Thomas Walkup addresses next matchup with PAO, contract extension with Olympiacos / News - Basketnews.com

Thomas Walkup referred to his contract extension talks with Olympiacos, a possible matchup vs. Panathinaikos in the Greek Cup, and how Giorgos Bartzokas has built a team that currently leads the EuroLeague standings.

Credit: Panagiotis Moschandreou/GettyImages Credit Panagiotis Moschandreou/GettyImages

Thomas Walkup and Olympiacos Piraeus look like a match made in heaven. The Texas-born guard and the Greek side joined forces in 2021, but it's highly likely that their collaboration will not end anytime soon.

2-pointers this season

60%20,2Points made:20,2Accuracy:59,6%Place in standings:7Record max:29Record min:11Most made 2FGs:Aleksandr VezenkovTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Walkup's contract expires in the summer of 2024, on the premise that Olympiacos decide to unilaterally make use of their club option at the end of this season. However, it's common knowledge that the two sides are working on prolonging their bond for a few more years.

That's something the American guard didn't hide when he was interviewed by Greek public TV station ERT.

"I'll say that I do love it here," Walkup said.

"I would never try to jump-think on something or put pressure on anything. That's for my agent and the club to figure out. I'm not involved in these talks," he revealed.

Walkup further added that he told his agent, 'Don't come to me before you're ready to sign something. And then, we can sign it.'

"But I don't want to be in the middle of this stuff because I have bigger things on my plate with the Cup coming up," he argued.

Olympiacos have won each and every domestic title since Walkup joined the Reds. After the Greek Cup in February 2022, the Greek powerhouse lifted both the Greek championship title and the SuperCup trophy. Last year, Vasilije Micic ended their aspirations for the EuroLeague crown, but this season can have a different finish for the squad coached by Giorgos Bartzokas.

"That was why I came here, because of this vision and the club's ambition," Walkup stressed.

"We have the top goals- win Euroleague and the triple crown. The club has the right ambitions. The moment you start thinking it's enough, you quit. That's the wrong mindset. We're excited to be on this road, but we're never satisfied," he emphasized.

Thomas Walkup

MIN:24.79PTS:7.46 (54.55%)REB:2.88As:5.5ST:1.79BL:0.13TO:1.83GM:24ProfileEuroLeague2022/2023

Next up for Olympiacos lies another Greek Cup title and a Final 8 tournament that will be held in Crete from Feb. 16-19. Olympiacos will fly over to the biggest Greek island on Thursday and play Aris Thessaloniki on Friday. If they pull it off, their next opponent will most probably be Panathinaikos Athens, who face off with Kolossos Rhodes in the quarter-finals.

Walkup underlined that Olympiacos's thirst for titles is unquenchable, and repeated a metaphor he's used in the recent past.

"We're a pack of hungry dogs," he repeated.

"We play like this, we practice like this, and act like this. We're humble and we're hungry. We want that Cup more than we wanted it last year. We got a taste of blood and we want more.

I expect nothing less than PAO to throw their best punch and we'll see how that pans out."

Credit Vangelis Stolis

In the opinion of many around Europe, Olympiacos have been playing textbook basketball this season. But Walkup admits that he doesn't know if there's such a thing as perfection.

"But I know we're playing the right way,' he suggested. "Basketball will never be a perfect game."

The former Zalgiris Kaunas player credits coach Bartzokas "for what he's instilled here. It started from the very first day and I know it was about passing and moving the ball. The defense can never move as fast as the ball can. I think this system is the proper way to play."

According to the 30-year-old point guard, Olympiacos have been built on good foundations.

"Our team has a very good character. There are no guys floating on the outside. Nobody's focused on their individual stats or accolades," he observed.

As for himself, the fitting - as he has come to realize- has been the best on many different levels - in the coach's philosophy, but also the personnel.

"Being a part of something where everybody is focused on one common goal is a real pleasure.

In my opinion, you enjoy basketball when you're the most serious. When you do things the right way, don't play selfishly, when everybody is sharing the ball. So, when you're lazy and laid-back, to me that's not fun. It's a blessing whenever the ball's moving and you have rhythm on both sides," he said.

Another decision that paid dividends was his pairing with Kostas Sloukas.

The two might not provide the scoring firepower that the Micic-Larkin duo can display, but that doesn't make them any less effective. Sloukas and Walkup complement each other like no other combo of EuroLeague guards this season and it seems that Walkup has learned a lot from the Greek international.

"I've been here for 1.5 years and I'm still learning from him: how he reads the game, how he thinks, how professional he is, and how he works his body and game," he pointed out.

"I'm still learning from Sloukas and I think we meshed very well together."

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