By Utkan Sahin/ info@eurohoops.net
Jordan Theodore was one of the key players of Skyliners last season, when the team won the FIBA Europe Cup. This year he is turning heads all around Europe as the leader of Banvit, the surprise team of the Turkish BSL.
With an 8-2 record so far and big wins over Darussafaka, Galatasaray and league leader Anadolu Efes (8-1), Banvit is a contender and Theodore the best player of its roster.
Eurohoops had the chance to catch up with the “Banvit Batman” and talked about his career, his Euroleague ambitions, Banvit and nicknames.
– How did you decide to play basketball? Have you always been a basketball player? After all, your name is Jordan.
“I started playing when I was about… I mean I always been into basketball since I was a baby. My mom and my brother named me as Jordan because he loved basketball too he said he always knew I was going to play. So that’s how I got the name Jordan. I’ve been playing basketball my whole life as long as I can remember”.
– You grew up in a difficult environment. A life that could lead you to the wrong places despite all your talent. Your mother has an effect on your interest in basketball. She sent you to Paterson Catholic High School. When you look back, can you tell that this was a turn around for you?
“Yes, I mean growing up you know nothing was easy but my mom was always there she always kept me on the right track kept me playing basketball and school. You know if when I did get in trouble she took basketball away and basketball what I love the most. So I knew that in order to play the game I love I had to do the right thing which is not get into trouble and get good grades in school. My mom has been everything to me in my life and for her do the thing she did for me, every sacrifice she did, I wouldn’t take it back, nothing back at all”.
– Let’s talk about Seton Hall years. You had a very good season there. Your team got selected as the second best team of the year, but an unfortunate incident happened for you in the third year. Your name was involved in a criminal case, desite not being guilty. In an interview you gave at that time also stated, “when you wrote my name on Google, the first thing that pops up is Jordan Theodore being accused of assault with a deadly weapon”. You said that you want to change that. Do you think you were able to change it? Do you think this incident is an obstacle for your career?
“When I first decided to go pro, a lot teams asked me about it and nothing to do about it because I wasn’t involved in anything.
My name was thrown me into something I had nothing to do with. You know how it is nowadays once something goes up on the internet it’s hard to get it down. I think with the way I am playing now and the way I played since the incident has happened I been able to show people that I am not trouble, I am serious about basketball and I am a professional.
I am taking my job very seriously and I just want to win games. Everything else just happens”.
– After college, you took your career to Europe and you came to Turkey. How hard was the rookie season for you? How difficult was the adjusting period?
“Adjusting to basketball wasn’t so much difficult. I just think being away from the home was tough. Especially since we were losing a lot at the games. We had some troubles with the management. So I just wanted to play basketball, focus on basketball. I didn’t think anything else really mattered. Just making sure I came to work and did my job. A lot of things In that season were hard to deal with. From teammates to organization. We changed different coaches, we changed different players. When you coming from college, you don’t have to deal with that. You became a professional and you just have to take of yourself and worry about yourself, everything else just falls into place. I think that was the hardest thing to adjust to”.
– In Antalya and Mersin you can not prevent your teams from falling from the league, even if you performed well personally. After that, with Bourg in France, you felt the same danger. It must have been a difficult time you were a young player and the teams you played were often losing…
“It was definitely tough. Playing well, your team still losing and there is nothing you can really do about it. My first two years in Turkey were tough, really tough. I was playing well but we were losing. I didn’t really care about scoring and statistics. I just wanted to win games because we were losing really close games. And then I got hurt. That summer going into my third year I ended up going to Bourg-en-Bresse (France) about January. And they had already lost 18 games! So I was already coming in… I think we were able to win.. We were able to split that 9 and 9 in the second half we were like one game away from avoiding relegation. But I believe things happens for a reason.
I went through all of that because I think I needed to wake up. I needed to grow up as a basketball player and as an individual. As a person I had to change the things about myself. And I went to Frankfurt last season I was able to show people that I am a winner and I always had this talent.
I just needed to be into a system of a really good coach, I needed some really good players around me. And I was able to show to world I can do”.
– After signing with Banvit in Turkish basketball, Press criticised “You are talented but you were not a winner ” Eventually, the your last two teams dropped from the league. But now, You’re having an incredible season. All your statistics are up. With 22 points, you’re doing it right on the field with 52%. What has changed?
“I’m growing up. I am learning the game. The game is slowing down for me. I’m seeing the floor a lot better. I think it is all maturity I’m 26 now and I’m playing this game for a long time. I’ve spend enough time in Europe. It’s my fifth year so I’m just more mature. Right now, I playing at such a high level. Everything comes so easy right now”.
– You are having an incredible season until now. Banvit is among the leaders of the Turkish BSL standings and has defeated 3 Euroleague teams. You are the leader of this team. Does that excite you?
“Winning always excites me. But I have really good teammates. My teammates are out there, we are practicing hard every day, pushing each other, everybody, to their limits. My teammates have the confidence of playing with high level players like I do. I have to give all the credits to my teammates?”.
– What is your goal about this season as a team?
“We haven’t really talked about goals but we all want to win championships. We are competing at the Turkish BSL and also in the FIBA Champions League. We know that in order to win championship we have to come in everyday and work hard. So I think goal is conquer everyday, get better. To be better today than we were yesterday.
– And do you feel ready for the Euroleague level?
“My game is ready for the highest level that I can play. I don’t see myself slowing down anyway. I know Euroleague is full of a lot of really really good players who been doing it for a long time. I have a lot of experience against them. But for me I feel like no body in the planet can guard me. I feel like I’m unstoppable. I think I’m ready to take next step”.
– Did you totally erase the idea of NBA on your mind?
“No. NBA is definitely on my mind for sure”.
– I follow you on Twitter. In the past few days, a Galatasaray supporter said to you that he wants to see you in the team and you gave an interesting answer to the tweet. You also wrote an another tweet about Barcelona’s guard search. Banvit is a team known for carrying the players to Euroleague level. I think, your interest in Euroleague shows that in your mind it is the next step in your career. Do you agree?
“I do agree. Euroleague is definitely the next step. And Twitter is fun! I like to interact with fans. I get a lot of people ask me if I am going to Galatasaray or other Euroleague teams. But right now. I’m playing for Banvit and that’s the all I can control”.
– Finally, let’s go back to Banvit. You’re having a career season. The team is doing very well. Are you happy here?
“I am very happy here. Banvit is a good organisation. We are all like a family. They taking care us. Most importantly, they are giving us freedom. They are giving us space to be ourselves and just to have fun and relax. Bandırma is a small city, not much to do but it is always like a home. Small place, everybody calls out for together we all hang out and I think that’s the special thing about Banvit”.
– What are you thinking about your coach?
“My coach is really good. Saso Filipovski is being great. He is helping me a lot. He just trying to help and take my career into next level. He coaches at a Euroleague level. He really believes I can be the one of best guard in Europe, he tells me that every day.
You’re the best guard in Turkey. Make sure come to work like the best guard. Be the best person you can be. Be the best player you can be.
I just trying to take that everyday just to continue to get better. I make my teammates better every way that I can”.
– Are you going to keep putting the mask? They started to call Banvit Batman about you.
“It is comfortable but it is also… uncomfortable you know. I know I am getting a lot of nicknames because I am a black man. Right now I am wearing that just for the protection because I had a surgery. And the doctor told me to keep it on for at least a month or five weeks. We’ll see If I continue play high level with it (smiles)”.