After a successful run at the Olympics that ended with a Bronze Medal, coach Sergio Scariolo, prouder than ever, had some things to say about this team's veterans, their accomplishments, and their overall affect they brought to the sport of basketball in Spain.

Scariolo, according to acb.com, said:

“This team and players to come and Spanish sport in general owes a lot to the veteran players on our team and those who have left in previous years. They have changed the way we see elite sport in our country. I found a great sport with lot of talent but the competitiveness level was low when I came to Spain. They have managed to cultivate ambition and self -improvement.”

Spain managed to clinch that Bronze medal with a one-point win against the very competitive team from Australia.

Scariolo continued:

“We are happy and proud of this achievement. This medal is the ultimate conquest of any professional engaged in the sport. We had very difficult games and the value is as great as the level of our competition, which was solid during the eight games. I thank my players for the attitude and composure in a difficult time. it was a difficult year with a difficult pitch with two defeats at the start, which is unusual. We recovered, we stood and we managed to reach our goal, achieving a medal and that made us happy and proud.”

Another thing that he tried to highlight, especially to younger players, was the importance of accepting any role given to them without creating complications or a bad locker room atmosphere which negatively impacts a team. He mentioned this to make everyone understand what went right in this advancement for Spain basketball.

And, he had some very special things to say about the veterans of the team, despite their roles and playing time in the latest Olympics:

“I have some special words for Jose Manuel Calderon, who saw limited play time, Juan Carlos Navarro and Felipe Reyes. Jose Calderon, I have to tell you thank you very much. He knew that was his role from the beginning. He was the only player with whom I talked before coming, a serious and mature professional and had an attitude that exceeded our expectations. He deserves this recognition. Navarro is our captain. We owe him much as the silent leader. And Felipe Reyes, who had no luck with NBA but if he had gone there, the NBA would had fallen in love with him. Big praise is deserved for Pau Gasol. He is one of the great secrets. When the team leader is a respectful and educated person who values the coach ‘s job and thus transmits it to his fellow teammates it is a blessing. We have worked together for many years and we are happy with the results. Pau knows that he deserves everything.And he knows how to be a true leader.”