May 2026 — SKWEEK has launched Flight Club, its brand-new original video podcast presented by Turkish Airlines, with Kevin Punter as the first guest.
Hosted by SBB and George Amerikanos, the opening episode was recorded in Barcelona and offers a rare, relaxed and honest conversation with one of European basketball’s most respected scorers and a key player at FC Barcelona.
Throughout the episode, Punter reflects on his journey from the Bronx to Europe, his early EuroLeague experience, the work behind his rise, his mentality in clutch moments, the way opponents defend him, and the sacrifices required to stay at the highest level.
On work ethic: “They were way better than me, but they didn’t put the work in”
One of the strongest moments of the episode comes when Kevin Punter explains why talent alone is never enough. Looking back at his early years, he says the difference was not always ability — it was discipline, consistency and the willingness to keep working.
“I’ve seen so many kids at a young age way better than me, but they didn’t put the work in.
I feel like you just gotta ask yourself: what do you want out of this game of basketball? Because you may not want much, and if you don’t want much, you may not put the work that needs to be put in.
So I probably just asked myself at an early age what did I want, and I understood what it took. Kobe was my favorite player and I understood what it took to just work hard for something that you want.
My dad always used to say: books and basketball. If you’re trying to get somewhere, you got to focus on it, you got to handle your business. So that was real big in our household: studying the game, working hard, always looking for ways to get better.
I don’t care how good you are. I’ve seen so many kids at a young age way better than me, but they didn’t put the work in. Over time I passed them, and now some don’t even play basketball anymore.”
On longevity: “You got to start with a foundation that’s just working hard”
Punter also connects work ethic to longevity, explaining that a long career at the highest level is built on discipline and repetition, not just talent or moments of brilliance.
“If you want longevity in your career, you got to be disciplined. You got to continue to be consistent with putting the work in, at whatever level you’re at.
Whether you’re trying to make it to the NBA or a higher level, whatever the case is, make a lot of money — you got to start with a foundation that’s just working hard.
That’s being consistent, being disciplined, whatever your vision is, whatever your goals are, and sticking to it. There’s going to be some good days, there’s going to be some bad days, there’s going to be days where you don’t feel like doing it. That’s in any field.
How bad do you want it? That’s what I would always tell anybody in any field, not just sport. How bad do you want to be the best? It’s a lot. It’s a lot of work.”
On the invisible part of success: “People only see the result”
For Punter, one of the most frustrating parts of being an elite athlete is that the public often only sees the final shot, the stat line or the result — not the work behind it.
“I feel like people only see the result. They only see whether it’s good or it’s bad. And that’s the part that can be frustrating in any position. But you got to really block that stuff out.”
On clutch moments: “Who wants it more?”
Discussing end-of-game situations and the famous shots that define careers, Punter explains that at some point, tactics and schemes can only go so far. In the decisive moments, it often becomes about desire and execution.
“At the end of the game, honestly, is he going to get a bucket or are you going to get a stop?
Sometimes all the schemes and trying to be tactical is out the window. It’s like, who wants it more? Are you going to have better offense or are you going to have better defense? Straight up. That’s just how it is.”
On respect in EuroLeague: “I go off how I’m being guarded”
Kevin Punter gives a revealing insight into how he measures respect from opponents. For him, it is not about public praise — it is about the way teams scout him, defend him and adjust to his game.
“Without saying nothing, I always go off of how I’m being guarded in games and who’s guarding me, and how hard they’re trying to really, really do certain things. So I take that as a level of respect.”
On his first EuroLeague experience: “You got to earn your stripes”
Punter also looks back at his first EuroLeague season with Olympiacos, explaining that his “welcome to the EuroLeague” moment was not simply about one player scoring on him — it was about realizing he had to prove himself again at a new level.
“My first game was against ASVEL on the road. Me and Wade Baldwin were in the backcourt. That was the last time I started, the last time I played for real.
So my welcome to the EuroLeague moment was kind of different from someone cooking me. Before that, I won the Basketball Champions League back to back, killing everything. I’m like, I’m good. Then I get to EuroLeague and it doesn’t work out for me that way.
So that was kind of my welcome to the EuroLeague moment, where it’s like: you got to earn your stripes a little bit.”
On his first EuroLeague bucket with Olympiacos
During the episode, the hosts show Punter footage of his first EuroLeague points. Watching it back, he explains what it meant to finally reach that stage after years of work.
“It was good because I worked so hard to get to that point. Once I started to understand what it really was, it was a goal of mine and my agent. We were like: we got to get to EuroLeague.
So for me to finally get there, to be back in Greece again, I was extremely familiar with the city. It was perfect for me. Playing for David Blatt, that lets his guards do their thing. I’m like: this is perfect.
Got my first start, first game of the season, see the bucket there, so I’m good to go. It felt good. All in all, even though there were some rough patches, I learned a lot. It felt good playing for Olympiacos at that time, and they gave me a chance to come in and do my thing.”
On studying his own game
In one of the episode’s basketball breakdown moments, Punter reacts to footage of himself and explains how his reads depend on what the defender gives him.
“It depends on what you’re doing in front of me. You’re reading and reacting. It’s not just one or two dribbles and then it’s for sure going up.
If you put your hand in there, I’m going to keep it going again. If you don’t, then I’m going to go and let it go. It just depends on what you’re doing in front of me.”
On scoring before opponents fully knew him
Punter also reflects on the difference between his early EuroLeague years and the way defenses treat him now.
“This was my first season, so no one knew anything about what I like, what my counters are, or what I like to get to. Believe it or not, I want to say maybe it’s easier to score when no one knows who you are.
I’m not seeing the defenses that I’m seeing now, my first couple years in EuroLeague.”
On Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and Lou Williams
The episode also explores Punter’s inspirations and basketball references. He names Kevin Durant as his favorite player, while also highlighting Kobe Bryant and Lou Williams.
“My favorite player is Kevin Durant. I watched him a lot growing up. I always heard I was too skinny, I always had to get stronger, and he was the first player I ever watched that was extremely skinny, but he’s cooking dudes, killing everybody.
KD, he’s for sure my favorite player. Top five for me, for sure. One thousand percent.”
Later, when asked about his personal Top 5, Punter mentions:
“I’m going to go with KG at the four. I’m going to go Kevin Durant at three. Kobe at two. At the one, Lou Will.
For me, it’s a reason why. Lou Will, because me and him — he can score the ball. He doesn’t move super, super fast, he’s not a high flyer, he’s none of that. He’s still scoring.”
On staying the course after bad games
Punter also shares a strong performance psychology message about staying calm through bad starts, missed shots and pressure moments.
“You stay the course. You understand how much work you put in. There are going to be good days, there are going to be bad days, one thousand percent. Stay the course.”
