Barley: I miss five-on-five basketball, I really want to go back

Nauris Barley | Photo: LBS

Latvian 3×3 basketball team player Nauris Miezis commented on qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games in the “Flexis” podcast, and also stated that he really misses playing in classical basketball.

Miezis commented on the current position regarding participation in the Paris OS. “I can’t really comment on any next steps because we haven’t had any meeting with the team yet. There will be a meeting in the next few days, then we will sit and talk and see what the next plan is. I can say one thing – Latvia will go to the Olympic Games in 3×3 basketball, but in what composition, it is difficult for me to say. If this were an individual sport, I think it would be easier to comment on everything.”

Miezis also revealed that he would very much like to return to classic basketball. “I really want to go back. There were offers and the biggest one was definitely from “Rīgas Zellļii” and I really hope that there will be another such offer. I really wanted to play this year, but of course I was not allowed and I understand why. I long for five-on-five basketball. If you were to ask me in the last three years which I like more, it would definitely be five to five basitas. 3×3 basketball has already become a routine for me, so I want to change something.”

“In my opinion, Kārlis Lasmanis is still the best 3×3 basketball player in the world, who has been around for the last three, four years,” admitted Miezis. “He is my teammate, I his that’s it praised, but the gifts he has… I find it hard to see anyone stopping him, really. He has all the gifts. In training, we play one-on-one and I understand that it is impossible to stop him. That man is a machine. The only thing that stops him from a decent and good season is micro-injuries.”