Kendrick Nunn names perks of playing for PAO, reasons for embracing European experience / News - Basketnews.com

Kendrick Nunn thinks Panathinaikos have reached their potential and explains how he's managed to adjust to the European game. He also refers to the perks of playing overseas and to the two elements he likes the most about his PAO stint.

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

It was only November 14 when Ergin Ataman was asked to comment on Kendrick Nunn's adjustment to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, two weeks after the former NBA guard had joined the Greens.

Player of the Game EFF 20 Konstantinos Mitoglou Points 15 Accuracy 5-8 Rebounds 5 Assists 2

"Even if you get Steph Curry or LeBron James on the team, it's not easy for them to adjust in one week or ten days," the Turkish coach told the media.

"It's not easy for the team to put him into the system. Nunn is a player with great quality, but he needs time to get into the team, to understand what it takes. Then he will help us a lot."

Paraphrasing the commonly-used expression, the distance between Ataman's lips and Nunn's ear was covered over the course of a few weeks. The Chicago-born player had never crossed the ocean, had no clue about European basketball and needed an adjustment period in order to appear as efficient and influential as he had been in his NBA heyday.

Panathinaikos announced his signing on the last day of October, and after less than two months, the 28-year-old guard is projected as one of the candidates for the monthly EuroLeague MVP award. Nunn quickly managed to get over his initial shooting slump, as he went 1/16 from distance over his first four outings with the green jersey. He made 12 of his next 24 attempts, before shooting blanks (0/5) against Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade on Thursday night.

But that hardly mattered since Panathinaikos snatched their 10th win in 17 EuroLeague contests, which was also their fourth straight and 8th in their last 11 games, ever since Nunn became a part of the squad.

Potential and ambition are some of the elements that the current PAO squad possesses in abundance. However, being able to put those advantages to good use can be a tricky venture, even if the roster in question is inarguably one of the most expensive ones the Greens have ever fielded.

Kendrick Nunn

MIN:21.16PTS:11.64 (48.94%)REB:2.18As:2.45ST:0.82BL:0.09TO:2.27GM:11ProfileEuroLeague2023/2024

"I feel great. We're finally playing up to our potential, winning some games," Nunn told BasketNews following Panathinaikos' neat 82-65 win over Zvezda.

Despite dishing out just 13 assists and going 5/22 from the 3-point arc, the hosts pinned the Serbian side down to 31 and 35 points in the first and second half, respectively. It was one of their best defensive performances in the season.

"In the second half, we played even better and our defense improved," Nunn further commented. "We're jelling right now, so I'm excited about that."

A closer look at what Nunn has been able to showcase in his maiden season overseas reveals a player whose attitude on the court resembles that of a EuroLeague veteran. Even though he doesn't avoid lapses and bad decisions, the way he reads opposing defenses has allowed him to be a difference-maker and stand out from the crop.

The culmination of Nunn's game-changing ability came in PAO's away win over AS Monaco for Round 15. He headed into the fourth quarter scoreless, as his team was trailing by 11 (56-67). In the ensuing seven minutes, he scored 14 points, bringing PAO closer than ever (81-82).

From that point on, it was a matter of who would make the right moves. Okobo's intentionally missed free throw that didn't touch the rim gave Marius Grigonis the chance to hit the buzzer-beating dagger and Panathinaikos celebrated their first-ever win over the 2021 EuroCup winners.

But Nunn's contribution to the Greens extends its mere offensive prowess. With his active hands and quick lateral movement, the American guard has been able to provide some much-needed help on the rear end of the floor. For Ataman, Nunn's defensive skills are a real treat, given the fact that Jerian Grant had been the only backcourt player capable of locking down the opponents' main perimeter threats.

Nunn admitted that, despite his six-game streak where he scored in double digits, his game is yet to undergo some big adjustments.

"It's still different than what I'm used to," he conceded.

"But I feel like I'm in a good position right now. The team knows my style of play, and I'm fitting in by trying to bring what's needed. Obviously, one of them is my scoring ability down the stretch.

Then, when needed and maybe when I'm having an off night offensively, I play aggressive defense and do other things on the court, trying to cheer my teammates on."

Nunn wasn't selected in the 2018 NBA Draft after he pleaded guilty to battery charges and dismissal from the University of Illinois. The Golden State Warriors sent him to the G-League before the Heat signed him in April 2019.

He began the season posting 22.4 points per game in his first five contests. He became the first player with 100 points in his first five games since former Warriors star Kevin Durant in 2007-2008.

Coach Erik Spoelstra used to refer to Nunn as an 'experienced older young player,' instead of a rookie, while the current Panathinaikos shooting guard said he managed to fit within the Heat's culture because he is a 'hard-nosed worker.'

And while it's true that the Miami Heat catapulted Nunn to a short-lived NBA stardom, the player himself doesn't think that his work ethic was shaped by the franchise.

"Heat culture is irrelevant to me becoming the player who I am now," he said.

"I was that type of player before I went to Miami. That's the reason why they scouted me and signed me. But I did have a good time there. I had two good years in the NBA with those guys," he reflected.

Nunn averaged 15.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting 36.4% for 3 in two seasons with the Heat. He reached the 2020 NBA Finals with Miami before falling to the Lakers in six games.

Two years later, in August 2021, the Heat rescinded Nunn's contract, making him an unrestricted free agent. The talented scorer then signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, but a bone bruise in his knee ruled him out of the entire 2021-22 season. He averaged just 7.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in the that campaign.

On January 23, 2023, the Lakers sent Nunn to the Wizards. Over 31 games played with Washington, he averaged 7.5 points per game, thus wrapping up his 193-game NBA stint.

"It was a good experience," Nunn continued.

"I've had many ups and downs and went through adversity. Coming off the bench for different teams and not getting drafted were some of the challenges that made me want it a little more. But I don't look back on those days."

After the end of the 2022-23 season, Nunn became a free agent and was looking for the next stop in his career. His name was heard many times in the European market, but he opted to wait for an NBA offer which ultimately did not come. Thus, Panathinaikos seized the opportunity and signed him until the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Now, he has the chance to travel all around Europe, one of the biggest perks of playing basketball overseas. Among his six trips to European destinations, Nunn singled out the last two.

"Going from country to country is pretty cool. Last week, we had a trip to Monaco and then Milan. That was a nice trip," he pointed out.

"It's my first time in Europe and seeing different countries and being able to play basketball through it is pretty fun. It's not something I really wanted when I was in the NBA, but it just turned out that way and I'm embracing it."

Nunn earned $13.2 million during his four-year stint in the NBA. He's set to earn a sum close to $2.0 million if he finishes the current campaign with Panathinaikos. But regardless of his earnings, his main goal doesn't change. Since the moment he first set foot in Athens, it was clear that Nunn intends to return to the NBA if the opportunity presents itself.

"Yes, hopefully," he concurred. "I believe that's probably the goal of everyone in this locker room. So, it's definitely one of mine."

Nunn is a player who likes to have the ball in his hands. He creates as much for himself off pick 'n roll situations as for his teammates, which is reflected by the 2.5 assists he's handing out per contest. The role and the playing time allocated to him show that Ataman considers him a vital part and parcel of the squad. On top of everything, he's also an excellent isolation player -- on the few that can beat almost any opponent one-on-one.

Credit Vangelis Stolis

Setting and declaring one's priorities is one thing. But things might change along the way and Nunn can't rule out the possibility of prolonging his stay in Europe.

"There's always a possibility," he stressed. "It was a possibility of me coming here, and here I am. I guess we'll see when the time comes. It's too early to tell. I want to see the offers that will be on the table for me and decide," he added.

As one of PAO's leaders, Nunn has come to realize that there are at least a couple of factors that might render the idea of staying in the Old Continent a little bit more appealing.

"Our arena and the fans," he responds to the question of what he likes more about his experience in Athens.

"I think that's one of the best things in the EuroLeague. I've been to a few arenas and I wasn't too happy about the floor. So, I think we have one the best courts -- and the fans are amazing."

If owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos can pull off another trick and lure Nunn away from the NBA sirens, Ataman, fans - not to mention the OAKA floor itself- would definitely be delighted.

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