Shane Larkin and Will Clyburn reportedly refused to travel by bus from Izmir after a loss against Karsiyaka when the team missed the flight back to Istanbul.

Credit: Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images
Credit Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Several days after getting eliminated from playoff contention in the EuroLeague, the Anadolu Efes Istanbul team is starting to disintegrate.

Points this season

49%
82,9
Points made: 82,9
Accuracy: 49,4%
Place in standings: 8
Record max: 111
Record min: 64
Best scorer: Will Clyburn

Efes lost against Pinar Karsiyaka in the Turkish Basketball League (BSL) on Sunday. After the game, a conflict arose between two of the players and the organization.

According to Sports Digitale, the team missed the flight back to Istanbul due to the game lasting longer than expected. The organization reportedly offered to bring the players back to their home city by bus.

However, not everyone agreed. The outlet notes that Shane Larkin and Will Clyburn refused to board the bus. The remaining players as well as the coaching staff left without them.

The tensions within the team started boiling long before the incident in Izmir. After a game against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in the middle of March, Larkin took to Twitter to lash out against head coach Ergin Ataman for not playing enough.

At the end of the Round 33 game versus Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, Ataman left the court with more than half a minute remaining. With just a second left on the clock, Clyburn charged toward the opponent's bench after assistant coach Stefanos Dedas reportedly angered the player.

Efes have become the first team in modern EuroLeague history to not make the playoffs after winning the title the year before. Coach Ataman's contract ends after the season, and he has admitted that he's already received an offer from Panathinaikos Athens.

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Will Clyburn

Will  Clyburn
Team: Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Position: SF
Age: 32
Height: 201 cm
Weight: 95 kg
Birth place: United States of America