Fotis Katsikaris: We'll try to give everything on the court

Greek National Team head coach Fotis Katsikaris spoke with Sport24.gr about the upcoming FIBA World Cup, the roster of his team and some market news.

Antetokounmpo will have an important role?
He is a very special player. He needs special treatment, since he is a young player, very talented, from which the greek basketball is expecting lots of things. The most important thing is to give him a role, to not confuse him. He will play as a small forward. This won't mean that we won't let him... release all aspects of his talent -like ball handling. 

About Koufos? He will get another chance?
For me and I believe for all the coaches of the national team, plus the Federation, there must be some principles. We look on everybody's behavior and then we judge. We are talking about the national team. Not a team where you play whenever you feel like it, or whenever you want to get something out of the situation. 

About Shortsanitis' absence: "He is healthy and it was only normal for me to think about him, more over due to the fact he is a unique player. But he will have to decide if he wants to be to the national team. To make an honest desicion. Otherwise, the most honorable thing is to say he withdraws from the national team. 

Which are the favorites of the World Cup?
Between Spain and the USA

Do you believe that Paul George's injury will effect the way that all clubs and organizations are thinking about the national teams?
We will have to wait, to see the global impact of this injury. There is also another point of you, in which every high level player knows that there is always a risk of an injury, not only when he plays for the national team but also when he is playing for his club. Every player who plays for a national team, feels it is his honor to play there and takes this risk. 

Did you have an offer from Olympiacos or Panathinaikos, the last 2 years?

Not even one

Is there any chance to coach Real Madrid in the future?
Who wouldn't like to coach Real? It is a huge club, with a great history and lots of fans all over the world.

What it would be a success and what a failure for this year's Greek National Team?
It will be a success for the fans to watch a competitive team. One team which will be ready from the first tenth of a second to give their 100%. To have character, personality, everything the Greek national team needs to show. 
Our first goal is to be on the top two seeds, after the first round. We know the difficulties of the group we will meet at the second round, where we'll have knock out games. But in a 40 minutes game, everything is possible. 
Failure will be to disqualify from the second round.