Matt Morgan: The Confession

Matt Morgan is the latest signing for ARIS Betsson, and he is anything but reserved when expressing his feelings about his arrival at “Nick Galis Hall” and the new challenge ahead of him.

The American guard speaks to arisbasketball.com and shares his thoughts on the upcoming season and more.

“First of all, I want to thank ARIS Betsson for welcoming me into its family. This is a great opportunity for me. The fans are amazing. They have been sending me so many warm messages to welcome me, and I truly appreciate all this support. I saw the videos of Giannis Antetokounmpo at the arena, as well as Vassilis Spanoulis’ arrival in Thessaloniki and the incredible welcome he received from the fans. It is clear how passionate and dedicated they are. They truly love the team, and I am excited to be part of this atmosphere.

My goal is to help the team win as many games as possible. I know the fans will be by our side throughout the entire season, and that support means everything. I am looking forward to a fun, successful and injury-free year. I can’t wait to see our fans in person, step onto the court and get the season started.”

ARIS Betsson is entering a new era. What are your goals and ambitions?

“The team has high goals. From what I have learned so far about the history and legacy of the club — and from what the fans have told me — I know that ARIS Betsson is a historic club with a winning tradition, and that it competes at the highest level. Of course, I still have a lot to learn, but I am excited to become part of this history.

With the new ownership, the incredible fan base, the players and the coaching staff, our focus is simple: to win as many games as possible. The ultimate goal is to earn a place in the EuroLeague. I strongly believe that we have the talent to achieve that. The team is putting together a very strong roster with players who are hungry to win, and I am really looking forward to being part of it.”

Coach Spanoulis has wanted you on his teams for years. Was this the right moment for you to work together? What did he tell you about the project being built?

“Coach Spanoulis has been part of my journey for quite some time. He wanted us to work together a few years ago, but at that time I decided to sign with the London Lions. So we have known each other for a long time and we are very familiar with one another.

I also had the opportunity to play against him when he was coaching Monaco, and I saw first-hand the impact he had on his players and how he helped them reach another level. I think this is the ideal time for us to finally work together, because we both come from a EuroLeague environment and we share the same goal: to help this team get to where it wants to be. I believe this is the right time, not only for me but also for the coach, to build something special together.

The club is putting together a really strong roster with players who all want to win, and I think everyone would agree with that. Having Coach Spanoulis leading the team is a huge advantage. He is one of the greatest players to have ever played in Europe, and now I will have the opportunity to learn from him every day. I am excited for him to teach me, challenge me and help me keep improving as a player. At the end of the day, that is one of the biggest reasons I wanted to be part of this project.

Everyone on the team shares the same vision and the same goal: to win. We believe we can compete both in the Greek league and in the EuroCup, but we know we have to take the right steps throughout the season. We cannot skip any steps if we want to achieve these goals. For me, this was an excellent decision. I am excited to learn as much as possible, improve every day and help the team succeed.”

You bring EuroLeague quality and experience to ARIS Betsson. What should fans expect from you on the court?

“I have two years of EuroLeague experience with Virtus Bologna and, honestly, they were two great years both for me and for the team. I learned a lot during that time, and I believe those experiences helped me grow as a player.

I think one of the biggest qualities I bring to ARIS Betsson is my shooting ability. I take great pride in being able to make three-pointers, shoot free throws at a high percentage and score efficiently. But above all, I am willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win.

Throughout my career, I have had different roles. With the London Lions, I was asked to do a lot offensively, while at Virtus Bologna I came off the bench, bringing energy, defense and scoring whenever necessary. I think one of my strongest qualities is my ability to adapt to whatever role the team needs.

I am really looking forward to playing with a great group of teammates, all of whom bring different skills and talents. I believe we have the pieces to complement one another and help the team succeed in every possible way. Of course, there are still many things I want to improve. But by working together every day with my teammates and the coaching staff, I believe we can achieve something truly special this season.”

ARIS Betsson fans were excited by your arrival at the team. What message would you like to send them?

“I just want to thank all the fans. Even before everything became official, I received so many messages welcoming me and my family to the city and to the ARIS Betsson organization. That truly means a lot to me, and I really appreciate all the love and support.

I want you to know that we are ready, we are excited and we can’t wait to experience the atmosphere, the passion and the madness of playing for the Emperor. I know it is going to be a lot of fun.

We will work hard every day, compete the right way and do everything we can to win as many games as possible. Let’s get started!”