By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Malcolm Delaney’s purpose with Olimpia Milano is quite clear: Winning the EuroLeague championship.
It is, after all, the one thing that Delaney hasn’t managed to achieve during his career in Europe so far. The former Hokie has won multiple domestic trophies in France, Ukraine and Germany and was named to the All-EuroLeague First Team in 2016 after leading Lokomotiv Kuban to the Final Four for the first time in the club’s history. And now, he looks to claim the EuroLeague with the “Red Shoes”
“I have had a long career, this will be my tenth season overall, the eighth in Europe, and my goal is to win the EuroLeague. I think have done almost everything individually, I won other titles in different countries, but the reason I’m in Europe right now is to win the EuroLeague,” Delaney said during the press conference of his official presentation by Milano.
After leaving Barcelona, Delaney was pursued by Milano and coach Ettore Messina to be paired with Sergio Rodriguez on the team’s backcourt. “From the very first conversation with coach Ettore Messina, I felt like this was the place where I needed to be,” Delaney said.
“After Atlanta, I said I didn’t want to come back to Europe, but last year I had a good opportunity to come back and kind of remind everyone that I’m still a high-level player in Europe,” Delaney added. “I think I have proved it and so I got the attention of the coach and Christos. From the first conversation with those guys, I felt that they really wanted me to be here. For my y career, that’s all I really need. For the coach and the club to give me the opportunity to lead a team. So, I put the weight on my shoulders and try to do whatever I can to help them win. For me, that’s what my job will be here. I’m coming to win.”
Delaney looks forward to being able to assume a role on the court that will allow him to be his usual aggressive self. “Last year in Barcelona, the situation was different, I came to the team a little bit late. I just wanted to fit in. I had to take over some games, but that wasn’t my role. I still wanted to be myself, but I didn’t want to overstep what the coach was asking me. I can’t have fun if I’m not myself, I’m going to be in attack mode and that doesn’t involve just me scoring. That means getting everyone else around me better.”
As an example, Delaney used his 2015-2016 run with Lokomotiv. “Like that season at Lokomotiv, I scored, but at the same everybody around me played than they have ever played before. I take a lot of pride in making people around me better. Everybody who has ever played with loves playing with me. Anyone who has played with me has loved it. I will be in attack mode, not just to have fun, but to transfer this mentality to the team. If they see me playing hard, the others will play hard too. This is the kind of leader I am.”
Delaney was rather clear when he was asked who he believes is the best 1-on-1 player in Europe between him, Mike James, Shane Larkin, and Scottie Wilbekin.
“Me,” Delaney said with a smile. “Mike is one of my close friends. Shane… we kind of got to know each other this summer. I don’t know Scottie personally but he’s one of the best guards I played against. I think when I have freedom and I have the ball on my hands, I think I’m the best guard in Europe.”
Photo: Olimpia Milano