{"id":809554,"date":"2024-12-02T00:13:39","date_gmt":"2024-12-02T06:13:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/02\/overachiever-mallorca-represents-good-news-for-nba-greats-steve-kerr-and-nash\/"},"modified":"2024-12-02T00:13:39","modified_gmt":"2024-12-02T06:13:39","slug":"overachiever-mallorca-represents-good-news-for-nba-greats-steve-kerr-and-nash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/02\/overachiever-mallorca-represents-good-news-for-nba-greats-steve-kerr-and-nash\/","title":{"rendered":"Overachiever Mallorca Represents Good News For NBA Greats Steve Kerr And Nash"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/p>\n

Mallorca is outperforming many punters’ expectations.<\/p>\n

<\/fbs-accordion>Getty Images<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s sunshine and rainbows in Mallorca.<\/p>\n

If the Islanders\u2014led by the Basque coach Jagoba Arrasate\u2014keep collecting points at this rate (24 from 15 games so far), they could enter European competition for the first time in 22 years. The top form comes six months after avoiding relegation with 40 points in 2023\/24; that tally wasn\u2019t enough to save Real Valladolid from being demoted the season prior.<\/p>\n

Although it\u2019s early days, with the midpoint of La Liga still approaching, it now appears much rosier from a Mallorca persuasion. The latest victory arrived versus lowly Valencia, the decisive strikes from forwards Cyle Larin and charismatic local hero Abd\u00f3n Prats in a 2-1 scoreline. Grinding out results has defined Mallorca\u2019s success lately\u2014not winning a match by more than one goal, scoring few (15), and conceding fewer (13).<\/p>\n

Such competitiveness is encouraging to supporters in Palma and outside. The Spanish team is owned by U.S. sportspeople<\/a>, of which former tennis player Andy Kohlberg has a majority stake, accompanied by basketball names Steve Nash and Steve Kerr as minority shareholders. While taking control of any soccer club doesn\u2019t guarantee rich returns financially, there are other reasons for Messrs Kohlberg, Nash, and Kerr to smile.<\/p>\n

Should the ownership have watched each minute of every Mallorca game, they will have seen a lot of captain Antonio Ra\u00edllo, the central defender who has played more than any player in the Spanish top tier this term. They will have watched towering striker Vedat Muriqi win the most aerial duels. And they will have observed number 12 Samu Costa snapping into 40 tackles\u2014among the highest. This is from the time of writing, knowing some teams have played more fixtures than others.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Coach Kerr keeps track of Mallorca when he’s away from the island, with personalities like Kohlberg, … [+]<\/span> Nash and pundit Stuart Holden also involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/fbs-accordion>Getty Images<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What\u2019s come of Mallorca are players pulling together and getting the most of their talents. They did so when tying 1-1 against Real Madrid on the opening weekend and in the rollercoaster contest with Las Palmas, where Los Bermellones netted a controversial last-minute winner via an indirect free kick. Someone who embodies the spirit well is Dani Rodr\u00edguez, a 36-year-old steam-train of a midfielder, charging around the park and recording the most goals and assists in red and black.<\/p>\n

The squad has the will and industry to continue its run. Less clear? If Mallorca has the premium quality to battle in the top places of the table until late May.<\/p>\n

Mallorca Form Is A Boost To U.S. Owners<\/h2>\n

La Liga\u2019s rule-makers handed Mallorca a reasonable enough budget of \u20ac59 million ($62 million) to disburse on staff and players in 2024\/25\u2014the 11th highest. Before a ball was kicked, it signed Johan Mojica for around \u20ac1.5 million ($1.6 million) and Robert Navarro for just under \u20ac1 million ($1.1 million). These were the only two costing anything, as Mallorca\u2014which sold more\u2014spent frugally. That put the focus on the training ground and dressing room culture.<\/p>\n

Much credit should go to Arrasate. And for the owners, there will be personal satisfaction in seeing the work bear fruit on the grass. In September, Kerr spoke about the in-game similarities between basketball and soccer<\/a> in an interview with Spanish publication El Pa\u00eds<\/em>, and both he and Nash have been hands-on with the players during visits to the island. Before the Copa del Rey final in April, which Mallorca lost, Nash was animating the crowd, embracing mallorquinismo<\/em><\/a> <\/em>(Spanish).<\/p>\n

Away from the venture\u2019s emotion, there is capital appreciation. Already well-placed to access the U.S. market and on an island soaking in plenty of tourists, Mallorca\u2019s brand and value will grow with success\u2014perhaps resulting in a big sale in the future. Yet, the way things are going, those on board will likely want to stay along for the ride, as nobody knows where it may end up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Read More<\/a>
\n Henry Flynn<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mallorca is outperforming many punters’ expectations. Getty Images There\u2019s sunshine and rainbows in Mallorca. If the Islanders\u2014led by the Basque coach Jagoba Arrasate\u2014keep collecting points at this rate (24 from 15 games so far), they could enter European competition for the first time in 22 years. The top form comes six months after avoiding relegation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":809555,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[115483,139892],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-809554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mallorca","category-overachiever"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/809554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=809554"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/809554\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/809555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=809554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=809554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=809554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}