NBA: Jakob Pöltl has set himself these goals

Jakob Pöltl is not satisfied with what he himself calls “okay” – Austria’s only NBA export to date is aiming to deliver “very good games”, as he emphasised in a conversation with the APA in Portland. According to the Viennese, there is “little or no time at all” for activities off the parquet during long trips abroad – as is the case today.

Pöltl holds after six games of his second season in the world’s strongest basketball league with an average of 8.5 points, eight rebounds and 1.7 blocked throws, as well as an average of 20.5 minutes of service time for the Toronto Raptors. Figures that look at the 22-year-old but don’t let him sit back and relax. But I must remain constant”, Pöltl demands from himself. And he sets himself the standard of bringing “very good games to the floor” again. For Pöltl, these included those in San Antonio and Oakland, where the 2.13-meter center had written double-digit letters (points and rebounds) in double digits.

Before the Raptors will return to Canada after twelve days on the road in the longest away tour of the season, the Raptors were scheduled to meet in Denver and Utah,”I hope we will win two victories,”Pöltl told the APA. Then it’s “time” for the return to Toronto. Before that, of course, he is looking forward to Salt Lake City on Saturday night (CET). There he will also see “old friends”. As is well known, the Viennese had played for the University of Utah for two years until 2016.

The few spare time on away trips is “mainly used for resting”, says Pöltl. Most recently in Los Angeles, he also took a walk through the city. Toronto coach Dwane Casey had given free practice the day after beating the Lakers.

According to the Viennese, starting at home or away makes a “very big difference. Just because of the fact that you don’t have the fans behind you who support the team,”says Pöltl. However, it is hardly any different when it comes to the routine of match preparation.

If Austria starts to qualify for the 2019 World Basketball Championship in just over three weeks, the 22-year-old will not be available to the national team. However, he will follow the performances as closely as possible”, he announced that he would like to “perhaps find a live stream on the Internet”. If not, he will watch the games or at least highlights in retrospect.