The Fenerbahce forward won his first EuroLeague championship and also the Final Four MVP award in his sixth season in the competition
Tribute to the Champs: Nigel Hayes-Davis
Article
3 Mins read
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul star forward Nigel Hayes-Davis held the EuroLeague championship and Final Four MVP trophy aloft at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, and somehow it felt as it was meant to happen.
One season ago, the versatile forward started paving his way to stardom, turning into the face of Fenerbahce after becoming the first player in EuroLeague history to score 50 points in a single game. This season, Hayes-Davis was a clear leader for a team full of players who were ready to sacrifice a little bit of their individual quality and talent for the good of the team.
Among them, Hayes-Davis had a career year, averaging a career-high 16.7 points on 41.0% three-point shooting while pulling down a career-best 5.3 rebounds. Playing for head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius on a third different team, Hayes-Davis was not only the team’s best player and its leader but also a glue-guy, one who was ready to take fewer shots despite playing big minutes.
All of that paid off, and it was never more evident than in the semifinal against Panathinaikos. In nearly 35 minutes on the floor, he had just 5 field-goal attempts, making a pair. But Hayes-Davis found ways to contribute on both ends, dishing 5 assists and blocking 5 shots as Fenerbahce pulled out an 82-76 win. Then, in the championship game against AS Monaco, Hayes-Davis was his normal self, leading all players with 23 points and 9 rebounds for a 30 PIR.
Hayes-Davis stepped up in a major way, with those 23 points being just one fewer than the total he had scored combined in his previous five Final Four appearances. In addition, Hayes-Davis set a new Final Four single-game record by making 14 free throws without a miss in the championship game. His 16-of-16 free throws in two games in Abu Dhabi rank third best at a single Final Four this century.
Most importantly, Hayes-Davis was able to finally get his hands on the EuroLeague trophy after coming up short in his previous three Final Four trips. A climb up the ladders that was gradual but felt natural. A two-time All-EuroLeague forward, the holder of a single-game scoring record, a team leader and now, a EuroLeague champion.