By Antonis Stroggylakis / info@eurohoops.net
They say that confidence is a hell of a drug and that applies perfectly to Tyler Dorsey.
Dorsey has delivered quite the strong entrance into the 2025-26 EuroLeague season with 18.3 points per game over 28:58, being the second-leading scorer of Olympiacos Piraeus. While making buckets has always been his primary bread and butter, the 29-year-old guard is also posting 2.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and a team-high 2.3 steals, becoming involved in multiple areas of the game.
He’s also shown notable commitment on defense and been rather active in helping his team get valuable stops.
All these represent a stark contrast compared to the 2024-25 campaign. Dorsey, in his return to Olympiacos after 2022, barely had any playing time and role, averaging 10:07 minutes over 20 games while dealing with some personal problems off the court as well. He didn’t register any appearances at all in the playoffs or the Final Four.
“You got that competitive spirit burning in you. You want to be out there,” Dorsey told Eurohoops. “I let all that fuel me from last year to this year. That’s what you see. Ι just keep going. It’s so early. There’s a lot more to prove. A lot more games to be focused on. One game at a time.”
“There’s a bigger opportunity this year. What happened last year is in the past. I’m here to prove myself every night,” Dorsey added
Following some MVP-quality performances in the winning Greek League Finals against archrival Panathinaikos Athens and emerging as a significant contributor in the Greek national team’s run toward claiming the bronze medal in the EuroBasket, Dorsey looks like a totally new man. One that is oozing self-confidence.
“Confidence is very important in this game,” Dorsey said. “No matter how the game is going, no matter if you’re missing shots. The best have the most confidence and the most belief and I think I get that from work. All that extra work at night and the extra shots. I think that bulds confidence, for me. That’s the big key.”
Dorsey’s transformation, productivity boost and the unique elements – especially his ability to initiate scoring for himself – he brings to the Olympiacos offense has led to people now describing him as something akin to a new transfer.
“I’ve been here,” Dorsey said. ” This is my third year. I don’t make the choices if I play or not. I guess you could say. I guess you could say ‘a new signing’ because I play more. But I don’t look at it that way.”
Numbers isn’t the only thing that is vastly different for Dorsey this year. What’s also important is that he’s now visibly having more fun doing what he loves, relishing every second he spends on the floor.
During the previous EuroLeague season, Dorsey often looked hesitant – even fearful – to take a shot, make a drive or take any initiative on offense. It was like from the very first moment he stepped court he was living with the presence of sword of Damocles hanging above him. If he made even the most minor of errors, the sword would fall.
Now, Dorsey looks unafraid. He won’t stop attacking the basket when he feels in the zone. He will take a shot that might look crazy, if he hit his previous two. And he will smile when he makes a mistake because he’s certain that he can correct it in the next play.
“I enjoy the game. Watching it from last year, it was hard to enjoy. Every player goes through it through their career, wherever they are.”
Dorsey discussed his metamorphosis after helping Olympiacos bounce back in the EuroLeague with a victory over newcomer Dubai BC after an away loss to Real Madrid. He set the tone early with 10 out of his 14 points in the first 13 minutes as the Greek side went up 43 – 31 at halftime and never looked back.
“I let the game come to me tonight,” Dorsey said on his mindset entering the first home game for Olympiacos this season. “Try to dish some assists, do some other things. Also, be aggressive and pick my points.”
“I could be better tonight. I airballed a three,” Dorsey chuckled. “It’s been a long time since I did something like that. But you know, it’s part of it. Even the best do it.”