How the most positive Fenerbahce player is changing the EuroLeague playoff series / News - Basketnews.com

Nate Sestina's unexpected appearance has altered the dynamics of the Fenerbahce vs. Monaco series.

Credit: Euroleague Basketball via GettyImages Credit Euroleague Basketball via GettyImages

What are the odds that the 13th player on the roster in playing time and scoring will achieve a career-high in his debut EuroLeague playoff game and become one of the decisive factors in stealing home-court advantage?

He played less than 10 minutes in 15 EuroLeague games this season and logged more than 20 minutes in just four appearances. A guy who averaged 2.8 points in 10 minutes per game, scoring more than 10 points in two games only.

And the list of unlikely facts could go on and on.

There are no miracles in basketball, with only a few exceptions. At this level, success is all about hard work, consistency, and preparing yourself to seize opportunities.

As they say, Nate Sestina embodies the idea that hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. He exemplified this in Fenerbahce's victory over Monaco, showcasing how staying positive and consistent regardless of circumstances can lead to success.

This was evident in the corner of Salle Gaston Medecin, where he drained a game-sealing three-pointer to extend Fenerbahce's lead by 8 points in overtime and secure the win in the opening playoff game, 95-91.

Sestina's 16-point performance marked his career-high in the EuroLeague, surpassing his combined points from the previous six appearances over the last month and a half.

Talking to him after such an impressive performance sheds light on why he succeeds.

"Alright, Marko, I need to interview the MVP," I said as I approached Nate Sestina after a brief conversation with Marko Guduric in Monaco, another key contributor to Fenerbahce's victory.

"Oh no. Nick is the MVP," Sestina replied in an interview to BasketNews.

"He's a quarterback. He's 35 on paper, but he's like 45 years old. He's been here before, and he's won before," Sestina remarked on Calathes' impressive performance of 17 points, four rebounds, and three assists.

–To be honest, feeling like you're 45 when you're only 35 on paper isn't usually a good thing.–(laughs) He knows it's all love. Having a guy like this at the point guard position with all his experience is great for us and a young guy like me. It's great to have him to keep you under control, centered, and locked in.

– What have you learned about basketball from playing with him this season?–Don't cut from Nick. If Nick is driving, stay in the corner, and he will put the ball right here.

In one of our first Turkish league games, I tried to cut, and he was like, man, stay in the mother blanking corner. I said, yes, sir. Unless there's one of our players. Other than that, it's just patience and spacing with him. And to trust what I do. I put so much work into shooting the ball and passing it to somebody to have a turnover, maybe, or something is just not good. So, I

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