Erdem Can, the coach of Anadolu Efes, touched on various topics in an interview with Eurohoops, ranging from signings for the new team to his aspirations regarding the NBA.
He acknowledges that it was an honor to receive an offer from Anadolu Efes, which aligns with his ambitions.
“I have big goals in life. To achieve these goals, it’s important to be part of big and powerful organizations. I see myself constantly developing as a coach. Receiving an offer from Efes was a very honorable moment for me” – Can stated.
Before leading Turk Telekom to the EuroCup finals last season, Can spent a year in the NBA working as part of the coaching staff with Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz.
“When you’re in the NBA, the purpose of your stay is very important. The experience I gained there greatly contributed to my basketball philosophy, the system I have in mind, and what I want to achieve. However, I’ve always had the desire and motivation to be a head coach. So, after that period, I felt it was time to become a head coach”.
Can doesn’t rule out a return to the NBA.
“I’m still in touch with it. I continue to communicate with other coaches, managers, and general managers in the NBA, but I want to achieve bigger things as a head coach and then come back to the NBA in a stronger way”.
The Anadolu Efes coach believes that completing the roster early this summer, with the exception of Justus Hollatz, didn’t bring much benefit.
“We didn’t really see much benefit in the early completion. Since Dogus Ozdemiroglu got injured early, and as you know, Shane Larkin has an issue with Turkish citizenship status. The dynamics we considered when filling the team early suddenly changed. So, we entered a new evaluation process”.
Anadolu Efes made significant changes to the roster, adding eight new players, including Darius Thompson from Baskonia and the Turkish League MVP Tyrique Jones, who played under Can in Ankara last season.
“The team’s picture is clear. We have several very successful players at the EuroLeague level. Besides them, we have players who are hungry for success and have potential. We also have young players who are just starting to play at the EuroLeague level. So, everyone has their own story. Some will further improve their success and write their own story. Some will prove they can be long-lasting here. But every player has potential”.
Thompson essentially came in as a replacement for Vasilije Micic, who joined the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“Darius Thompson’s characteristics are not the same as Vasilije Micić’s, but our team is also not the same. We will try to build a structure in which everyone can work together, extract the maximum from what they can do, and produce better results when they are together.
So, I don’t think we’re operating in an environment where we compare Vasa to Darius or evaluate the performance of players from past seasons. Because there are new players, a new coach, and a new basketball philosophy. We’re working to see how much we can grow together with the right chemistry”.
Other EuroLeague teams were interested in Jones this season, not just Anadolu Efes, but Can assured that he wanted to be part of the team.
“It depends on Tyrique. His ability to take ownership of himself within the style of basketball we will play and contribute here is directly proportional. Of course, he has potential, otherwise, we wouldn’t want to see him here.
Despite other offers, he wanted to be with us. Because he is aware of the strength of the Anadolu Efes organization. He wanted to be a part of a great structure”.
Erdem Can is dedicated to helping Turkish players develop and will try to provide them with as many opportunities as possible.
“This is a promise I made to myself. As a Turkish coach, what I really want to have is a structure where we can involve these players. Unfortunately, Dogus’s injury this season had a significant impact on us”.
Last season’s EuroCup Coach of the Year is hopeful for a successful first season, emphasizing the motivation of the players as the most crucial aspect.
“So far, it’s going well. We have a very eager and motivated group of players. They really want to be successful. Their motivation is the most important factor. No matter how eager you are as a coach, your players’ motivation is the most valuable. I hope we will all get on the same page and have a successful season with the right chemistry” – Can concluded.