By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
One of the reasons that Bahcesehir College Istanbul has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup is guard Jaleen Smith and his playmaking in particular.
Taking up the mantle of the main point guard of Bahcesehir, Smith is averaging 6.0 assists to go with 11.8 points as the Turkish side has started the season with a 7-1 record to lead Group A. That marks the second-best record in the competition, surpassed only by undefeated Valencia Basket.
Smith has had multiple playmaking highlights but none like the show he put on against Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv. Going full “Point God” mode, the 30-year-old dished out 15 assists to his teammates in a statement win for his squad. This is an insane number, tied for third in EuroCup history behind 16-assist performances by the great Omar Cook in 2014 and J’Covan Brown two seasons ago.
“It wasn’t just me finding guys. Everybody contributed to those assists and whenever they were open, they were making shots,” Smith humbly told Eurohoops. “I wouldn’t have those assists if those guys didn’t make shots. I credit my teammates for making it happen.”
In his conversation with Eurohoops, Smith analyzed how comfortable he feels in his role, spoke about Bahcesehir’s impressive start, the ever-improving team offense and the “everybody eats” mindset that he and his teammates follow. He also praised younger teammate Sehmur Hazer who stepped up big time recently in light of injury problems, discussed the motivation that drives him and other fellow former EuroLeague players on the team and explained why he enjoys Coach Dejan Radonjic’s philosophy.
Eurohoops: That 7–1 start in the EuroCup has surprised some people. But not you guys, right?
Jaleen Smith: Not at all. Even before the season, going into it I was pretty confident. We have a lot of experience with a lot of guys that played in the EuroLeague or the EuroCup before. It always goes well for your team. I always felt we had a really good shot at being good. It just depended on how well we’re going to gel because basically, we are a whole new team. We haven’t set any particular long-term goals. We all love to compete and we try to win every game. That’s the main thing – competing in every game. Win or lose, we’re going to see what the outcome is when we play hard and we play our way. It’s going to be pretty tough to beat us for sure.”
EH: Bahcesehir is riding a 5-0 streak in the EuroCup following a 66–63 loss to Gran Canaria. After that game, you dropped 110 against in a victory over Trento and are now averaging 90.2 points. What changed in the team’s philosophy after that game at Gran Canaria?
J.S.: “I think that motto after that game is playing a bit faster. Credit to Gran Canaria that took us out of our game. They wanted us in the half court – and we did. Even before the game, we were playing kinda slow. But now, we play a lot faster. Sehmus [Hazer] in particular is playing unbelievably while CJ [Massinburg] was out. Now CJ is back and he’s bringing more firepower to our offense and strength on our defense too. We are picking up the pace a little bit more. We are already really aggressive on defense and we manage to make it count in transition as well.”
EH: You are leading Bahcesehir in assists with 6.0 per game. Do you remember the last time you had this many assists?
J.S.: “I have to look back to college. Or maybe in Germany with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg when I averaged 4 or 5. No 6 though. Never.”
EH: Maybe because you didn’t have this kind of role?
J.S.:“I think the last time I had [playmaking duties] it was when I was in Ludwigsburg. I was the main point guard, along with another guy. Basically a situation similar to how me and CJ are. When it comes to being the main point guard… even before I went to Bahcesehir, Coach Dejan Radonjic and Head of Basketball Operations Nemanja Bjelica made it clear that they want me to spearhead the team. It was me and [Mateusz] Ponitka bringing our EuroLeague experience and our IQ to the team. I think this really helped. Setting up guys to be in good situations and also making the right read for our teammates whenever they have the open shot or open layup or when there’s an open man anywhere on the floor.”
EH:The highlight of your playmaking so far this season came against Hapoel Tel Aviv when you dished out a career-high 15 assists in a big win. How did you feel in that game when you were dropping dimes left and right?
J.S.: “Credit to my teammates. I posted this on Instagram that everybody was making shots, everyone was dunking. It wasn’t just me finding guys but those guys making the plays. Sehmus, Axel [Bouteille], Tyler [Cavanaugh], Tai [Odiase]. Ponitka. Everybody contributed to those assists and whenever they were open, they were making shots. I wouldn’t have those assists if those guys didn’t make shots. They are all pretty good shooters you know. I credit my teammates for making it happen and just being at the right spot at the right time for me to find them.”
EH:Do you feel more comfortable playing as a point guard? Carrying playmaking duties?
J.S.: “I’ve been criticized about being more of a ‘2’. I can play the ‘2’. That’s what I do with the Croatian national team as a ‘2’ and I feel very comfortable. But I can play the point guard. My versatility is really good with that. I can play the point guard and the shooting guard easily. It’s true that I feel very comfortable playing the ‘1’. Just knowing that my role is being the leader. Just to lead the guys. Not necessarily by being vocal, but by leading by example. By playing the right way. I think that’s probably my biggest asset. That I play the right way all the time.”
EH:Well, Bahcesehir is winning with you handling the main point guard role.
J.S.: “That’s the thing. Everywhere I went and everywhere I’ve been playing at point guard… we won. With Ludwigsburg, we ended up finishing first in the 2020-21 regular season. In the bubble tournament in 2020, we made it to the finals versus ALBA Berlin, which was a big deal. It’s not a coincidence that this is happening. Everybody has their opinion. I just try to hoop and win as many games. Whether I play as ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’, ‘4’ or ‘5’, it doesn’t matter. I just want to win and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
EH: So you are posting 6.0 assists per game while five Bahcesehir players are averaging double figures in scoring. What does that say for the team?
J.S.: “If you look at our assists we are top 5 in EuroCup. The thing is that we play well together and play the right way. We have experience and our guys know how to play basketball and how to win. We don’t really care who has the best numbers. As long as we win, that’s all that matters. It could be me with 20, or Sehmus, or CJ, or Tyler, or Tai, or Axel. It can be even one of our young guys. As long as we win and everybody contributes the way they do, nobody complains. You can tell that as long as we win nobody cares about stats. As long as we win it’s always a good vibe. That’s just how we roll. We always have a good time with each other. Even though we are relatively new. This is like… month 3 or 4 together. But it feels like we’ve been playing together forever.
“That’s something that’s really nice to talk about honestly. Our season isn’t just one guy having 20 and everybody else averaging 7. We aren’t built like that. Like you said, it’s five guys in double figures and some others close to that.”
EH:You mentioned Sehmus a couple of times. He has a nice streak going on with 23 points vs. Hapoel Tel Aviv and 20 in the win at ratiopharm Ulm.
J.S.: “He’s in a groove right now. Also if you count our last Turkish League games, not only in EuroCup. Since CJ got hurt, he’s been averaging 20. He’s been our rock. Maybe the most consistent guy we’ve got. He’s hooping right now. The funny thing is that he’s getting better and better as the season goes on. I know it was tough for him coming from Fenerbahce to EuroCup. It was a kind of transition. It was for all of us former EuroLeague guys who made that move. Now he’s playing and he’s growing as a player. You can see it as the season is going on. He’s just getting better and better.”
EH:I wasn’t sure I was going to mention that but you brought it up. There’s a group of “EuroLeague exiles,” if you permit me to use that expression, who could’ve easily played for EuroLeague clubs. Do you feel that you also have something to prove as individuals?
J.S.: “I feel we did. But I think, for us to come to EuroCup and play the way we play, that was all about believing in the project they are building here. They want to be one of the best clubs not just in Turkiye but also in Europe overall. They were telling me that before. And that’s why it sounded like a perfect place to be. Me, Tyler, Sehmus, Mateusz Ponitka, they wanted to make that project. Also, we got the opportunity to play. That was one of the biggest factors, to get important playing time. Me, Sehmus and Mateusz really wanted to be somewhere where we can enjoy the game. That was a big thing for us. I know that Tyler, who was last year here too, he enjoyed playing for the coach. For us to come to Bahcesehir and play the way we do… I think there was a chip on our shoulders. That we all can definitely play at the EuroLeague level. No matter where we play at.”
EH: Speaking of former EuroLeague players, Coach Dejan Radonjic also came to Bahcesehir last year after several seasons in the EuroLeague. How is it working with him?
J.S.: “He gives us a lot of freedom on offense. We all have a great relationship with him. For example, if he calls a play and we see something different, then he’ll make us call it. That’s what you want out of a player-coach relationship. The coach trusting you to call this play or he’ll make a play that he sees and you want to go with it. On the defensive end, his main thing is that we have to be hard-nosed, work hard and everything on offense is going to be much easier for us.
“I like coaches like that. I had a coach like that on Ludwigsburg. He let us play us play freely on offense, do whatever we wanted. But when it came to defense, he required some certain standards. I think I gel well with coaches like that because I get freedom on offense. I don’t want to feel restrained. I really like Coach Radonjic, he makes us feel good. He lets us play. Radonjic has a certain way when we practice. But in the game, it’s a very free-flowing situation.”
Photo: Bahcesehir