By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Dealing with a back injury over recent months, Thomas Walkup was cleared to suit up for Olympiacos and logged 14 minutes in Game 1 of a best-of-five series opposite Real Madrid.
After the contest in the Peace and Friendship Stadium and helping the Reds secure the first out of three wins necessary to clinch a berth in the 2025 Final Four, he talked to Eurohoops about his recovery, denying previous reports about potentially remaining sidelined for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
“I was a little uncertain, truly of how I would feel, but I felt fantastic both mentally and physically throughout the game,” the 32-year-old point guard said about his first appearance since January.
In addition to three assists and two rebounds, Walkup chipped in three points with his only make of the evening, keeping the team coached by Giorgos Bartzokas at a safe distance.
“It’s not like I’ve just been sitting on my back the whole time,” he confirmed working on his game during rehab, “It’s kind of weird to say with limited action, but I feel great about my shot, how I’m moving, my touch, the speed of the game.”
Working with the medical staff of Olympiacos shaped the majority of his daily routine, leading into his return to action on Wednesday.
“I’m very happy Olympiacos gave me the time to heal 100% and that’s really something not to be taken for granted,” he told Eurohoops.
Staying at SEF, the Reds and Los Blancos face each other in Game 2 on Friday.
“They will come out. They will be ready to play. They will play with more physicality, stronger, with a bigger hunger for the game,” Walkup previewed the second part of the playoff series, “We have to be ready.”
“We have to play our game, not play their game. When we move the ball, when we play with speed, it has nothing to with the other team’s defense,” he added, “We play against our defense, one of the best in EuroLeague, every day in practice, so we know how to play with speed, how to execute.”