By Semih Tuna/ stuna@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce is gearing up for the EuroLeague playoffs, aiming for the trophy, and one player who was added mid-season may end up being the final missing ingredient to this quest.
Errick McCollum sat down with Eurohoops to talk about returning to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, joining Fenerbahce Beko, and how his brother CJ could decide to play in Europe.
Starting from the last topic, the answer is essentially that his brother playing overseas is almost impossible.
“He is still in his prime in the NBA. I mean, he makes a lot of money. He probably makes as much money as the highest EuroLeague team budget, somewhere close. So it would be very difficult,” he set the current situation for the experienced guard of the New Orleans Pelicans. “He still has multiple years left on his contract. And I think he’ll get another extension, whether it is from New Orleans or another team. He’s only 33 years old. If you use me as an example, we have similar body types, he’s two inches taller, maybe ten to 12 kilos heavier, he’s going to do the same stuff I’m doing.”
“It’s not easy to uproot everybody’s life and come to Europe when you’ve been in America the last 12 years playing,” he added, “Based on his trajectory, how good he’s playing, the level he’s at, he’ll still be able to get an NBA job, making a lot more money than Europe can pay. And also in a situation where his family is probably more comfortable. Europe, for me and my family, is normal. We’ve done it for 15 years. For him, it will be a whole change.”
Midway through the 2024-25 season, such a huge change occurred for the 37-year-old combo guard, departing Karsiyaka after two years and signing with Fener.
“I was comfortable there. My family. I was content,” he recalled playing for the Izmir-based club. “Sometimes, I had bigger offers from other teams, but I said ‘no’ because I was happy. As far as talent or ability, I always knew that I could play at that level. Look what I did in the Champions League, when we played EuroLeague teams, my performances against Efes or Fener.”
Entering the EuroLeague Playoffs as the second seed of the 2024-25 Regular Season, his side meets Paris in a best-of-five series for a ticket to the Final Four.
“It’s like any other game,” McCollum shared his approach, “I think when you start to look at things as more or less than something, it can affect your performance. If you look at a game as ‘just a regular season game’, you are going to come in with less energy or effort. If you look at every game as a Playoff game or a Final Four game or whatever, maybe you are too excited and or want to do too much. So I approach it as just a normal game. My focus and my desire remain the same. That’s kind of how I stay calm. I don’t get too excited, I don’t get too down. Sometimes you’re going to play good, sometimes not so good. You just got to remain the same.”
“The only difference is that I try to get more rest, try to do extra stuff for your body, and make my wife do a little bit more stuff for the kids. She already does, but I get a little break,” he jokingly added a personal note, “I try to help her, but in the Playoff time, she understands that I have to be really focused. This is my excuse to get some more sleep.”
“Real Madrid has a lot of respect from the referees”
A former champion and season MVP in the EuroCup, McCollum is preparing for his first postseason appearance in the top tier of Euroleague Basketball, after following the recent Play-In Showdown matchup between Paris and Real Madrid, and the team based in the French capital securing the seventh seed on the playoff bracket.
“Real Madrid is experienced, but Paris has really shown they can beat some of the bigger clubs. They have been good on the road, shown that throughout the year. I thought it was a 50-50 game. If you are a betting man, you are usually going to go with the experienced team,” he said about the Play-In meeting.
“I like the tempo that Paris plays with. They play fast, quick. It’s extra possessions. It’s an offensive game. That’s exciting for me, something that I like to do. But this is a game that will also be won with defense. You saw in that Madrid-Paris game, I thought it would be high-scoring, but surprisingly it was very low-scoring. A lot of physicality, a lot of bumping. A lot of hitting,” he added, “I think Real Madrid has a lot of respect from the referees. It’s always tough. They flop a lot, so it’s not easy to guard them. And they have the big fella inside (Walter Tavares), he kind of changes the game. Each team has its strengths and weaknesses.”
“I think TJ Shorts controls everything they do. They have two guards who can hit some very tough shots. They can kind of put you in a tizzy with how fast they play, get you out of your sets, or what you’re trying to do, because sometimes you tend to play their style of play. I think Real Madrid fell into that trap as well,” he previewed meetings with Tiago Splitter’s side.
“It’s easier”
Playing for the team coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius, McCollum put in 12.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per EuroLeague appearance.
“When things are going tough for us, I try to be positive. I try to bring energy, look at the bright side of things. When things are going great, I’m just there to be along for the ride, to continue to bring that positive energy. I think also, I come from the same generation as Coach, so I understand how coaches can be tough, can be demanding. Sometimes they yell, they scream. You might see him animated on the sidelines. It doesn’t bother me,” he explained to Eurohoops.
“It helps when you play for a team that’s at the top of the EuroLeague. People always know you’re talented, you’re good, but once they see you on a team that’s winning, it makes you look even better. I think that’s the upside of playing at Fenerbahce or with Saras,” he furthered, “I’m on a winning team, so now you see more of what I can do even more. It’s more publicized. But I’ve pretty much dominated for 15 years, everywhere I’ve been. Statistically, individually, everything. So, for me, it’s no surprise. I actually do a little bit less than I normally do here, because we have so many good players.”
“I don’t have to create as much. There’s no double-teaming anymore. I don’t get double-teamed. My whole career, I get double-teamed,” added the native of Ohio on competing in Europe’s premier club continental competition. “It’s easier, because I have less responsibility.”
Game 1 between Fenerbahce and Paris will be played in Ulker Sports Arena on Tuesday.