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Derek Needham, Bursaspor: 'I think we have a chance to win'

Derek Needham, Bursaspor: 'I think we have a chance to win'

Interviews

10 April 20237 Mins read

Javier Gancedo

Derek Needham, Bursaspor: 'I think we have a chance to win'

The 7DAYS EuroCup Playoffs are back. It's been a year, but few have forgotten Frutti Extra Bursaspor's amazing run last season, in which it won consecutive road games against Partizan Belgrade, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and MoraBanc Andorra to reach the final against all odds, where it lost to Virtus Segafredo Bologna. Bursaspor is in a similar situation this season, as it will most likely play all of its potential playoff games on the road, starting with an eighthfinals showdown against Gran Canaria. Three of Bursaspor's starters from that Cinderella squad remain with the team this season, including playmaker Derek Needham, a 2021-22 All-EuroCup First Team selection. Needham leads the EuroCup in three-point shots made (3.0 per game) with an outstanding percentage (50.5% 3FG, 10th overall). He has also averaged 14.4 points, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 18 games this season. Needham said he believes his team's experience helps, but is not a decisive factor. "I think it can help us a little bit, not too much," Needham said. "It can just give us a sense of calm going on the road, not getting to ride it out if something doesn't go our way right away in the beginning of the game, staying composed and trying to pull off another victory on the road, which we had to do last year."

Hello, Derek. Welcome back to the EuroCup Playoffs. How happy are you to be back to this stage?

"Always excited to be back in the playoffs. It's never a guarantee that you are going to make it there, even after the historic run of last year. So we are definitely grateful to be back into those playoffs and excited to kind of retell the story of last year in a way."

"We are excited to kind of retell the story of last year in a way."

How special was last season's run, winning three road games to make it to the final?

"That was amazing. I think that's something that will probably live on forever, that you tell your kids and stuff about. We understood after Partizan that was like a big deal, but I don't think we really understood the whole run in itself, and how historic it was until maybe this year, when we got back to Europe and saw everybody talk about the run, even in America. People were talking about how crazy that run was, and just domestic and foreign players saying that they were cheering for us the whole time. That was really special. Against Partizan, the pressure really wasn't on us. It was on them being back in EuroCup with Zeljko [Obradovic], trying to get to the EuroLeague. Their home arena, many fans in there... I mean, we were the underdog, so it wasn't really any pressure on us and we were well-prepared for that."

You kept three starters and Coach Alimpijevic. How can that experience help you guys this year?

"I think it can help us a little bit, not too much. It can just give us a sense of calm going on the road, not getting to ride it out if something doesn't go our way right away in the beginning of the game, staying composed and trying to pull off another victory on the road, which we had to do all last year."

You will face Gran Canaria, the top-seeded team in the playoffs, in the eighthfinals. In your opinion, what are their main strengths?

"They are a very athletic team, experienced as well. I have been playing against Slaughter and Albicy for a while now in my career, so I'm very familiar with their guards. Their bigs have been getting better from young prospects to having main roles on this team now, and their coach was the coach of Ulm last year, so he's a really great young coach who probably will be in the EuroLeague in the next couple of years. So I'm very excited to compete against them."

You were an All-EuroCup First Team selection last year and are shooting over 50% from three-point range this season? Did that award allow you to play with more confidence and bring out an even better version?

"I think so. I really don't think about it too much, about what happened last year. Of course, it was a great honor, but it just made me want more, strive to be better, put more work in in the gym knowing that more people will come to you now because they see where you are and they want that spot."

Onuralp Bitim has also taken a big step forwards, playing with great confidence. Did you expect him to play at his current level, given that he is just 23 years old?

"I don't think we saw this kind of jump coming, but I knew he would have a really great jump from last year. I think he is more comfortable this year just being with the team and being with the coach. And he knew he would have a bigger role since we lost Andrew [Andrews] and John [Holland] from last year as those scoring people. So he definitely stepped it up. One of the best young guys I've ever played with, so he's doing a great job."

Like you said, you know Slaughter and Albicy really well from European and national team competitions. How much are you looking forward to playing against them?

"I am really looking forward to it. A. J. Slaughter is a great scorer, also a great passer. He brings a real experience to that team. He's also been there a while and can get it going and score 20-30 points on any night, so he's going to have to be a high-alert focus for us. Albicy is, from the point guard position, one of the guards I respect a lot because he really knows how to run the show and he plays great defense. So it will be another exciting matchup playing against those two."

"We need to make as few mistakes as possible, and I think we need to be physical."

It has been a tough year for Turkiye due to the devastating earthquake. One of your centers, Ahmet Duverioglu, left the team to be with his family. Sport has given Turkish fans some relief. Is that an extra responsibility?

"It was definitely unfortunate with the earthquake and he lost a couple of family members, and he needed some time to get back mentally more than anything. Hopefully, we can go on another run and hopefully he's watching. Sports is always something that could take your mind off whatever you're going through for a couple of hours and cheer for your team and bring you together with some people who might be going through the same thing. So it definitely was an honor to get back to playing basketball and packing gyms again just so people can take their mind off such a devastating tragedy."

From your own experience, what does it take to be successful in this win-or-go-home situation?

"We need to make as few mistakes as possible and I think we need to be physical. I think those two things will really help us get over the top. And of course, we've got to play very solid defense. So with those three components, I think we have a chance to win. I think that's where our experience will come in, too, our returning players' experience will come in. Last season, Partizan started the game off with a dunk and then it kind of like it was almost over right there at the end, I think we were down 5 or something [82-77, 20 seconds to go in regulation]. So having that experience definitely helps us keep calm in these types of environments. And in Gran Canaria, hopefully, we can pull off another victory."