By Semih Tuna/ stuna@eurohoops.net
Two-time Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Shane Larkin is much more healthy after several setbacks during his 2024-25 journey with Anadolu Efes and is gearing up for a best-of-five series on the opposite end of former coach Ergin Ataman and defending champion Panathinaikos Aktor for a spot in the Final Four 2025.
The 32-year-old combo guard talked to Eurohoops about facing the Greens and Kendrick Nunn, the impact of head coach Luca Banchi on turning the season around, and his motivation.
“I think we got healthy, At the end of the day, we had a lot of guys in and out of the lineup, injured a little bit. I was injured a lot during the season. It was difficult for us to try and find our footing and figure out exactly how we need to play,” he described team efforts leading into eight straight wins to wrap up the EuroLeague Regular Season, “Once we got healthy, I think it actually worked out in our advantage because guys had to do things that they weren’t used to doing.”
“Me being out for a while, I think the team had to learn how to win without me. And I think they did a great job of doing that,” he added, “Now the team being healthy with a full roster, I think that really helped us down the stretch. And obviously, Coach Banchi coming in here, changing the strategy and bringing his experience to the team, and kind of using the rotation, and putting his imprint on the team, obviously, helped us as well.”
Larkin played in 23 out of the 34 games of the Regular Season, tallying 11.0 points, 4.4 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per contest.
“I would say I’m getting there. It has been my most challenging season, mentally and physically. I don’t think I’ve played in seven or eight games this year total, fully healthy,” he told Eurohoops, “I’m feeling the best that I have felt this season at the right time. This is when you want to feeling your best.”
“The pressure is on them”
Placed sixth on the playoff bracket, the third-seeded Greens are the last remaining step before a Final Four berth. A best-of-five series tips off in Athens next Tuesday.
“I don’t think we are a team that you want to see at a lower seed. We are obviously playing at a very high level right now. I think we are all kind of understanding exactly what we need to do to win games. In some games, it is certain individuals; in other games, other individuals. I think we have a really complete roster that can compete and win a bunch of games in a bunch of different ways,” said the native of Cincinnati.
“I think the pressure is on Panathinaikos at this moment, as the defending champions,” he focused on the upcoming series, “The pressure is on them to get back and try to be able to give themselves an opportunity to defend their title. And I don’t think many people will favor us going into this series, but it doesn’t really matter who is the favorite, but who does what they need to do on the court.”
The matchup includes clashing with Nunn, who recently became the highest-paid player in Europe’s premier club continental competition.
“I think whenever you play the defending champions, you have that motivation. I think when it comes out to the Playoffs, it’s any individual that you put more importance on. Because, at the end of the day, Kendrick Nunn can average 40 points a night, and we go out there and win. It does nothing for their team. He’s an unbelievable player. I’m actually very happy he was able to sign that bid deal because that shows the importance of star players in Europe,” explained Larkin.
In addition to his EuroLeague experience stretching to 242 appearances between seven years with Efes and one season with Baskonia, the Miami product played 269 NBA games with the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, and New York Knicks from 2013 to 2018.