Marcin Gortat is back home. After defending the Wizards racket for five years, from 2013 to 2018, the “Polish Hammer” came to lend a hand to the staff of Wes Unseld Jr in the preseason.
Based in Florida, the former pivot had met with GM Tommy Sheppard and Wes Unseld Jr. during a Washington regular season game in Orlando, to discuss the possibility of joining the coaching staff as an assistant. .
The opportunity has finally materialized this pre-season, and Marcin Gortat is therefore working to distill his best advice to Daniel Gafford and others.
A type of screens in its name
The Pole can notably boast of having established the “Gortat Screen” as a reference, a screen (more or less legal…) which follows a traditional pick and facilitates access to the circle for the ball carrier.
“It’s always good to be around someone who has a screen named after them”, recognized Daniel Gaffordwhile the main interested party is still struggling to realize that the “Gortat Screen” is now taught.
“If you had told me 10, 15 or 20 years ago that my screens would one day be among the best in the world, I would have told you that you had to change drugs”he launched.
Back as close as possible to the action, Marcin Gortat not only advised his students on gambling, but also insisted on awareness of their environment.
“You have to understand. You are in an incredible position to do what you do. You play basketball. I don’t need to remind everyone what is happening in Ukraine right now. People are dying there. Families are losing their homes and everything. If you come here and complain about a little pain, missed shots or your role, those are small issues. You have to understand that this is the best job you will ever have. You have to come here and do your job. It’s the only thing you have to do. If someone asks you to come at 7:00, be there at 6:30. If you do that, life will be beautiful”.
Marcin Gortat is due to return to Florida after the Wizards’ final preseason game on October 14.
