Top Athletes, Captain Datome speaks: “Sport needs change, Luiss example to follow”.

In addition to being one of the new Luiss Top Athletes, Gigi Datome is an institution of our basketball. The captain of the National team has three seasons in NBA and an experience at Fenerbahce that saw him graduate European champion. Engaged in social and sports politics, the new student athlete of the University is never trivial in analyzing the status quo of the sports world and is very charged for his Dual Career in Luiss.

Gigi, on the day of the presentation with Olimpia you said you wanted to win something in Italy and the Super Cup immediately arrived: can we say that becoming a Top Athlete brought you luck?

Yes, definitely (laughs, ed.). The season started in the best way and I am very happy for the victory of the first trophy. Now, however, everything is achived and we are looking ahead.

Well, in your future there are also the university exams and not only those on the field: are you ready for this new challenge?

I’ve always liked to train the mind, as well as the body, and the lockdown has led me to reflect on free time that is not always used in a constructive way. So I decided to start a university course, let’s see if I will be good at it. I am very motivated, so I think I will find the time and energy to do it.

And what motivated you to choose the course in Economics and Management? Would you like to pursue a management career one day?

The real reason for choosing is the curiosity to find out what I’m attracted to. This course can give me a better insight into branches of knowledge that I know little about, allowing me to stay in basketball or leading me to do anything else. Many players reach the end of their careers and don’t know how to reinvent themselves, I would like to be happy with what I do, whatever it is.

From your words it is clear the importance of combining studying and sport activity…

A sport-study parallel course can only be good for the person, before the athlete. Players must be ready to make the transition to their second life, once their career is over. We are also discussing this with ELPA, the association of Euroleague players of which I am President.

And what do you think about the transition to professionalism and the difficulties faced by young basketball players?

This is a good theme: I often hear that in Italy there is a lack of strong young people, but this is not the case. Our young people are even better than the European peers. We suffer, however, the leap from youth to professionalism, especially because in Italy there is a hurry and we give so much weight to short-range results. I think it’s time to change something in terms of mentality, or at least try.

In your opinion, does this speech also include the difficulty of combining sport and study?

Certainly, it is a cultural issue. Unfortunately, in Italy we often neglect even the diploma in order to push young talents to professionalism. Instead, the study should never be abandoned and the most willing young people should be supported. Also for this reason Luiss is an example to follow.

Do you think that a widespread commitment in this direction could generate the change that Italian sport needs? Do you think that the NCAA is a model to take inspiration from?

An overall growth can certainly bring benefits to future generations. In my opinion, it is very difficult to replicate the NCAA model, but alternative championships could be devised, specialized for certain age groups.

As captain of the National Team, you are an example of Individual Accountability that coach Messina recently mentioned in a webinar with our students. What does this role represent for you?

Wearing the National Team jersey is beautiful, doing it as captain is an added value. I like leading the team and pushing it to work seriously, I’m very proud to be able to do it in blue.

What advice would you give to the basketball players of our teams?

I would tell them to set themselves ambitious goals and do everything possible to reach them, with courage and a great desire to work.

We thank Captain Datome and wish him the best of luck for his Dual Career in Luiss!