COLOGNE — Aris Barkas / barkas@eurohoops.net
Anadolu Efes’ dream duo of Shane Larkin and Vasilije Micic stepped up just in time to hand their team their maiden Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title. After this historic win, Larkin recalls the formation of what was meant to be one of the most entertaining backcourt duos in EuroLeague history while speaking to Eurohoops.
“We got here three years ago, we didn’t know each other, we have never spoken before”, says Larkin, who had 28 points in the championship game. “At first, it was a little rocky trying to figure each other out, trying to figure out what was best for him and me and how we could co-exist. I think midway through that first season you kinda saw it click and ever since we’ve been riding high. We’ve been the best backcourt in EuroLeague for the last two years, and I think one of the most dominant backcourts in EuroLeague history. I’m not a cocky guy, but I think last year I would have won MVP and for Micic to be MVP of this season it just shows how we can co-exist and how well we help each other out on the court”.
For Efes, these three years of sticking together finally paid off and for Larkin, who underwent surgery on his knees in the offseason it served as a big validation.
“To have this validation after three years to win this trophy after all the early season rumblings about “Efes has a losing record”… I just really want to know what do these people have to say now. It’s not in a negative way but this is a true testament of sticking together as a team, fighting through adversities, always believing in each other and committing yourself to a family and giving everything you have. We did that, now we’re champions and nobody can take that from us”.
“It [recovering from surgery] was difficult all season, mentally and physically, trying to find my rhythm. It’s never easy coming back from a double knee surgery so when I came back I was just trying to find my bounce, trying to find the moments and the spaces where I was doing what I did last year. A lot of the times I was forcing it and then I took a step back and let the game come to me as opposed to pressing. And then I started playing better, started being at a higher level. Now we’re sitting here as champions, I don’t know how many minutes I played tonight but I feel great, my body feels great and I’m extremely happy and proud of everything we’ve been through as a team”, Larkin adds.
Photo: EuroLeague