Onuralp Bitim, a Bayern player, spoke to Basketball Sphere about his time in the NBA, new EuroLeague stint, Crvena Zvezda game, Bursa’s win over Partizan, his relationship with Dusan Alimpijevic, and other topics.
After a successful period with Bursa, where he achieved great success and reached the EuroCup final, he became one of the most wanted players in Europe. However, instead of continuing his career in one of the top EuroLeague clubs, he decided to seize the opportunity to test himself against the best in the world. An NBA offer came from the Chicago Bulls — an invitation that cannot be refused.
Now, after over a year, Onuralp Bitim is back in Europe. His experience in the United States is behind him, and he will now aim to contribute to Bayern’s efforts, as a loaned player from Fenerbahce, to make further strides toward the top.
It’s certain that after his NBA stint, Onuralp Bitim returned to Europe even more motivated to prove he belongs at the highest level of European basketball, with his time in the Chicago Bulls potentially playing a significant role in his development.
“It was very good for me to play against the best in the world,” Onuralp Bitim began his interview with Basketball Sphere. “It has always been my dream. I grew up watching Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James… I learned a lot from direct matchups with certain players, but also from playing alongside them, like DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic. I see that experience as a great blessing,” said the Turkish national team player.
When asked to name the player he learned the most from, his response came without hesitation.
“That would be DeRozan. We play similar positions. The way he reads defenses and offenses, how he uses his footsteps, and body to create open shots, is truly on an elite level. Secondly, even though we don’t play the same position, but were very close, I’d also pick Vucevic, partly because of his experience,” he added.
,,Life gave me a different path to consider”
Although there was some skepticism, everything started perfectly in the NBA. Onuralp Bitim had notable moments with the Chicago Bulls, but one situation caused everything to change very quickly.
“When I started playing, I immediately got significant minutes. Even in my first game, I played in overtime. Things were going very well until I injured my eye against the Washington Wizards, and after that, life gave me a different path to consider. We are all professionals, and we all love basketball.
It’s my greatest passion. However, we cannot deny that health is the most important thing in life. When things like that happen, you start thinking much more clearly. Afterward, you get the chance to see the bigger picture. When you’re in the season, in the rhythm, you’re always focused on your goals, and it’s hard to think about anything else,” he said.
Injury Update: Bulls forward Onuralp Bitim has been diagnosed with a detached retina in his right eye and will be out for the remainder of the postseason. pic.twitter.com/ooeunlq0hU
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 16, 2024
It took him some time to carve out a role in the NBA, and now he will have to do the same with Bayern. This will be a very demanding task, given that he joined the German team mid-season, a time when it is incredibly challenging to find effective minutes in the meticulously structured system of head coach Gordon Herbert, which is currently running flawlessly, as evidenced by their 8-3 EuroLeague record.
“Bayern is a very good team, especially this season. We have one of the best coaches in Europe and also one of the best players. Additionally, it’s a great organization with an excellent system. I joined Bayern during the season, so I’m still learning the team’s identity. I have to mention that everyone in the organization—from CEO Marko Pesic, sports director Dragan Tarlac, to the head coach and all the players—has been very helpful.
Since I arrived, I’ve learned a lot, but I also had commitments with the national team, so my schedule has been packed. I will get better, that’s clear, because I see opportunities for myself in this kind of roster. It’s a recognizable system, we share the ball well, and I’m surrounded by talented players. I already knew all their names but not them personally. When I came here, I saw they’re not only high-quality players but also good guys with great character,” he said.
,,Partizan? People called it a ‘miracle,’”, said Onuralp Bitim
Coming to Belgrade always brings back special memories, as it was here that he played the famous game against Partizan wearing Bursa’s jersey. In that match, the Turkish team, in front of 20,000 opposing fans, eliminated Zeljko Obradovic’s team in the EuroCup Round of 16, surprising everyone with head coach Dusan Alimpijevic. And all of it happened in a fantastic atmosphere.
“Belgrade and Serbia are special places for me, as they are for most sports fans. I always love playing here because of the passion and the basketball culture that exists here. That was definitely one of the most important games of my life. People called it a ‘miracle,’ but we had a very good team and a very good coach. It was a top-level game, and I still remember everything—it’s an experience and a story I’ll never forget. I remember the fans applauding us after the game, and we applauded them back. They respected us because both teams fought hard, but in the end, we were better. After that, Partizan went on to the EuroLeague,” he said.
Now he will once again have the chance to overcome a passionate fan base, as Bayern will face Crvena Zvezda at 8 PM in the 12th round of EuroLeague. Who could pose the biggest threat?
“Isaiah Canaan and Nemanja Nedovic. Everyone knows they are very good scorers. They aim to hit a lot of threes and play at a fast pace. I just came from the team meeting, so I’m trying to choose my words carefully and not reveal too much (laughs). We have a great coaching staff, and if we execute what they say, it will be a good game for us,” he said.
Relationship with Alimpijevic – more than a coach-player thing
Bursa, Belgrade, and now Crvena Zvezda—there’s one common thread among all of these: coach Dusan Alimpijevic, with whom Onuralp Bitim grew season after season. Making the leap from Bursa directly to the NBA is not something you see every day. His collaboration with the Serbian coach can be summed up in one sentence:
“It was a turning point in my career.”
He elaborated further:
“I always had successful moments, even when I was younger. I won games, claimed important trophies, but in my professional career, I struggled with things I couldn’t control. After that, I started working with him. He was the reason I came to Bursa because I was considering other clubs. When we talked, I trusted him. That collaboration changed both our careers—mine and his. He helped me a lot. We share a bond that goes far beyond a coach-player relationship. We fight, laugh, and sometimes get mad at each other, but then we’re in his office, talking and drinking some ‘rakija’ (laughs). For all of that, he’ll always hold a special place in my career. He’s still extremely successful and young, and I believe he’ll have a brilliant future,” Onuralp Bitim reflected on his moments with his former coach, now leading Besiktas.
n the past two years, he has experienced all levels of basketball—EuroCup, NBA, and now the EuroLeague. In the elite competition, he will aim to establish himself as one of the best in his position. When asked about the toughest opponent, he gave an unconventional yet entirely logical answer.
“I still need time and will probably have a better perspective later, once I’ve become familiar with more players. However, if I had to choose one, Kendrick Nunn is definitely the hardest to guard. I would also add Sasha Vezenkov when considering off-ball situations.”
Given the qualities of Nunn and Vezenkov, it’s no surprise that he sees both of them making it to the Final Four.
“Along with Bayern, I would choose Fenerbahce, Panathinaikos, and Olympiacos as the teams that will make it to the final tournament,” Onuralp Bitim concluded his interview with Basketball Sphere.
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