Fenerbahçe Men's Basketball Team's media day was held at the Fenerbahçe Basketball Museum in Ülker Sports and Event Hall.
Fenerbahçe General Manager Derya Yannier, Head Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius and players Nicolo Melli, Wade Baldwin IV, Melih Mahmutoğlu, Shane Larkin, Talen Horton-Tucker and Braxton Key were present at the meeting.
DERYA YANNIER: "WE WILL FIGHT TO WIN EVERY CUP"
Stating that many new players have joined the team, Fenerbahçe General Manager Derya Yannier said, "We said that there might be more changes than usual in our squad this season, and that's what happened. Some of our players continue with us to reflect the main character of the team. We will start a season in which we will fight to win every cup. We have created a squad that we are comfortable with on paper this season, but we will see how it will be in practice."
Speaking about the NBA Europe agenda, Yannier said, "We are going through an interesting process in European basketball. All teams will come together at the beginning of October and express a common idea. I see good days ahead for European basketball. If a collective solution is put forward, a very serious cake will grow. There is a serious investment in European basketball, which is exciting for all of us."
JASIKEVICIUS: "WE ARE EXCITED FOR THE TEAM WE CREATE"
Stating that they turned to more decision-making and experienced players this season, Head Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius said, "We are excited about the team we have created. We know that what we have to do is to be patient and work hard. We are waiting for the official season to start. In fact, the transfer market was about timing and opportunities. Basically, we tried to add more decision-makers to our squad. This was one of the points we wanted to improve. Last season, we were allowing easy points in defense. Let's see how much of this we can achieve with the experienced team we have established."
MELLI: "WE SHOULD ENJOY THE BASKETBALL WE PLAY"
Italian basketball player Nicolo Melli also stated that they are excited for the new season and said, "I am very happy to be with this team. Fenerbahçe is an organization that is ambitious and has goals. We know that the season is long and we need to work hard to achieve our goals. I am working to improve my Turkish. I do not know what the team can do yet. We have 9 new players. First of all, we must adapt and enjoy the basketball we play."
BALDWIN: "WE ARE A TEAM AIMING FOR THE FINAL FOUR"
American basketball player Wade Baldwin IV stated that they have many new players and said, "They have very successful careers. We expect them to repeat the same success in Fenerbahçe. We are a team aiming for the Final Four, we will continue to work on this path."
MELİH MAHMUTOĞLU: "OUR FANS WILL WATCH A GOOD TEAM"
Emphasizing that they helped the new players joining the team and that they will have a good team as they adapt to Jasikevicius' system, Captain Melih Mahmutoğlu said, "We are excited, as in every season. We finished the last season well, and we set out with the same goals this season. We are looking forward to the matches we will play. Our first match will be the Presidential Cup anyway. I hope it will be a healthy, happy year for all of us. We have 9 new players, all of them are valuable. Everyone is trying to adapt to the system. It will take time, but the important thing is the coach's decision." "We aim to reflect the team play on the field as much as we can. Our fans will watch a good team and I think the result will be good for all of us," he said.
HORTON - TUCKER: "WE ARE AN EXPERIENCED TEAM"
Stating that he has serious goals for the Euroleague final-four again, American basketball player Talen Horton-Tucker said, "We are excited, we have a good group of players. We are an experienced team and we are starting the new season with big goals. We play with short breaks. You have to prepare yourself for this. But I like it. I am trying to create different options in my game. This is one of my goals for the next season."
BRAXTON KEY: "OUR GOALS ARE CHAMPIONSHIP"
American basketball player Braxton Key, one of the new transfers, expressed his happiness to be in Fenerbahçe and said, "It is great to be here. Our goals are championships. We want to be in the Final Four again and win. I also want to help the team on this path."
SHANE LARKIN: "I RESPECT THIS CLUB VERY MUCH"
National basketball player Shane Larkin, whom Fenerbahçe transferred from A. Efes, said that he was very excited and said, "I have played against Fenerbahçe many times and I respect this club very much. My goal here is definitely to win championships. A. Efes was the team that brought me to this country, and I respect them very much. I am very happy to play in a club like Fenerbahçe, in front of such fans. The team helps me a lot in terms of preparing for the season. I hope to return to the field in the best possible way as soon as possible." "I'm planning it," he said.
