By Nikola Miloradovic / info@eurohoops.net
After seven years in the NBA, Isaiah Canaan moved to Europe and, step by step, playing for UNICS Kazan and especially Olympiacos, establishing himself as an elite shooter at the EuroLeague level.
Last summer, he decided on a change of scenery, and after two seasons in Piraeus and multiple trophies, he took his talents to Crvena Zvezda. Talking to Eurohoops, Canaan discussed his new team and his role with Crvena Zvezda, admitting that speaking with coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos convinced him to join the Belgrade team.
“It’s different, but a good feeling. We’ve got a good group of guys and a great coach. He spoke to me and made me feel confident about what he was trying to build and add, just letting me be myself. Along with his goal of winning, getting to the playoffs, and hopefully the Final Four, those are all things I want to be a part of. It’s a great organization, and it made the decision easy for me to come,” Canaan said.
Once again, he is going to have the support of passionate fans behind him.
“I love those types of atmospheres and games. We have some of the best fans, if not the best, in the EuroLeague. Being able to come here, be a part of this family, and not having to change colors, it’s a big motivation, and I’m excited to try and do things that haven’t been done before.”
In Greece, he experienced the derby between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, and now he’ll have the chance to be part of the Belgrade rivalry between Crvena Zvezda and Partizan.
“Being part of the Greek rivalry prepared me for the Belgrade rivalry. It’s another great chance to get out there, compete with my brothers, with my team, try to win, and handle business the way we’re supposed to.”
Canaan believes Crvena Zvezda has what it takes this year to take a step forward in the EuroLeague and fight for the playoffs.
“I think we’ve got the right pieces to make things happen, but we’ve got to take it step by step. We’re all new faces here, so we need to build chemistry. I like our chances against anybody.”
In Belgrade, Canaan will have the chance to play a season alongside legendary point guard Milos Teodosic. It’s safe to say that he is excited.
“I’m definitely going to ask him a lot. It means a lot to play with him. I hated playing against him because I knew how talented he was. I’m a defensive guy, and the way I play defense, the fact that he was still able to make those passes just shows how good of a player he is and how much he loves and idolizes the game. To be on the court with him, with a shooter like me, I can’t wait.”
Talking about the players he had the chance to work with since crossing the ocean, the 33-year-old guard named a former teammate from UNICS as the person who helped him the most in adjusting to European basketball.
“Jamar Smith. Good player. He was my teammate in my first year in Europe, in EuroCup. He helped me learn the game much faster, showing me how to find my spots on the floor and teaching me what I needed to know to handle European basketball because he knew I had the ability to play in the EuroLeague. To this day, we still talk, and he gives me advice.”
Canaan touched on the competition in the EuroLeague and the best shooters he has faced so far, admitting that he could do more with a bigger offensive role.
“It’s crazy because the guys I’m going up against always have way more attempts than I do. Who knows, if I had the same number of attempts as Markus Howard or Belinelli, it might be different. I try to stay efficient and do what the team asks. But if I had those kinds of opportunities, the sky’s the limit,” Isaiah Canaan told Eurohoops.
He also discussed the differences between the NBA and EuroLeague, players moving overseas in both directions, naturalization of players, settling in Belgrade… Check out the complete Isaiah Canaan interview for Eurohoops in the video below.