Kenneth Faried, center of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, spoke candidly with Eurohoops about his personal journey, touching on mental health, faith, his upbringing in New Jersey, and his return to top-level basketball in Europe.
Nicknamed the “Manimal,” Faried embraced the identity with pride.
“The Manimal is me. I’m him. A half-man, half animal,” he said, explaining how the nickname reflects his mindset on the court.
Faried also revisited the challenges of growing up in Newark, New Jersey, particularly in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
“I was scrutinized as a kid for being Muslim, especially after 9/11,” he shared. “A lot of blame was put on our religion. People came at me, attacked me, but it made me tougher.”
After a long NBA career spanning 496 games and several stops overseas, Faried joined Panathinaikos in November, finding renewed purpose.
“Being able to play at this level again has helped me a lot,” he said. “Keeping my faith, staying patient, doing the little things — eventually, the universe rewards you. I feel like that reward is starting to come here.”
Faried also addressed his battle with depression, admitting how difficult it was to feel capable of playing at a high level without getting opportunities.
“Depression is tough. I knew I could play at this level, but not getting the chance makes you question yourself,” he explained. “My faith in God and belief in myself kept me pushing forward.”
Now reintegrated into EuroLeague competition under head coach Ergin Ataman, and playing alongside experienced guard Kostas Sloukas, Faried is making the most of his second chance.
So far this season, he is averaging 7.9 points and 6.3 rebounds across 12 EuroLeague games, including ten starts.
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