Julius Thomas: "Players Know They're Paid to Give Their All for 40 Minutes"

I believe we played a very good basketball game. In the first quarter, we started off strong, playing aggressively and at a high tempo. We stuck to our game plan and didn't allow them to gain momentum. I'm very proud of my players. Now, we have a crucial game in Strasbourg in two days, so we need to recover and focus on that.

After Milan last week, this is the second time you've nearly eliminated a team from the Euroleague. Does that serve as extra motivation for you?
No, what matters to us is performing at a high level. We have very high standards for ourselves and we aim to play the right way. We don't concern ourselves with the opponent's current standing.

Even when you were leading by over 30 points, the entire team celebrated a turnover by Maccabi as if it were a game-winning shot. What does that say about your team's mentality?
It speaks volumes about the players' mentality. They understand they are paid to give their absolute best for the entire 40 minutes. We respect our opponents, so even with a significant lead, we want to play the right way and know we must perform our job to the best of our ability, consistently, for the full 40 minutes. There are no shortcuts; it's crucial for us to know that every time we step on the court, we will give our maximum effort until the end.

What was the key to maintaining such offensive success throughout the entire game tonight?
We found and made very good shots throughout the game. As I mentioned, the players really connected with each other, actively probing Maccabi's defense to find the best available shot. We also displayed a great deal of confidence, and I believe that's the reason behind this very strong offensive performance.

Can you tell us about the confidence you've instilled in the team since your arrival?
Well, the players already possessed a certain level of confidence. I don't believe confidence is something you hold in a box and hand over. They earn it, and it belongs to them. How do they achieve it? By simply playing collective basketball, playing together, and trusting each other. I contribute to this, but my teammates do as well by giving their all. This is something that can be observed even from the stands.

With the end of the Euroleague approaching, you'll be able to focus more on the domestic league. How will the change in your game rhythm affect you?
As I've stated, we have a game in Strasbourg in two days, so the rhythm remains the same for now. That's my current focus, and we'll discuss the future later. I'll be happy to answer that question in two weeks, but until then, we are solely concentrating on the next game.

Is there anything you're not satisfied with from tonight's game?
We committed too many fouls in the first quarter, which is something we need to correct. This also happened in Belgrade two days ago: in the first quarter, we committed numerous fouls that led to free throws for them. This is something we absolutely must address. There's always something to learn. I'm not dissatisfied with anything specific, but I always ask myself: 'How can we improve based on what we've seen today?' There's always room for improvement, and that's a mentality the players share.