Cory Joseph spoke to the SPORT24 about his rigorous summer training, his motivation after winning the EuroLeague title, as well as locker room dynamics and the situation surrounding his teammate Thomas Walkup.
Joseph admitted that he dedicated his offseason to shedding weight and improving his physical conditioning in order to enter the upcoming campaign in peak shape.
Summer vacation, physical conditioning, and motivation
After reaching the top of European basketball in his inaugural season on the Old Continent, Joseph utilized his time off to transform his body:
“I had a good time. I couldn’t have asked for a better summer. I worked really hard this summer.”
Gregg Popovich knew. đź§
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) April 28, 2026
Cory Joseph hadn’t been at his best for Olympiacos in recent weeks… even rumored to be “written off” for next season.
Tonight? A heroic performance: and he won over the entire Olympiacos crowd! 🔴⚪🔥#OlympiacosBC pic.twitter.com/X5ANuiv8Kc
With nearly 1,000 NBA games under his belt, the question arises as to where he still finds such intense competitive drive:
 “I think it is simply everything that basketball represents. Obviously, my love for the game. My love for the family atmosphere, the camaraderie, the bond with teammates, a top-tier organization, and incredible fans. I think it is all of that combined.”
Hunger for new trophies and adapting to Europe
The championship energy within the squad shows no signs of fading as the new EuroLeague season approaches:
“Yeah, 100%. It will be very tough to win the EuroLeague, it’s one of the toughest competitions in the world. It is extremely hard to win. There is still a lot of work to be done. It is very early, but we definitely always have that motivation.”
He know a certified CHAMP, but Cory Joseph was locked in far before, check out this hustle and dime from the Playoffs on the tweet below 👇
— EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) June 2, 2026
It’s the #MotorolaMagicMoment of the Playoffs, presented by @MotorolaGR pic.twitter.com/y6LlJibYwC
Although he initially had reservations when relocating from the United States, Joseph is now fully convinced he made the right decision:
“At first, I was hesitant, but in the end, you know… Last year I had a very challenging experience with ups and downs, but I arrived here and it couldn’t have been better. Now I am coming back with even more enthusiasm and focus, trying to successfully do what is asked of me once again.”
The Thomas Walkup situation: “Business is business, but we love him”
One of the primary topics surrounding the squad has been the status of Thomas Walkup, and Joseph provided a mature, professional perspective on the whole matter:
“We love Thomas. We don’t know all the details. Me as a player and people as fans, I think we just have to wait. I’ve been here for a little bit, so I don’t want to reach too much, but business is business, right? Obviously, he has to handle his business the way he feels is best, and the same goes for the organization. But no matter what happens, we know we love Thomas. Last year we shared something very special, and he played a huge part in that. Obviously, we know what kind of player he is, we know what kind of person he is, and we love him. So there really isn’t much more to add.”
