Shen Jing responded to eliminating Giannis: He is highly talented but not an elite passer; we simply applied pressure on him.

On September 13th, Turkey's men's basketball team secured a 94-68 victory over Greece, advancing to the EuroBasket final. Post-match, Shen Jing shared insights on Coach Ataman's encouragement and how the team collectively contained Greece’s star Giannis.

Speaking about the semifinal preparation and performance, Shen Jing stated: "We go all out when we step on the court. Our team has many gifted players; everyone can score and defend. We play with heart, care for each other, and fight for one another. We also have an excellent coach who instills confidence before the game."

He also revealed what 59-year-old Ataman said to the players before the game: "He said, 'We are the better team, and I know that very well.' He also said, 'I've been coaching for 30 years; what I say is always the truth.' It was he who gave us confidence."

Initially, Shen Jing struggled with shooting, going 0-for-8, but ultimately led the team to victory with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds, along with 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

When asked about necessary adjustments, Shen Jing said: "There’s no need for me to lead the game every night; tonight was my teammates’ moment to shine. I just stayed aggressive and kept playing, knowing the ball would come to me, so I couldn't slack off. I focused on playing solid defense and making the easy shots on offense."

Defensively, Turkey worked as a unit to hold Giannis to a manageable 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Shen Jing said: "Greece actually played well; we made it happen by taking initiative. They are a great team and have been performing excellently. We just went all out, played more aggressively, and worked harder than them tonight. We made the shots we needed, so we performed better."

When asked how they contained Giannis, Shen Jing replied: "We simply pressured him. He is one of the best players in the world; we just tried to help each other on defense, and I think we did well. He’s a very talented player, but not a top-level passer, so we focused on helping defense to block the inside."