Lutz on Summer Work, NBA Players, and the Journey from Cibona to South Korea
Croatian national team assistant coach Danijel Lutz discusses individual work with Croatia's top players, team chemistry, and his own coaching journey.
Croatian national team assistant coach Danijel Lutz discusses individual work with Croatia's top players, team chemistry, and his own coaching journey.
Danijel Lutz (46), assistant coach of the Croatian men's national basketball team and personal trainer to some of Croatia's finest basketball players, spoke to Večernji list about the importance of summer individual training, working with NBA players, and memories of a coaching path that took him from Cibona via Kosovo to South Korea.
In 2013, Lutz won two trophies with Cibona, but was never given the chance to defend those titles. "I wouldn't wish that on any colleague-to win trophies and then not get the opportunity to defend them. Even though I was younger than some of the players back then, I believe I deserved that chance, and I'm not afraid to say it. But that's the reality of the coaching profession, and it made me stronger," Lutz said.
He sought a new opportunity in Kosovo, where he led his club to a 19-game winning streak after a poor start. "When I had to leave the club for personal reasons, 200 people showed up and practically wouldn't let me leave the arena," he recalled. After that, he worked in South Korea, the Philippines, and Israel, which enriched him both basketball-wise and culturally.
Lutz now works as an assistant to head coach Tomislav Mijatović, and the impression is that this is Croatia's strongest national team since 2016, when they finished fifth at the Rio Olympics. "What's immediately visible is the similarity in chemistry between that team, led by Aco Petrović, and this one. In both cases, everyone is fully aware of the moment and the opportunity they have," Lutz said.
He added that the team hierarchy is well established and that all players are committed to achieving something significant. "They truly accomplished something outstanding by qualifying for the Olympics, and we hope to go to the World Cup and make our mark there."
Lutz has established himself as an expert in individual work with elite basketball players, a process that began in 2013 through his relationship with Bojan Bogdanović. "Over time, it became essential for each player. It used to be done in groups or at camps, but now it's more of a one-on-one approach," he explained.
He emphasized that the number of games in European and Croatian basketball now rivals the NBA schedule, which means extensive travel and little time for training. "The technical aspect is neglected because everything revolves around tactical preparation for specific games. Players realize there's no longer the luxury of breaks longer than a month," he said.
When it comes to the number of skills he works on with players, Lutz says he never focuses on more than two. "Most often it's a combination-whether it's offensive finishes, shooting, post play, and what I try to push players toward is the passing game, which is the most neglected element," he stressed.
Lutz has worked with Bogdanović for 12 summers, and this is his fifth summer with Zubac. "I wouldn't have achieved anything with him if he weren't a top professional. He's one of the few who trained twice a day, even in Dubrovnik in 40-degree heat, in a gym without air conditioning, and at a time when he had his best contracts," he said about Bogdanović.
About Zubac, he says he has an exceptionally high IQ, both in life and basketball. "Given his height, we needed to lower his center of gravity, which leads to quicker reactions and better finishes, and we succeeded because he embraced my approach."
This is Karlo Matković's second year working with Lutz. "His defensive potential is immense because, thanks to his mobility and excellent lateral movement, he can guard anyone. But as much as that's an advantage, it was also a drawback because coaches used him that way, and his offensive game was neglected," Lutz explained.
Matković recently got married but started training just ten days after the wedding. "Given that his improved three-point shot will now put him on scouts' radars, he now has to work on his dribbling technique, shooting off the dribble, and similar aspects," Lutz concluded.
Lutz also works with two NCAA players, Andrija Jelavić and Ivan Jurić, as well as with basketball player Lea Vukić, the first female player he has trained. "She's been playing basketball for a short time, but at the U-20 level, she was one of the three most important players," he noted.
When it comes to young players using individual training as an excuse to skip national team duties, Lutz is clear: "The national team should never be replaced by an individual program, especially not for exceptionally talented players. However, the reality is that young players in our clubs often lack adequate conditions for development and refining their talent, so summer is the time when they can improve."
Regarding NCAA players who stay in America during the summer, Lutz says they are now very well paid and thus have a responsibility to their program. "At some colleges, they even gather in June to work on physical conditioning, and that aspect has always been a problem for our young players."
