Jordan Loyd never imagined that one of the most meaningful chapters of his basketball life would begin with a passport he had never expected to hold.
For years, the American guard had built his career through a series of unlikely steps: Division II basketball, the G League, a family-funded gamble to pursue the NBA, a championship season with the Toronto Raptors and, eventually, a long journey through some of European basketball’s most demanding environments.
Poland was never part of the original plan.
Yet, after receiving Polish citizenship and joining the national team ahead of EuroBasket 2025, Loyd found something different. Poland entered the tournament with him alongside captain Mateusz Ponitka and eventually turned the experience into one of the defining stretches of his career.
Sitting down for this interview in Athens, where Poland is preparing for its next international challenge (a friendly game against hosts Greece), Loyd struggled to reduce that experience to basketball terminology.
“It’s tough because in Europe, you feel like no matter what club you’re on, each year, each possession, each game is a big deal,” he said.
“But playing with these guys for this country, it gave a better sense of purpose, man. It’s like you’re not just playing for one club, you’re playing for a whole entire nation. Especially for me, coming in was a bit different, obviously.
But the people embraced me. Obviously, there was a lot of speculation and X, Y, and Z. But everyone embraced me. They showed a lot of love. And it just allowed me to be myself and play free. Honestly, I don’t know how to really put into words what it meant for me. But for me and my family to experience that was pretty special. I’ve never experienced something like that.”
“I’m not the first, I won’t be the last”
The “speculation” Loyd mentions was hardly difficult to identify. His arrival reopened the familiar European basketball debate over naturalized players and what connection, if any, should be required before someone represents a country internationally.
Loyd knew the discussion was coming.
“You know, naturalizing players. I’m not the first, I won’t be the last. The whole thing. I expected some of that and that’s okay. But there was way more love than hate. And for me, it never bothers me. But coming into something new like this, I wanted to leave a positive mark.”
What he didn’t anticipate was everything that came with the experience away from the court.
“I mean, it was something I never really imagined. So I didn’t put too much thought into what it would mean. But the amount of people that have reached out to me from this country, the people I’ve met, the relationships I’ve built, I think past basketball, that’s something that’s going to be with me forever. I cherish things like that. I cherish connections. I cherish relationships.
So I think just in that sense, having new brothers, new people alongside my family is pretty cool.”
Did he ever feel compelled to prove that he was representing Poland for something more meaningful than a single tournament?
“I never looked at it like that,” he replies.
“I think people can tell by the way I play that I’m not here for just myself. I die on the court, no matter what jersey I have on. But especially when you’re representing a country, you want to give 100%.
But I’ve been like that my whole life. I’ve always found ways for people to appreciate the way I play. I don’t have to say much. It’s just the way I play, I think, gives off the right message.”
His answer to the broader philosophical question of what gives a naturalized player legitimacy was equally straightforward.
“The rules, I guess. Obviously, people want to see the people that grew up there, that were born there. I understand that. But again, I wasn’t the first, I won’t be the last. And I think as long as you come with the right mindset, you come with the right attitude, you embrace the culture, you embrace the people, I think you’ll be accepted — and obviously giving your 1,000% on the court.”
Poland now enters the second round of the 2027 World Cup European Qualifiers at a perfect 6-0, one of only two unbeaten European teams alongside Turkiye. The Poles lead Group K ahead of Croatia and Germany and begin the next window against Israel on August 27 before hosting reigning world and European champions Germany in Gdansk on August 30. The top three teams will qualify for Qatar 2027.
For Loyd, what began as an unexpected international detour has therefore become another genuine mission.
Back to Efes: “There was a lot of unfinished business”
His club situation provides a similar theme: another opportunity to finish something that didn’t feel complete.
Loyd has extended with Anadolu Efes after a difficult first season in Istanbul, choosing continuity at a moment when the club itself is undergoing sweeping change.
Why stay? “It was a lot of unfinished business there,” he explains.
“For me personally, I feel like it was a very tough season, for the team, for the club, for everybody there. Probably one of the hardest for me in my career just because we weren’t winning. But at the same time, there’s always a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel, man. I mean, my family loves it there. I love it there, the people there, the staff. And I just feel like it was a place that I can grow more than I did last year.
There’s a lot of learning, a lot of adjusting, but I think going back a second year, being comfortable, same coach, a lot of guys that I’ve played with in the past, I think it’s going to be a much better season for sure.”
The Efes he returns to, however, will look very different.
Mike James, Dario Saric, Matthew Strazel, Daron Russell, Colin Malcolm, Bruno Fernando and Santi Yusta are among the new faces, while Shane Larkin’s departure for Fenerbahce marks the end of one of the most consequential individual eras in modern Efes history.
Loyd likes the construction of the new group.
“I think we have pieces at every position that are really, really talented. I think we have experience. I think we have guys that can come in right away and make an impact.
“I think we’re going to have clear-cut roles and identity, which is going to help with a team like this. I think everybody playing their part, their role, knowing what they need to do every night is going to help to win. We’ve got Colin Malcolm. We’ve got a lot of guys that are going to be able to come in, play hard. Santi. We’ve just got a lot of pieces that I think are going to gel nicely.”
Life after Shane Larkin
Larkin’s departure is different.
For years, Efes and Larkin became almost impossible to separate. Replacing his scoring is one challenge. Replacing his presence is another.
“Obviously, a star like Shane, a big-time player, big-time awesome character, a guy like that leaving your club is always tough,” Loyd acknowledged.
“Shane did what he needed to do, and we all understand it. I’m happy for him as a brother, as a friend. Obviously, there’s going to be room for people to step up. Bringing in Mike, obviously, is going to help. Matthew, myself, PJ staying as well. Russell. We have a lot of guys that can score the ball, and Shane brought a lot of that.
Basically, I think the next thing is just finding leadership. I want to step into that role, being a big-time leader this year, helping be a model, whatever I need to do to lead the team. Also, after having a year there, I understand how it goes with coach [Pablo] Laso and everything. I think filling in, obviously, the scoring, the leadership, that’s going to be a big piece.”
That desire to lead also comes after one of the more taxing seasons of his career.
“It was hard. It was funny. [Donatas] Motiejunas used to tell me, after EuroBasket, around December, ‘Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re going to struggle. Your body’s not used to playing in the summer.’
I don’t like to give too many excuses. I was like, ‘I’ll be okay.’ It was a rollercoaster, health-wise, fatigue, and then finding that second wind was good for me. Personally, it was kind of a tough start, but I think finishing the season the way I did and the way we did, no matter the record, was pretty good.”
A EuroLeague where “everybody’s going everywhere”
If Efes has changed dramatically, it is hardly alone.
The 2026 offseason has brought another wave of player movement, deep rosters and major investment throughout European basketball.
Was there one move that made Loyd stop and take notice?
“Not particularly. You see a lot of the top teams are signing. Everybody’s going everywhere, basically. That’s kind of how I felt. Teams are loading up, 16, 17 guys. I don’t think I have one particular that stands out.
I’ll say this: I have a friend, one of my family friends, Anthony Brown, who’s with Besiktas. He re-signed with them this year. He’s always wanted to play EuroLeague, so I’m really happy for him. On a personal level, I’ll go there.”
And when asked to identify a favorite for the next EuroLeague title?
“No, never. In this league, at this point, I don’t know anymore. I think, obviously, Olympiacos winning last year, they have a great team and they’re still building a crazy team. Here in Pana, Dubai, Madrid. I mean, the list goes on. Ourselves, I feel like we’ll be contenders. But the way the league is, how many players on each team, I don’t think there’s a clear favorite.”
The movement is no longer restricted to EuroLeague clubs either.
“I think now, whether it be EuroCup, Champions League, whatever league, there’s talent everywhere, man. I think it’s great for European basketball. Any given summer, you can have one player that goes somewhere and you never know. I love seeing all the different signings and guys get into it.”
The Greek opportunities that never became concrete
Athens has been a recurring stop in Loyd’s European journey, and OAKA an arena he knows extremely well.
“It’s always a fun time. I’ve been coming over here for the last almost 10 years now. It’s always a fun arena to play in. A lot of great games, a lot of tough games. Passionate fans, the whole thing. I love being in this city and in this arena.”
Two memories immediately come to mind.
“You know what? Yes, I have a couple actually. In Monaco, I had a shot right here to kind of win the game, ice the game. That was big.
My first year in EuroLeague in Valencia, I had a really great game here. We lost though, so it’s not that great of a game. But personally, it was one of my best games. I love being here.”
Despite the recurring speculation through the years, however, Panathinaikos never became a genuinely advanced possibility.
“No, not particularly. I never had too many talks with Pana, honestly. Always a little bit of interest, but never anything concrete, never anything sure. With me and my career, it’s always been at a time where it was COVID, stuff was going on, you had to find the right home. But there never really was too much seriousness, honestly.”
And Olympiacos?
“Same, interest. A lot of interest, but never anything that I thought would resort to anything. But my agent, Andy Bountogiannis, is Greek, so you never know. I’ve been happy where I’m at.”
Monaco, Spanoulis and wanting “a little more”
Then there is Monaco. Loyd’s second stint in the Principality (2024-25) was unusual from the outset. He had left, spent several months with Maccabi and then returned to a team whose season and hierarchy were already taking shape.
“It was different. After leaving, going to Maccabi for a few months, and then coming back is always hard. A team has certain preparations, a team has certain ideas, and then you come back, it makes it a little bit difficult to adjust. But I had played with those guys for two years, and I just wanted to try to find my way.
We were one game away from winning the EuroLeague title, regardless of all the things going on. I feel like I could have done a lot more in my time, in my last year there.
But at the end of the day, my whole entire three years in Monaco (2022-25), the management, the team, they’ve been so good to me and my family. I’ve got nothing but love for them.”
His relationship with Vassilis Spanoulis?
“Oh, it was good. He’s played the game at the highest level, he’s one of the best to play. A lot of tough love, a lot of holding you accountable, and that’s something, as a player, you love.
You want a coach that challenges you, pushes you, so it was fun playing for him. He has the swagger about him that we all like, and it’ll be fun to see him here, I guess.”
Still, Loyd does not pretend that everything about the role was ideal.
“As a player, you always feel like you can do more, you always feel like you want a bigger role. But again, when you try to just fit back in after leaving and coming back, it’s hard for him as well to try to adjust to all the guards we had. I feel like if your minutes are up and down and things like that, you always want more stability.
But at the end of the day, we got to the EuroLeague Final. So what can you say?”
The bet that led to an NBA championship
Long before Poland, Monaco or Efes, there was another decision that could have sent Loyd’s career in an entirely different direction.
In 2018, his family paid approximately $240,000 to facilitate his exit from Darussafaka and allow him to pursue a two-way opportunity with Toronto.
What does that sacrifice mean to him now?
“It literally means everything because that’s something I never asked for, something I never expected. I grew up in a family where you had to work for everything you have. For them to do something like that just so I can have an experience is special.
God works in wonderful ways. I went on to be a part of the first NBA [championship], something I probably never got a chance to do. So, forever grateful and blessed that that’s something that happened.”
It also added another layer to his motivation.
“I think I played some of my best basketball that year because you kind of feel like that’s what you did. It’s something that’s truly special. The motivation was key but it’s always been there for my dad. He used to coach me.”
There will always be the inevitable “what if?” What if Toronto had subsequently given him a full NBA contract?
“Of course, you think what could have been, but at the same time I’ve been blessed to have such a great career in Europe. I don’t know what would have happened, but the way it has happened, I’m super blessed and grateful, so I wouldn’t change anything.”
“He’s living through me”
At 33, Loyd has already lived several basketball lives. There is still an obvious sporting ambition: reaching the summit of the EuroLeague.
But when asked what continues to drive him after everything he has already experienced, his answer eventually moved away from trophies altogether.
“Obviously winning a title is huge for me. I would love to be on that top of European basketball.
And on a personal note, I had a friend that passed away over 10 years ago, and it was always his dream to play professional basketball. So he’s living through me. His name is Dai-Jon Parker, and he keeps me going all the time.
So no matter what the situation is, I’m always glass half full. I’m always looking to honor him.”
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. 🙏🏾
R.I.P Daijon Parker pic.twitter.com/SZ2MpCo0si— Jordan Loyd (@mrjloyd) April 14, 2016
Parker wasn’t simply a former teammate. He and Loyd were lifelong friends, state champions together at Milton High School and later college teammates at the University of Indianapolis. Parker died in an accident in 2015.
Poland gave Loyd a new country and a new sense of purpose. Efes has given him unfinished business. The EuroLeague still offers the championship he wants.
Beneath all of those ambitions lies the promise that has survived every team, every country and every turn in an improbable career. More than a decade later, Dai-Jon Parker’s dream remains embedded in Loyd’s career.
One of them made it to professional basketball. But in Loyd’s mind, both of them are still living it.