSE I FEEL AMAZING EVERY TIME I PLAY FOR GREECE. THE NATIONAL TEAM IS MY SECOND HOME" BourousisBourousis

Greece's situation is picture perfect heading into Game Day 4. They stand tall at 3-0 and can make it four wins in a row when they take on Great Britain on Sunday.

The two teams squared off in November and it took overtime to settle the issue, with the Greeks taking a 95-92 win in Leicester.

 "We know Great Britain will be a difficult opponent. We watched tape of the game, analyzed the problems we encountered when they put full court pressure on us. That's what the British players are used to doing, it almost lost us the game. I thinks we are in for a very nice game (on Sunday)."

FIBA