Will Clyburn’s primary motivation for joining Fenerbahçe Tarfin is clear: capturing a EuroLeague championship and returning to the Final Four. The 36-year-old American forward addressed his rapid transition and championship ambitions during an appearance on Fenerbahçe TV’s 40+ program, roughly two years after his last stint in Turkish basketball.
A Rapid Move Back to Turkey
Following his departure from Barcelona this summer, Clyburn’s move to Istanbul materialized with unusual speed. According to the veteran forward, the negotiations required little time to finalize. After speaking with his agent, he connected with head coach Šarūnas Jasikevicius for a 45-minute conversation. Within two days, the contract was essentially complete, marking one of the fastest transaction processes of his professional career.
“Dürüst olmak gerekirse her şey çok hızlı gelişti,” Clyburn said during his appearance on FB TV, as reported by Eurohoops. “Menajerimle bir görüşme yaptım, yaklaşık 45 dakika sonra da Saras ile konuştum. Tüm bunlardan iki gün sonra ise süreç neredeyse tamamen sonuçlanmıştı.”
Championship Ambitions and Familiar Faces
Fenerbahçe has undergone significant roster turnover ahead of the new campaign, bringing in high-profile pieces like Clyburn to bolster an already competitive squad. For the veteran forward, the decision to sign came down to a single objective: winning.
“Fenerbahçe’ye gelme motivasyonum kısaca kazanmak,” Clyburn stated. “Zaten yetenekli bir kadromuz olduğunu görüyorum, takımdaki çoğu oyuncuyu da önceden tanıyorum. Ana motivasyonum, yeniden Final Four’a kalıp şampiyon olmak.”
The acquisition has generated considerable buzz among supporters, bridging past rivalries into a shared pursuit of continental silverware. As the club enters its upcoming fixtures under the #YellowLegacy banner, fans and analysts alike are tracking how the newcomer integrates into the rotation.
Working Under Jasikevicius and Finding the Right Fit
Transitioning to a new tactical system requires patience, though Clyburn noted that Jasikevicius shares foundational similarities with former mentors. Comparing his current coach to Dimitris Itoudis, Clyburn pointed out that both tacticians draw from the Željko Obradović coaching tree.
“Saras, tarz olarak Itoudis’ten çok farklı değil. İkisi de Zeljko Obradovic ekolünden geliyor,” Clyburn explained. “Uzun süredir bu tarz bir koçla çalışmadığım için yeniden alışmam biraz zaman alacak. Ama şu ana kadar her şey gayet iyi.”
Jasikevicius is known for his demanding and disciplined approach, a style Clyburn welcomes as essential for team success. “Katı ve talepkar biri, her şeyin doğru şekilde yapılmasını istiyor. Zaten kazanmanın yolu budur,” he added.
Regarding his position on the floor, Clyburn expects to see significant minutes at the power forward spot—a role where he flourished during his time under Itoudis at CSKA Moscow. “Itoudis, CSKA’da beni 4 numara oynatmaya başlamıştı. O yüzden buna alışkınım, hatta kariyerimin en iyi basketbolunu 4 numarada oynadığımı düşünüyorum,” he noted. “Sonuçta ben, koçun elindeki bir parçayım. Beni nasıl kullanmak isterse o şekilde kullanacak.”
Next Steps for Fenerbahçe
With pre-season preparations and roster integration underway, Fenerbahçe continues to build toward its upcoming EuroLeague and domestic league commitments. Fans looking for further updates can follow official club announcements via Fenerbahçe’s media channels as the team moves closer to its opening competitive fixtures.
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