Julius Thomas: "Players Know They're Paid to Give Their All for 40 Minutes"

I believe we played an excellent basketball game. In the first quarter, we started strong, aggressive, and fast. We played with our identity, preventing our opponents from making a comeback. I'm very proud of my players. Now, we have a crucial game in Strasbourg in two days, so we need to recover and be ready.

After Milan last week, this is the second time you've effectively eliminated an opponent from the Euroleague. Is this an extra source of motivation for you?
No, what matters to us is performing at a high level. We have very high standards for ourselves and we want to play the right way. We don't concern ourselves with our opponent's current standing.

Even with a lead of over 30 points, the entire team celebrated a Maccabi turnover as if it were a game-winning shot. What does this say about your team's mentality?
It speaks volumes about the players' mentality. They know they're paid to give their all for 40 minutes. We respect our opponents, so even with a significant lead, we want to play correctly and we know we must do our job to the best of our ability for the entire 40 minutes. There's no magic solution; it's important for us to know that every time we play, we'll give our maximum effort until the end.

What was the key to maintaining such offensive success throughout the entire game tonight?
We found and made very good shots throughout the game. As I mentioned, the players really found each other, looking to exploit Maccabi's defense to find the best available shot. We also showed a lot of confidence, which I believe is the reason behind this very strong offensive performance.

Can you tell us about the confidence you've instilled in the team since your arrival?
Well, the players already had a certain level of confidence. I don't think confidence is something you hold in a box and give to them. They earn it, and it belongs to them. How do they do that? By simply playing collective basketball, by playing together, and by trusting each other. I do it, but my teammate does it too by putting in the maximum effort. It's something you can also see from the stands.

With the end of the Euroleague, you'll be able to focus on the championship. How will the change in your game rhythm affect you?
As I said, we have a game in Strasbourg in two days, so the rhythm remains the same for now. That's what I'm focused on, and we'll discuss the future later. I'll be happy to answer that question in two weeks, but until then, we are simply concentrating on the next game.

Is there anything you're not satisfied with regarding tonight's game?
We committed too many fouls in the first quarter, which is something we need to correct. This also happened in Belgrade two days ago: in the first quarter, we committed many fouls that led to free throws for them. This is something we truly need to address. There's always something to learn. I'm not unhappy with anything specific; I'm just asking myself, 'How can we improve based on what we saw today?' There's always room for improvement, and that's a mentality the players share.