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Shane Larkin recently achieved a significant milestone by assisting Turkiye in securing a silver medal at EuroBasket 2025. Looking back to 2013, he was an emerging talent from Miami, chosen as the 18th pick in that year’s draft, but faced a setback with an ankle injury during practice with the Dallas Mavericks.
In a recent conversation with HoopsHype, he reflected on his journey, advising his younger self by saying, “I would tell myself to enjoy the game more. When I was drafted, I placed immense pressure on myself to succeed, which caused me to lose some of the joy I found in playing. Being selected by Dallas, a franchise focused on immediate success, added to the stress. I suffered an ankle injury just a week post-draft and spent the first several months of the season as a spectator. I was aware that my chance would come, but when it did, we were fighting to stay close to .500 and secure a playoff spot. Instead of embracing my rookie year with enthusiasm—playing aggressively and making mistakes as I always had—I was overly concerned about not making errors on the court.”
He recalled the specifics of that painful moment, stating, “I can vividly remember that play. It was the day we were flying to the Summer League, and we had a morning practice. This was also the first time Mark Cuban came to observe, having just used a first-round draft pick on me.
“I was on a fast break, heading toward the basket, and I thought I was about to make an incredible play. As I went up to dunk, my foot slipped and turned awkwardly, resulting in a break. I heard a loud crack and just fell to the ground, unable to get up. It was surreal, and while I tried to be tough, there was some pain. I managed to stand and gingerly walked off the court, but once I went through the game-ready treatment, it became clear that my injury was serious. Casey, the athletic trainer at the time, confirmed that I wouldn’t be making the trip to Vegas later that day.”
The Cincinnati native elaborated further on his path to the NBA and his eventual decision to explore opportunities abroad. “I reached my lifelong dream of being drafted at only 20, but the injury came a week later. I explored my options and faced the choice of either taking a non-guaranteed NBA deal while fighting for a spot or heading overseas to gain more playing time. Fortunately, I maintained an open mindset and opted out of the third-string point guard position, which felt wrong to me. I believe opportunities should come from your performance, not from waiting for someone else’s injury.”
Larkin also discussed his rise to prominence in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, noting, “To truly grasp it, you have to experience it firsthand. I wouldn’t compare myself to any top NBA player, but I relate to what Kyrie Irving experienced in Cleveland and what Kendrick Nunn feels in Athens, as well as my own situation in Istanbul alongside players like Mike James in Monaco. These star athletes have a distinct lifestyle in their respective cities, which is best understood when experienced directly.”
In 2021 and 2022, Larkin clinched EuroLeague titles with Efes and earned recognition as a member of the All-25 EuroLeague Team. With 247 appearances in the top-tier European competition and 267 games played in the NBA with the Mavericks, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and Boston Celtics, he has established a robust career.
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