Vincent Poirier, the new addition to Anadolu Efes, spoke to Basketball Sphere about his time at Real Madrid, why he left Spain, and joined the club from Istanbul. He touched on the Olympic Games, what it’s like to play with Joel Embiid and Dwight Howard, and even discussed which game he would change if he could, along with a number of other topics.
After years of dominance, Anadolu Efes experienced a somewhat weaker period, leading to a new chapter in their history. The team is now led by Tomislav Mijatovic, a club loyalist, who will be serving as the head coach from the start of the season for the first time, guiding the multiple-time European champion.
Vincent Poirier embodies the new direction of Anadolu Efes, which saw one of its best players, Will Clyburn, leave this summer. Along with the French center, quality reinforcements from the NBA have also arrived in Turkey—Stanley Johnson and Jordan Nwora, who particularly stood out in the preparatory tournament in Ljubljana.
“The EuroLeague title is what I will remember the most”
It’s already clear that Vincent Poirier will have significant support in the backcourt, which could help him make a breakthrough and become one of the best players in his position in Europe. At Real Madrid, this was difficult to achieve due to competition in the form of Walter Tavares, but despite this, the former Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers player has fond memories of his time in Spain.
“It was great. When I was returning from the NBA, the goal was to win trophies. I won seven in three years with the club, so it seems like it was a good choice. The moment I will remember the most is the EuroLeague title after the win over Olympiacos. Although I didn’t play, because of everything that happened during the season, the feeling at the end was very strong,” Vincent Poirier began his interview with Basketball Sphere.
However, the previous season was unique. Icons of the Madrid club, Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Rodriguez, will no longer wear that jersey as they recently retired.
“We knew it would be that way, which is why we wanted to enjoy every moment with them. Chacho is someone who gave me the opportunity to shine and be productive. It was interesting to learn from them and be around them. We also had a great season, so it was good for them that everything turned out the way it did.”
How the situation at Real Madrid frustrated Vincent Poirier
Now, Vincent Poirier is embarking on a new chapter in his career. He aims to help Anadolu Efes return to the championship path, seeing himself as one of the key players in achieving this goal. This ambition was a significant factor in his decision to leave Real Madrid.
“This is a team that recently won two consecutive EuroLeague titles, which played a big role in my decision to join. I spoke with Shane Larkin and Rodrigue Beaubois. I liked the structure, the team, and the city, and I needed a new challenge. I felt like I was a little bit too much behind Edy. I wanted more, and I was frustrated with that situation. I thought I deserved more, and that’s why I decided to leave. Now, I want to be more important to the team, help us win, and get more minutes on the court.”
|Krunoslav Simon to @BSphere_|
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) September 7, 2024
Two time EuroLeague champion talked with @vuk_milos_ about Cedi Osman transfer, Anadolu Efes current roster, and the biggest favourite to win elite competition.
📍Ljubljana, Sloveniahttps://t.co/SzeVEy3vmF
Mijatovic’s team showed solid performance at the tournament in Ljubljana. They controlled the game against Bayern for most of the match, though complications arose in the final moments, they still managed to secure the win. However, Panathinaikos proved to be too big of a challenge in the final. Although it’s still early to draw conclusions, it’s clear that Anadolu Efes has potential, especially since Larkin has yet to join the team. Undoubtedly, the Croatian coach knows how to organize things in a club where he has spent over a decade. He has established himself as a “player’s coach,” which is something that appeals to Anadolu Efes’ new acquisition.
“I like coaches who are close to the players and who understand them, as is the case with Mijatovic. I also appreciate people who are honest with the players. He’s an excellent strategist, highly motivated, and all the players listen to him and trust him. I’ve had the opportunity to work with this type of coach before, and it’s always been great. I don’t see why it wouldn’t be the same in this case. I’m looking forward to playing for him.”
Vincent Poirier about EuroLeague clashes and Olympics
The upcoming EuroLeague season will be marked by extremely interesting city derbies. The clashes between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos are expected to be at the highest level due to numerous recent signings, but the Istanbul derby won’t lag far behind. Fenerbahce has built a top-tier team, ready to challenge for the EuroLeague title, which means Anadolu Efes will face a significant challenge.
“The EuroLeague was very intense last season, and I would go as far as to say that the next one will be even more demanding, considering the transfers that took place this summer. Fenerbahce has built an excellent team. They’ve added great players while keeping their core intact. We know how important the derbies are—I felt it playing against Barcelona in a Real Madrid jersey. It will be interesting because the guys who signed with Anadolu Efes don’t have experience in Europe (Johnson, Nwora). They’ll want to prove themselves, which has already been felt in the highly competitive training sessions. We know that the fan base in Istanbul is huge and the atmosphere is intense, so it’s definitely going to be a crazy game.”
👤 Vincent Poirier (@viinze_17P) and Stanley Johnson in new jersey
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) September 6, 2024
Bayern leads Anadolu Efes at halftime by 43:38#bayernbc #anadoluefes pic.twitter.com/x1cFCUo9hi
Vincent Poirier entered the preparation period both ready and, more importantly, well-rested. Due to an injury, he couldn’t participate in the Olympic Games held in his home country, in what is considered one of the strongest tournaments in history. Despite the intense competition, France managed to secure the silver medal, marking a significant achievement.
“Unfortunately, injuries are part of sports and life. I followed France from the first game to the last. You could see the difference between the first and last games and that we wanted to win no matter what. Everyone was cheering for them. Both the final and the semifinal against Serbia proved that you have to play against the USA for the full 40 minutes—not 35, 36, or 37. In the last minute of the final, Steph Curry decided the game. We should be proud of that silver medal. Vincent Collet stepped down, leaving behind a legacy of many successes and numerous medals. We have to respect that. He was the head coach for many years, sacrificing every summer, which is not easy at all.”
Gold in Tokyo > everything else
It’s clear that the new Anadolu Efes player has consistently been surrounded by top-tier centers as teammates. In the national team, he’s had Rudy Gobert, Mathias Lessort, and Victor Wembanyama as partners; at Real Madrid, it was Tavares; and during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, he had the chance to play alongside Joel Embiid and Dwight Howard.
“When I started playing basketball, I was a huge fan of Dwight. It was a real privilege to be alongside my idol and two great guys. Joel is the kind of player who is unstoppable in a one-on-one game. We tried those kinds of things in practice, and it’s really tough. He’s strong, tall, and can shoot… It was great to learn from them. They are two different types of players.”
| EXCLUSIVE |
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) September 7, 2024
Mathias Lessort (@ThiasLsf) spoke with @vuk_milos_ of @BSphere_ about the challenges in the next season, Cedi Osman, and told that Olympiacos took personally Panathinaikos success.
📍Ljubljana, Slovenia https://t.co/w4hwOCFK3n
From the NBA, winning the EuroLeague with Real Madrid, to achieving impressive results and medals with France, it’s clear that the 30-year-old center has enjoyed significant success. However, there’s one particular achievement that would hold special meaning for him, as indicated by his response to the question of which moment or game he would change in his career if he could.
“I’m torn between last season’s EuroLeague final that we lost and the Olympic Games final in Tokyo in 2021. It would be the latter. I’ve already won one EuroLeague, but the dominance of the USA in the Olympics is a major thing. It would be an incredible feeling to have my name among the 12 who defeated the Dream Team. It would be a truly massive achievement for France.”
Partizan and the situation that couldn’t have been worse
Vincent Poirier has witnessed some legendary clashes that others would certainly wish to change if given the chance. He will always remember the infamous brawl against Partizan last year, which, as it turned out, was crucial in helping Chus Mateo’s team become European champions. Partizan is now on a different path, and together with their biggest rival, Crvena Zvezda, they will be fighting for a spot in the elite competition’s playoffs. The French center views both teams with special respect for well-known reasons.
“The important thing about Serbia is that you’re not afraid of the team, but of the fans. The energy and intensity they bring to their teams make Partizan and Crvena Zvezda extremely dangerous. I had a situation against Partizan two seasons ago that couldn’t have been worse. Both teams have built great squads, and it will be tough to beat either of them. However, we are used to that atmosphere; it’s all part of the job,” Vincent Poirier concluded his interview with Basketball Sphere.
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