By Stefanos Tatsios/ info@eurohoops.net
IRAKLION – The main focus of Isaiah Canaan is helping Olympiacos win the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague championship.
Canaan, 31, spent the last few days in Crete with the Reds lifting the Greek Cup trophy for the 11th time in team history. He averaged 6.3 points, 1.0 steals, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per contest in the Final 8, including 14 points against rival Panathinaikos in the semifinal Saturday. Early in the 2022-23 season, he also helped in winning the Greek Super Cup.
“We got one goal and that’s to hoist the trophy at the season,” he told Eurohoops after defeating Peristeri bwin in the final Sunday. The Murray State product was referring to the EuroLeague championship.
In his second EuroLeague campaign, he has 6.1 points, 1.1 assists, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.5 steals per game over 24 appearances, including 21 starts under head coach Giorgos Bartzokas.
“Fans are going to do what they do. Everybody got a right to say their opinion,” Canaan replied on sporadic disapproval of his contribution, “I don’t lose sleep on what other people say. I go home with my family and I am happy.”
Competing at a peak level against Panathinaikos has become a trend since starting his spell at Olympiacos.
“I love games that got more passion and a lot of emotions behind them. Those are the games you want to be a part of, which is like playing in the EuroLeague championship, playing in the Final Four,” he described his motivation, “Big rivalries like Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, you want to perform in those games.”