By Mete Budak & Murat Köse / info@eurohoops.net
Sinan Guler, Galatasaray‘s captain, spoke to Eurohoops during his team’s media day and answered questions about the new season goals, Euroleague, Galatasaray, as well as his recovery process.
Eurohoops: Last season, Galatasaray lifted the Eurocup trophy. Which do you think should be Galatasaray’s next steps forward?
Sinan Guler: What’s ahead? The Turkish League and Cup and the Euroleague Final Four in Istanbul. These are our biggest targets. We’re back in Euroleague after winning the Eurocup and this is obviously a great achievement for the club and Turkish basketball history. Galatasaray’s current goal is to prove ourselves in European basketball.
EH: Does the new Euroleague format create any pressure to the players and clubs or does it work as an even bigger challenge?
SG: From the club’s side, I think it is more compelling. What matters is to make a good comeback to Euroleague. We need to continue in the best way possible after succeeding in Eurocup.
EH: This season the Final Four will be played in Istanbul. Is this what the players of the team can use as a motivational tool?
SG: Fans are excited, I’m excited. I’ve been in Istanbul my whole life during my career. Our need to play in the Final Four is a distinct feeling…
EH: This summer passed relatively eventless for the national team. Were you able to relax, do you think you’re ready this time season?
SG: I’ve been part of the national team since 2008. For the first time this summer I had a break and I went through rehabilitation after surgery. I have not done anything for a while the first time this year, prior to 5 weeks. However I’m physically and mentally prepared.
EH: So, how’s your ankle?
SG: There are still difficulties, but the surgery went good. I’m in pain due to fatigue from time to time, but I hope the problem won’t keep me away from the field this season.
EH: What do you think of becoming the player with the most games in Euroleague wearing the Galatasaray jersey?
SG: “It looked like I couldn’t pass Ender Arslan in total games (not only Euroleague) because he has played so many games with Galatasaray. Actually, Galatasaray has had a huge impact on my career. When Ataman brought me to the team and after the first season, he showed me what I should aim for personally. One of the things was to become the leader of the team. To get this kind of opportunity in Galatasaray is so important. I couldn’t feel happier to be even a small part of this.”
EH: What’s your advice to the 7 Turkish NCAA freshmen players? And what do you think about their choice to leave for the NCAA?
SG: The choice between professional career and collage career is so difficult. In normal conditions, if there is a young player who is on the same level with as, I would tell him one thing: Go to USA. Get your education. If you can get your education in basketball level, you can study for free. When I was playing in youth teams, I wasn’t a national team player. For me, going to USA was the right choice. Players who have same conditions with me could create this kind of opportunity. But for the players who have played in national teams, European Championships and worked in training camps the decision is even harder. If we can make a list from players that we have mentioned, half of them got the right, half of them got the wrong decision. For the players, the important thing is make the next step. Unfortunately, in Turkey there are a few things which put players to difficult situations. One of them is their parents’ ambitions. Though I’m not a part of any youth team organizations I can observe this by talking with people and coaches. Second thing is committing to agents from a young age. To be honest, I know my agents for a long time. But it wasn’t until I became a professional that we started talking about business. Of course they gave me some ideas about my career but I wasn’t committed. After I went to USA and got back from there, there was only one thing in my head: to work with them. Building that relationship is too hard, especially when you consider the money factor. A systematic structure must be built in order for a player to decide what’s best for him.