Jasikevicius jokes about his team’s EuroLeague blocks record

“If you defend, you don’t need to block shots,” Jasikevicius said with a touch of irony about his team’s EuroLeague blocks record. The mark — 14 blocks in a game — also amounted to criticism of his side’s defence, in the coach’s view.

Fenerbahçe beat Partizan Belgrade 74-65 for its fifth win in six games. The Turkish team set the competition’s new blocks record during that game.

Asked about it after the match, Jasikevicius focused on the other side of the achievement: “Can you imagine how badly we’re defending to have to block shots constantly? If you defend well, you don’t need to block shots.” He also acknowledged the fun in reaching the mark: “But a record is always fun, and we’ll celebrate it for sure.”

Marcus Bingham Jr. had five blocks. Nicolo Melli, Braxton Key and Will Clyburn added two apiece, while Talen Horton-Tucker, Johnny Juzang and Shavon Shields also contributed to Fenerbahçe’s total. The record captured the paradox Jasikevicius pointed to: a striking defensive achievement that he also described as a sign of work still to be done.