Trent Forrest has officially joined Fenerbahce and now aims to become the new floor general of the Turkish powerhouse.
The agreement between the 28-year-old guard and the Turkish champions had been rumored for quite some time before it finally became official a few days ago. Fenerbahce handed him a three-year deal (2+1, to be precise), making it clear that the club sees him as a key piece for both the present and the future.
As a result, Sarunas Jasikevicius has assembled one of the deepest backcourts in Europe, featuring Wade Baldwin, Shane Larkin, Trent Forrest and the powerful Talen Horton-Tucker.
This time, SKWEEK takes a closer look at Fenerbahce’s new point guard, who decided to move to Istanbul after spending two seasons with Baskonia in the EuroLeague. Across 61 appearances, he averaged 10.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. But what exactly made Jasikevicius choose him?
First of all, the former NBA guard proved in Vitoria that he is a pass-first playmaker capable of ranking among Europe’s elite creators. Forrest operates as a true floor general, controls the tempo and fits perfectly into Jasikevicius’ basketball philosophy, which is built around discipline, execution and a controlled pace.
At the same time, he is extremely aggressive attacking the rim. He welcomes contact, finishes through defenders and constantly puts pressure on opposing defenses. Defensively, he is equally reliable, applying pressure on the ball and making life difficult for opposing guards. Forrest is a player who consistently makes smart decisions on both ends of the floor, while also contributing on the glass, averaging nearly three rebounds per game in the EuroLeague.
Special mention must be made of his unforgettable performance in the Spanish King’s Cup Final a few months ago. Paolo Galbiati’s Baskonia defeated Real Madrid, with the former Florida State standout proving he can deliver when the stakes are at their highest. Forrest finished the championship game with 22 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds for a 38 PIR, leading Baskonia to a historic victory and becoming the hero of both the club and the city for one memorable night.
Of course, the 28-year-old is not yet the most complete point guard in the EuroLeague. His biggest weakness remains his perimeter shooting. During his two seasons with Baskonia, he shot 30.4% from three-point range in EuroLeague play, making 35 of his 115 attempts.
Even so, the rest of his skill set—elite playmaking, high-level perimeter defense and relentless rim pressure—makes him an extremely valuable weapon in Jasikevicius’ system. Even more so considering those qualities will complement the talent and scoring ability of Baldwin, Larkin and Horton-Tucker in what promises to be one of the most dangerous backcourts in European basketball.