SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) - In a basketball world that becomes more star-driven every year, the Italian national team is fighting the trend through a tried-and-true antidote: humor.
Head coach Gianmarco Pozzecco relies on a core group of players that have been competing together through many years and tournaments, and the chemistry they've developed shines through on the hardwood of the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
"Coach Pozzecco wants us to be a family outside the court," said forward Achille Polonara. "So that’s our secret. He wants us to have few rules, but everyone has to be the same way with the same goals and we can be a special team."
Everybody thinks that you cannot laugh, and you cannot joke if you are professional. That's not true.
Earlier in the week, Pozzecco said he was watching the Italian football national team and confirmed that roster building has to be more than just selecting the best players.
"Every coach has his own leadership and (tries) to control everything, but I think that my leadership is to be a family," he said. "Friendship, relationship, human relationship. From this point of view, last 2-3 years we did a really great job. The guys love to stay together outside of the court, inside of the court, so I'm really happy and satisfied from how they play, how they love to wear the Italian jersey.
Those family bonds were tested in early October of 2023 when Polonara was diagnosed with testicular cancer and had to undergo surgery and chemotherapy.
"We were following what Achille went through the year and of course every was cheering for him," said center Nicolo Melli. "He was amazing all year long. I don't think are winners or losers when it comes to certain fights, but he gave everything and was lucky enough to overcome it. We are very, very happy to have him back, to have him here and to see him fully healthy and ready to go.
Polonara returned to the courts two months later and that's when the jokes were unleashed.
"As always for anybody that has been through tough things or had a tough experience, we make fun of it just to make it as normal as possible," Melli said. "He's the first laughing about it.
"We like to make jokes all day, every day about every one of us and everybody," said Danilo Gallinari. "I guess it's just in our nature and the main reason why every one of us wants to play with the national team and be part of this group every summer."
Coach Pozzecco, a former national team player himself, understands the dynamic better than anyone.
"First of all, everybody thinks that you cannot laugh, and you cannot joke if you are professional," he said. "That's not true. You can be 100 percent professional and take care of what we are doing 100 percent and love what we are doing 100 percent. But at the same time, you can joke, you can laugh, you can have fun. Especially with the national team when you have to stay together for a month and a half. You sleep together, you eat together, you stay much more with your teammates and the staff than with your family."
The whole ordeal and the warm welcome from his teammates helped put things in perspective for the 32-year-old Polonara.
"I think I appreciate many things more, like a simple practice or a simple dinner with the team, everything," he said. "Every moment. With the team, you can appreciate more. I'm very blessed, and I'm very excited to be here.
FIBA