George Galanopoulos, coach of Dorsey in the G-League, to Sportish: “Difficult to predict what will happen to the Mavericks”

He was born and raised in Chicago like his parents, but his roots are Greek. He is only 33 years old but already has a glittering career behind him: he was the first coach of the Uganda national team since 2017 and head coach of the Texas Legends for three years. The reason for Giorgos Galanopoulos revealing himself to Sportish speaks both about himself and his partnership with Tyler Dorsey and Quincy Acy in the Dallas Mavericks G-League.

Interview with Vasiliki Karamouza

You were born and raised in Chicago but have Greek roots. What is your relationship with Greece and how often do you visit the country?

“The closest relative I have who is from Greece is my maternal grandfather. He comes from Sparta and came to the USA at the age of 19. I’ve been coming to Greece since I was 9 but she would love it if I did come back and I’m planning to visit her next summer.”

When and how did you realize that you wanted to be a coach?

“I started coaching kids when I was 17 years old. I fell in love with it straight away and decided to do it professionally.”

How did your coaching journey begin? Have you ever had doubts?

“I have trained at all levels since I was 17 years old. I attended Indiana University and moved to California to work for Bakersfield Jam, a team then in the NBA D-League. I stayed there for three seasons and then transferred to New Zealand and then joined the Dallas Mavericks as a player development coach intern. In 2017 I became the head coach of the Uganda national team and in 2019 I took charge of the Texas Legends, the G-League affiliate of the Mavericks. That’s what I’ve always wanted to be in charge of and I’m enjoying every experience so far.”

You started out in New Zealand. What do you remember most vividly from this experience?

“It was the first time I left the United States in a long time. It was a very educational experience that made me see life and coaching from a different perspective. New Zealand is also a beautiful place that I would like to visit again.” .

What are your core values ​​as a coach?

“I believe in honesty and understanding. I want both the players and the coaching staff to improve while enjoying the experience. My goal is to help and inspire people to become the best version of themselves.”

In addition to the G-League, you have been in charge of the Ugandan national team since 2017. How did this partnership come about?

“In 2017 I was approached by some people from Uganda FA. I was introduced by the previous Legends manager, I was his assistant at the time. They were looking for an American manager to organize the team.”

What have you learned so far from all this experience and how is basketball in Africa in general?

“I learned a lot about different cultures and was given the opportunity to travel the world and see many new places. It has also prepared me for various situations that have come in handy in my job in US basketball in Africa. More talent is being discovered than ever before and the infrastructure is also improving.”

You’ve been with Legends for three years now. This year you are also working with Tyler Dorsey, among others. what do you think about him

“I love Tyler. He’s obviously a very talented player, but most of all he’s a good person and I enjoy being with him. He has a great character and we are very happy to have him on the team.”

Do you think he can be called up by the Mavericks and get a real chance to show his worth in the NBA?

“It’s difficult to predict what his role with the Mavericks will be in the near or distant future. All I know is he takes every opportunity he gets here and plays really well which is the only thing he can do and what he needs to focus on. Everything else is out of his control.”

I assume you knew Tyler from his college years and earlier in the NBA. Did you even follow him in Europe? How far do you think it has come over the years and how much room is there for improvement?

“He’s one of the best shooters and goalscorers I’ve ever coached. He belongs to the elite in this part of the game. I think the part that has been improving slowly and daily this year is its distribution and organization of the game. He’s also improved as a defender.”

Quincy Aisi, who played for Olympiacos last year, has recently joined your coaching staff. What can he offer from his side and how much do you see him improving as a coach?

“Quincy is one of my favorite players I’ve ever coached. He was with the Mavericks and Legends in 2017 when I was on the team and I had him as a player at Bakersfield in 2012, so we’ve known each other for quite some time. He’s a fantastic person and knows the game very well. We’re lucky to have Q and I think he has a bright future as a coach.”

Do you follow Greek basketball or the Greek teams in the EuroLeague at all?

“I didn’t follow Greek basketball very closely until EuroBasket 2022, which I did because of Dorsey.”

What do you think of Greece’s progress in the EuroBasket? What are the pros and cons of National?

“I don’t have much friction with the Greek national team, but I think Giannis Antetokounmpo’s signing is a very big asset that gives the team the opportunity to be competitive for several years.”

The Bucks’ assistant coach, Josh Oppenheimer, was part of the Greece national team’s staff this year. You already have experience at national team level, would you see yourself in a similar position in the future?

“Honestly my focus right now is on continuing to help Uganda become as competitive as possible. They gave me a chance at a very young age and we have remained true to each other so I want to continue my work there.”

Have you thought about working in Europe or received an offer?

“At the moment I haven’t thought about training in Europe, nor have I been approached by a team from there.”

A lot of people here think that coaches in Europe have more influence on games than coaches in the NBA. Do you think that’s true?

“I don’t have much experience in Europe, so it’s a bit difficult to form an opinion on that. What I do know is that in Europe there are fewer games and more training sessions than in the NBA.”

There are three rookie coaches in the NBA this year, Joe Mazzula with the Boston Celtics, Darwin Hamm with the Los Angeles Lakers and Will Hardy with the Utah Jazz. Would you say there is a shift in thinking in the league?

“I think it’s easier for new coaches to identify with the players, and more and more organizations appreciate that these days.”

How close do you think you are to becoming an NBA coach?

“I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I love my job and want to help others to improve. I think after that everything will work out.”