Ender Arslan: “My Idol Ergin Ataman, There Is No Other Name Who Has Achieved What He Has Achieved”

by Can Bedel / [email protected]

Ender Arslan, who put an end to his acting career with the Frutti Extra Bursaspor jersey last season, became Erhan Ernak’s assistant at Bahçeşehir College in the new season. Ender Arslan answered Eurohoops’ questions at the launch organized by Bahçeşehir College before the new season.

You started your coaching career as soon as you quit basketball. How did this process take place, was there any place outside Bahçeşehir where you received an offer?

Apart from Bahçeşehir College, there were other teams that I was offered to coach, but I think that Bahçeşehir organization is a very successful and open to development organization. That’s why I chose here. The fact that I have known Erhan here since my childhood, the working environment here and the assertion of the staff made me choose this place.

What are your future goals in your coaching career?

First of all, I want to realize this by concentrating on the development and success of this club as long as I am here. Of course, I have a long-term goal of becoming a head coach, but there is still more to it.

Bahçeşehir College made an important investment this season as well. Transfers such as Kartal Özmizrak, Eurocup MVP Jamar Smith and Ben Bentil were made, and names such as Oğuz Savaş and Muhammed Baygül participated in the domestic rotation. Therefore, I would like to ask: What are your new season goals in Europe and in the Basketball Super League?

The staff is truly top notch. All of our players are very good players individually. Honestly, first of all, I have to say that this doesn’t mean anything. Our goal here is to get these individually good players to come together and play together for the team at the highest level. If we can achieve this, success will be inevitable.

Who is the player you have the highest expectations for in the team?

There are many good players in the team right now. Honestly, I’ve never been focused on an individual. Me and the whole coaching team are more focused on team play. As a team, we are focused on attacking and defending. Within the team, there is a potential that one player will be the top scorer in a match and another player will be the top scorer in the next match. We will try to use this potential already.

What was the most memorable game in your basketball career?

The most memorable match in my career was the Serbia match in 2010. Of course, I can’t forget the Banvit match we played in the final series with Galatasaray the year we became champions.

There were moments in your farewell match where your eyes filled with tears and you cried. How did you feel those days?

It was a different day. I made the decision to quit basketball in January after talking to my family. It was very clear that that day would come, but people get emotional because there are so many experiences. I would like to thank Bursaspor once again from here. They really prepared a wonderful farewell for me, and although I tried to hide it, of course, my feelings were revealed. It was an unforgettable farewell for me.

You apparently had a good relationship with coach Alimpijevic in Bursaspor, have you ever thought of starting your coaching career with him, has there been such an offer?

Obviously, an offer came from Bursapor. Bursaspor is now a place like home for me. We got on very well with the coach, but there were many factors such as family reasons and wanting my daughter to continue her education in Istanbul. Bahçeşehir also had a good offer and as I said, the club’s vision and potential for success was a factor in my coming here.

You have played on many teams and worked with many coaches. Who was the best coach you’ve worked with, and from which coach did you learn the most when you think of it as a coach today?

I really learned something from every coach I’ve worked with, and I’ll try to blend them all into practice. I’ll see how possible this is. The best coach I have worked with for myself was Ergin Ataman. Ergin Ataman’s way of working, his focus on success and his basketball philosophy were the philosophy that appealed to me the best.

Who do you take as your idol?

My idol is Ergin Ataman, I can say this very easily. Because when you look at the works he has accomplished, they are not the works that another Turkish coach has been able to achieve yet. It’s not normal to have Ergin Ataman as an idol. If I can achieve what he has achieved as a coach one day, it means that I have already reached the highest level.

A new generation is coming, there is a shell change in the national team. How do you find the new generation, who are your favorite names?

I find the new generation very talented. In terms of talent, they do not lack anything from our generation. I believe that the more time they can take on the field, the sooner the overall success will come. My favorite player is definitely Alperen Şengün. He is a very very special talent that has already started to climb the stairs quickly. I think good days are near for our national team.

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