Ermal Kuqo Thinking Big

2006-02-05T16:30:00.000-08:00

The following is extract from Fan's mail on Euroleague official website.

If dedication and confidence makes for champions, then this week's Fan Mail guest is unlikely to be denied some big titles soon. Efes Pilsen center Ermal Kuqo is full of conviction about where he is coming from and where he is headed, and one of the first places in his sights is the Final Four in Moscow at the end of this Euroleague season. Kuqo and Efes are currently aiming for first place in Group A knowing full well that the battle is long. Kuqo knows, too, that fans in his home country of Albania will be behind him all the way. "Our chances to make it this year are as good as anybody's, I think, because we are a solid team inside and outside," Kuqo wrote to answer one fan. "If and when we play together, I can't really think of anybody in Europe who can beat us."

Hi, Ermal. What is the main difference in Efes Pilsen's team this year as compared to last year? Thank you and good luck. Nurhan Mikaelian - Istanbul

"In my opinion, it is the point guard position. Although he can really score, Kerem Tunceri wasn't the first option in offense; he was our main defensive stopper, and a pure point guard in my opinion, whereas Will Solomon is a pure scorer, who can light up the scoreboard on any given night. That's the main difference I think, other than that I think we had more players with Euroleague experience last year (Onan, Langdon, Tunceri, Granger) who got replaced by some younger ones who are really talented and hungry for success."

Hi Ermal. I and all the Albanians in Boston are very proud of you. Do you think Euroleague is becoming slowly a rival league for the NBA, maybe something like the NBA-ABA rivalry back in the 1970s? Good luck, Mikel Joni, Boston

"Thank you Mikel for your support, you have no idea how much that means to me. As far as your question is concerned, well, I would really like to see that happening, this way Europe's finest players wouldn't go across the ocean to play, but we would have the pleasure to watch them do their show right here, in our Euroleague arenas. The truth is, the NBA teams make a lot of money from different sources (season tickets, TV rights, commercials, etc.), and with that kind of money they can afford to pay a player unbelievable sums. But, I really believe that the Euroleague is heading in the right direction. The organization is magnificent, and maybe in the near future we might be able to see top college players 'get drafted'' to a Euroleague team instead of an NBA one."

Hi there, Kuqo. I'm your one of the biggest fans in the world. How strong do you think are Efes Pilsen's chance to qualify for the Final Four this year, with an extra quarterfinal round just after the Top 16? Etkin Getir,Turkey

"Concerning the round of 16, I think that's been the best thing that the Euroleague changed in its structure. The playoff at the end of the Top 16 is maybe what we needed last year to qualify for the Final Four! Our chances to make it this year are as good as anybody's, I think, because we are a solid team inside and outside, and if and when we play together I can't really think of anybody in Europe who can beat us."

Hi, Ermal. I am a big basketball fan from Tirana. I just wanted to say that you are a great player and that here in Albania, we are very proud of you. Could you tell me your four or five favorite Euroleague players? Alketa - Tirana

"Thank you Alketa, it's a great feeling for me as an athlete and a blessing as a person that I am able to represent Albania in the international arena. I have many favorite players, and I love my teammates, so I'm going to tell you my ideal five besides my Efes Pilsen teammates. Papaloukas-CSKA; Bazdaric-Olimpija; Bodiroga-Barcelona; Garbajosa-Unicaja; Sabonis-Zalgiris."

Ermal, how do you feel to play for Efes Pilsen after having started at Fenerbahce? Aykut Guloglu - Istanbul

"I feel great; Efes Pilsen is not only a good team but also a great organization that knows what it is doing at all times. Fenerbahce holds a special place in my heart, because that's where I started my professional career and had my first Euroleague experience, but they were not correct towards me so I'm a little bitter towards them. Now they seem to be paying some attention to basketball - it's about time - and I really hope they keep it up like this because Turkish basketball really needs a club like Fenerbahce to be among the elite teams in this sport."

Hi Ermal. I am a great fan of yours and I think that you are the greatest player Albania ever had. Are you happy playing in Europe for Efes Pilsen, and are you going to try the NBA in the future? Good luck in your life and sport. Daniel Demiri, Albania

"Thank you for the consideration Daniel, although I might not agree with you. Saying that I'm the best that Albania has ever had, is like saying Shaquille O'Neal is better than Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell. It is very hard to make a comparison between two players who played in different eras. Let's not forget that Albania has been a politically closed country until late in 1990, and that none of the great players until that time, including my father Robert Kuqo, ever had the chance to play in a foreign club. I am very happy I am playing for Efes Pilsen, and I would only leave Efes to go to the NBA, which has always been my greatest aspiration. The NBA to me is not just a dream anymore; it is a mission. I want to be the first Albanian-born player who goes there, and give a chance to a lot of Albanian youngsters who aspire to become somebody to realize that with hard work and sacrifice, anything is possible."

Hi Ermal. Was it a difficult decision for you to play with the Turkish national team? Do you plan to do so in the future? Ahmet, Turkey

"Definitely difficult, probably the most difficult decision I have had to make in my adult life. Being the son and nephew of two of the best Albanian players of all time, me being the third Kuqo who plays basketball in my family, and being so proud of being Albanian was always taken for granted that I would of course be wearing the Albanian National team jersey. And I was the first one to say that the number 12 jersey in the national team is mine. But the Albanian Government and basketball federation doesn't really care about being represented well by its athletes or artists in the international arena. It's been a common thing lately for Albanian talents, whether it's sports or art, to be representing other countries in international competition. Just to name a few, Pyrros Dimas (Pirro Dhima) Olympic gold medalist in weight lifting for Greece, Mirela Manjani Olympic medalist in javelin for Greece, Donald Suxho Team USA volleyball, and Ermal Kuqo- Turkey Basketball. This doesn't mean that all these people don't love their country, but Albania doesn't offer any perspective or insurance about the future. But I am proud of being a part of this special Turkish National team; I took my first steps as a professional basketball player in Turkey, and Turkish Basketball Federation has done a lot for me, so the least I could do was to accept Bogdan Tanjevic's invitation to play for Turkey, and will continue to do so with pleasure and pride."

Hi, Ermal. Congratulations on the season so far. I just wanted to ask you how do you like playing with Will? Best regards, Keith (Lunch) Coleman, U.S.A.

"I just love it. He is a great player, a great guy off the court, the whole package. He is just a winner, who's won championships since he put his foot in Europe, and I just pray to God he keeps doing that!"

Hi. Since I descend from Albanian parents, I congratulate you for your high performance and excellent representation of Albanian basketball. What are the chances for Efes to reach the Final Four after several unsuccesfull attemps in the past? Good luck, Florent Andoni - Oklahoma City, United States

"Thank you Florent, as you thank me, I have to thank my teammates, as without their support I wouldn't be here right now. As I was saying to Etkin in the previous question, I think we really have a good chance to finally make it where we deserve to be, the Final Four, that is. We are working very hard to accomplish that, and I believe a little luck also wouldn't hurt in order to make it."

Hello, Ermal. Who are your inspirations as a basketball player and a person? Ibrahim, Germany

"It has always been my father. He came from one of the smallest cities in Albania (Pogradec) to Tirana, our capital, and in no time, just with unseen dedication and hard work, became one of the most productive players in the Partizani Tirana club team and also Albanian national team. He wasn't very talented as a player, but he made it among the Albanian basketball elite just with hard work, sacrifice and pure dedication. My situation is just like his, I came from one of the smallest countries in Europe to one of the biggest. And now I'm playing Euroleague basketball, planning to go to the NBA. Just like him, by working hard and by dedicating myself to this wonderful sport, I have the pleasure to play."

Well, to top it off, I just want to thank all the people who sent their questions to me, and apologize to the ones whose questions didn't make it on this page. I want to also thank the people who made this possible, the Euroleague media department and the Euroleague office. Thank you again, and I hope to see you all soon, hopefully with Efes in Moscow at the Final Four! Ermal

Jan 25, 2005
Euroleague.net

Ermal Kuqo Biography

2006-02-05T14:56:00.000-08:00

Ermal Kuqo was born 12 February 1980 in Korça, Albania. Completed Associate degree in Science from Fort Scott Community College, Kansas-USA. Ermal started to play basketball in 1992 in Tirana, in the capital of his homeland Albania. He has played for the cadet and the junior teams in the SK TIRANA and with the cadet team in 1994/95 he won the National Championship.

His career continues:

1992-1995
SK Tirana

1995-1999
Fenerbahce Istanbul, Turkey1st game: 11pts, 8rbs

1999-2000
Fort Scot CC, USA 15ppg, 9rpg,

2000-2001
Seminole State College, Oklahoma, USA13ppg, 12rpg

2001
Blu Summer League in Treviso, Italy

2001
Big Man Camp at La Ghirada, Italy

2001-2002
Croatia Osiguranje Split, Croatia Saporta Cup: 11 games, 6.8ppg, 4.1rpg, 5 astAdriatic League: 19 games, 8.1ppg, 3.3rpg, 9ast

2002-2003
Pivovarna Lasko, SloveniaAdriatic League: 22games: 12.1ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.0apg, 1.2spg; ULEB Cup: 10games: 9,3ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.4apg, 2.0bpg; Slovenian 1A League: 18games: 13.8ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.7apg

2003
Big Man Camp at Treviso, Italy

2003
Southern California Summer Pro League(The Bravos team)

2003-2004
Efes Pilsen Istanbul (TUR-D1) Euroleague: 20games: 8.8ppg, 4.2rpg; Turkish League: 26games: 9.3ppg, 4.7rpg

2004-2005
Efes Pilsen Istanbul (TUR-D1)

He entered the NBA Draft in 2003 but was not selected. He didn't make it but there is discussion he will enter again in 2006. If he is drafted he will be frist Albanian player in the NBA.