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Shane Larkin recently achieved a significant milestone by playing a vital role in helping Turkiye secure a silver medal at EuroBasket 2025. Reflecting back to 2013, he was a highly regarded talent emerging from Miami, ultimately getting selected as the 18th pick in the draft. Unfortunately, he faced a setback when he sustained an ankle injury during a practice session with the Dallas Mavericks.
In a recent interview with HoopsHype, he shared his thoughts, saying, “I would advise my younger self to enjoy the game more.” He elaborated, “After getting drafted, I put immense pressure on myself to succeed, which caused me to lose sight of the joy in playing. Being chosen 18th overall by a winning franchise like Dallas meant that there was a strong emphasis on immediate results. Unfortunately, I broke my ankle just a week post-draft. For the first four or five months of the season, I found myself sidelined, observing the team. I knew an opportunity would eventually arise, and when it did, we were fighting for playoff contention with a near .500 record. Instead of approaching my debut thinking, ‘This is my rookie year; I should just play freely and make mistakes,’ I was preoccupied with avoiding errors, focusing on not messing up.”
He vividly recalled the incident that led to his injury, noting, “I remember every detail. It was during practice in Dallas, prior to our departure for the Summer League. This was the first session Mark Cuban attended since drafting me.”
As he described the moment of his injury, he said, “It was a fast break with a big guy trailing behind me. I was gearing up to make a spectacular dunk, but as I lifted off, I slipped slightly, twisting my foot awkwardly, and felt a sharp crack. I collapsed to the floor, thinking, ‘No way, this can’t be happening.’ I tried to be tough and lay there for a moment, despite the pain. I managed to get up slowly and walked off gingerly, but after treating my ankle, it became evident that I would not be traveling to Vegas later that day. Casey, the athletic trainer, confirmed my fears: ‘Yeah, you’re probably not heading to Vegas, bro.’”
Larkin elaborated further on his journey to the NBA and his subsequent international career choices. “I was fortunate to achieve my dream of being drafted at 20, only to break my ankle shortly afterward. From there, I explored various options, weighing the choice between accepting a non-guaranteed NBA deal and fighting for my place or heading overseas to gain substantial playing time. Thankfully, I kept an open mind, opting against the non-guaranteed route, which often feels like waiting for someone else’s misfortune. I wanted my chances to arise through my own merit, not others’ injuries.”
He also expressed the unique experiences of becoming a prominent figure in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. “It’s something you have to live to truly grasp,” he explained. “Although I’m not trying to equate myself with NBA superstars, the way fans treated Kyrie Irving in Cleveland is similar to how Kendrick Nunn is regarded in Athens or how I’m viewed in Istanbul. Elite players have lifestyles in these cities that one can only truly appreciate after experiencing it firsthand.”
In 2021 and 2022, Larkin celebrated EuroLeague championships with Efes and earned a spot on the All-25 EuroLeague Team. With 247 appearances in Europe’s leading club competition under his belt, he also has 267 games in the NBA, representing teams like the Mavs, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and Boston Celtics.
