With a do-or-die game to keep playing for the trophy, EuroCup rookie JeQuan Lewis wants to leave everything on the court.
JeQuan Lewis, Bourg: 'It's going to be a battle, for sure'
Seasons
7 Mins read
It all comes down to one game, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse vs. Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul in a do-or-die battle on Wednesday to reach the 2024 BKT EuroCup Finals. It's Game 3 of a very interesting semifinal series in which both teams have prevailed at home in the first two games. Bourg hosts Game 3, but Besiktas already won two do-or-die games on the road in this year's playoffs. Bourg playmaker JeQuan Lewis, who had been averaging 7.3 points and 8.8 PIR until this series, but boosted his scoring to 12.5 points and his PIR to 16.0 in the last two games. Lewis believes willpower will be the deciding factor on Wednesday. "I feel like right now we have both adjusted to each other," Lewis said. "I think it's just going to go down to who wants it more, who's going to go out there and fight more, like who's going to get the most 50-50 balls, who's going to play through adversity and control the runs."
Hello, JeQuan. It's your first EuroCup season and you're a game away from the finals. How great is this opportunity for you and Bourg?
"It's everything for me. This is what I have been working for, to get to this level. And this just being my first year in the EuroCup, and I'm able to kind of help lead my team to the championship, that's just been my goal kind of since day one, coming here to win."
You started the season with an injury. How difficult was it for you to find your rhythm?
"At the beginning of the season was it was very, very tough for me. I faced a lot of adversity. I had my injuries; they sent me out. And then I had to go home for the death of one of my family members that kind of put me back. But we have a great group of guys and coaching staff here, and they help me through that whole process and gave me all the time I needed to get my mind mentally right and my body physically right."
"This is what I have been working for, to get to this level"
Now, you are bringing out your best basketball in the playoffs. Is that extra motivation or a full adjustment to the team?
"No, it's just our will to win. My will to win. Whatever Coach needs me to do, whether it's come out and try to score 20 points or come out and try to get 10 assists. I'm not one of those players who just kind of go out there and just do what I want. I follow through with our scouting and our game plan, and I try to execute it to the best of my ability."
Bourg is a team without superstars. How fun is it to play for such a team-oriented squad?
"Exactly. For me as a point guard, it's great. It's amazing because it makes my job a whole lot easier. They did a great job of surrounding me with nothing but shooters and guys who can score, can really shoot the ball at a high clip, catch and shoot, which means they can space the floor for me as well, so I can get inside and penetrate. And whether it's dishing out or trying to get my own shot, I kind of have the freedom to kind of do whatever."
Of course, Zaccharie Risacher gets a lot of attention. How do you see his potential, and what's the best thing about him?
"Man, the sky's the limit for him. He is a hard worker. He is super, super talented, but it didn't happen overnight. The kid puts in work every single day before and after practice, off days. He doesn't miss a beat. I think the biggest thing for him is just his willingness to learn. A lot of kids were there this age and they were high profile players going into the draft as top five picks. You kind of feel like you know it all. You feel like you are better than everybody. But Zaccharie is one of those kids who is very humble. He listens. He asks questions. He is just a great kid. He just loves to play basketball."
Time to talk about Besiktas. After two games, is there room for tactical surprises?
"Oh, yeah. I feel like it's tough playing teams multiple times, especially back-to-back. I feel like right now we have both adjusted to each other. We kind of adjusted to their style of play. I think it's just going to go down to who wants it more, who's going to go out there and fight more, like who's going to get the most 50-50 balls, who's going to play through adversity and control the runs. It's going to be a battle, for sure."
How tough is it to go against Derek Needham, one of the most experienced point guards in the competition?
"Like you said, he is a great guard. He's experienced and strong. He knows how to control his team and try to get his shots. It's been a tough matchup because they are a good team. But it's also been a fun matchup. I love competition, I love going against the best, and he brings the best out of me, for sure."
Generally speaking, what needs to be done to beat Besiktas and make it to the finals?
"I think our keys to winning the game is just staying together and playing our basketball. Sometimes when you play teams like Besiktas, they like to get out and run and play fast and shoot fast. You can kind of get lost in that and start doing the same thing. And that's to their advantage. So I feel like as long as we control the game and control the pace and play our style of basketball, then I feel like we can handle business our way."
"I'm just finally getting to where I want to be"
Paris already in the final, 20-1 this season. You played against them, is it a surprise that they did so well in the EuroCup?
"No, I'm not surprised. That's a great team. It's a great organization. Their coach and half of the guys won the Champions League last year, in Germany for Bonn. I played them last year when I was in Germany as well and there are just a great team. They have a great core. The pieces they put around the core fit in really well, and they all kind of just playing well together, and playing fast. I'm not surprised at all. Paris is a fun team to watch. They are a fun team to play against. And they are talented."
You played in South Korea, Greece, Israel, Estonia and Germany before joining Bourg. Does this opportunity taste even better after having to grind it out the way you did?
"Yeah, for sure, because early in my career, when I first came to Europe, I faced a lot of adversity with injuries, clubs not paying on time and the COVID year. It was a lot of stuff I had to go through to kind of get to where I am now. And just to finally be in a position I am now is surreal. But I worked my whole life to be in a position to play at the highest levels. And I'm just finally getting to where I want to be. And I just hope I take advantage of it."