By Michalis Gioulenoglou/ info@eurohoops.net
Tyler Dorsey enters the 2026 Final Four in a very different position compared to a year ago.
After watching from the sidelines in 2025, the Olympiacos guard now arrives in Athens ready to contribute on the court at OAKA.
“The feeling? I’m ready to play! I’m just trying to find something to do these hours, simply to make the day go by. The hours feel… longer. But it’s good, man. We’re here to get some shots up, feel the atmosphere, relax a little bit and get ready. We’ve got an early game tomorrow,” he told Eurohoops shortly before Olympiacos’ practice session began.
He then added, when asked about the difference between the Tyler of his first Final Four and the current version of himself:
“Yeah, there’s definitely more experience. I understand how I need to evolve. So I’d say it’s mainly the experience. And this is different too. We’re at home, we didn’t have to fly or travel, so that changes things a little bit. But, ultimately, it’s still the same.”
As for comparing 2025 to 2026:
“I don’t really think about it, but I use it as motivation, just to remember that last year I was watching. So now that I have the opportunity to play in this game, I use that as motivation. Before, I definitely kept it in my mind, just putting things in my head to push myself toward winning this championship. It’s great to stay at home”.
Speaking about the significance of playing at OAKA ahead of the Final Four, Tyler Dorsey emphasized that only winning matters most.
“That’s the only thing that matters, winning. Like I said, it’s great to stay at home. Unfortunately, we’re not sleeping in our own beds, but just being here, the comfort of the city and everything around it — it all matters. It’s exciting, especially for the fans. They don’t have to travel or spend money on flights and things like that, so hopefully we’ll have the home-court advantage in this arena.”