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Jerian Grant, a guard for Panathinaikos, returned to EuroLeague last summer after a brilliant season in the EuroCup with Turk Telekom.
Last season was fantastic for Panathinaikos‘ guard Jerian Grant. He was named the EuroCup MVP after leading Turk Telekom Ankara to the finals of the competition. It came as no surprise when it was announced that he would return to EuroLeague via Panathinaikos to join a new project led by the new coach, Ergin Ataman.
Grant made his debut in the 2021/2022 EuroLeague season with Milano, but his impact was not felt to the same extent as in his rookie EuroLeague season.
“Everyone wants to be the main guy, but it doesn’t work that way. You have to play your role, and eventually, as your role becomes bigger, you can blossom into a star,” Grant says.
His impact on the biggest basketball stage in Europe was immediate in his second stint. With Panathinaikos, he averages 8.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.6 steals in nearly 30 minutes on the court as a regular starter, and Panathinaikos is currently fourth in the standings.
This is no small feat because, as Grant himself admits, transitioning between competitions is like entering a completely new world.
“In the EuroCup, you have three or four players on a team who can really do some special things. Here in the EuroLeague, every player – even players who come off the bench and play only five minutes – can really help the team and do special things.”
Grant is now an integral part of a team that aims to return to the Final Four for the first time since 2012. For Grant, the key could be that this Panathinaikos team has managed to find chemistry among its members, both on and off the court.
“We have guys who really love each other, who really get along. We’re still learning each other, and you can see it on the court because we’re getting better and better,” Grant concludes.