Former North Carolina insider pillar: I planned to join the Hornets this summer, but Fenerbahce contacted me

Former North Carolina insider Armando Bacot was close to signing with the Charlotte Hornets at the beginning of this summer, but eventually he changed his mind and joined the Turkish League powerhouse Fenerbahce. In an interview with European basketball media Eurohoops reporter Bugra Uzar, Bacott also talked about the reason why he moved to the European arena instead of trying to compete for a contract in the NBA.

Bacott said: Earlier this summer, I received invitations from many Champions League teams, but not including Fenerbahce. I planned to sign with the Hornets at that time. But at this time, Fenerbahce contacted me, and I communicated with head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius, and I also communicated with some players and staff. I like what they said, joining Fenerbahce became a matter of course.

Bakot also said he was excited to be able to play for Jascovicius, because under his leadership, Fenerbahce just won the Champions League title last season. Bacott compared Fenerbahce to the University of North Carolina and continued: It's great to have so many fans and such a brand effect, and it's exciting to play in such an environment. It’s obvious that the fans are full of passion, the players, the coaches, the entire community and everyone here are full of passion, being part of it and being part of it also makes me feel that passion. I was also honored to play in such a great team in college, and I was honored to have some great performances for this team, and I am grateful for it. Here, they treat you as an NBA player. If everything goes well, I really wish I could play here all the time.

Bakot was born in March 2000. He is 25 years old, 208cm tall, weighs 111kg and has an arm span of 216cm. He was the undraft in the NBA draft last year. Bacott did not receive a contract from an NBA team last season, and he played for Memphis, a subordinate team of the Memphis Grizzlies. In the NBA Development League last season, Bacott made a total of 50 appearances, averaging 31.1 minutes per game, averaging 16.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks, and 2.5 turnovers and 3.1 fouls. He shot 46.5%, three-point shooting percentage 33.3%, and free throw shooting percentage 74.2%. In the previous NBA summer league, Bacott played 6 games for the Grizzlies, averaging 17.5 minutes per game, with an average of 8.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 turnovers and 3.8 fouls. He shot 54.3%, 0% of three-point shooting percentage and 85.7% of free throw shooting percentage. I don’t know what kind of performance Bacott can perform in the European arena in the new season.