By Alex Molina/ info@eurohoops.net
Last season was extremely difficult for Barça, there’s no doubt about it. Injuries were a constant and serious factor that contributed significantly to another trophyless season. The summer brought with it a small revolution to the Barça squad, and one name stands out above the rest as a man to watch heading into the 2025-26 season: Toko Shengelia.
After his early days with Valencia Basket and his consolidation in the elite with Baskonia, the Georgian center returns to the Liga Endesa to be one of the pillars of Barça, which isn’t approaching the Euroleague in the best possible shape but will continue to compete and be a contender for everything.
How are you, how are you feeling, and how do you see the team?
Good, I feel good. Both I and the team are really looking forward to the season getting started.
Aside from the friendlies, your last games were at the EuroBasket with Georgia, playing at a high level. I suppose the Barça fans can be very happy.
That question is more for them… My work and my way of playing never change. I always play to help my team, regardless of whether it’s the national team or the club. I want to help the team win games, and now I’m here to do the same.
The atmosphere in the Blaugrana world is a bit strained after a season without titles, and the Barça fans have always had very little patience. What message do you have for the Barça fans?
I understand the fans, because they want their team to win every game and as many titles as possible. You have to understand that and appreciate having a fan base with a lot of ambition and who know basketball. The times I’ve come here, they react when they need to react, and you can tell they know a lot about basketball, and it’s always nice to have a fan base like that. I tell them they want to win and we’re the same, eager to win as many games as possible. For our part, we’ll do everything we can to make them proud of us.
Barça has invested heavily this year in veteran players and experience, a situation that could be negative in a season that, if all goes well, will be longer than ever.
This is something you can never say anything about; in the end, it’s something that could happen and affect… or not. Right now, we’re improving day by day. Everyone knows the season is long, and it will be as long for us as it will be for any team. It will be as tough for us as it is for anyone else. We’re doing everything to be in the best shape possible, and I hope it continues like this throughout the year.
Whether with veterans or young players, Barça faces a new season with the highest aspirations once again.
Of course, and every player who’s here, this year, in the past, and in the future, will be here to win titles. For me, it will be a dream to lift trophies with this team.
After a spell in Italy, you’re now returning to a top-level team like Barça. How important was it to be back with a team that’s a contender for everything when you decided to join Barça?
It doesn’t matter where I play, my mentality doesn’t change. Now I play for Barça and I’m going to play to win, and when I played for Virtus the same, right? Two years ago, we were in the top three the entire season and we were a competitive team. Even last year, we weren’t in the best form, but we fought. I have a lot of ambition, privilege, and joy to be here. So much. I’ve always wanted to play here, and thank God I got this opportunity. But my mentality will remain the same: I’m a winner if I play for the national team, for Baskonia, for Virtus…
Even though it’ll be your first season at Barça, it looks like you’ll be one of the team’s heavyweights, both on the court and in the locker room. How do you feel about this role?
I feel good; I see the trust from both the coaches and the players. But this role doesn’t come overnight; it comes from my career, from the role I’ve had and maintained over the years. Whenever we talk about leading a team, you always have to prove yourself first, before asking for anything. That’s my mentality. I hope that when I set an example, people will follow me. And if not, if we need to talk, I’ll talk too. We have a lot of experience; everyone has to use their knowledge and help each other, and that’s what I expect from this group.
Is this leadership by example something the coaching staff has asked of you?
What we’ve talked about will stay between us, but I’ve been like this since I was little. I would never follow a leader who only talks and never does anything, who only tells you things. I never wanted to be that leader in my life. Since I was little, I’ve been a responsible guy. I always like to work hard and be an example.
We were talking earlier about Barça’s goals for this season… But what about them individually?
If you want to win something, your individual goals have to be the same as the team’s goal. If everyone has their own agenda, it’s very difficult to win games and titles. The good thing about this team is that we’re players who don’t have to prove they can average 15 points a season. We’re at a point in our careers where people already know what we can contribute. Now is the time to play against our egos and ambitions, put aside our agendas, and unite for the team’s goal. The approach to the season has to be like this for all the players, and when I was talking about examples, I want my teammates to see what I’m doing, and it has to be a domino effect.
As you said, playing for Barça means fulfilling a dream, and you’ll do that when the club celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Since I was a kid, it’s been a dream to play for such a big and historic club. I’m very happy, very privileged, and thankful to God that I’ve had this opportunity. I’m very happy to be here. I know it’s never easy to adapt to a new situation, but with the experience we have between us, we’re going to help each other make the season a good one from the start.