Olympiacos Piraeus beat Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 84-72 in Game 5 to clinch the series 3-2 and reach the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Kaunas, where the Greek side will play with the winner of the Monaco vs. Maccabi series, which will be decided on Wednesday night.

Olympiacos downs Fenerbahce, 84-72, to reach the Final Four

<incrowd-live-blog id="645a2131b22587e232320df1" client-id="EUROLEAGUE" server="standard"></incrowd-live-blog><script src="https://live-blog.incrowdsports.com/index.js"></script>

Olympiacos Piraeus v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2023-05-09T18:30:00.000Z)

Close friends and playoff foes: Nigel Williams Goss and Zach LeDay

Just two days apart in the summer of 2018, [Nigel Williams-Goss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-williams-goss/007982/) and [Zach LeDay](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/zach-leday/008987/) signed their rookie Turkish Airlines EuroLeague contracts with Olympiacos Piraeus. They happened to be in the same city, Las Vegas, at the time, so they took the opportunity to have dinner together, their first of many. It was the start of a special friendship that went well beyond their one-season status as teammates and second-year pros together.

Three years later Williams-Goss would ask LeDay to be the best man at his wedding, and this season, they reunited on Euroleague courts, but this time as opponents. The last two weeks, they have been competing against each other in what is already one of the most memorable playoff series in league history. Williams-Goss hit a game-winner to bring Real Madrid back in the series and LeDay is Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade's performance leader through four games.

Before their teams meat in a monumental Game 5 on Wednesday for one of them to reach the Final Four, LeDay and Williams-Goss talked about what it's like to be such close friends and also foes for a fortnight.

Friends and foes in the playoffs

Close friends and playoff foes: Nigel Williams-Goss and Zach LeDay

Real Madrid v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2023-05-10T19:00:00.000Z)

### Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach

"We are eager to play and we want to play a good game to close the series in our favor. We managed to get back to Madrid and we will do everything in our hands to win. We have a good mentality, tough mentality, to fight against adversity and never back down. We saw it in Belgrade and I think we will have the same attitude in this game. We just think about facing a basketball game, knowing it will be difficult and that we have some absences, but also many strengths that we will have to exploit. Both teams will be anxious because both want to be in the Final Four. We must deal with that anxiety and try to be calm."

### Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan head coach

"The fifth game, there is no sixth, that's probably the problem... Someone will go to the Final Four, many things happened in this series and the fifth will decide. We go with the desire to do our best. Of course, we learned from these two games in Belgrade some lessons and talked in training to fix what went wrong. First of all we have to set up a defense on Tavares, not allow them to play in transition and to have a better flow of the ball as a response to their zone. Look at the last game how we lost, one ball, rebound, one defense can decide that. These are all factors that decide a basketball game, and you have to be ready for everything and react to the flow of the game."

### Nigel Williams-Goss, Real Madrid player

"We are very motivated and eager to play this fifth game. We worked hard in Belgrade to win both game and bring the series back to Madrid. We are confident and we know we can win. If we do thing well we will have a good chance to make the Final Four. It will be a high-intensity clash and in this situation it's paramount to remain calm, as we did in Belgrade. There will be good and bad moments, and in the latter we have to stay clam and stay focused on our task."

### Mathias Lessort, Partizan player

"We're going to be who we are. To play defense and be very aggressive. When we're like that, we can beat anyone on any floor. It'll depend on how aggressive we are, how much we want and how focused we are. We know what awaits us, this is a game for the Final Four. We've had two at home where we haven't been able to do what we wanted, but we have another chance."

Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan: 'You have to be ready for everything'

Mic drops by Kostas Sloukas

His buzzer-beater to stun his former team, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, in Game 3 last week was far from the first time that Kostas Sloukas of Olympiacos Piraeus has stepped up in the closing moments of a game to either force overtime or secure a win for his teams. Check out the other times that Sloukas has dropped the mic in a EuroLeague game.

**Fenerbahce vs. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv: April 5, 2019**

As their series reaches a conclusion with Game 5 on Tuesday, it's worth remembering that Sloukas spent five years with Fenerbahce between 2015 and 2020. In his third year with the team, in Round 30 of the 2018-19 regular-season, Sloukas sent the Fenerbahce fans into raptures by scoring a game-winner against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. After initially fumbling the ball, he got it back from Melih Mahmutoglu before draining a triple over current NBA star Deni Avdija and being mobbed by his teammates.

While playing for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, Kostas Sloukas became the hero with a game-winning three-pointer against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in Round 30 of the 2018-19 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Kostas Sloukas's game-winner vs. Maccabi

**LCLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Olympiacos: January 19, 2021**

Sloukas returned to Olympiacos in the summer of 2020, and a few months later – in Round 10 of the 2020-21 season – reminded the Reds' supporters of what they had been missing. Against LCLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, in the empty Astroballe due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Olympiacos was down 86-83 with 9.9 seconds remaining, more than enough time for Sloukas to work his magic. He received the ball from Vezenkov under his own basket, carried it up the court and then sought a mismatch against Kevarrius Hayes, before shooting over the ASVEL big man to send the game to overtime. Olympiacos went on to win the game 93-101.

With Olympiacos Piraeus trailing by 3 points in the final stages of its Round 10 contest at LCLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in the 2020-21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, Kostas Sloukas scored a buzzer-beating triple to send the game to overtime.

Kostas Sloukas's game-tying shot vs. ASVEL

**Olympiacos vs. Fenerbahce: October 28, 2021**

Later that year, Sloukas was able to took the roof off Peace and Friendship Stadium with a game-winner against his old team, Fenerbahce, in Round 7 of the 2021-22 season. Sloukas more than made up for giving up a three-point play to Achille Polonara that tied the game at 65-65 with 39.4 left. About 10 seconds later, after a Fenerbahce miss, grabbed the rebound off and slowly took the ball up court, taking time off the clock. With 8.0 seconds remaining, he made his move, driving to his left. Fenerbahce was forced to switch defenders Marko Guduric to 2019 EuroLeague MVP Jan Vesely, both his former teammates. Sloukas drove hard before stopping on a dime to make a mid-range jumper over Vesely to put Olympiacos ahead with 2.0 seconds to play. Guduric would subsequently miss a three-pointer on the buzzer that left Sloukas to soak up the cheers from the Olympiacos crowd.

With 2 seconds left Kostas Sloukas scores a short jumper giving the win to the Reds!

7DAYS Magic Moment of the Night: Kostas Sloukas' heroics!

**Olympiacos vs. Efes: February 10, 2022**

A few months later, Sloukas had another legendary game-winning shot, this time in overtime against defending champion Efes in Round 26. The score was tied at 75-75 at the end of regulation, with Sloukas having scored a game-high 20 points through the first 40 minutes, but he made sure to have the final say in overtime. Olympiacos was down 84-85 with 29.5 seconds left and Efes had the ball with a 5.5-second differential between the shot clock and the game clock. Vasilije Micic drove to the rim for Efes, but missed his layup. Sloukas got the rebound with 9.3 seconds remaining and took it the length of the court. He crossed the middle through traffic and passed to Shaquielle McKissic, who then returned the ball to Sloukas in the right corner. Sloukas pump -faked to avoid a block attempt from Adrien Moerman and then sent up a three-pointer to beat the buzzer for another memorable game-winner.

Fans choose game-winner by Sloukas as the 7DAYS Magic Moment of the Season!

**Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos: October 19, 2022**

In Round 3 this season, Sloukas ensured that Olympiacos started the campaign 3-0 by working his magic late against Real Madrid at WiZink Center. After his free throws gave Olympiacos an 85-87 lead with 32.7 seconds to go, Real's Sergio Llull hit back with a layup to tie with 19.9 seconds left. Now, it was Sloukas time. With the shock clock turned off, he used a screen by Moustapha Fall to shake Fabien Causeur before driving at Walter Tavares, the two-time Best Defender. Using all of his experience, Sloukas used a pump fake to send Tavares flying but then calmly scored a layup to put Olympiacos up 87-89 with 3.0 seconds remaining. Tavares's subsequent shot to tie was off the mark, so once again, Sloukas had wrapped up an important victory for his team.

In the dying seconds of Olympiacos Piraeus's Round 3 game at Real Madrid in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, Kostas Sloukas scored a crucial layup late on to give his team a narrow victory.

Kostas Sloukas's game-winner vs. Real Madrid

**Fenerbahce vs. Olympiacos: October 19, 2022**

In Game 3 of this season's playoffs, with his team facing the imminent possibility of going down 1-2 in its series against Fenerbahce, Sloukas hit arguably his most important buzzer-beater yet. Having provided the assist for Sasha Vezenkov's game-tying triple with early in the final minute, Sloukas was nonetheless called on to be the hero after Fenerbahce took a two-point lead, 71-69, on Marko Guduric's jump shot with 3.9 seconds left. Out of a timeout, Sloukas got free from Nick Calathes to receive the inbounds pass before dribbling away from Dyshawn Pierre and hitting a three-pointer over the outstretched arm of Nigel Hayes-Davis. When it fell, Sloukas and his teammates charged down the tunnel in a moment that Olympiacos fans will cherish over and over again for years to come.

What a shot! Kostas Sloukas wins it on the buzzer!

7DAYS Magic Moment of the NIght: Sloukas wins it!

Armenia: VIVARO

Australia: FOX SPORTS

Balkans: SPORTKLUB 1

Baltic: TV3 SPORT

Belgium: VOOsport World (BETV)

Brazil: BRANDSPORTS and DAZN

Bulgaria: MAX SPORT 2

China: STAR 2, CCTV and SDTV

Czech Republic: O2 TV SPORT

Denmark: VIAPLAY

Eurasia: SETANTA SPORTS

Finland: VIAPLAY

France: SKWEEK TV

Germany: MAGENTA SPORT

Greece: NOVASPORTS PRIME

Iberoamerica: DIRECT TV

Iceland: VIAPLAY

Indonesia: TVRI

Internet: [EUROLEAGUE.TV](http://EUROLEAGUE.TV)

Israel: 5LIVE

Italy: SKY SPORT UNO and ELEVEN SPORTS

Mexico: ESPN

Middle East: STARZPLAY SPORT

Monaco: SKWEEK TV1

Nigeria: SPORTY TV

Norway: VIAPLAY

Philippines: TAPSPORTS

Poland: POLSAT SPORT EXTRA

Portugal: SPORT TV

Spain: DAZN & DAZN1

Sweden: VIAPLAY

Taiwan: ELEVEN SPORTS

Thailand: 3BBTV

Turkey: S SPORT

Ukraine: SETANTA SPORT

United Kingdom: FREESPORTS

United States: ESPN3

Vietnam: FPT

Game Videos

Game News

Real will attempt to become the first team to ever recover from going down 0-2 in a playoffs series by making it three straight wins against Partizan. The Serbian team can take confidence from already winning twice in Madrid, in Games 1 and 2, and has a very significant boost with the return of backcourt leader Kevin Punter from a two-game suspension. Real center Walter Tavares enhanced his own EuroLeague MVP claims with two dominant performances in his team's two road wins last week, so Partizan simply must find a way to limit his influence. Another MVP contender, Partizan big man Mathias Lessort, will use his athleticism in an attempt to disrupt Tavares, while the versatile Zach LeDay – who scored 25 points in Game 4 – can also take the Spanish team's key player out of his comfort zone.

Game 5 TV Info: Real Madrid vs. Partizan

Fantasy Challenge tips: Final Four, here we go!

**See also:** [Fantasy Challenge: The final push!](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-the-final-push/)

It all comes down to this week for six Turkish Airlines EuroLeague teams. or just the second time in competition history, three Final Four spots will be decided in as many Game 5s, guaranteeing a good dose of EuroLeague history on Tuesday and Wednesday The winners will join already-qualified FC Barcelona in the Final Four in Kaunas, Lithuania. While the players get ready to step up on the court, it’s time for managers to meet the moment as well in [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/es/home?_ga=2.261819973.930100494.1683529185-884385655.1669721726). So, here are our recommendations before playoffs Game 5.

[Walter Tavares, Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) (16.6 credits) – It is a no-brainer. Tavares has been unstoppable lately, earning MVP of the Round honors in playoff Games 3 and 4 for Real. Over those two games – the road, no less, in elimination situations for his team – Tavares averaged 20.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and a PIR of 35.5. He is a must for all Fantasy managers.

[Ioannis Papapetrou, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ioannis-papapetrou/005161/) (6.2 credits) – Kevin Punter will be back for Partizan in Game 5 but we think Papapetrou should play a big role in Madrid due to his versatility and experience. He had a PIR of 18 in Game 4, scoring 18 points. At just 6.2 credits, he is an interesting choice.

Walter Tavares, Ioannis Papapetrou, Tyler Dorsey, Moustapha Fall and Darrun Hilliard are featured in this week's article.

EuroLeague Fantasy tips: Playoffs Game 5

[Tyler Dorsey, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tyler-dorsey/009849/) (9.3 credits) – Dorsey stepped up last week and played really well against his former team. In Games 3 and 4, Dorsey averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 fouls drawn and a PIR of 17.0. If Fenerbahce wants to punch its Final Four ticket, it needs Dorsey at his best.

[Moustapha Fall, Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/moustapha-fall/008811/) (11.8 credits) – Fall has been solid all season, and this is what you look for in this game. During the playoffs, Fall amassed a PIR of 18 or better three times, averaging 8.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. His size advantage should be important in Game 5.  

[Darrun Hilliard, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/darrun-hilliard/008989/) (5.4 credits) – Another good player with a great price value, Hilliard has been playing really well in the playoffs. He averages 8.8 points on 50% three-point shooting, 2.2 rebounds and a PIR of 7.0 in the series. He had a PIR of 12 in Game 4, too.

Fantasy Challenge tips: Final Four, here we go! 

Fantasy Challenge: The final push!

**See also:** [Fantasy Challenge tips: Final Four, here we go!](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-final-four-here-we-go/)

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season has come the point where, from now on – with the exception of the third-place game – each showdown will eliminate the loser from the title race. For the second time in EuroLeague history, six teams will battle for three Final Four spots in do-or-die Game 5s of the playoffs. After that, it's the semifinals and the championship game. So get ready for two critical weeks, not just in the competition, but also in [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/es/home?_ga=2.261819973.930100494.1683529185-884385655.1669721726)!

My team, Gancedato, had a so-so week, scoring 129.05 points. More than half of them came from team captain Walter Tavares of Real Madrid, who really saved this round along with head coach Oded Kattash of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. I was focused on the 7DAYS EuroCup Finals in Gran Canaria and left Mike James of the AS Monaco on the bench, and my backup players on Thursday, Sasha Vezenkov and Alec Peters of Olympiacos Piraeus, combined for a PIR of -1. Even with all that, since Tavares did so well, I went up a few spots in the standings to rank 1,862nd overall. Nothing like a good team captain!

Unlimited trading is allowed from now on until the end of the season, so I decided to start over and sell everybody but Tavares. I may bring in some of the players I already had. I am switching head coaches and picking the one that, by my own criteria, has the biggest chance to win this week, and that's Georgios Bartzokas of Olympiacos. Since I think the Reds will win, I am bringing back Vezenkov and adding Thomas Walkup. I also think Real has a good chance to beat Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, and since I am keeping Tavares, I am adding two of his teammates: Adam Hanga and Mario Hezonja.

As for the remaining spots, I am keeping Alen Smailagic of Partizan because he has a great price valiue right now, and adding the two players who I think will have the highest PIR in the game between Monaco and Maccabi: Mike James and Wade Baldwin. I have very few credits for the two remaining players, so that will be Darrun Hilliard and Jake Cohen of Maccabi. I don't expect them to start, either.

You can take a look at my team here:

So, I am getting two scores on Wednesday, plus Coach Bartzokas, and the rest of them on Thursday. If Vezenkov and Walkup get a good score, I will be on my way to a successful round. Vezenkov is my interim team captain, waiting for Tavraes to take over if need be. 

Remember, the 2022-23 EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime features better prizes than ever, so get your game on now!

And don't forget to use #fantasychallenge on social media all season long. Good luck!

Fantasy Challenge: The final push! 

They say the third time is the charm, and that is definitely the case for Real Madrid swingman Dzanan Musa, who has become one of the biggest stars in the competition. Musa is having a breakout EuroLeague season, averaging 15.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists for a PIR of 16.2 through 38 games. 

Dzanan Musa, Real: 'I never lost self-confidence'

They say the third time is the charm, and that is definitely the case for Real Madrid swingman [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/), who has become one of the biggest stars in the competition. Musa is having a breakout EuroLeague season, averaging 15.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists for a PIR of 16.2 through 38 games. 

Musa was 16 years old when he made his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut with Cedevita Zagreb on October 15, 2015. He scored 4 points in 5 minutes that night against Olympiacos Piraeus Musa got the chance to play against a certain Olympiacos legend, too. 

"When you put on this jersey, you get feel a special feeling."

"I guarded Spanoulis, it was unbelievable. It was an unbelievable feeling to be on the same court as him and guard him," he said. "It's an unbelievable feeling to be again in the EuroLeague and especially remembering that debut against such a big club at such a young age. It's heartwarming."

Musa did not miss the chance to talk to Spanoulis, who was right at the prime of his career in 2015. The two players knew each other already and the man known as 'Kill Bill' gave him some valuable advice. 

"He said just to keep \[up the\] hard work, because the year before that, I should have gone to... I could have gone to Olympiacos because I was in tryout and only a signature was separating me from going to Olympiacos," Musa said. "And to play the first game in EuroLeague against them, it was pretty special."

He averaged 2.7 points in 10 EuroLeague games in the 2015-16 campaign. Musa went on to play in the 7DAYS EuroCup for two years and was chosen as the EuroCup Rising Star for the 2017-18 season. He also played for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA and Long Island in the G League before returning to the EuroLeague. He has fond memories of his EuroLeague rookie season and believes that making his debut at such an early age was an advantage. 

"It was difficult, of course, because of the physicality and everything. But I'm a winner in life. And I'm trying to just, no matter the opponent, no matter nothing, I will fight and do my best," Musa said. "I'm just happy to compete every day, and at such a young age, it helped me a lot to gain my experience. And even though right now I'm 23, I feel like I'm 32, so it's all because of that experience. And I'm very grateful for that."

He returned to the EuroLeague with Anadolu Efes Istanbul late in the 2020-21 season. Musa played for less than 12 total minutes in four games and never scored, but earned the right to be called a EuroLeague champion. His limited playing time did not slow him down. 

"To be honest, I never lost self-confidence. I'm that kind of guy, I believe in myself because I put a lot of work in the off-season. I only take like one week, two weeks off during the summer to visit my family, to go on the summer vacations. But then after that, I'm working two, two and a half months, three months," he said. "So, when you work that much and then you don't believe in yourself, it's not a good thing. When you work that much, you've got to believe in your craft and I'm like that."

"It's a pretty special feeling to be back here and to fight for something, fight for the titles and to be a part of this whole organization."

Musa bounced back in the 2021-22 season to earn Spanish League MVP honors with Rio Breogan. He was also the competition's top scorer with 20.1 points per game, which gave him the chance to sign a multi-year deal with Los Blancos. Real is a special club for Bosnians, as national icon and basketball superstar Mirza Delibasic played there in the 1980s. 

"When you put on this jersey, you get feel a special feeling, because we all know who is Real Madrid. When you were young, you know Real Madrid, you know every other club which is huge, but Real is something that is really special," he admitted. "King's Club! So I'm just happy and appreciative that they gave me the opportunity to wear this jersey, and I hope it will stay that for many, many years."

Above all, Musa said he feels happy to be back in the EuroLeague, this time with a very significant role in one of the competition's top contenders. 

Dzanan Musa is having a breakout Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season with Real Madrid, averaging 15.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a PIR of 16.2.

2022-23 EuroLeague highlights: Dzanan Musa, Real Madrid

"I think that my role in Real Madrid is much different now than it was in Cedevita or Efes. I'm just happy to be in such a big club and have such a big role, to be around the guys, to help them gain wins and everything, it's a pretty special feeling to be back here and to fight for something, fight for the titles and to be a part of this whole organization. It's a huge feeling for me."

Musa has the opportunity to shine at the right time. His first chance probably came too early and he didn't see much playing time in his second time around with Efes. Musa is undeniably a EuroLeague star and is making the most out of it, enjoying himself as Real tries to make it to the Final Four. 

"I'm appreciating every single moment of it because I know how it is being on the top, how it is to be on a low, on the bottom. And right now, when you are back on the top with such a big club, it's more appreciative right now," he added. "Before I was thinking that everything is normal, to play, not to sit on a bench. But when I experience those kinds of things right now, I'm very grateful to be in this position."

He's acted. Been the subject of two documentary films. And hosts a successful podcast. On top of all that, Shaquielle McKissic is a pivotal player for Olympiacos Piraeus and is one win away from a second straight Final Four appearance. 

Shaquielle McKissic, Olympiacos: 'My content is real. It's unfiltered'

He's acted. Been the subject of two documentary films. And hosts a successful podcast. On top of all that, [Shaquielle McKissic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shaquielle-mckissic/007853/) is a pivotal player for Olympiacos Piraeus and is one win away from a second straight Final Four appearance.

Combine all of those stories and you start to learn a little more about the passions that drive the 32-year-old McKissic, who has become a beloved fan-favorite in Piraeus as much for his entertaining and explosive style of play as for his friendly and inviting demeanor.

A high school basketball star and a big-time college recruit, McKissic first got a feel for film when he was cast in the 2011 film "Rock Paper Scissors."

"I was approached, actually, a friend was supposed to do it and he was too scared to do it. So I was like, 'all right, I'll do it'," McKissic said.

He played the role of "Easy", a high school basketball star. And it wasn't all easy for him.

"That was like the first time where I felt really uncomfortable because it was like, I'm in a movie, you know? I didn't grow up thinking I was going to be a movie actor, but it was cool," he said. " It wasn't as crazy as I thought it was going to be. I mean, once I got out of my own head, I think it went fine. I haven't watched it in years, so I'm pretty sure it's pretty bad as far as the standards of today."

Regardless of the quality of the film, it lit something in McKissic, who now harbors acting ambitions for his post-basketball career.

"I think I could be one of those actors that start at like 40 after I'm done with basketball and try to win an Oscar."

"I would love to be an actor. I would have to take a lot of acting classes, which is definitely on my bucket list. But I think I could be one of those actors that start at like 40 after I'm done with basketball and try to win an Oscar."

After high school, McKissic ran into trouble with the law for "attempted residential burglary." He estimated that he spent about three months in jail and was sentenced to probation, which killed his chances of playing a big college.

The blows continued to hit as his mother left Seattle, where they were living, to return to Indiana after a domestic dispute with her husband. McKissic’s best friend, Devin Topps, was shot and killed outside a party. And McKissic spent time homeless and living out of his car. In the meantime, he worked odd jobs to earn money and after two years saved enough to enroll at Edmonds Community College, where he got his life on track.

That period of time was described by McKissic in the 2014 documentary film SM40, which was filmed by his brother, David.

"\[David\] and his friends had the idea and we just kicked it off and it ended up getting picked up by like ESPN and the PAC 12 Network, Arizona State, where I played basketball. So everybody got a piece of it. It feels like yesterday," McKissic said.

Surely it took a lot of courage for McKissic to go in front of a camera and bear his soul. But he felt compelled to share his story so that perhaps it would inspire others.

"I've always been real. I've always been trying to be kind of like a lighthouse or a beacon for other people that are going through similar situations that may not be that serious, but maybe serious to them in a different way, just so they can see I was able to get through a lot. And it's a lot that I went through that isn't in that story," he shared.

Fast forward six years… McKissic wrapped up a successful spell with the Arizona State Wildcats, made a name for himself in Europe with stints in Italy, Spain, Russia and Turkey and made his EuroLeague debut with Olympiacos.

And then he sat down in front of the camera for another documentary film during the 2020-21 season.

"I met with a good guy, Chris Tsoukalas. He works, I think, here in Greece. He worked for the team, a freelance thing, so we just kind of hooked up. And from there, we kind of just... our minds just kind of got going on what we wanted to do."

While McKissic and Tsoukalas ponder future projects, McKissic has already dived into another as the co-host of the #WeAreNotTheSame podcast on the Players Choice network. Among his guests so far have been EuroLeague stars Luke Sikma of ALBA Berlin, Nico Mannion of Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Mike James of AS Monaco.

"I wouldn't say it's a dream come true because we have a lot of work to do, but I'm for sure proud of the work that we've done."

"That's my baby, you know, outside of my wife and my actual baby, that's like my kid," he said of the podcast. “I've seen it grow to tremendous amounts over the last two years. When we started, it was really slow, so never in my wildest dreams would think we would be on ESPN and Fox Sports and TMZ and Eurohoops, every major outlet has picked up our content one way or another. So I wouldn't say it's a dream come true because we have a lot of work to do, but I'm for sure proud of the work that we've done."

McKissic understands why his content, whether the films or the podcast, strike such a chord with basketball fans: "My content is real. It's unfiltered. It's not me hiding behind anything...

"It's hard to fake anything when you're live in front of hundreds of people talking about something passionate."

Nowadays, McKissic is just one of many athletes with his own podcast. Nonetheless, he encourages others to give it a shot and even shared this advice: "You just got to believe in yourself and don't care what anybody says. I'm having fun. Tremendous fun." 