Braxton Key: 'Fenerbahçe Fans Are Incredible, I Love Istanbul'

Braxton Key, Fenerbahçe Beko's new transfer, shared his impressions about both his career and his new team in an interview with Fenerbahçe TV. The American basketball player stated that he was impressed by the club's multi-branch structure, saying, "I noticed that volleyball is also very popular here; so I want to go to a few volleyball matches. I also saw that the football team qualified for the Champions League, which is really great. I definitely need to go to football matches too." Key recalled that the basketball team has reached the Final Four consecutively in recent years and said, "I hope we can go one step further this season and win the championship." Evaluating the transfer process, Key recalled that he played for Valencia in Spain last season and said, "Just before the championship series against Barcelona, my agent told me that Fenerbahçe was interested in me. I said I wanted to focus on winning the championship first. I signed with Fenerbahçe one day after my season in Valencia ended." Describing his family background and the influence of his uncle Ralph Sampson on his career, Key said, "My uncle Ralph Sampson was also incredibly successful in basketball; he was selected first overall in the NBA Draft. Having such an uncle made it very natural for us to pick up a ball and play basketball at family gatherings or any time we got together." Emphasizing that Sampson's most important advice was to "give 100% every day," Key said, "Some days your shots fall, some days they don't; but your attitude, your effort, and your energy need to be at the same level every day." Speaking about his role after moving from Alabama to Virginia, Key said, "I thought the best way to make an impact on the court was to play defense, rebound, and do the things that others didn't want to do." Key, who was named 'Defensive Player of the Year' in the NBA G League in the 2026-25 season, stated that his biggest change was in his confidence. He said, "I was letting the game come to me instead of forcing it. I wasn't focused on scoring or getting promoted to the NBA. I was just trying to give my best every day by giving 100%." Discussing his choice between the G League and Europe, Key said, "I wanted to play games that really mattered. I didn't want to constantly focus on the thought, 'I need to get to the NBA,' because that's almost everyone's main goal in the G League. I wanted to play in front of passionate fans in games where the outcome really mattered." Admitting that he initially had difficulty adapting to European basketball, Key said, "At the beginning of the season, I often clashed with Pedro. But as the season progressed, I began to understand what European coaches expect from their players. In Europe, you have to give very high effort in both practices and games." Expressing his satisfaction with working under head coach Saras Jasikevicius, Key said, "I've enjoyed it so far; everything is going well. He hasn't yelled at me yet, so if you ask me this question again in a week or two, maybe my thoughts will change! Joking aside, I really enjoy working with him." Highlighting Jasikevicius's attention to detail, Key said, "He doesn't just focus on the made shot; he sees the screen that creates space for that shot or the pass that sets up the position. Sometimes he even pays attention to the third pass that leads to the shot." Commenting on the differences between Fenerbahçe and Valencia's playing systems, Key said, "Saras wants me to be fast on offense and defense, make quick decisions, and bring the same high energy every day. But I think there's much more freedom here in terms of decision-making and ball movement." Comparing the positionless basketball approach to Golden State's successful era, Key said, "I think this system will create many new possibilities and allow players to showcase their offensive talents more." Listing his strongest on-court qualities, Key said, "Playing defense and being able to guard players from one to five. I'm effective against both the ball handler and off the ball, and I can provide help defense when needed." Emphasizing the importance of the preparation period for team chemistry, Key said, "We have serious tests ahead. We'll also compete in the Super Cup with EuroLeague teams. I think we'll play Olympiakos first. We'll have the chance to see where we stand against a team that just won the EuroLeague." Commenting on the magnitude of the Fenerbahçe brand, Key said, "This summer, while training in New York, I was telling people I was transferring to Fenerbahçe. They would respond, 'Yes, we know that team in Istanbul.'" Expressing his satisfaction with the fans' reception, Key said, "The fans have given me great support and made me feel welcomed and at home. I love Istanbul and every minute I spend here. As you can see, I've also grown quite fond of Turkish tea." Sharing his thoughts on Istanbul, Key said, "Istanbul is really beautiful. I was surprised by how modern the buildings are; honestly, I didn't expect that. The city is also quite clean and very different from New York, where I lived." Stating that he loves Kadıköy, Key said, "I also liked everywhere around the Bosphorus. On my first day off, I took a boat with my family and went to the Princes' Islands. It was really beautiful." Stating that he is interested in finance outside of his basketball career, Key said, "How money works, how it's transferred from one point to another, and how you can make more money with money—I find all of that very interesting." Announcing his goals for the new season, Key said, "We want to win every cup we can and every possible game. My personal goal is to do everything I can to help the team win. I would love to be named Defensive Player of the Year in both the EuroLeague and the Turkish League." Finally, addressing the fans, Key said, "Be with us throughout this season. It's going to be a great year, and we're all very excited. Of course, we are a newly formed team, but we are working very hard."