Shane Larkin has returned to the national team.

Due to the problems experienced, Shane Larkin, whose local status was removed by the Turkish Basketball Federation, has returned to the National Basketball Team.

"WE TALKED MANY TIMES, WE REACHED AN AGREEMENT"

Ergin Ataman announced Shane Larkin's return to the national team with the following words;

"We openly say to Europe from here that the stage will be ours in EuroBasket 2025. We talked many times with Shane about this and reached an agreement because I know very well his desire to contribute to Turkish basketball. He is making great efforts for this goal. In our first meeting, there was some hesitation due to what happened last year, but Shane behaved extremely understandingly, and we established a strong bond between us. Now I wholeheartedly believe that Shane will be with us. I also think Wilbekin will be ready when needed; he will be with us. Therefore, we will be on the field in the strongest way."

WHY WASN'T HE PLAYING FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM?

Shane Larkin, the American basketball player wearing the Anadolu Efes jersey, was penalized with a 5-match suspension by the TBF Disciplinary Board for not joining the National Team in August and lost his right to obtain a Turkish license. On the other hand, Scottie Wilbekin's local status was also removed.

WHAT HAPPENED?

National Team Head Coach Ergin Ataman had stated that Wilbekin and Larkin did not want to join the national team.

Speaking to Socrates, Ataman said, "We announced the National Team about two weeks before the camp. When we announced the squad, a notification was sent to all clubs as well. We included two naturalized players in the squad. When we announced the squad, based on the information we received, we knew that these players were not very eager due to injury and fatigue, so we invited both to the squad to avoid discrimination. Just as we were concerned, it turned out that neither of them was willing to play. Larkin came to the city on the day the Istanbul camp started and underwent an MRI. After the MRI, it was determined that there was serious swelling in his knee. A two-week treatment was applied, and after two weeks, a decision would be made based on the results of the MRI regarding whether he would play in the tournament. Larkin was treated during those two weeks, a second MRI was taken... It was reported that there was serious improvement, but it was deemed that one more week was needed. Our main plan was to continue treatment for another week and keep Larkin for the last week of the tournament, the semi-final and final stages with individual training. But after the second MRI, Larkin disappeared. Our doctors invited him to see him, we invited him, the federation invited him, at least to be together, to talk, 'What kind of plan will we make?'... After that, we could not get any news from him again," he said.