Shane Larkin is thrilled to represent Turkey in the EuroBasket 2025.
Former Boston Celtics backup point guard Shane Larkin found a home in Turkey, starting his legacy around Europe, as he believes his talent was much more appreciated than in the NBA.
The 5-foot-11 guard’s pick-and-roll craftiness and shotmaking playstyle have clicked in the Euroleague competition, where he started to understand that he has a better role overseas.
“I’m not comparing myself to any star player in the NBA at all, but like the way I’m sure Kyrie Irving was being treated in Cleveland is the same way that Kendrick Nunn is now being treated in Athens, the way that I’m treated in Istanbul, and Mike James is treated in Monaco,” said Larkin via HoopsHype.
He emphasized that a player’s value depends on where they are competing, as some teams will appreciate them, and some will not.
Larkin said to be more open-minded about the opportunities, as the basketball world is vast, which can give various experiences for a player to grow.
“I would say that’s the first thing. And if you do, then you just have to be open-minded to the experience. You have to be open-minded to the opportunities that are out there. You know, when I was growing up, it was all NBA, NBA, NBA, NBA, NBA,” Larkin said on his advice to American athletes.
The 32-year-old realized that he had been in an optional role as a backup guard on the NBA teams. He believes he deserves to play not because of somebody’s absence from a roster, but rather his game performance.
“I had an open mindset where I didn’t want to do that third point guard kind of non-guaranteed deal, wait for somebody to get injured. It’s like you’re waiting for somebody’s downfall for you to take advantage of it. And that just didn’t feel right to me. I felt like if I wanted to get that opportunity, it was because I deserved it because of my play, not because of somebody’s injuries,” he said.
After being drafted 18th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2013, he was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He played for multiple teams before he took his talent to Europe.
In 2016 to 2017, Larkin signed with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain, where he encountered more playing time, which gained his confidence after his NBA stint.
In 2018, he started playing for the Anadolu Efes in the Turkish Basketball Super League and Euroleague competitions. The ex-NBA guard had won many titles with them in 2021 and 2022. Larkin became a naturalized citizen of Turkey in 2020.
