Ettore Messina: “Zach LeDay is Our Draymond Green”

Following Olimpia Milano’s victory over Real Madrid, head coach Ettore Messina shared his satisfaction with his team’s overall performance, both offensively and defensively, against the Spanish powerhouse.

Messina praised his team’s cohesive play, stating, “This was a very solid win. We played very well as a team on both ends of the floor.” Highlighting their defense, he remarked, “We did a good job defending Tavares. Zach LeDay primarily took on the responsibility, with Caruso supporting on him as well. Mannion also performed well on both offense and defense.”

The coach continued to emphasize his satisfaction with their defense: “Our teamwork on defense limited easy scoring opportunities for Real Madrid. We controlled the boards well, restricting their fast-break points significantly.” Messina also commended his team’s patience on offense, saying, “The ball moved well, and we showed patience to find the right shot. It’s impressive to see how much the team has improved since Sunday.”

Messina reserved special praise for Zach LeDay’s contribution, playfully referring to him as “our Draymond Green” and elaborating, “His physicality and energy bring so much to our team. Especially in tough moments, his character really shines. We hope he continues helping us this season just as he did tonight.”

Next, Olimpia Milano will face ALBA Berlin in the EuroLeague as they aim to maintain this momentum.