Bogdan Tanjevic: 'We miss Kanter, in NBA coaches are stupid'

Bogdan Tanjevic will face Italy tonight in Sassari for the Eurobasket 2013 Qualification Round. Tanjevic, who won Eurobasket 1999 as head coach of Italian NT, decided to return at the helm of Turkish National Team few months ago. The coach talked on his team, full of young players but without the NBA big man Enes Kanter who decided not to join the National Team this summer. And Tanjevic didn't like his decision. His statements reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"What about Turkish National Team? There is the same core of the previous years with some guys from 1990-1992. Kanter? He is a huge talent and we miss him a lot. He decided not to join us but honestly, he needs us more than we need him. He didn't play or practice with us over the last three years. I had to replace him with Gonlum who was on vacation with his family. Without Kanter we risk a bit but I think we will be able to make it to Eurobasket 2013. Italy without Bargnani and Belinelli? I am not surprised at all considering that one of our guys from 1992 (Enes Kanter) refused to join us. America is the right place to lose your brain. First, because of the coaches who don't understant anything. In NBA there are just 3 or 4 good coaches who last for 100 years, gain billions and win trophies. The other ones are stupid, Tyrone Corbin included. I didn't want to call him. I should have told him and that I was going to do him a favour teaching basketball to one of his guys and he would have gained money on that. But I really can't talk to guys who don't know what they are doing. Kanter forgot how to play basketball. He will never be a center but he starts always back-to-the-basket. As PF/C he would be devastating. He is 210cm but he is the best shooter in the Turkish National Team, guards included. And in the NBA he never takes a shot. Olympic Games? I didn't watch a lot of games. I was still suffering because we didn't make it with Turkey. For me basketball is like cocaine. There are good drug treatments but then I make the same mistake again. I love to coach".