When Ethan Burg wrapped up his commitments in Israel, he learned quickly what basketball under Rick Barnes was like. During his first practice, Burg drifted a couple of inches off the spot that Barnes wanted him in — and he heard about it immediately.
“He just started yelling, like crazy yelling,” Burg told The Daily Beacon. “I was like, ‘Whoa, whoa. That’s my first practice, man. Just take it easy on me.’”
French guard Clarence Massamba had a shared experience when he arrived for his first practice.
“He just started yelling at me a lot,” Massamba said. “That’s his way to coach. He’s just going to yell and let you know what you have to do better. That’s what he did.”
And that’s the challenge that comes with playing under Barnes, who has a knack for international talent. Barnes arrived as Tennessee basketball coach in 2015 and immediately located the international talent pool, reeling in Kyle Alexander from Ontario, Canada.
Ever since, Barnes’ roster has had the touch of at least one foreign-born player, with a reach that’s stretched to France, Uruguay, Serbia, Finland and Croatia.
Burg and Clarence Massamba fit the mold this season. Both had delayed arrivals to Knoxville as they competed on the professional cycle overseas, but each will have the chance to earn a large-capacity role for a roster with much turnover.
“Both of those dudes are like very, very coachable,” assistant coach Amorrow Morgan said. “They ask tons of questions. They’re very hungry to have success here.”
First Israeli to play for Tennessee
Though Barnes’ international ties have been prevalent, they have never before dipped into the Israeli region. When Burg logs his first official minute, he’ll check off that marker.
Burg hails from Mishmar HaShiv’a, Israel, where he has spent the last two seasons playing professional basketball in the Israeli Basketball Super League. He arrives in Knoxville with three years of eligibility and a completely new culture to adapt to.
“When you’re playing pro for five years, it becomes a job,” Burg said. “…That’s people’s food, people really fighting for minutes, fighting for food on the table … So coming in here, it’s a different kind of feeling. You have this camaraderie.
“Everybody’s having fun together on the court, off the court — we compete every day. We really compete every day. I’m just grateful. I’m just grateful to be here, man. Really, really grateful.”
In those years of professional basketball, Burg played on the highest stage. He had the opportunity to represent Israel in the 2022 FIBA U20 European Championship as well as the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket 2025 — which was the reason for his delayed arrival.
His accolades overseas racked up, earning ISBL All-Star honors to pair with ISBL Player of the Month in November 2024. In his two seasons playing for the Israeli second division National League, Burg took home Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2021-22, followed by MVP honors in 2022-23 as he averaged 18.5 points per game.
In his final two seasons in Israel’s top division, Burg averaged 11 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists over 54 games. He shot 42.9 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from three.
The 6-foot-3, 189-pound guard’s experiences overseas included the chance to play against NBA superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luke Doncic, among others, while playing on the EuroBasket circuit.
“Iron sharpens iron at the end of the day,” Burg said. “And I feel like I have a good understanding of the game. … I have a role on this team, and it’s to lead.”
As he became a large contributor to a professional team that finished fourth in a competitive league, Burg realized the stats were not of utmost importance. He found his place in contributing to wins.
And that’s a skill he has come to realize as he’s matured with the game. At the age of 23, Burg is beyond the years of his teammates — and most of his collegiate counterparts. That’s why he understands his role.
“I’m not really trying to come in here and prove that this is my team, I’m the guy,” Burg said. “So I’m just trying to give a little bit from myself to the younger guys so they can learn. I know some of them got their own plans — if it’s getting to the NBA or having a career overseas, I’m just trying to help, also get better, and enjoy the journey.”
Though Burg and Barnes have a technical language barrier, with the differences of foreign basketball, it’s the patient approach that has made the adjustment ‘confident and comfortable.’
“He’s mature. He’s not afraid to speak up, and he’s going to compete,” Barnes said. “But we haven’t waited on him. We told him, we’re not waiting.”
Bonjour, Massamba
The French region is one Barnes has familiarity with, and Yves Pons’ success with the Vols gives reason for bringing aboard Massamba to round out the roster.
Massamba’s journey was more traditional to the American lifestyle, as he spent his sophomore and junior campaigns playing in Florida. He spent the 2024-25 season notching 21 starts for AS Monaco Basket’s U21 team in the LNB Espoirs league, averaging nearly 12 points and three rebounds per contest.
He also earned a run with AS Monaco Basket’s senior team in the LNB Élite league, appearing in three games in October 2024. That qualifies him as another player on the team with professional experience.
It is still an adjustment, regardless.
“It’s been a lot of intensity all at once,” Massamba said. “So, in the first weeks I’d say, it was really hard, and I got some, like, little pain that came in — I think it’s because of the high intensity we have in here. But after a while, I think I feel pretty well and tested.”
The transition to American basketball comes with slowing down the game to learn it, but speeding up the processes. Speed is what Massamba says is the biggest difference in the States.
But the 6-foot-5, 192-pound guard is stepping into a team that has a void to fill. With Chaz Lanier off to the NBA, the Vols need a two-guard. Alongside Burg, Massamba has a chance to claim a starting role with Tennessee this season.
It begins with closing the communication gap with Barnes and the other assistant coaches, but continues with taking the coaching he is given. Massamba understands what he signed up for, and that Barnes’ words are meant for encouragement.
“I kind of like that in the way that I know I’m growing,” Massamba said. “If it was just yelling and telling me some stuff that I knew were not true, it would have been something different. But I know he’s doing all that to make me grow and make me a better player. So I’ll definitely take it in.”
His length is an asset. And it helps him on the defensive side of the ball, where Barnes takes the most pride. If he can accelerate the learning curve fast enough, he can contribute to a team that can reach its best finish in program history.
“If last year and the year before it was back-to-back Elite Eight’s, I think the goal is definitely to go higher than that,” Massamba said. “I think we have a chance to win the championship this year.”
