The dream is on: Danish hero Iffe Lundberg chases history

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The dream is on: Danish hero Iffe Lundberg chases history

NAESTVED (Denmark) - Turn the clock back three years ago, and there was a time in February 2021 when Gabriel Lundberg - aka 'Iffe' - was probably walking around his living room, wondering what might have been.

Lundberg was unable to represent his beloved Denmark in their do-or-die game against Lithuania for the chance to make it to FIBA EuroBasket 2022, a short time after becoming the first-ever player in his nation's history to play in the EuroLeague - whilst later repeating the feat in the NBA.

"PLAYING AT ONE OF THE BIG INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS IS ONE OF MY DREAMS."

It was the perfect David vs Goliath scenario: one of the most recognizable powerhouses of world basketball fighting for the last available ticket to Europe's flagship event against a national team that only participated in the Final Round on three previous occasions - looking to break a drought stretching back more than six decades.

Hitting the rewind button to the first meeting between the two sides in Vilnius, Denmark's number 1 had done it all: 28 points (8-of-17 shooting) along with 7 rebounds, 4 assists. The decisive Jordan-esque layup with 18.9 seconds to go, celebrating loudly in front of a remote crowd for what was the greatest victory in the history of Danish basketball, without a doubt.

But when the qualification was on the line, watching the ultimate goal shattered from his home, there was a complete contrast of emotions. "It was a nightmare," Lundberg told FIBA.basketball. "We were so close to accomplishing the dream. I wanted to be there with my guys, on the floor competing and fighting with them."

Other highlights included a thrilling 38-point night with 7-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc to push Denmark over the Czech Republic. Lundberg was averaging 25.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, whilst shooting 45.5 percent of two-point field goals, 48.4 percent from three-point range as well as 92.9 percent from the free throw line.

There was no better scorer than Iffe in the entire campaign.

A man on a mission, the cycle comes around again with the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers. Once more, the dream is to make it to the Final Round.

"It would mean everything," Lundberg states simply on what it would mean to get there. "Being able to play at one of the big international tournaments with Denmark is one of my big dreams in basketball."

"I love representing my country. Being able to play for your flag, to play for something which is bigger than yourself, which is the whole country, is an amazing feeling. I think anyone who plays sports should strive to try playing for the national team. It's a complete honor and it means you're one of the best to do it."

Basketball may be far from the most popular sport in Denmark, but Iffe Lundberg is an instantly recognizable figure and what immediately springs to mind when you put basketball and Denmark together.

Standing in the way of his dream of pulling on the Danish jersey at EuroBasket are some familiar faces in Group G of the Qualifiers, or as Lundberg quips: "They should call it the 'Virtus Bologna group'."

Denmark are alongside Georgia, Serbia and Finland - who automatically qualify as co-hosts - with all three of the national teams represented by those from the Italian Vu Nere family with Toko Shengelia (Georgia), Ognjen Dobric (Serbia) and head coach Lassi Tuovi (Finland).

"It's my fourth year playing with Toko, he's my guy. I like the way [Ognjen] plays and he's a fantastic guy. I'm happy to see that a coach of [Lassi's] status has got an opportunity to coach at the highest level in Europe, and he really deserves it. He's a cool dude, very down to earth, detail-oriented; I like having him as my coach."

The 29-year-old has been living the heroic story of somebody who gets further step by step, coming from a place where what he does isn't really talked about, with basketball 'not even being top-10 sport' in the country. He started from nowhere, needing to step out of his comfort zone.

"I had to start down and work my way up, I needed to get out of Denmark and put myself on a higher level. Then, dedication came. It has always been a matter of staying true to myself and believe in my craft.

"There's going to be adversities. I don't believe any successful person has gone through life without any downs, any negative moments. It's a matter of how you can turn those negative moments into positive moments. There are only two choices.

Once again, it's all about taking decisions: "You can either accept it and stay where you are, be sort of stuck; or you can decide to turn it into a challenge. How can I overcome this obstacle, how can I become better, how can I turn this bad situation into a good situation, taking advantage of it? You have to earn it, nothing is given. That's how I always think."

Lundberg believes that basketball is on the rise in Denmark with a brighter future ahead as the next generation of talent looks to make their mark.

However, both feet remain firmly on the ground, and it's going to take an extra effort for the Danish basketball team to advance among two of the best teams in Group G; taking 2025 hosts Finland out of the equation.

Both Georgia and Serbia competed at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023; the latter returning to Belgrade with silver medals around their neck from their exploits in Manila. Yet the goal stays the same for Iffe:

"I'm trying to put basketball on the map in Denmark."

Put Aerosmith on the pre-game playlist, because the dream is on.

FIBA