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Juan Carlos Navarro, Regal FCB
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 When last seen on a Euroleague court at the Final Four in Berlin, the competition's MVP for last season was disappointed not to have reached the title game and a shot at his second continental champions trophy. Juan Carlos Navarro of Regal FC Barcelona wasted no time in resuming his impressive collection of trophies and medals, however. Before the spring was over, Navarro had led Barcelona to the Spanish League title as the playoff finals MVP. Then he spent the summer earning a new gold medal, that of European champion with Spain, to hang around his neck. Few players in basketball history can claim as many prizes as Navarro: 12 trophies lifted in official European and Spanish club competitions; eight medals, half of them gold, won with Spain in official FIBA competitions; several more MVP and all-league or all-tournament honors. And at 29 years old, entering a new Euroleague season as Barcelona's undisputed team leader, Navarro is still hungry. "What motivates me is being able to add more titles to my roll of honors," Navarro told Euroleague.net. "I would like to be able to win another Euroleague title with Barcelona, this time being more important to the team than when I lifted the trophy in 2003. I was an important player back then, playing a lot of minutes, but winning a second title with an increased role would be another step forward for me."
Juan Carlos. First, congratulations on your EuroBasket title, which of course followed the Euroleague MVP trophy and the Spanish League title last season. Are those the things you returned to Europe to accomplish?
"Well, one of the goals was being able to come back and help my teams to win titles. If the team wins titles like that and at the same time you feel good and are able to play well, at your best level, it's even better. The Euroleague MVP was very important for me and it is something that will always be there, forever."
Have you realized that you are fast becoming one of the basketball players with the biggest and most diverse collection of medals and trophies in the world?
"I realized it because a lot of people remind me. Without any doubt, like all players, I have the goal of winning titles throughout my career, of being able to achieve as much as I can. I have the good fortune to play for FC Barcelona, which gives you more chances to win titles. Even so, I have been able to be an important player in a great club like Barcelona, and this is the most important thing for me. I don't want to stop winning titles. I still have several good years coming up and hope to keep winning titles."
You've had few disappointments lately, but no doubt you wanted more at the Final Four last spring in Berlin. Having tasted a Euroleague title once, in 2003, is one of your remaining goals now to guide Barcelona to a second Euroleague championship?
"Yes, without any kind of doubt. It was a shame what happened last season. Everybody expected a little bit more, especially seeing how the game went. We had a good start, were very focused and led by 10 points at some point. CSKA made the most out of their broader experience and beat us in the end. It is a shame, but also something that can happen in a Final Four. Anything can happen in a make-or-break game. We have to learn from it."
 You have played for Barcelona all but one season since boyhood. What kind of leaders have you learned from there to be able to take over the same role yourself now?
"It is something you absorb depending on what you see here and hear. There were people like Sasha Djorjevic, who had several good years in here, or Roger Esteller, who was a guy we looked up to when we were younger. The Dejan Bodiroga era was important, because he earned respect from everybody from the very start. We played very well with him as our leader. You get to learn a lot from Saras, too. But if I have to choose a couple of players who influenced me most, they would have to be Nacho Rodriguez and Roberto Dueñas. Those were the players who got along really well with everyone, on and off the court. I learned a lot from them because they were role models and very experienced when I got to the team. They helped me to learn and get better. When veterans talk to young players, there are many ways to say things. Some veterans feel threatened when a younger player does well and are not happy about it. I try to treat all young players really well, and try to help them as much as I can. The better they do, the better for our team."
Barcelona changed almost its entire frontcourt by adding Erazem Lorbek, Terence Morris, Pete Mickeal and Boni Ndong. What do can those players give the team this season?
"Well, we have already shown that we have a really well-built, deep team, with several players at all five positions. Our new players have quickly become part of this project, too. Our playing style is quite good for players like Erazem or Terence, who can step out and shoot from outside. Erazem can also play inside, where Boni is doing really well, intimidating a lot on defense, very big. Pete has already proved how valuable he is in many Euroleague games and earned a reputation for being intense and tough. There's also Ricky, who always looks way more experienced than his age. They and also the returning players contribute to us becoming a better team. It will be a long season and we will have to play tough because there are many good teams out there."
As you just mention, Barcelona also landed Ricky Rubio, your backcourt teammate on the Spanish national team. What is it like to play with Ricky?
"Above all, it is very easy to play with him. Ricky reads the game really well and can help us in many ways. He is always ready to grab a steal and run the break, which is something that we, as a team, are always looking for. He always thinks team first and can also play five-on-five offense. He is also improving in scoring to become an all-around player. Like I said, Ricky is way more experienced than anybody expects."
Despite his relative inexperience, coach Xavi Pascual led Barcelona to the Final Four and a Spanish League title last season. What is his potential as a coach?
"His main strength as a coach is being able to communicate with everybody. You can talk about anything with him and, of course, he is very demanding when he needs to be. Like every coach, he has his own way of working. He earned the respect of everybody in this club, teammates who had been here a long time, newcomers... everybody is on the same page. He is demanding but at the same time able to talk to everybody. That is very important and the key to his success. There are people who play more minutes, but everybody feels important and able to offer something good to the team."
With 10 players who have been to a Final Four, Barcelona also has one of the Euroleague's most experienced rosters. Will that help lead the team back to the Final Four?
 "In theory, yes, but that is something we will have to see later on. I believe that it will be difficult to get to the Final Four because a lot of teams got much stronger this season. This has to be our initial goal and if we get there, hopefully we will have learned from what happened last season."
What kind of excitement can fans expect from this Euroleague season?
"I think it's a competition that only gets better and better. There are great players and a lot of people who went to the NBA come back because this is a tough competition where everybody wants to play. We will see great players who have been in the competition for many years - and some interesting newcomers, too."
You've been a world, European, Euroleague and Spanish champion so far, but you seem to be as motivated as ever - even more. What keeps motivating Juan Carlos Navarro?
"What motivates me is being able to add more titles to my roll of honors. Like I said before, it is what everybody likes. I would like to be able to win another Euroleague title with Barcelona, this time being more important to the team than when I lifted the trophy in 2003. I was an important player back then, playing a lot of minutes, but winning a second title with an increased role would be another step forward for me."
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Monday, October 19, 2009
Javier Gancedo, Euroleague.net
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