By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
BERLIN, Germany – Climbing his way up in Europe after some opportunities flew away in the NBA, Jerian Grant picked Promitheas to start his overseas career in 2021.
Not managing to find himself in the right system in Milano, he returned to EuroCup to finish as runner-up with Turk Telekom Ankara, ending an MVP season. That gave him the ticket to fly back to Greece and the EuroLeague.
Surprising everybody, Ergin Ataman chose him to lead the team in the point guard position. And he answered well, as he’s entering his first-ever championship game in the EuroLeague as one of the most crucial players on Panathinaikos‘ roster.
“To have one game, to be able to call yourself the best team in all of Europe, it means everything”, he said to Eurohoops after his team’s practice on the eve of the final against Real Madrid.
His last few years, as anticipated, were full of ups and downs. “Basketball is all about confidence and situations. Coming here, the coach gave me the chance to lead the team as the point guard. It turned out pretty well”, he commented about Ergin Ataman’s confidence.
“We all do different things, but we all do things to help the team. That’s what makes us dynamic, we got scorers, we got defense, we got passers. Whatever the team needs at the game, any of us guards can get the job done”, Jerian Grant also touched on the versatility of his team’s backcourt.
“I want to be called a winner”
Son of Harvey Grant, the identical twin of former Orlando Magic player Horace Grant, Jerian obviously grew up in a basketball family, between older brother Jerai and younger brother Jerami. “Basketball has been my whole life. Being in the NBA for four to five years, the goal was to win a championship. But now I’m here in Europe at the highest level, to be able to call yourself champions at the highest level here is gonna be really special”, he reflected on his past.
Later on, he was asked about how he managed to switch from offensive leader of the team to defensive specialist, and vice versa, considering his last season as MVP in the EuroCup as well. “Just having a high basketball IQ and being a winner. I wanna be called a winner, whatever the team needs from me that night to help them win the game, it’s what I’m gonna do. Defense, score points, be the assist guy: whatever the team needs”, Jerian Grant followed.
To achieve this goal, he will have to go through Panathinaikos and one of the most important players this season, All-EuroLeague First Team member Facundo Campazzo. “They’re a great team, it’s the two top teams in Europe playing against each other. I’ve guarded all the best players in Europe this year. For me it’s just about playing hard, making it hard for them. Not making anything easy. I go out there and do my job”, he also said.
Despite thinking that “a series [against Real Madrid] would be fun, Jerian Grant agrees with coach Ergin Ataman on the length of the season and about keeping the format as the Final Four. “It’s a long season. To keep a season that’s this long to go more series, would be tough. Right now the way it is because the season is so long, one game in the Final Four is fine”, he finally stated.
PHOTO CREDIT: Eurokinissi