Paris was the best team all season and proved it with a no-doubt-about-it 77-64 victory over Bourg in Game 1 and now needs just one more victory to become the BKT EuroCup champion. Freshly-crowned MVP TJ Shorts led the way with 15 points and 4 assists – both game highs. Nadir Hifi scored 13 despite some shooting struggles and Sebastien Herrera contributed 11 points for the winners. EuroCup Rising Star Zaccharie Risacher scored 11 for Bourg, which impressed with a strong fourth quarter. And Jequan Lewis added 10 in defeat.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Paris take Game 1✔️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> I <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParisBasketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/XPLQQFN0vH">pic.twitter.com/XPLQQFN0vH</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1777796012901294552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Game News

Game 2 of the best-of-three series will be on Friday

Game center: Paris beat Bourg 77-64 in EuroCup Finals opener

Paris Basketball v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2024-04-09T18:30:00.000Z)

JL Bourg duo Isiaha Mike and Zaccharie Risacher could not hide their excitement ahead of the EuroCup Finals against Paris Basketball.

Bourg's Zaccharie Risacher, Isiaha Mike are ready to shine in the EuroCup Finals 

The BKT EuroCup Finals are upon us, with an all-French affair seeing Paris Basketball host Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse at Adidas Arena in Game 1 tonight, and the visiting side's forward duo [Isiaha Mike](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/isiaha-mike/011836/) and [Zaccharie Risacher](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zaccharie-risacher/010718/) have not hidden their excitement.

Few expected Bourg to be where it is today, preparing for the EuroCup Finals. But the team playing in its fourth consecutive season in the competition took it one step at the time, plowing through all the obstacles, and will now fight for the EuroCup crown.

"It means everything, it is a big accomplishment for everybody," Risacher tells Javier Gancedo of EuroCupBasketball.net. "It means a lot for all my teammates, all the coaches and the city. It is a great thing for us."

### Risacher's big goal

Risacher, who turned 19 a day before Game 1, is a freshly crowned EuroCup Rising Star award winner. And as much as he is pleased with the honor, he has something even bigger on his mind.

"It is cool, I am glad I won \[the Rising Star award\], but I am not going to lie, I want to win the final, that's all that matters to me right now," Risacher says. "It's the best \[birthday\] gift I could ever wish for."

Watch the rest of the interview below to catch Risacher's comments on preparing for Game 1 against Paris.

The thoughts of Bourg forward Zaccharie Risacher ahead of Game 1 of the EuroCup Finals.

Zaccharie Risacher, Bourg: 'It's the best gift I could ever wish for'

His teammate, Isiaha Mike, has been Bourg's leader in scoring (12.8 ppg.), and has been voted to the All-EuroCup First Team.

"I am honored, honestly," Mike states about the All-EuroCup honor. "This year has been tremendous, we had a really good season so far."

The next step to making the season even better is by beating Paris in the finals.

### The key to beating Paris

"They have a really tight-knit group, their chemistry is at an all-time high," Mike notes about Bourg's finals opponent. "But I feel like if we slow their transition and keep them off the offensive glass, they are going to have trouble."

Mike does not hide his excitement about playing in the final series.

"This is what we live for, this is what we dream for," he says. "A lot of hours in the gym, and now we have a chance to lift the trophy. Hopefully, we can get it done."

Watch the rest of the interview with Isiaha Mike below.

Isiaha Mike has been Bourg's leader in scoring (12.8 ppg.), and has been voted to the All-EuroCup First Team. He spoke with Javier Gancedo ahead of Game 1 of the EuroCup Finals.

Isiaha Mike, Bourg: 'This is what we live for'

The EuroCup Rising Star and Bourg forward caught up with Javier Gancedo ahead of Game 1.


The day after letting coach Carles Duran go, Joventut Badalona announced Dani Miret as its new head coach until the end of the 2025-26 season.

Dani Miret is new Joventut boss until 2026

A Badalona native, the 39-year-old Miret came to age in the renowned youth system of Joventut, where he has been coaching since 2007, including at least one season in all categories. He won many titles and accolades in the youth categories of Spanish basketball. Miret was also Duran's assistant coach during the 2028-19 season in the first team and he was also the head coach of CB Prat, Joventut's affiliated team, with which he earned promotion to the Spanish second division.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">💥 Dani Miret, nou entrenador del Club Joventut Badalona<br><br>🤝 La Penya i el tècnic badaloní han arribat a un acord fins al 2026 en la que és una aposta per un projecte a llarg termini amb Miret com a entrenador<br><br>ℹ️ La notícia: <a href="https://t.co/gjoM8piWia">https://t.co/gjoM8piWia</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badalona%C3%89sFutur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BadalonaÉsFutur</a> <a href="https://t.co/4U0aq12zeZ">pic.twitter.com/4U0aq12zeZ</a></p>&mdash; Club Joventut Badalona (@Penya1930) <a href="https://twitter.com/Penya1930/status/1777718510715560173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Miret also has experience with the younger categories of the Spanish national team, including a gold medal with the U19 team at the most recent FIBA Basketball World Championship.

Check out the Game 1 predictions from EuroCupbasketball.com staff members for the BKT EuroCup Finals between Paris Basketball and Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse.

Finals, Game 1 predictions: Paris vs. Bourg

### Paris gets off to the perfect start

#### *by Geoff Gillingham*

Paris is a near-perfect 20-1 in the BKT EuroCup this season, including 3-0 in the postseason, and I firmly believe that it will go 1-0 up in the best-of-three finals against Bourg on Tuesday night. There has been almost no stopping Tuomas Iisalo's men in EuroCup play in 2023-24, with TJ Shorts and Nadir Hifi both playing at an All-EuroCup level, and Paris should move another step closer towards a place in next year's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague by coming out on top at Adidas Arena. In the French League, Bourg actually came out on top against Paris in their only previous meeting this season, winning 83-81 at Ekinox in mid-December, but Paris's fast-paced play will be too much for Tuesday's visitors to deal with in Game 1. My pick: Paris.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">LE PARIS BASKETBALL EST EN FINALE DE L’EUROCUP 😍😍😍😍😍 <a href="https://t.co/nUTatGmSvP">pic.twitter.com/nUTatGmSvP</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1773828146283827438?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Paris starts the series on the right foot

#### *by Frankie Sachs*

It's a good thing we don't call this Bold Predictions. Because the only bold pick would be a Bourg victory. And sadly for the good people in Bourg-en-Bresse, I don't see that happening. Paris has the best player in the series (T.J. Shorts), the home-court advantage, the more dangerous offense, which are just some of the reasons I expect the Parisians to take the series opener. I would not count Bourg out; it has already defeated Paris in the French League this season and has nothing to lose. But the opener should belong to the home team. My pick: Paris by double figures.

Isiaha Mike, Bourg: "This is what we live for"

### Rolling the dice on brave Bourg 

#### *by Frank Lawlor*

Thanks to scoring and winning in record-setting fashion, Paris is the clear – some would say overwhelming – favorite in this series. That also means that Paris has all the pressure in Game 1, while Bourg has none. Playing poised and alert to prevent Paris surges – easier said than done – Bourg can stay in the game. And should that work through three quarters, the pressure will really build on the Parisians. Rising Star winner Zaccharie Risacher has looked passive in the playoffs until now, otherwise Bourg's chances would seem better, since he can be quite a mismatch. But this all-French series, with familiar surroundings, short travel and an offensive-minded opponent, should be quite different from Bourg's semifinal with Besiktas. Everyone, including Risacher, should be in their comfort zone. Bourg is the only team that Paris has played but not beaten this season. Bourg has repeatedly thrived on being underestimated, and I think the visitors can do so again on Tuesday. My pick: Bourg 

### Paris proves its status of a favorite 

#### *by Igor Petrinovic*

What a great story Bourg has been. I wonder if anyone believed they would be in the EuroCup Finals. Even if the team was plowing through its regular season group and leading the standings, it almost felt like they were the underdogs in many eyes, even in these playoffs. But here Bourg is, deservedly, in the best-of-three final series. But as much as I love what Bourg has done this season, I am going with Paris in the series opener. The team from the French capital has been hands-down impressive this season. Its 20-1 record and average winning margin of 19.1 points speak volumes. It is going to be a fun, but I say that Paris's offense will find a way to deal with Bourg's defense on Tuesday. My pick: Paris.

Paris Basketball guard TJ Shorts spoke to Javier Gancedo of EuroCupBasketball.net ahead of Game 1 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Finals.

TJ Shorts, Paris: ‘Hopefully we can do something special’

### Paris keeps it rolling 

#### *by Javier Gancedo*

Paris faces the only team it has not been able to beat this season, as head coach Tuomas Iisalo pointed out before Game 1. Indeed, Bourg beat Paris at home in French League action, their only matchup so far this season. It is a whole different situation now. Paris has the home-court advantage and is still undefeated in the brand-new Adidas Arena, five victories in as many games. TJ Shorts was announced as the EuroCup MVP hours before the game, and that should give him a big boost to play even better. I believe Paris will be able to impose its basketball ways: strong, really well-organized defense and a free-flowing offense in which many players can score in many different ways. So I predict that Paris will get one step closer to the EuroCup title. My pick: Paris. 

Paris Basketball duo TJ Shorts and Tyson Ward are bullish ahead of their team's chances against JL Bourg in the 2023-24 EuroCup Finals.

Paris’s TJ Shorts, Tyson Ward feeling confident ahead of EuroCup Finals

The BKT EuroCup Finals have arrived, with Paris Basketball hosting Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse at Adidas Arena in Game 1 this Tuesday night. For Paris duo [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tj-shorts/012608/) and [Tyson Ward](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyson-ward/012610/), they are optimistic about their team’s chances.

Ward is one of six Paris players, as well as head coach Tuomas Iisalo, who lifted the Basketball Champions League title with Telekom Baskets Bonn last season, so they now have the chance to lift back-to-back continental trophies, something the American forward relishes.

“It feels surreal. For a couple of guys, it’s a chance to win another international tournament,” Ward tells Javier Gancedo of [EuroCupBasketball.net](http://EuroCupBasketball.net). “For a couple of guys, it’s a first time to be in the championship \[games\]. It’s super exciting for me, it’s super exciting for the guys, so we’re looking forward to it, for sure.”

### Paris's its style of play

Paris has made waves right across Europe with its high-paced, exciting brand of basketball this season, which Ward believes is one of the team’s key strengths.

“It’s our identity,” he states. “That fast-paced game is hard to keep up with, but it’s about how well we can get them out of their spots and make them as uncomfortable as possible. That’s our goal for everybody and that’s how we’re going to do it.”

Watch the rest of the interview below.

Paris Basketball forward Tyson Ward spoke to Javier Gancedo of EuroCupBasketball.net ahead of Game 1 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Finals.

Tyson Ward, Paris: ‘It would be crazy, surreal’

Curiously, Bourg defeated Paris 83-81 at Ekinox in the French League back in December, meaning Coach Iisalo’s men are 0-1 against Tuesday night’s opponent. Yet, Shorts insists that there’s no added motivation to avenge that defeat.

“I don’t think it’s any extra motivation,” he states. “If you’re still looking for motivation at this point in the season, it’s probably too late. We know they got us in the French League – we’ll be prepared, we know they’re a really good team. They’ve got great pieces, they’re intense on the defensive side, so we know that they’ll be ready for us and we’ll be ready for them.”

### A chance at history

Just in its sixth season as a club, Paris has the chance to lift its second trophy in club history if it goes all the way in the EuroCup. Earlier this season, Coach Iisalo’s men beat Nanterre 90-85 in the French Cup final to secure Paris’s first-ever title, with Shorts earning MVP honors in the final. He would certainly sign up for a similar outcome against Bourg.

“I’m more than looking forward to \[the EuroCup Finals\],” Shorts comments. “Any chance you get to play in a final, you can’t take those moments for granted, so I’m just grateful to be able to be in yet another final this season with Paris and hopefully we can do something special and get that ticket to the EuroLeague.”

Watch the rest of the interview below.

The EuroCup MVP and Paris forward caught up with Javier Gancedo before Game 1

T.J. Shorts has guided Paris Basketball to the EuroCup Finals in dominant fashion, becoming the EuroCup MVP for his efforts.

BKT EuroCup MVP, 2023-24: T.J. Shorts, Paris Basketball

Paris Basketball star [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/paris-basketball/roster/prs/?season=2023-24) has been voted as the MVP for the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season after an incredible debut season in the competition. Euroleague Basketball congratulates Shorts on the award, which was chosen by a combination of EuroCup head coaches, team captains, fans and media.

Shorts has been the engine that has made this near-perfect Paris team run, with the club – in its second year in the EuroCup – going 20-1 to date. With two more wins in Paris's [all-French EuroCup Finals series](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/paris-basketball-vs-jl-bourg-let-the-eurocup-finals-begin/) with Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse, Shorts and co. will have achieved the most-ever wins in a EuroCup season. With a place in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague up for grabs, which would mark the first time Paris or Bourg has played in Europe's premier club basketball competition, the American will be looking to continue a magical season on both an individual and collective level by inspiring Paris to a finals victory.

[From day one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S00OuIiSiFI), Shorts was intent on displaying his talent at the EuroCup level in his rookie season in the competition, leading Paris to a perfect 7-0 record while posting of 16.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 2.3 steals and a PIR of 20.0 per night. Paris and Shorts tasted defeat for the first – and only – time in Round 8, but the 26-year-old's dominance showed no sign of slowing down, as he finished the regular season with averages of 17.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 1.8 steals and a 22.6 PIR. Without Shorts's leadership at the point guard spot, Paris's 17-1 regular-season record would likely have looked far different.

Shorts's supremacy only increased upon the arrival of the playoffs, with Paris entering the postseason in last eight thanks to its first-placed finish in Group A. For Shorts, there was no hanging around as he became the [quarterfinals MVP](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6RQ-wXK24M) and [semifinals MVP](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogiMiEk-d38) in back-to-back rounds of the playoffs. Against Joventut Badalona in the quarterfinals, he amassed 21 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, 0 turnovers and a 28 PIR. In the semifinals, he averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 4.0 steals and a 28.5 PIR in Paris's 2-0 series sweep of the London Lions. All told, ahead of the finals, he is averaging 18.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 2.0 steals and a 23.4 PIR in 21 games.

Paris Basketball star T. J. Shorts has been voted as the MVP for the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season after an incredible debut season in the competition. Euroleague Basketball congratulates Shorts on the award, which was chosen by a combination of EuroCup head coaches, team captains, fans and media.

BKT EuroCup MVP, 2023-24: T. J. Shorts, Paris Basketball

The main statistical categories paint a picture of dominance, too. So far in 2023-24, with at least two more games to come in the finals, Shorts has scored the sixth-most points in any EuroCup season ever with 377; based on his 18.0 points per game average this season, he could find himself in second once the finals are wrapped up. En route to those points, he has made 124 two-pointers, the fourth most all-time, and could move past the 130 of Paris Levallos's Sharrod Ford in the 2014-15 season, although the 151 of Aykon Ted Ankara Kolejliler's Vladimir Golubovic in the 2013-14 campaign may be difficult to reach.

He has also made EuroCup history by setting a new single-season record by dishing 158 assists. What's more, Shorts has the chance to write his name further into the history books when it comes to steals; his 41 to date – the 14th best all-time – are just eight behind the single-season leader Jerry McCullough of Metis Varese from the 2003-04 campaign. Last but not least, his 491 combined PIR through this season is currently the second-best mark all-time, and he could pass the 533 set by Golubovic in the 2013-14 campaign come the end of the finals.

Shorts now has the opportunity to add a second successive European trophy to his collection. Last season, Shorts – and several of his Paris teammates, as well as head coach Tuomas Iisalo – helped lead Telekom Baskets Bonn to the 2022-23 FIBA Basketball Champions League title, with the point guard earning MVP and Final Four MVP honors. Shorts was also chosen as the German League MVP for last season, but Bonn came up short to ratiopharm Ulm in the finals.

Not only is Shorts Paris's first EuroCup MVP award winner, but he is the first to come from a French team. He follows in the footsteps of many Americans who have earned this honor, albeit some held double nationalities at the time: Chuck Eidson (2008-09, Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius), Dontaye Draper (2010-11, Cedevita), Patrick Beverley (2011-12, Spartak St. Petersburg), Nick Calathes (2012-13, Lokomotiv Kuban), Drew Goudelock (2013-14, UNICS Kazan), Tyrese Rice (2014-15, Khimki Moscow Region), Errick McCollum (2015-16, Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul), Scottie Wilbekin (2017-18, Darussafaka Istanbul), Luke Sikma (2018-19, ALBA Berlin), Jamar Smith (2020-21, UNICS) and Jerian Grant (2022-23, Turk Telekom Ankara). The European-born season MVPs in the EuroCup have been Marko Banic (2009-10, Bilbao), Alexey Shved (2016-17 Khimki) and Mam Jaiteh (2021-22 Virtus) . There was no MVP of the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season.

The rookie guard has guided Paris to the finals in dominant fashion

BKT EuroCup MVP, 2023-24: TJ Shorts, Paris Basketball

Paris Basketball and JL Bourg face off in the EuroCup Finals, starting this Tuesday, April 9.

Paris Basketball vs. JL Bourg: Let the EuroCup Finals begin!

Three hundred and seventy three games later, the BKT EuroCup Finals are finally here – and for the first time we have an all-French series, with Paris Basketball and Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse set to face off.

Paris and Bourg – both of which will compete in their first finals – are the third and fourth French teams to make it this far, following on from Strasbourg in 2015-16 and AS Monaco in 2020-21. Everything is set up for an intriguing best-of-three series, which gets underway at Adidas Arena in the French capital on Tuesday night (20:30 CEST).

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Pour continuer d&#39;écrire l&#39;histoire 💫<br><br>🏆 Finale de l&#39;<a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> 100% française, du jamais vu 🇫🇷<a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParisBasketball</a> ⚡️ <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JLBourgBasket</a> <a href="https://t.co/jrMCwjuWt4">pic.twitter.com/jrMCwjuWt4</a></p>&mdash; LNB (@LNBofficiel) <a href="https://twitter.com/LNBofficiel/status/1777274687111999980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Two clubs with very different projects

Paris, in many ways, epitomizes much of what the French capital represents: swagger, style and ambition. Bourg, meanwhile, reflects the underdog nature of Bourg-en-Bresse, a city with a population of just over 40,000 people 70 kilometers north of Lyon. Just looking at where the two clubs play, the EuroCup Finals will see a battle of David against Goliath.

Ever since Paris made its EuroCup debut in the 2022-23 season, it has not hidden its goal to make it to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague as soon as possible. Each year since its inception in 2018 the side from the capital has gone from strength to strength, but the decision to appoint Tuomas Iisalo as head coach last summer has allowed Paris to go to another level entirely. The shakeup of the roster also paid dividends, with [T.J. Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tj-shorts/012608/) and [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nadir-hifi/012640/) establishing themselves as EuroCup stars in their first season in the competition.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">LA FINALE À GUICHETS FERMÉS 🚨🌋<br><br>Vous serez 8000 personnes demain soir pour soutenir Paris face à Bourg pour le premier match de ces finales européennes 😳😍<br><br>Merci Paris 🖤❤️💙 <a href="https://t.co/YTFVDiaxBU">pic.twitter.com/YTFVDiaxBU</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1777273894925148431?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It has been a bit of a different story at Bourg, a club that has been in existence since 1910 – 108 years more than Paris. Yet, like Paris, a head coaching change propelled Bourg to new heights, as Frederic Fauthoux has turned a middling EuroCup team into a side that has reached the finals in his second year in charge. Just five players from last year’s roster remained, but Bourg got its business done early last summer and that provided the platform for Coach Fauthoux to work his magic. As it has been at Bourg ever since Julien Desbottes became club president in 2012, smart thinking has won out over overspending.

Will the glitz and the glamour of Paris win out or will the underdogs from Bourg-en-Bresse come out on top? It should be a fascinating watch, particularly with sold-out crowds expected at both Adidas Arena and Ekinox.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">FINALES EUROCUP 2024 ⭐️<br><br>La JL Bourg est en finale d&#39;EuroCup face à <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParisBasketball</a> 🔥<br><br>2️⃣ clubs représentant la France<br>2️⃣ clubs qui écrivent leur histoire<br><br>Il n&#39;en restera qu&#39;un ⚔️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeRedy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeRedy</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/UFy5gwB6J2">pic.twitter.com/UFy5gwB6J2</a></p>&mdash; JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket/status/1775923785889157208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### EuroCup stars on show

What these EuroCup Finals will guarantee is plenty of talent and lots of attention. Bourg’s [Zaccharie Risacher](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zaccharie-risacher/010718/), the projected No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft depending on which mock draft you look at, is sure to be in the spotlight after winning the EuroCup’s Rising Star award. The forward, who turned 19 yesterday (Monday, April 8), averaged 13.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and a 12.1 PIR through 17 regular-season appearance but has seen a drop in those numbers in the postseason, averaging 5.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist and a 4.0 PIR in four playoff games. As such, some of the hype surrounding Risacher has diminished somewhat, but he has the chance to get everyone back on board with a strong showing in the finals.

It won’t be easy against a Paris side featuring Hifi, however. The other leading candidate to win the Rising Star award, Hifi has been lights out for Paris all season long, and his production has barely been affected in his first trip to the playoffs. Having averaged 16.9 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a 13.5 PIR in 18 regular-season contests, the 21-year-old has posted 16.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and a 12.0 PIR in three postseason games. Knowing that he also had a very good case to become the Rising Star, Hifi will be keen to show that the coaches got their decision wrong once the finals get underway.

The top plays of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse forward Zaccharie Risacher and Paris Basketball guard Nadir Hifi in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season.

Risacher, Hifi best plays this season

Hifi did, however, make it to the All-EuroCup Second Team. Then there is the case of his teammate, Shorts, who has been selected to the All-EuroCup First Team and has put together an MVP-caliber season. Shorts has been dominant from the off and has really been the heartbeat of this Paris side, which now finds itself in uncharted territory. Yet, in Shorts, Paris has a coach on the floor and that can only be a good thing against a team that knows Paris well from domestic action. Back-to-back MVP awards in the quarterfinals and semifinals is a sign of just how dominant Shorts has been and how much of a problem he is likely to be for Bourg to deal with.

The last player to have earned recognition for the season they have put together is Bourg’s [Isiaha Mike](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/isiaha-mike/011836/), an All-EuroCup First Team selection. Mike had a solid debut campaign in the EuroCup last year, but this season has seen the Canadian take on a leading role for Bourg, particularly in the postseason. In fact, having averaged 12.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 steals and a 12.4 PIR in the 18 regular-season games, Mike has boosted his numbers in scoring, rebounding and PIR to 15.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and a 21.3 PIR in four playoff fixtures. He’s got hot at just the right time of year.

The top plays of Paris Basketball guard T.J. Shorts and Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse forward Isiaha Mike in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season.

Shorts, Mike best plays this season

Paris has home-court advantage entering Game 1, although Bourg certainly has the capability to make things interesting. Bourg came out on top in the only previous meeting between these two this season, winning 83-81 at Ekinox in the French League last December, but a lot of time has passed since then. The EuroCup Finals are about to start – make sure you don’t miss it!

Maksim Salash of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse looks to make a pass against Paris Basketball in their French League game earlier this season. 

The two French teams will go head to head in a best-of-three series, starting Tuesday night

Paris vs. Bourg: Let the EuroCup Finals begin!

Paris Basketball guard Nadir Hifi caught up with Javier Gancedo to discuss his team's successes this year and his expectations ahead of the EuroCup Finals.

Nadir Hifi, Paris Basketball: 'We just have to do our jobs and get to the EuroLeague'

Paris Basketball star [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nadir-hifi/012640/) has really put himself on the map this season and now, heading into his first BKT EuroCup Finals, the ‘Prince of Paris’ is full of confidence.

On Monday, the 21-year-old became one of the youngest players in competition history to be named to the All-EuroCup Second Team, with his streetball style and no-fear approach resonating with basketball fans right across Europe. 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Très fier et honoré de faire partie du deuxième meilleur 5 d’EuroCup pour ma première saison européenne 🙏🏼 <a href="https://t.co/CjO8YdCYZg">pic.twitter.com/CjO8YdCYZg</a></p>&mdash; Nadir Hifi (@NadirHifi) <a href="https://twitter.com/NadirHifi/status/1777372348905066642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Averaging 16.9 points on 95.3% free throws, 2.5 assists and a PIR of 13.3 in 22 minutes per night in his rookie EuroCup season, Hifi has played a key role in Paris’s 20-1 record and understands perfectly that the club's next goal is to make it to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague by winning the EuroCup Finals. But first, Hifi and Paris must defeat a domestic foe in Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse.

Hifi sat down with Javier Gancedo of [EuroCupBasketball.com](http://EuroCupBasketball.com) to discuss the upcoming finals, playing alongside T.J. Shorts and plenty more.

**Hello, Nadir. Congratulations on making it to the final. How much are you looking forward to this opportunity, to win the EuroCup and to get your first trophy at this level?**

"It is the first time that I’m playing in a final. It is something different and very special for me. We have working since August for this, so now we have something between our hands. We just have to do the job tomorrow and \[in Game 2 at Bourg\] on Friday."

**As a team, you are breaking all of the EuroCup's scoring records – Paris is the best offensive team in the history of the competition. What has allowed you to play so well and so fast?**

"Yes, this is our style of basketball: to run, play with intensity and shock the \[opponent\] teams. But this is our way to play basketball. We don't count statistics or the points that they scored against us. We just want to win every game."

**Head coach Tuomas Iisalo arrived with six players from Telekom Baskets Bonn. You are also a newcomer. How did you adjust to this system so fast?**

"I think it is a good thing because it is a different style of basketball, and when you have six players who know this style, we just have to adapt. So yes, it was one of the good things."

**Even though you only lost one game, did you have any tough moments during the season?**

"Yes, we had a lot of tough games. I would say against Joventut, that double overtime game against London. It has not been so easy but I think losing one game in the whole season is very tough, so we can be proud of ourselves."

**Let's talk about you a little bit. I cannot think of a young player coming into the EuroCup with such self-confidence. What does it come from?**

"I think it is just a state of mind. I worked so hard to be here, so I'm confident in my game. I think I'm ready to play at the best European level but yes, I'm working so hard. This is my style of basketball: to be confident and take every open shot and just play my game."

Nadir Hifi is averaging 16.9 points on 95.3% free throws, 2.5 assists and a PIR of 13.3 in 22 minutes per night. Hifi helped Paris reach the EuroCup Finals with a 20-1 record.

Nadir Hifi highlights, Paris Basketball

**Speaking about style, how important is style for you off the court?**

"Yeah, the style off the court is important, but this is a little bit of a problem for me because I'm so focused on basketball that I don't do extra things off the court. But I’m working on it. It's important to see other things."

**Bourg is that only team that you haven't beaten this season. What do you like about them?**

"Bourg is a very tough team. They play very aggressive, and, as you said, we lost once against them \[in the French League\] at the beginning of the season, in November or December I think. We did big things from there, so I think we are ready. It is going to be a big matchup for us, but I think we are ready."

**Generally speaking, what do you need to do to win this series, to win two games against Bourg?**

"I think we’ve just got to do what we’ve done since August. We’ve worked so hard to be there, so we have to be aggressive, play our game like we did during the year and everything will go fine. I think we are going to win."

**How great is it to play with T.J. Shorts, and how amazing has his season been until now?**

"T.J. is like a brother for me – off the court and on the court. It's very important that at my age, to be a good player... it's not only T.J., but every teammate I had this year pushed me to get better and my staff, my coach. So I'm very proud to be there in basketball, and I just get better every day. And that's what I need at this time of my career."

**And finally, what would it mean to you to win the EuroCup and go to the EuroLeague with Paris next season? How great would that be?**

"When I signed with Paris Basketball, this was my first goal. I know we are going to have a very competitive team and we are going to get to win two games to put Paris Basketball in a good situation next year. But we just have to do our jobs and then be in the EuroLeague next year."

Nadir Hifi in action for Paris Basketball in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season.

The talented guard caught up with Javier Gancedo ahead of the EuroCup Finals

Nadir Hifi, Paris: 'We just have to do our jobs and get to the EuroLeague'

The Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse big man spoke to Javier Gancedo on the eve of the BKT EuroCup Finals. 

Maksim Salash, Bourg: 'We know we can win'

In just three seasons, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse has gone from second-bottom in its regular season group to playing for the 2024 BKT EuroCup crown. Bourg finished atop its regular season group, beat Prometey Slobozhanske in the quarterfinals and survived a tough best-of-three series against Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul to reach the EuroCup Finals against Paris Basketball. Power forward [Maksim Salash](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/maksim-salash/004525/) was one of Bourg's heroes in the semifinals as he shone in Game 3, leading Bourg to a no-doubt-about-it 89-63 victory with 19 points, 4 rebounds and 5 fouls drawn for a PIR of 19 in over 18 minutes. 

Salash played professionally in Spain, Poland, Estonia, Russia and his native Belarus before joining Bourg. He said he hopes his outstanding performance in Game 3 will be just the beginning of a new chapter in his career. "Obviously, getting games like this can give you a little boost, especially when my season has had some ups and downs so far," Salash told Javier Gancedo of [EuroCupBasketball.com](http://EuroCupBasketball.com). "I hope playing games like this can help me maintain my best level. I guess the finals are going to be different."

**Hello, Maks. Congratulations on making it to the final. Bourg missed the playoffs two years ago and now it's in the EuroCup Finals. How has the season been for you guys and what allowed you to get to this point?**

"Thanks. It has been a great season from the start. From the first day of training in pre-season, we set our goals and knew what we wanted to achieve this season. I think we are on the way. The season is still not finished, there is still a long way to go, but I think we are on the right path, and now we are in the EuroCup Finals. It has been a long way, a long season with a lot of games, but we were on top of our group and are in the Finals, so it has been great." 

"It's the EuroCup Finals, anything can happen there."

**In Game 3 of the semifinals, you lost Bodian Massa early but you played well at the '5' position, probably having the best game of the season. What allowed you to play so well? Did you think it was your time to step up and make a difference?**

"Unfortunately, Massa was ejected along with Delgado and I had to play the '5'. But I played the '5' during the season, especially in the beginning of this season, so I do this sometimes for the coach, for the team. I mean, it wasn't a big surprise because I can play at the '5'. And as far as the game, it was Game 3 of the playoffs, you have to give 100%, give your best, so I cannot say there was anything special happening. It was just us wanting to win this game so badly in front of an amazing home court. Everything happened like we wanted it to."

**How important is it for you to have a game like this in terms of confidence, right before the EuroCup Finals?** 

"It's great. Obviously, getting games like this can give you a little boost, especially when my season has had some ups and downs so far. I hope playing games like these can help me maintain my best level. I guess the finals are going to be different. It's the EuroCup Finals, anything can happen." 

**A decade ago, you were one of the stars of the Adidas Next Generation Tournament and played in the finals in Milan in 2014. What do you remember about that experience?**

"Only positive, good things. We won this tournament \[ANGT Qualifier in Rome\], which was obviously great. Yes, it was a great time, for sure, but it's just different now. I was a teenager back then, and it was not even a professional level. Being in the EuroCup Finals is different, I cannot compare these two experiences. It's just different." 

Maksim Salash helped Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse reach the 2024 BKT EuroCup Finals.

2023-24 EuroCup highlights: Maksim Salash, Bourg

**The club, Baloncesto Sevilla, had a lot of foreign prospects like Kristaps Porzingis, Tomas Satoransky, Nikola Radicevic and Beqa Burjanadze, who all played in the EuroCup at some point. What happened in Sevilla during those years that allowed so many young talents to blossom and become professional players?** 

"The structure of the club there was absolutely great at that time. Everything was ready to prepare these young guys. Their academy and the way they handled things was great. And that's actually why I went there because I was 16 years old and had a few different offers from other teams. But I decided to go there because of how they handled things, how they prepared young guys and stuff. It was just the really good structure of the academy." 

**You are about to face Paris Basketball in the finals. They are breaking all sorts of scoring records. What do you think has allowed them to play so fast and effectively?** 

"First of all, as you said, they play fast. They play with a lot of energy, and that's probably one of the main reasons why they score so much. Obviously, there is a lot of talent there, and they're just having a great season. They are rolling and have a lot of confidence, I guess, so all that translates to the points they score."

**You beat them in the French League. How important is that in terms of confidence, knowing that the job can be done?** 

"It's kind of funny. We just played them once this year and we won, so it's going to be very interesting. They are obviously in great shape, but we have to have some confidence. We know we can win, and it's the Finals. We just have to be ready, and we will see what happens in those games."

"Controlling the pace of the game is very important. You never want anybody to score 100 points on you, that's for sure."

**How much of a key is controlling the pace and not allowing them to run the way they usually do?**

"You can say that about French basketball, it is very fast and energetic. A lot of teams here play like this, and I think we are going to be ready for that. We like to control the pace ourselves, so maybe this is one of the reasons we can win the series. Controlling the pace of the game is very important. You never want anybody to score 100 points on you, that's for sure."

**How is the atmosphere in Bourg? It's the club's first European final, after all.** 

"It's great. It's been great since the beginning of the season: the fans, the staff, everything that is going on. It's been crazy. I think it is going to be a big game for the club in general. Our fans and the atmosphere they create have been crazy, and it is only going to get even bigger in these days. Playing at home, in front of that atmosphere, gives us this additional boost. Throughout the season, a lot of games have been sold out. People really love basketball in Bourg." 

**You won the BCL in the past. What would it mean for you to go one step higher, win the Eurocup and maybe have the chance to play the EuroLeague?**

"It still is unbelievable, because it is my first season ever playing in the EuroCup, and we went straight to the finals. It has been amazing, but we haven't won it yet, so I cannot compare it to the BCL I won with Burgos. Still, I know what we can achieve. It is hard to comprehend that we are going to play in the finals. That's crazy. I still can't believe that. And of course, everybody wants to go to the EuroLeague but right now, I try not to think about it. We have to go step by step and focus on these games. We will play these really important games and we will see what happens after that. Right now, we are focused on playing in the finals. That is all we will be thinking right now." 