By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
After a chaotic summer between Shane Larkin and the Turkish Basketball Federation, it now became official the 31-year-old guard won’t play anymore as Turkish for Anadolu Efes in the BSL. The same treatment is also expected for Fenerbahce’s Scottie Wilbekin, who represented Turkey at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.
With a long statement shared by the Turkish team on social media and its official website, it was announced that the former Brooklyn Nets and Baskonia guard’s status has changed for the 2023-24 season and the future.
The press release explained the situation from the beginning. “During our National Team’s summer Olympic Qualifications preparation camp and subsequent qualifying matches, a well-known process took place regarding our athlete Shane Larkin. Our athlete, Shane Larkin, attended the preparation camp on the requested date, informed the authorities about his injury, and underwent the health checks requested by the National Team doctors”, it opened.
“As a result of the health checks, he could not take part in the matches of our National Team due to bone edema detected in his knee. Although our athlete reported the MRI results and doctor reports regarding the condition of his knee to the relevant media in a timely and accurate manner, our athlete was sentenced to a very heavy penalty by the Turkish Basketball Federation”, Anadolu Efes then expressed.
Finally, the decision took place. “The punishment our athlete received deeply affected both him and our Club. Our team’s season planning, squad balance, and budget structure have suffered a heavy, irreparable blow due to this penalty. Our Club, which has trained countless players for Turkish Basketball, provided players to the National Teams in every age category every year and is one of the teams that proudly sent the most athletes to our National Team for many years, has been the party that suffered the most in this process”, Efes continued.
“Following this process, we have learned with regret that the Sports Arbitration Board, which evaluated the issue as a result of the legal application made by our Club, approved the penalty given to our athlete”, the press release also stated.
Representing the Turkish national team since 2021, Shane Larkin has established himself as one of the best players in the whole EuroLeague with Anadolu Efes, winning back-to-back European titles with the Turkish powerhouse. At EuroBasket 2022, he had 9.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game.
PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague