Outside the lines, 28.3/Photography: Vala System Video editing: Ziv Steiner
Fenerbahçe star Nigel Hayes-Davies broke the Euroleague points record yesterday (Friday), and after the game there was an unpleasant controversy at the press conference. Hayes-Davis scored 9 three-pointers, and with 50 points he passed Euroleague record holder Shane Larkin by a point, on the day when Fenerbahce defeated Alba Berlin 68:103 and remained above Maccabi Tel Aviv in the table.
The forward, who shot 18-of-27 from the field (including 2 rebounds and 0 assists) was praised by his teammates and fellow Euroleague players, but the player's feat did not receive much attention from the Turkish media.
Lack of professionalism. Sharas nervous/GettyImages, Seskim Photo/MB Media
When head coach Ronas Jasikvicius finished his remarks about the game, praising his player, he did not receive a single question from the media gathered at the press conference.
"After a 50-point game in the EuroLeague, there are no questions... It's sad, okay? Very sad for the Turkish basketball press. I'm angry, really, to be honest," Saras said.
"Last week we beat Barcelona. It was one of the most amazing games in terms of how the game is a story. Fenerbahce plays amazing basketball, Barcelona comes back, makes a great comeback, stabilizes itself, and Fenerbahce wins again. There were three questions at the last press conference. Two were gossip questions, asking me to comment on a tweet," Jasikvicius continued, looking annoyed and frustrated. "Social media in this situation is the most ridiculous thing, the saddest thing."
Hayes-Davis posted a 46 rating in the game, while all of Elba Berlin combined had a 47 rating, in a historic game. Jasikvicius attacked the Turkish media for its unprofessional journalistic approach.
"Now, Nigel Hayes-Davies breaks the record, and I don't have any questions in the press conference? I'm very sorry, I know some of you won't like it about the Turkish basketball press, but I'm very sorry, I believe it's a very sad evening for the Turkish basketball press. You can translate it," said the Lithuanian coach to the interpreter beside him, and left.
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Sharonas Jasikvicius