Thomas Walkup rates Olympiacos' season, opens up on interaction with PAO fans / News - Basketnews.com

Thomas Walkup rated Olympiacos' season on a scale of 1-10, explained why he's willing to take on a leading role on the team, and revealed the nicest compliment he's received from Panathinaikos fans.

Credit: Panagiotis Moschandreou via Getty Images Credit Panagiotis Moschandreou via Getty Images

Mike James recently tweeted that Thomas Walkup is probably the best EuroLeague defender when it comes to breaking screens. Olympiacos Piraeus have one of the top defensive guards in the Old Continent as far as on-ball is concerned.

Free throws this season

76%12,6Points made:12,6Accuracy:75,5%Place in standings:13Record max:33Record min:3Most made FTs:Nikola MilutinovTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Walkup, 31, is returning the trust placed on him by coach Giorgos Bartzokas and has helped his team compile a 15-11 record after 26 rounds.

From a scale of one to 10, Walkup would rate with an 8 his satisfaction with how his team is performing.

"You know, I really like where we're at," he told Amerikanos24.

"A 10 would be like we're sitting at first no problems at all, but I'd give us a 7 or 8 because of the resiliency that we've shown to this point," he explained.

"We said as soon as guys started going down and you could see it was a little rocky, we just gotta weather the storm," he added.

So right now, Olympiacos are sitting in sixth place in the EuroLeague standings, something that gives them a chance to make the playoffs and not depend on other teams.

Joining the Reds in the summer of 2021, Walkup didn't need much time to become an integral part of the team and of coach Giorgos Bartzokas' system. Even though the Greek tactician has been heavily criticized for some of his recruiting choices in the current campaign, Walkup is a firm believer in Bartzokas' abilities.

"He has had it figured out the whole time, but there's many moving parts," he said.

"A lot of different variables you have. Guys coming from injury, new guys, all being integrated at once, so it's on us. As a player, a big part of your job is to figure out how you fit in. Guys are doing that, and it doesn't happen overnight," Walkup argued.

"All the best teams in our league are usually teams that have a solid core and stick together. So, it takes some time but you can clearly see, not just by our wins and losses, but when you watch the game, the quality of the basketball has taken a step up because guys are figuring it out," he stressed.

Thomas Walkup

MIN:26.62PTS:8.81 (44.86%)REB:3.15As:4.54ST:1.27BL:0.04TO:2.04GM:26ProfileEuroLeague2023/2024

Walkup admitted that when he joined Olympiacos, he struggled until he could figure out Bartzokas' system.

"It was a type of system that I had never played in," he conceded.

"And I'm still learning the system. I'm still getting better at it. I think that's one of the best things about it -- you can just continue to get better and better at it. I've been so fortunate to see that it works so well. So it's easy to dive into, it's easy to believe in," he pointed out.

Walkup said Bartzokas lets his players operate within the confines of his system and that makes his a successful coach. But at the same time, and although Bartzokas isn't keen on using the term 'leader' for any of his players, the American-born point guard lays claim to being one of his team's leading men.

"I think I am one of the leaders of the team at that being here my third year," he proclaimed.

"[Kostas] Papanikolaou is obviously, the cornerstone for the team," Walkup said of Olympiacos' captain.

"You know, he is the leader, he is the guy that we all look to. He is the one putting in extra work. But the more time you are somewhere, the more responsibility falls on your shoulders. So yeah, I feel like I am [a leader]," Walkup continued.

"I think it suits my personality and I'm very honored and fortunate to be in a position where I have been able to stay here and be considered as that."

Currently on his third season with Olympiacos, Walkup has seen a lot of the Greek derby games. For the better part, the Reds have been pretty dominant, as they have won every title that was up for grabs since Walkup arrived in Piraeus.

Asked about how PAO fans are treating him, Walkup became quite candid.

"Some of the bigger compliments I've gotten have been from serious hardcore Pana fans that say, 'I'm a Panathinaikos fan, but we love and respect how you guys play'," he said.

"And I think that that as a country like Greece, where there are knowledgeable basketball fans that understand the game, not just fans that come to support, that does mean a lot. Those are the ones that I like."

Full interview:

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