By George Adamopoulos / gadamopoulos@eurohoops.net
The 2025 EuroLeague champion with Fenerbahçe, Šarūnas Jasikevičius, addressed a wide range of topics speaking to Eurohoops, including the fact that five teams have already changed head coaches since the start of the season.
Commenting on two of the greatest coaches in European basketball history — Željko Obradović and Ettore Messina, who stepped down from their positions at Partizan and Olimpia Milano — Jasikevičius stressed how unforgiving the environment has become.
“The reason they stayed at the top for 30 years is that they kept reinventing themselves. Željko and Ettore didn’t get more stupid with time and experience. Over the years, they constantly showed the ability to adapt. When you don’t win, the narrative is already written — people say you’re too old. But that’s not true. They’ve been doing this for 30 years. The biggest logic is simple: just win, and everyone will shut up. If two of the best coaches in European basketball history are losing their jobs or deciding to walk away, imagine what it’s like for the rest of us.”
One of the greatest European point guards of his generation, the Lithuanian tactician also reflected on the evolution of the position.
“There are no point guards anymore — now they’re all scorers. That’s also fine, because it puts huge pressure on the defense and forces adjustments, and everyone plays faster. In one interview I didn’t mention Nick (Calathes), so he got mad at me,” Jasikevičius said with a smile. “I have Wade Baldwin, who is a really good passer, involves others and enjoys doing it. That position seems to be disappearing, but players are different now, and you have to adapt.”
Jasikevičius also commented on the expansion of the EuroLeague and the increasingly congested calendar faced by teams competing on multiple fronts.
“We understand why the EuroLeague is moving to 20 teams, but with FIBA windows and national championships, there’s no question it’s brutal. I don’t worry about that, though. I don’t make those decisions. I just wake up, go to my office and try to do my best.”
Finally, the Fenerbahçe head coach shared his thoughts on the future of European basketball and the NBA Europe project.
“I think European basketball is much better than people sometimes think. We’re improving every year — fan bases are growing, media exposure is increasing. And yet we’re somehow up for grabs, with organizations like the NBA that don’t really care what’s happening in Europe — it’s all about the business model. The European basketball model is still one of the last truly pure ones. Every game is a dogfight. Fans go home disappointed, coaches want to lock themselves inside the house after losses. In the NBA it’s more like, ‘Let’s move on to the next one.’ I hope we don’t lose what we have, no matter how financially powerful the NBA is or how realistic its move into Europe may be.”