Shane Larkin revealed the real reason behind his move from Anadolu Efes to Fenerbahce, insisting that money was never the motivation and explaining why his final period in Istanbul became frustrating.
The experienced point guard, who spent several successful seasons with Anadolu Efes, including winning two EuroLeague titles, addressed the reasons behind his decision to join Fenerbahce and reflected on his final period with Efes in an interview for the Off the Court program.
The move was among the notable EuroLeague transactions of the offseason, as one of European basketball’s biggest stars changed clubs after a successful stint in Istanbul.
“It was never about money” – Shane Larkin explains Fenerbahce move
Shane Larkin insisted that financial reasons played no role in his decision to change teams, stating that he could have earned significantly more money elsewhere if that had been his priority.
“This was never about chasing money. If I wanted to, I could have left and made $10, $12, or even $15 million. I would have bought my Ferrari and driven it to practice every day. I want to be one of the greatest of all time. I even want to be the greatest player to ever do it. There were just a few things missing for me to achieve that.”
Larkin says Anadolu Efes changed his role unexpectedly
Shane Larkin also spoke about his disappointment with how things unfolded during his final period at Anadolu Efes.
After becoming the face of the club and one of the most dominant players in European basketball, the Turkish-American guard admitted that he felt his role within the team changed unexpectedly.
“I respect everyone. I am a soldier. Whoever you give me, I will go to war with them. But I was told that I would be the number one player on this team, and then suddenly the ground was pulled out from under my feet. I lost my balance and fell on my head.”
Veteran guard criticizes Anadolu Efes’ roster decisions
The veteran guard also discussed his relationship with the club’s management and expressed frustration over decisions regarding roster construction. According to Larkin, there were situations where promises made by the organization were not followed through.
“You say, ‘We cannot lose this player,’ and then you lose him. Then you say, ‘We cannot lose this one either,’ and you lose him too. Of course, that is frustrating. You tell them ‘A,’ and they go and do ‘B.’”
Larkin’s comments come after a period of major changes at Anadolu Efes, with the club undergoing roster adjustments following the departure of several key players.
OFFICIAL: Shane Larkin is a new Fenerbahce player! 💛💙#Fenerbahçe #fenerbahçebeko pic.twitter.com/rnVYhCDrjm
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) July 13, 2026
Shane Larkin opens up about injury criticism
The Fenerbahce guard also revealed that criticism surrounding his injury problems affected him deeply. During his final season with Anadolu Efes, Larkin faced several injury setbacks, which led to some public criticism and speculation about his availability.
“People started saying, ‘He is pretending to be injured.’ The first reaction I received was truly shocking.”
The full interview will be released in the upcoming episode of Off the Court, where Larkin’s comments will be explored in greater detail.
