By Bugra Uzar/ info@eurohoops.net
Armando Bacot revealed the offseason process leading him to Fenerbahce Beko.
Sitting down with Eurohoops during an EuroLeague preseason Media Day, the 25-year-old forward/center opened up on offers from other EuroLeague teams and his initial plan to sign with the Charlotte Hornets, before a discussion with Sarunas Jasikevicius.
“Early in the summer, I got offers from a couple of Euroleague teams, not Fenerbahce though, and I intended to sign with the Charlotte Hornets,” he said, “But Fenerbahce called me. I got a chance to talk with the coach and with some people who play here and have been around this atmosphere. I liked what they said, and it was a no-brainer.”
“Yes, absolutely,” he answered a question about the 49-year-old Lithuanian tactician influencing his decision to join the defending EuroLeague champions, “Just knowing coach Saras and just how legendary he is, it was something I definitely want to be a part of.”
“Just being able to pick his brain and understand all the stuff,” he added on his early connection with the decorated head coach, “Obviously, he’s super intense, but in a good way. He really cares, and he wants to win, and I wanna win too, so I love it.”
Bacot also compared preseason practice with previous similar experiences in the United States, as a Memphis Hustle player last season, and previously with North Carolina in the NCAA.
“They’ve been hard, definitely a lot harder than in America in terms of how hard we go in practice and every little detail matters, but overall it’ll improve me a lot as a player,” he told Eurohoops.
Tying Hakeem Olajuwon and Tim Duncan
College success included joining Hakeem Olajuwon and Tim Duncan as the only players to post seven consecutive double-doubles.
“It’s great because you have huge fan bases and big brands,” Bacot talked about North Carolina and Fenerbahce, “You gotta be built to be able to play in environments like these because obviously the fans are passionate, the coaches, players, the community, everyone’s passionate, so it’s a good type of thing to be a part of.”
“I’ve been blessed to be able to be a part of some great teams in college, but also put up some great performances that’re up there with some of the greats, so I’m just thankful,” he said, focusing on his spell with the Tar Heels from 2019 to 2024.
Meeting EuroLeague demands
Using overseas options, the native of Richmond, Virginia, will combine the EuroLeague with domestic competitions in Turkiye.
“Just gotta make sure I’m taking care of my body,” he opened up on being set to take part in more games compared to the G League and the NCAA, “A lot of the older guys on the team have been kind of trying to catch me up to speed on everything with the Euroleague because it’s all new and I honestly, I didn’t really know too much about everything. Like I knew what Fenerbahce was, but I didn’t know we played in the Turkish League. I didn’t know like all of that stuff, so it’s all starting to make sense now.”
“They’ve all been great,” he added to praise of his new teammates, “Devon Hall, Khem Birch have both kind of taken me under their wings and have helped me understand a lot more because they’ve been through it. They won a championship last year, and that’s something we want to replicate. So, just being able to learn from them has made the transition easier.”
“They treat you just like the NBA”
A new beginning, nevertheless, an opportunity to later focus his career on the EuroLeague.
“It’s great basketball,” he welcomed potential future options to further his stint in Europe, “You see around here, it’s beautiful. They treat you just like the NBA, so I’m definitely open to staying here if it’s the right situation.”
Beyond the immediate challenges with Fenerbahce, Bacot also discussed his acting debut as a bodyguard in Outer Banks and possibly joining forces with prospective filmmaker and new teammate Brandon Boston Jr. during his interview with Eurohoops.