World Cup hero Theis puts NBA century talent in the shade
Daniel Theis languished on the bench for weeks with the Indiana Pacers. After moving to the Los Angeles Clippers, the world champion immediately turned up the heat. The NBA's talent of the century is just a supporting character. The World Cup hero is quite happy, also because he can work alongside the stars.
Dunks, threes and valuable defensive work - Daniel Theis put together the complete package in his second appearance for the Los Angeles Clippers. In the 124:99 away win in the San Antonio Spurs' arena, the Californians' new center also stole the show from super talent Victor Wembanyama.
"It's so much fun to play with four future Hall-of-Famers on the same team," the world champion told Sports Illustrated. He seems to be getting along extremely quickly with the four top stars Paul George, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. Theis has already harmonized magnificently with Westbrook in particular.
19 points in 21 minutes with an 80 percent shooting percentage, plus seven rebounds - the 31-year-old's figures certainly made an impression. Wembanyama in the Spurs jersey could not keep up. And Theis' unhappy time with the Indiana Pacers seems almost forgotten. "I'm very happy that he's now getting the chance to play," said national coach Gordon Herbert: "The kid is super motivated and has a great attitude."
His fans had already initiated a small "Free Theis" movement on social media before the buddy of national team captain Dennis Schröder made the jump last week. Theis terminated his well-paid contract in Indiana and managed to return from the sidelines to the limelight. The star-studded Clippers are his fifth stop in the NBA. After a weak start to the season, the Californians now have five wins and seven defeats.
Theis wants to do his bit to ensure that things continue to progress. "I'm the man for the little things: Defense, rebounds," he recently told the "Süddeutsche Zeitung": "It will take a few days to learn the system, to find timing and rhythm - but: I came and was allowed to play right away." Behind Ivica Zubac, he is currently the number two under the basket and is fitting in brilliantly.
Daniel Theis'impressive performances on the court for the LA Clippers, including his 19 points and 7 rebounds in a game against the San Antonio Spurs, have garnered attention, potentially overshadowing some NBA's century talent. Despite a rocky start with the Indiana Pacers, the World Cup hero is now thriving in the NBA, showcasing his skills in basketball, specifically his defense and rebounding.
Source: www.ntv.de
