By Nikos Varlas/ info@eurohoops.net
Daniel Hackett’s maiden appearance in a EuroLeague Final Four couldn’t have been any more ideal. CSKA Moscow claimed the eighth EuroLeague crown in the history of the club and the Italian guard won his first continental title after a career of seven years in the competition.
Hackett had been a player of a Final Four team before. In 2017 he was in Istanbul as a member of Olympiacos but he was forced to watch from the sidelines due to a season-ending injury.
As Hackett confessed to Eurohoops, back then, there was even uncertainty if he will ever return to playing basketball.
“After the injury on Olympiacos, I was down,” Hackett said. “The doctor didn’t know if I was able able to play basketball again. I understοod the decision of Olympiacos to not re-sign me.”
“He was very worried about his future,” Hackett’s wife Elisa commented.
“It was such a big injury that I wasn’t 100% sure I will come back,” Hackett added.” Brose Bamberg gave me a huge chance. I’m thankful to coach Andrea Trinchieri and their stuff who believed me. After a good season, thank God, CSKA Moscow came and took me on board. And now we are European champions. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
Check out Daniel Hackett’s post-EuroLeague championship interview on bouncing back from the injury, the work he has put on and off the court over the years and more. Special guest star: Hackett’s daughter Victoria.
“Victoria in Vitoria,” as Hackett was saying.