By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Derek Needham has been close multiple times before. Now he wants to finally reach the mountaintop.
“Winning the BKT EuroCup is the dream,” Needham tells Eurohoops. “That would be the kind of closure to the EuroCup runs we’ve been on.”
When he joined Besiktas in 2023, Needham had established himself as one of the most prominent guards in the EuroCup. He was named to the competition’s All-EuroCup First Team in 2022, having helped Bursaspor make a shock run to the EuroCup Final, and then took his talents to Istanbul and the Black Eagles.
“I’ve been to the final four two times now,” Needham adds. “Once, I made the final. Last year we were really close. To hold that trophy will mean everything. I won’t stop until I get it. I’ve been hunting for it.”
Last year, Besiktas fought through adversity and injury problems, managing to advance to the semifinals in stunning fashion – eliminating reigning champion Gran Canaria and title contender Hapoel Tel Aviv with two road wins in knockout games. The Turkish team was unable to defeat JL Bourg-en-Bresse in the semifinals, though, falling 1-2 in the best-of-three series.
So this is definitely personal for Needham, a six-year EuroCup veteran who became 34 in October, considering his past experiences. It’s also a burning desire for the entire Besiktas team that rightfully believed several moments last season that they could go all the way and win it all.
Don’t forget that this was the one and only team that beat Paris Basketball in the entire 2023-24 EuroCup campaign during the French side’s run to the title.
“For sure, Besiktas has some unfinished business,” Needham says. “We felt we were right there. We really, really wanted to play Paris [in the EuroCup Finals] last year because we were the only team to beat them in the regular season. And we felt that we really had a chance to get there and actually shock the world, as you might say. We’re definitely aiming to get back there.”
As always, Besiktas will have to face some heavy competition. There are the usual, familiar powers, like 2024 runner-up Bourg, perennial favorite Gran Canaria, or the dazzling, star-studded Hapoel Tel Aviv, for example. Not to forget a mighty returnee in four-time champ Valencia or new, emerging challengers like Bahcesehir or Cedevita Olimpija.
“It won’t be easy,” Needham agrees. “I believe it will be even harder this year because the EuroCup is probably the most talented it has ever been.”
Picking it up
While Besiktas welcomed its fans to the new season with a 94–76 home win over Buducnost, the team didn’t take advantage of that momentum in the next two games.
Bahcesehir handed their fellow Turkish squad an 87-66 loss and then Hapoel Tel Aviv unleashed its strength in Sinan Erdem Dome to leave with a 101–87 victory.
“We had a couple of new guys and having a complicated system… it takes time to create that chemistry during training camp,” Needham explains. “We had some struggles then and then we glided into the season. Other than that, I think we started clicking at the right time. We did play some very good teams in EuroCup in the first games – Bahcesehir and Hapoel Tel Aviv. These games taught us a couple [of things] on physicality and the level we need to play in order to compete and win games. I think you start to see it now a little bit more with the wins we picked up in the last two weeks.”
Besiktas put those lessons into action against ratiopharm Ulm and Joventut Badalona with back-to-back wins, 107–74 and 82–76. The difference in the team’s defensive intensity has been obvious.
Needham is quite confident in his team’s scoring capabilities, considering that many core players stayed over the summer and additional weapons have made the offense even more versatile.
“Even though we kept the core [group], I believe we have a totally different team than last year,” Needham affirms. “This year we have a lot more scoring. I think we are more athletic this year, especially on the ‘5’ position. Angel Delgado was a great short roll passer and a great rebounder. This year we have more alley-oops in our game. The additions of our two ‘4’ guys, along with Kelan Martin, give us tremendous scoring. This team has the ability to put up 80 points plus every night.”
That’s putting it modestly. After five rounds, Besiktas is ranked third overall in points per game with 87.2. while having the fourth-best offensive rating at 117.8.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of Besiktas’ offense is how well-balanced it is. Five players are averaging double figures, with Needham leading the pack at 12.0 points along with a team-high 4.0 assists. Kelan Martin, Kyle Allman, Jonah Matthews and Conor Morgan complete this harmonious equation with 11.6, 10.8, 10.8 and 10.6 points, respectively.
“Because of our depth we have at least 10 guys always ready to go,” Needham explains. “That means two at each position who can be starters and can give us 15 to 20 points on any night. We’re built to be deep. The way our style is, we need at least 10 players always ready, specifically because we want to be aggressive on defense. Last year, the team was different. We can go with a number of lineups this year that can be quite effective for us.”
“Defense wins titles” may sound like a good old cliché to most. For Needham, this is truly a dogma that the team needs to faithfully follow to maximize its chances of reaching their ultimate goal.
“Our calling card will have to be defense if we want to hold the trophy at the end of the road,” Needham believes. “Our athleticism and willingness to play defense will be the reason that we can do it. Right now, a lot of teams can score the ball. There are number of teams in both groups who are trying to get to the EuroLeague. We place ourselves up there as one of those teams.”
While Needham is thinking far ahead when it comes to the ambition he has with Besiktas this season, he realizes that there are some short-term checkmarks his team needs to cross first.
For starters, particularly strong group-stage play that can lead to securing home-court advantage in the playoffs. This could be a significant game-changer for Besiktas, given that the club has innumerable dedicated supporters that can create a hellish atmosphere in Sinan Erdem.
“Our goal is always at least Top 4, or Top 2,” Needham says. “If we get to the quarterfinals without playing the eighthfinals, that would be huge. Especially with the Besiktas fan base. We like the new system. We like the series format. But it’s always about getting home-court advantage and giving our fans a show on our home court. Because we do have the best fans in the EuroCup.”
Speaking about the fans, apparently there’s even a slogan built around Needham’s name that goes “Derek Needham, always here when you need him.”
It’s both a recognition of how reliable Needham is and something that increases the sense of responsibility the player has already committed to.
“I’m aware it of. I think they used it in the last game. I like it, it’s very catchy,” Needham says with a laugh. “Hopefully I can live up to that and deliver when they need me. People were saying it at practice. Members around the gym would say it. But it was never something on the court and during games. It started catching on a bit more this year.”
The Alimpijevic way
Needham began emerging as a standout guard in the EuroCup under Dusan Alimpijevic at Bursaspor. Their paths have been the same ever since.
“This is my fourth year with Coach Alimpijevic,” Needham says. “I have watched him grow pretty well. He’s adjusting season by season. Sometimes you keep the same core principles, but you add a little mixture of things here and there from what you pick up. He’s been in the Summer League a couple of years, so he’s bringing some NBA stuff to us. It’s an extension of him this point. Getting the new guys to understand the system and understand his way of communicating. Understanding his practice schedule and his intensity of what he likes to work with.”
“I believe with me doing that and with his style, it kinds of speeds up the process of guys getting into the system easier. Especially with the core we talked about. It’s easier to add, integrate guys and keep them rolling in. Hopefully we can keep this team moving.”