Fenerbahçe holds a 3-1 record in the EuroLeague, but head coach Šarūnas Jasikevičius insists it is still too early to properly evaluate a heavily overhauled squad that added nine new players during the summer transfer window, according to reports in the French sports media outlet Bebasket. Speaking to Lithuanian media in Istanbul, Jasikevicius defended his offseason acquisitions while pointing to a congested preseason disrupted by multiple tournaments as a primary reason for the team’s ongoing search for consistency.
Jasikevicius tempers expectations after busy summer
Asked to assess the club’s opening stretch, Jasikevicius preferred to downplay the strong start. “We must wait a little longer,” he said. The Turkish side enters the upcoming stretch following a 92-74 defeat to Panathinaikos on Oct. 8. While the Lithuanian coach notes that players are grasping tactical concepts relatively quickly due to the roster’s veteran presence, practices and games continue to feature uneven performances.
Roster overhaul brings surplus of ball handlers
Fenerbahçe reshaped its roster during the offseason by bringing in nine new players: Shane Larkin, Shavon Shields, Will Clyburn, Trent Forrest, Braxton Key, Marcus Bingham Jr., Ignas Sargiunas, Johnny Juzang, and Sertac Sanli. While the moves added seasoned playmakers and decision-makers to address past shortcomings, the influx of creators has created a balancing act. Jasikevicius noted that players’ eagerness to make plays off the dribble sometimes pulls the team outside of its collective system, a tendency he plans to correct over time.
Defending the veteran gamble on Larkin, Shields, and Clyburn
The decision to sign veteran contributors carrying prior injury concerns drew scrutiny, but Jasikevicius defended the club’s transfer strategy. Borrowing a line from close friend and Žalgiris coach Tomas Masiulis, Jasikevicius addressed the market conditions: “As Tomas Masiulis would say: what would have been better? Who could we have recruited better than the players we got?” Pointing to an exceptionally tight player market, the coach expressed satisfaction with the group assembled.
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🗣️🟡🔵 Sarunas Jasikevicius, sakatlığa meyilli veteran oyuncuların (Larkin-Clyburn-Shields) transfer edilmesi hakkında:
Daha iyisi ne olabilirdi ki? Aldığımız oyunculardan daha iyisini kimi alabilirdik?
Piyasa inanılmaz. Kadromuzdan memnun olmalıyız.
— Hızlı Hücum (@hizlihucum) October 12, 2026
A truncated preseason disrupted by two Super Cups
Fenerbahçe’s early-season growing pains stem in part from a demanding preseason schedule that featured high-stakes competition before the regular season tipped off. The squad finished third at the inaugural EuroLeague Super Cup in Abu Dhabi and subsequently defeated Beşiktaş in the Turkish President’s Cup.
“The preseason is incredibly short. For us, it was completely aberrant, because we have two Super Cups,” Jasikevicius said, adding that the relentless schedule has forced players to pace themselves during training sessions.
Upcoming EuroLeague fixtures against Žalgiris and Partizan
Fenerbahçe returns to EuroLeague action by hosting Žalgiris Kaunas on Tuesday for the fifth round of the competition, followed by a home matchup against Partizan Belgrade on Thursday.
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