Fenerbahce Beko Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius Prepares for EuroLeague Season

In preparation for the 2024-25 basketball season, Fenerbahce Beko head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius shared insights into his strategy and reflections whilst speaking with Eurohoops. The Lithuanian coach addressed how the team is gearing up for participation in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and various domestic competitions. Sarunas Jasikevicius took up his position as head coach of the Istanbul-based team last December, following the departure of Dimitris Itoudis.

Jasikevicius highlighted the progression of understanding between him and his players over time. “After one month, one month and a half, everybody already knows more or less what you are asking of them. Right now, the issues are a little bit different,” he explained, emphasizing the ongoing challenges, “Some guys are missing big portions of the preseason, so there are issues. You just need to deal with them in the best way possible.”

Reflecting on his coaching journey, he acknowledged inheriting a strong team, “I am very happy that we were successful with that team,” he said, referring to reaching the EuroLeague Final Four and winning various domestic titles. Jasikevicius is no stranger to pressure, having been a four-time EuroLeague champion as a player and gaining coaching experience with teams such as FC Barcelona.

“I am in professional basketball right now how many, 26, 27 years? I have seen anything on both sides. I have seen all the different countries and everything,” he noted, dismissing expectations and pressure as non-issues, “There are no expectations. There is no pressure.” He remarked on the cultural differences in basketball enthusiasm, “I think Greeks and Serbians probably have more … There is a lot more passion in other countries.”

During a busy offseason, Fenerbahce has welcomed new players such as Boban Marjanovic and Wade Baldwin IV. Jasikevicius underscored the importance of character when making roster decisions, “First of all, I search for people, not for players. Basketball is secondary,” he said.

Jasikevicius also discussed the evolution of basketball styles, particularly the NBA‘s trend towards positionless play. “I do not think European basketball is a positionless basketball,” he asserted, maintaining a traditional perspective on European play.

As Fenerbahce prepares for the upcoming season, Jasikevicius remains optimistic about the team’s potential, “On paper, Fenerbahce is a good team,” he mentioned, while admitting the need for team cohesion, “We do not know yet the situations we want to be in.”