By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
After eight years at Fenerbahce, Tarik Biberovic is preparing to begin a new chapter with the Dallas Mavericks. The 25-year-old described reaching the NBA as the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition, but made it clear that simply getting there will not be enough.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Biberovic reflected on the journey ahead, his attachment to Fenerbahce and the coach who helped him establish himself at the highest level of European basketball.
“This was my dream, and I am happy that I have finally been able to achieve it,” Biberovic said. “I am reaching the highest point of my career, but this is not the end—it is the beginning. I am entering a completely new world and opening a new page. I will start from scratch, work my way up step by step and fight for everything. I want to earn as many minutes as possible, show my ability and become one of the team’s most reliable players. My goal is to build a great career there.”
Leaving Fenerbahce was not easy for Biberovic after spending nearly a third of his life with the Istanbul club. He arrived in 2018 as a young prospect and gradually developed into an important part of the senior team.
“I was at Fenerbahce for eight years, so leaving was very difficult,” he admitted. “This was never just a club to me—it became my family. Even when I go there, I believe I will still be representing Fenerbahce, which is why I have to make the right decisions in my career. I could never have imagined the life Fenerbahce gave me. Thanks to the opportunity I found here, I was able to reach the very top.”
Biberovic reserved particular praise for Jasikevicius, crediting the Lithuanian coach with providing the consistency and confidence he needed to display his talent.
“When Saras arrived, it was the first time in my life that I was given regular playing time,” Biberovic said. “Thanks to him, I was able to show what I could do. He gave me an opportunity, but he was also more than a coach—he was like an older brother. He was a great player himself and gave me valuable advice. By following it, I improved both my mental strength and my game on the court. That is why he is a very important person to me.”
Before fully turning his attention to Dallas, Biberovic is representing Türkiye in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. Wearing the national-team jersey, he explained, carries a different kind of responsibility.
“Playing for the national team is a completely different feeling because we are not representing only one group – we are representing all of Türkiye,” he said. “Turkish basketball has reached an incredible position in Europe. We finished second at EuroBasket, and Turkish teams have been present at every Final Four. It is a great source of pride to be part of that. This is only a good beginning. There are still many trophies to win, and hopefully we will show that at the World Cup as well.”
Make