By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Upon his return to EuroLeague basketball, veteran guard Errick McCollum looks forward to providing that extra ingredient that can elevate the recipe Fenerbahce Beko has created to win the championship for the first time after 2017.
“I felt like… maybe they were missing a little something. And that was my game. Something that I could bring in,” McCollum told Eurohoops. He had just finished some post-game weight lifting, following his key contribution of 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and overall important action that unlocked the opposing defense in a big away win over EuroLeague standings leader Olympiacos Piraeus.
After leaving Pinar Karsiyaka amid the club’s financial woes that led to a massive exodus of players, McCollum got the call by Fenerbahce and was quick to jump on board earlier in January. Being 36 going to 37, the American player received a unique chance for his age to not only come back to the EuroLeague but also become a part of a contender and put himself in a situation where he can win the championship.
“Sometimes you get the opportunities in life, sometimes you don’t. I’m blessed to have this opportunity and I’m going to make the most out of it,” McCollum mentioned.
A pure scoring talent, McCollum has been widely regarded as one of the most gifted and dangerous bucket-getters in Europe over the last decade. In 2016 he was the EuroCup MVP while driving Galatasary to the championship title. He led the league in scoring in 2014 and 2022 and was named to the First Team in 2016 and 2019. Along the way, he won multiple Top Scorer honors in the Greek League and the VTB League, apart from the Chinese CBA.
Either due to making certain career choices or because EuroLeague clubs perhaps sometimes undervalued what he could bring to them, McCollum had spent just two seasons in the top-tier continental competition before signing with Fener. One with Anadolu Efes in 2017-18 and another at Khimki Moscow during 2020-21.
“If they didn’t know, they’re going to find out now for the rest of the year,” McCollum said on flying under the radar of EuroLeague clubs.
During his conversation with Eurohoops, McCollum explained how he became a Fenerbahce player, his aspirations with the Turkish powerhouse and how he can enhance an already strong outfit. He also discussed adjusting his style to the specific needs of his new team and touched on why he hadn’t returned to the EuroLeague earlier.
Eurohoops: That was quite a performance and win over Olympiacos. What led to achieving such a result?
Errick McCollum: I mean, they are a good team. I think we were well-prepared. We stopped some of their pick n’ roll action and some of their defense. They missed Thomas Walkup as well a lot. He gets them go defensively and he’s setting up everyone on offense with his creation. They battled. We can do a better job with the fouling. We fouled them a lot and gave them way too many free throws, too many times.
It shows effort. It shows that we’re trying to compete and we’re trying to fight. At least we didn’t make it easy for them. It’s good to have this effort but we have to be a bit smarter in the future to limit the opponent’s easy opportunities.
EH: How would you react some months ago if someone told you that you will soon be playing in the EuroLeague again and be a factor in an away win over the standings leader?
E.M.: Ι would say that if I had the opportunity, for sure. I believe in my ability. I’ve always been able to score the basketball everywhere and on anybody. Any level, anywhere. When I was in the EuroLeague and when I wasn’t. When I was in the EuroCup during my championship year for example, just look at the games against EuroLeague-level teams and what I did. But for me right now, it means nothing. My job is to go out here and play basketball regardless of who the opponent is. Sometimes you get the opportunities in life, sometimes you don’t. I’m blessed to have this opportunity and I’m going to make the most out of it.
I thank Saras [Jasikevicius] and the management for bringing me in. Derya [Yannier]. They showed faith in me and my abilities. They’ve seen me the last couple of years in Turkey. They know fully well what I’m capable of. My reward for them is to make them right. To show everybody that they made a good decision and I’m going to do that through my effort and my performance.
EH: What was the process of leaving Pinar Karsiyaka, along with several other players, and eventually signing with Fenerbahce?
E.M.: We’ve been having problems at Pinar Karsiyaka for a while. That financial crisis. They were unable to obtain a sponsorship from early in the summer time. And it just continued until it spiraled out of control to the point where they couldn’t play their debts. It was beneficial for the team to relieve some of the heavy payrolls and beneficial for the players to get somewhere where they could get paid and take care of their families.
It ended up working out. Before, there were 2-3 times when looked like things were going to fall apart but somehow they found a way and they didn’t. But then came a moment when they couldn’t do it. That’s when Fener reached out to my agent, along with a couple of other EuroLeague clubs. I just felt that Fener was the best fit. It’s a team that has tradition, history, professionalism. And they can compete for a championship. At my age, you never know how much longer you have. Maybe you have one year, maybe you have five years. The ultimate goal is to win a championship. What better organization to join for it than Fener? They had the pieces. And I felt like… maybe they were missing a little something. And that was my game. Something that I could bring in.
EH: Instant scoring. Creating your own buckets. Some out-of-the-box offense?
E.M.: Yeah! And I felt that I could be a perfect fit. I can play 1 vs. 1. I can attack the bigs, I can attack the guards, I can win fouls. I felt that they had all the pieces and maybe just lacked one small component. I hope I can add that. It’s during the season. I got to keep working, I got to keep learning everything. That’s my plan and my goal. Just to add something for the team and to impact winning. Sometimes it’s going to be scoring, sometimes it’s going to be defense, sometime creating. I don’t care.
EH: Your first two actions tonight once you entered the floor were two assists to Nicolo Melli.
E.M.: And that’s how you open up the game. I’m at a level and age where I’ve already proved to myself that I can do everything. Now, for me, I just want to win. If I score 20, great, if I score 2, OK. Whatever the team needs.
EH: You became 37 just a few days ago. What does it mean for you to get a new, big EuroLeague opportunity at this age?
E.M.: It just shows that there are a lot of good players out there. Sometimes guys get overlooked. Underestimated. You just got to keep working, keep doing what you do and people will take notice. I think hard work always gets rewarded. If you are a good person and put the time in, things will come your way eventually.
This is the first time that I’m on a EuroLeague team that actually has the pieces to win. It doesn’t matter if you are a good player, if you don’t have the pieces to win, if you are on a roster that’s not that good or be witha dysfunctional organization… it’s tough.
EH: For the vast majority of your career you were the absolute go-to-guy, the primary scorer, the offensive star on most of the teams you were part of. How is the transition to having a different, smaller role now?
E.M.: Yeah, I’ve always been the No. 1 option so it is an adjustment. But I’m humble guy. I can do it of course. It’ easier for me to be honest. Now I don’t get the No. 1 defenders (laughs). I’m playing with guys who are great. It’s an adjustment. You got to do the little things. But I’m used to playing 30, 35 minutes. So, you know… now 18-20 minutes is easy. I can put on more energy and more effort.
EH: Do you ever think what would’ve happened if back in 2014 or 2016 for example you made some different career choices? Let’s say joining a EuroLeague club earlier to establish yourself in the competition.
E.M.: I think in a situation like this you can’t look back. You live and do what you do. Any time you stay in the EuroLeague, it’s easier to continue. It’s a recycle league. You see the players, you see the coaches. Once you stay in the EuroLeague for 3-4 years they just keep you year after year. I think when you leave, it does makes it harder. Because they don’t see you as frequently and up close and personal. Sure, they watch film and watch people play but if they see you up close and personal they understand.
If they didn’t know, they’re going to find out now for the rest of the year. Because I’m here and I’m going to continue bring my effort, continue bring my energy and my confidence.
EH.: What did your brother CJ tell you when you joined Fenerbahce?
E.M.: I discussed it with him. What would be the best move. He told me to do what makes me happy. He was like, ‘it’s a tough situation when you’re not getting paid’. I hadn’t been paid for a while at Karsiyaka. But it’s not just about money. I’ve made money. I played in places where money is made. It’s the uncertainty part. That made it tough. I wanted to go somewhere where I can only focus on basketball. Not off the court stuff, like the board, the presidents, the sponsorship etc. I just want to play basketball, have fun and I want my family to be comfortable.
Fenerbahce provided all that. They are a top class organization. They’ve taken care of me and my family. Made sure we have everything we needed, helped us move to an apartment, help everything go smoothly. I’m just thankful to have that and not have that disorganized situation. My job is easy, I just play basketball and then make sure that everything good for me off the court.