Dyshawn Pierre, Fenerbahce: 'It's just a good feeling to be here'

Going into his third Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, Dyshawn Pierre has become key to the lofty aspirations of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.

Since making his EuroLeague debut with Fenerbahce in 2020, the 28-year-old forward has appeared in 65 games in which he has established himself as one of the competition's best defenders. Something else that has advanced in that time is his understanding of the force that Fenerbahce's fans are for the team.

When Pierre first arrived, the COVID-19 pandemic meant that many arenas were either empty or open only to a limited number of fans. Over the last couple of years, though, he has been able to get a far better understanding of the impact of Fenerbahce's support.

"Obviously, the first season that I was with Fenerbahce, unfortunately, we had the COVID season, so I wasn't able to get the real experience of the fans," Pierre explains. "The last two years, with the restrictions lifting, things have been getting more and more exciting."

As soon as he arrived, Pierre recognized the weightier goals at a club as big as Fenerbahce, but he became instantly grateful for the unconditional support that the fans offer from the stands.

"When you hear everyone talking about Fenerbahce, at first it was very eye-opening," he says. "There are higher expectations over here, so you just try to do your best."

Inside Ulker Sports and Event Hall, the Fenerbahce crowd always knows how to act as the team's sixth man on the court, but that feeling is amplified when well-known EuroLeague opponents come to town.

"I think we had one of the most packed arenas last year when we were playing Real Madrid, and you could feel the energy," Pierre recalls. "It was an amazing game and we ended up winning… Obviously, there were [other] times where they were very supportive, but this game was a different type of thing, so it was very fun to play in that game."

Pierre has become a fan favorite during his tenure with the team as an impact player on offense and a downright terror on defense. It has not always been an easy ride, with Fenerbahce missing the EuroLeague Playoffs last season, but he credits the supporters with providing the confidence boost that the players need.

"We've had games that we've lost and the fans are still clapping," he says. "I think a lot of the times it's about effort and just representing the brand. Fenerbahce is a huge club and you've just got to make sure you represent the brand right. Even if you lose in a tough game, the fans will definitely clap and applaud you.

"There's a lot of supportive fans, so it's always nice to have people lifting you up when you're a little bit down. We have great fans for that, so we're very thankful."

As one of the longest-serving non-Turks on the team, Pierre is able to counsel new signings on what to expect from the club's high-impact fans, who are certain to be in full voice for the team's home opener on Friday against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

"Just enjoy the fans," he says. "They really give you a lot of energy, especially when we have home games. A lot of the times when we go to away games, we have a lot of fans too, so enjoy the fans. I would say to communicate and interact with the fans – they always love that – and it's just a good feeling to be here."