by Bilal Baran Yardımcı / info@eurohoops.net
Entering the 5th season of his second stint with Fenerbahce, Marko Guduric is becoming a veteran for the yellow-and-blue Turkish powerhouse. Coming back to club competition after another successful season with the Serbian national team, he’s eager for a back-to-back Final Four participation.
Talking to Eurohoops Turkiye’s Bilal Baran Yardımcı, he commented on the upcoming season following a summer full of transfers. “I love Fenerbahce very much. This is my home. I love the people I know here, I love the fans in the stands. I’ve been with the same people for the last seven years. We need to put our egos aside and try to do the best for the team”, he opened.
He followed by sharing an example from his own personal skillset. “I showed that I can defend very well in the summer. I didn’t know I could defend so well. I put offense aside because the coach wanted me to. I accepted this role and did my job. At the end of the day, when success comes, everyone is happy. I want to achieve something similar here. I will do my best to act this way and help everyone”, he added.
When it comes to how Sarunas Jasikevicius’ team will play in the 2024-25 season, he said the team has a versatile approach. “Wade [Baldwin IV] may be a better scorer than Nick [Calathes], but he is a player who can pass and create opportunities. He has an aggressive style of play, he can draw attention by penetrating and he can find the open look”, he first said about the newest playmaker.
He also commented on other teammates’ abilities. “Nicolò Melli, Boban [Marjanovic], Khem [Birch], Sertac [Sanli] are all good passers. We have passer-takers. I think basketball has changed. There are not many pure point guards anymore. Basketball is changing, there are creative players now. We have many players in our squad who can create something”, he said before listing names.
“Devon [Hall], Scottie [Wilbekin], me, Wade [Baldwin IV]… Nigel [Hayes-Davis] can carry the ball to the opponent’s court, [Arturs] Zagars… We will all see together. I am being honest right now, I don’t know my role but I know what I have to do. I haven’t talked to the coach about it specifically but what I have to do is always the same. To create opportunities for my teammates, to score and to be aggressive”, Marko Guduric added.
Eurohoops’ interview with Marko Guduric:
PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague