Being raised in a sports family doesn’t always mean a successful sports career for the children. But in the cases of Alberto Abalde, Rokas Jokubaitis, Shane Larkin and Sasha Vezenkov, the father’s influence had a lot to do with the son’s achievements.
The legacy of the fathers at the Final Four
Barry Larkin, the father of Anadolu Efes Istanbul’s All-EuroLeague guard Shane Larkin, is considered one of the top baseball players of his era and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in January 2012. A Major League Baseball champion in 1990, he knows what pressure can mean in a tournament like the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four.
"I have talked to him throughout the playoffs, throughout the season, and he just tells me to go out there and be myself. You know, never let the moment be too big for yourself and just be always aggressive,” Shane said.
Baseball is a sport where the best hitters – and Barry Larkin was among the very best of his day – usually fail two-thirds of the time. Shane learned from that lessons that he applies to his career and pressure-filled situations like the Final Four.
“At the end of the day, it's still a game. You know, basketball is always going to be basketball regardless of where you are playing and who you are playing it against. So, you just go out there and play the game that you love and live with the results," Shane added.
Sasha Vezenkov’s father has also been a major influence on his career. The All-EuroLeague forward credits his family’s support, and his father in particular, for helping him get where he is today.
"To stay humble, to be myself, to enjoy the moment, and to play the same as I play, me and my team, the whole season,” Sasha shared of the lessons he learned from his father Sasho Vezenkov, a former professional basketball player and coach. Sasho played for the Bulgarian basketball national team and participated in two European Championships (1989 and 1991) during his long playing career.
"He is everything to me, along with my family. He, my mother and my sister, they are everything I have. They helped me from the first moment I started playing basketball. My father is my biggest fan, but also my biggest critic, you know, because he always wants me to get better,” Sasha said. “He always sees the bad moments, the bad things I did in the game, and he always wants me to improve because he believes in me a lot. Maybe sometimes he believes in me more than even I believe in myself! So, I am glad I have this family and am really thankful to them."
Sasha won’t feel alone in Belgrade; among the thousands of Olympiacos fans expected to support the team this weekend will be his dad.
Real Madrid guard Alberto Abalde’s father, also named Alberto Abalde, spawned a pair of basketball stars. Tamara Abalde played for Valencia Basket and the two were “club mates” when Alberto won the 7DAYS EuroCup in 2019. Even though Alberto Sr. played professionally in Spain’s top league, the family conversations at these times are more about emotional support than basketball.
"Since we were kids, they made me love basketball. Everything I do in my career, we enjoy it together,” Alberto Jr. said. "They are coming to Belgrade! My parents, my sister and my girlfriend. We haven’t talked about basketball. I believe that in the end, I disconnect more when I talk to my family, but I am happy that they can come and watch the Final Four. It is a dream for all of us.
The 2021-2022 Rising Star Trophy winner, Rokas Jokubaitis of FC Barcelona, was also raised in a family with strong basketball roots. His father Aivaras had a long professional career, playing for more than a decade in his home country, Lithuania, and Poland. He was one of the reasons Rokas fell in love with basketball.
"I think he made a big influence on me in choosing the professional way in basketball… My first toy when I was young was a basketball. It was clear that I would follow in his footsteps," Rokas said. "I remember in the summer, other boys of my age were playing outside during the school holidays and I remember myself going with my father to work individually. He put a lot of work into me.”
Now that Rokas has earned the spotlight, he readily acknowledged that being pushed hard helped him to reach the place where he is now.
“He was, I wouldn't say strict, but he wanted me to be better, never telling the good things about my playstyle, but only bad things to get me thinking about what I was doing wrong. He helped me a lot and I'm very thankful for that," Rokas said.
One of Rokas’s first thoughts after receiving the Rising Star Trophy was that he could not wait for his father to see it.
"I will call him later when I'm back in the hotel because I think he's waiting for it. I sent him a photo with my suit because I don't think he's ever seen me with a suit, Rokas chuckled.
Those types of moments, sharing highs and lows, experiences, tips and motivation, are what helped propel these four young men into standout basketball careers. And their families will all be watching - some in person and some on TV - when they take the floor on Thursday in Belgrade.