Alec Peters, Olympiacos forward and former Phoenix Suns second-round pick, shared insights into his basketball journey during a Fullcourt Passport podcast with Ric Bucher and Bostjan Nachbar.
Speaking from Greece, Peters explained why he switched his jersey number during the 2018 Phoenix Suns summer league: “The Phoenix Suns decide to draft Mikal Bridges in the 2018 NBA draft. He wore number 25 at Villanova… it was kind of just like, ‘Okay.’” He added that Bridges gave him “a pretty hefty gift card to Chipotle” in appreciation.
Reflecting on his move to Europe, Peters described the pivotal moment that shaped his career. “Summer league was kind of that pivotal moment for me… I got to see firsthand what the tanking really looks like in the NBA,” he said. “I knew about EuroLeague… some of these teams were approaching my agent about wanting to sign me.” Peters credited Igor Kokoskov with guiding him through the decision. “He kind of… said, ‘Dude, you can’t pass on that.’ And when CSKA came calling, I talked to Coach Itoudis… days later it was signed and it was done.”
Peters emphasized the value of stability and winning when choosing CSKA over Olympiacos initially. “They were built to win… they’d won championships already. Coach Itoudis… helped me see where my career was going to be in a few years,” he explained. He described the fulfillment of playing in EuroLeague: “You leave emotionally drained because… every time, energy, effort was spent into winning this one game.”
On the growth of EuroLeague’s reputation, Peters noted: “There is still an under-awareness of all of it… the people who know, they know. But it’s not talked about enough.” He highlighted the intensity of competition compared to the NBA and college basketball. “In college… do everything, learn everything… then you go to the NBA… singular focused… When I got to Europe… they’ll punish the mismatch inside. You’ve got to have postgame, you’ve got to be able to create.”
Peters also discussed his personal life in Greece and entrepreneurial efforts. “Coming to Olympiacos, I discovered… I want to bring joy back to the people… that’s through the restaurant that we opened.” Named after his former jersey, 25, the restaurant reflects his connection to Piraeus. “I see us coming back here even when we’re not living here… it’s fun to have a piece of you and a little bit of a legacy left here beyond the court.”
Regarding the potential NBA Europe league, Peters said: “I see both sides of the coin… the product is that good… I’m about the basketball, I’m about the product. As long as it’s elevated… I’m game for whatever.”
Looking back at his NBA days, he recalled the challenges of a tanking team and scoring 36 points in his final game: “It is maddening… you just couldn’t keep track of it all… but fortunately, it was my day and I got to have my last claim to fame in the NBA that day.”
