Walkup: “And the 2nd final will be… a dogfight – I have imagined some collaborations with Giannis”

THE Thomas Walkup spoke to the ERT camera after Olympiakos’ victory over Panathinaikos in the first match of the Basket League finals series, stressing that the game was exactly as the “red and whites” expected him, that is… dog fight! Note that so he waits for the second final as wellwhile he mentioned the Final 4 of the Euroleague, the National Team, but also the coexistence with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Among other things he stated

– for the series of finals: “It’s a derby, it’s always going to be tough. We played good basketball at times, but lost our concentration a couple of times. Basketball is a sport, which if someone is inactive, the whole team is punished. This is how we expected the series to be, dog fight, a title is played. They pay us to be stable. At the end of the season those who are not chasing something can lose their concentration. We are ahead with 1-0. Of the three steps we have to do, we completed the first one. We expect the next match to be a battle and they will be ready for us, nothing out of the ordinary».

– on the disappointment after the Final 4 of the Euroleague: “Speaking with McKissick we said that we’re hungrier after the Final Four. Being so close to achieving something unique that you’ve been working for two seasons and then not succeeding hurts you, but it also gives us an extra motivation to continue».

– on the award for the best defender in the Euroleague: “Tavares was rightfully the best defender of the year. If I had won it, he would have wanted it, now he won it too I was left with the appetite. He affects his team’s defense in many ways. My own defensive presence is also reinforced by our team, we have the best defense in Europe».

– about his possible participation in the World Cup with the Greek National Team: “Greek citizenship is an honor. I am excited, I want to represent Greece and claim medals and trophies. I want to win, the opportunity given to me is unique. I love the country and the culture, I have made quite a few friends. I have imagined some collaborations with Giannis (s.s. Antetokounmpo), we will see when the time comes».

Thomas Walkup’s interview:

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