Simon talks about Larkin and Micic, his admiration for coach Ataman / News - Basketnews.com

Former Anadolu Efes Istanbul player and two-time EuroLeague champion Krunoslav Simon gave an interview where he talked about the quality of former teammates Vasilije Micic and Shane Larkin, as well as his experiences with coach Ergin Ataman.

Credit: Zuma Press Credit Zuma Press

One of the key players who made Anadolu Efes Istanbul's meteoric rise to the pinnacle of European basketball possible was Croatian national team player Krunoslav Simon.

Free throws this season

80%13,1Points made:13,1Accuracy:80,1%Place in standings:10Record max:26Record min:3Most made FTs:Shane LarkinTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Arguably a legend of the club by now, having had his jersey retired after being with the club for 5 seasons, Krunoslav Simon etched his name into Efes history as one of the most important parts of the legendary roster that went back-to-back in the seasons of 2020-21 and 2021-22.

In an interview with Nikola Trbojevic of Basketball Sphere, the experienced forward talked about Vasilije Micic, Shane Larkin, and his former coach, Ergin Ataman.

"I was lucky enough to play with Shane and Vasa [Micic]. We had that strength in the outside positions that are rarely seen in Europe in general," Simon said, reflecting on the strength of the Efes backcourt that boasted not just Larkin and Micic but others like Rodrigue Beaubois, James Anderson, Elijah Bryant, and himself.

The Croatian player then focused on Shane Larkin, for whom he had only praise to give out.

"[F]or sure he is one of the best players I have ever played with, and I am not surprised by his games like this," Simon stated. "I had the honor to see firsthand what kind of player he is and what kind of arsenal he actually has. For me, surely one of the best players who appeared in Europe recently," he noted.

The other half of the historical Efes backcourt was, of course, Serbian guard Vasilije Micic, who made his jump to the NBA in the past summer to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he has been playing very few minutes when compared to his time in Efes.

When asked about his former teammate's chances, Krunoslav Simon had this to say.

"It will depend on his ambitions and how patient he is to wait for his chance. It is certain that he has become saturated with Europe. He won the EuroLeague twice and was MVP," Simon said about Micic's accolades.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul / Schedule

Anadolu Efes Istanbul Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul84-89 Valencia Basket Anadolu Efes IstanbulWed19:30 Real Madrid Anadolu Efes IstanbulFri19:45

"It is logical that it goes further... I can't say that I follow the NBA, but I see that there is bad luck," the Croatian explained. "He came to a team like Oklahoma, which is loaded at the point guard position. It is certainly not easy for him, but he will endure. I know that he is strong in his head," Simon stated, praising his teammate's mental quality.

"It depends only on him. It remains to be seen if he will look for [a] trade. He certainly has the quality for the NBA, but it's not easy to get that first chance."

Although players get the spotlight most of the time, one of the key factors behind Efes's victorious years was coach Ergin Ataman, whose distinctive style and effective coaching helped establish one of the most successful and offensively-dominant teams in EuroLeague history.

While Ataman is often known for his brash attitude that players problematize sometimes, Simon stood behind his former coach.

"I heard all kinds of things the same... Before Efes, he was in some other teams, but when he was here, he was as dedicated as possible," the Croatian said. "He was at every practice and led every one, although I heard that wasn't the case [in other teams]."

"My experience is completely different. He is a specific character. If [everything] goes well, then he is the best in the world; if it doesn't go as planned, then he knows how to be a problem," Simon stated. "We had scheduled training sessions at six in the morning, so we used to train three times a day."

"We were together for a long time, four and a half years, but there was absolutely everything. From the best to the worst things."

In spite of the occasional problems, Krunoslav Simon states that his part in Efes's success was thanks to Ergin Ataman, the Turkish coach who guided Efes in its recent heyday.

"When he [Ergin Ataman] arrived in Efes, we were last in the EuroLeague. That was my first season," the forward reminisced. "I have to say we clicked on [day one]. From the first second, I saw that he would instill confidence in me and that he had confidence in me.

I always played to the maximum in those weak games of the Turkish Super League and in the EuroLeague, and he knew how to recognize that," the player stated. "Really, from the first day, I felt good with him, and I was lucky that that cooperation lasted four and a half years. I can only say the best things about him," concluded Simon with a tinge of emotionality.

With the Efes jersey, Krunoslav Simon won two EuroLeague championships, three Turkish Basketball Super League championships, one Turkish Cup MVP award, and one Turkish Basketball Presidents Cup MVP award.

His number 44 jersey, which fans and the club affectionately use to refer to Simon as "Malatyali" after a city in Turkiye, was retired by the club in the 2022-23 season.

Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.