By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Before Olympiacos joins remaining contenders in Berlin and battles for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague championship, Shaquielle McKissic sat down with Eurohoops to discuss his approach to competing in the season-ending tournament for a third year in a row. He also revealed an intriguing reason for removing Instagram from his phone and set the bar as high as possible for the 2024 Final Four.
“Calm. Kind of like the Terminator. I do not think I was this calm before the last two,” he compared himself to the buildup leading to previous Final Four appearances.
Since joining the Reds in 2020, McKissic featured in the Final Four of 2022 in Belgrade and 2023 in Kaunas. Guided by Giorgos Bartzokas, his side ranked fourth and second, respectively.
“Anybody can wake up and not be feeling it that day, and vice versa,” he commented on the single-elimination format of the Final Four creating unpredictability for any contest.
Netting a jump shot late in the fourth quarter of last season’s championship game, Sergio Llull produced a lasting highlight across social media, besides lifting Real Madrid to the EuroLeague championship at the expense of Olympiacos.
“It is a big reason I deleted Instagram off my phone, so I do not have to see it as much,” McKissic told Eurohoops.
Confirming setting his sights on becoming a EuroLeague champion, the former Arizona State standout is focused on being at his best for the team coached by Bartzokas in the capital of Germany.
“I just want to come and perform, and hopefully win the EuroLeague. And that will put all the critics to bed, finally,” he mentioned.
Olympiacos is set to clash with Madrid in the Semifinals of the approaching Final Four. A rematch of last year’s Final on May 24 in Uber Arena. Championship and third-place games follow on May 26.