Ahead of this weekend’s NBA Primetime Games, which see the Sacramento Kings host the Boston Celtics for NBA Sundays, Boston Celtics’ Daniel Theis answered media questions about his passion for football.
Q: Are you following Wolfsburg this season?
A: Oh yes, I do. I try to watch every Wolfsburg game. If I can’t I try to look at the live stats.
Q: What do you think of their season so far?
A: Until like two weeks ago, it was pretty good. Now they’ve lost four in a row, so that’s not as good as a couple of weeks ago but they’re going to get it right.
Q: Did you play football when you were younger?
A: Yeah, I played until I was like 15, 16. That’s big in Germany when you grow up, playing soccer.
Q: Are there any things you learned playing soccer that can help you in basketball?
A: It’s the same footwork when you’re running, side steps and stuff like this.
Q: Who is your favourite footballer and why?
A: If I had to pick one, it’s tough. … I liked Zidane when he played, Zinedine Zidane was amazing, and Lionel Messi, they are both amazing soccer players.
Q: You know that the Celtics have a big following in Europe. Next weekend you’re on NBA Primetime in Europe. How important is that for the fan base of the Celtics’ fans in Europe to have you on Prime Time?
A: It’s big for every fan overseas to able to watch games at good times, not just the middle of the night because it’s a six, seven-hour time difference if we play an early game here in the US. Also, for me, at home, in Germany, it’s great that my family and friends can watch the game at a good time. It’s good for the fans, not just our game, for them to be able to watch NBA games more frequently.
Q: The German national soccer team is playing Belarus and Northern Ireland next week. What are your thoughts about the German national soccer team?
A: They always play great. We’re a tournament team. It’s just the last tournament that we didn’t play well. Hopefully, we’re going to make up for it in next year’s European championship in 2020. Hopefully, they can make up for it and do well.
Q: Are any of your teammates fans of European soccer?
A: I know Semi Ojeleye is. He’s playing FIFA a lot. I’m not sure about Vince (Poirier). Semi, for sure, he plays FIFA a lot, video games, and follows soccer.
Q: Do you talk to them about it?
A: We do. We also play FIFA against each other. I know last year Al (Horford) was big with soccer, following all the big European leagues. I try to watch as many games as I can and it’s still so much fun for me to watch when I have the time to see and go to a live game in a stadium, it’s always fun.
