By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The newest episode of The Crossover with Joe Arlauckas spotlights a relatively new face on the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague scene, one whose level of commitment both on and off the court have already made him an example of true professionalism at the tender age of 26.
Anthony Gill’s rookie performance helped Khimki Moscow Region make the playoffs for the first time last season, impressing everyone. Even while he’s been injured through parts of this season, Gill’s concept of being a pro both in the gym and in the community make him stand out even more.
From partial paralysis at birth to his mother’s battle with cancer to losing his first pro contract due after a failed medical test, Gill has faced his own setbacks, yet he draws inspiration from people he seeks out in the Moscow region who are struggling more than most.
“I just went to a homeless shelter maybe two weeks ago, and it’s one of those situations where you go in thinking, ‘I’m going to impact these people’s lives,'” Gill says. “But that’s not what happens. It’s the opposite. They impact my life way more than I’m doing anything for them. They’re homeless, they don’t have a lot worldly going for them, but their spirits are still so high. They are trying to encourage you. They are good people. And sometimes you just need to do things like that to put life into perspective.”
Gill gets the same personal lift out of interacting with Khimki’s community through One Team, the corporate social responsibility program of Euroleague Basketball.
“It’s something that more guys need to do,” he says of the program. “We’re put up on this pedestal as basketball players, and it’s our job to play basketball. But it’s also our job to inspire people. It’s also our job to take care of people who are less fortunate than us. The One Team program does a great job of that.”
Gill also pays touching homage to Tyler Honeycutt – his late teammate, friend and roommate on the road – who died tragically last summer.
“Any time you talk about him, you can’t dampen my mood,” Gill says. “Because when it comes to him, I remember him as this light, this positive light. I’ll remember Tyler for who he really was, a great man. I respect him so much.”
With a one-hour format of exclusive one-on-one interviews, The Crossover with Joe Arlauckas goes well beyond the playing court with each podcast to delve into the life experiences that have made his guests protagonists and legends of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
The Crossover debuted with Olympiacos Piraeus head coach David Blatt and has since featured Nikola Vujcic of Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv, Nick Calathes of Panathinaikos OPAP Athens and Robertas Javtokas of Zalgiris Kaunas, among others. The Crossover with Joe Arlauckas is available on iTunes, Audioboom, Spotify, Deezer, RadioPublic, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, CastBox and other platforms.
Source: EuroLeague