Paris Basketball checked most of the boxes on its game plan to ease past Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse 77-64 in Game 1 of the BKT EuroCup Finals at Adidas Arena in the French capital on Tuesday. 

Paris’s strong first half paved the way to Game 1 win

Paris Basketball checked most of the boxes on its game plan to ease past Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse 77-64 in Game 1 of the BKT EuroCup Finals at Adidas Arena in the French capital on Tuesday. The hosts never trailed and led by as much as 60-33 early in the third quarter before a late Bourg push. Paris excelled on defense, used its defense to jump start its offense and controlled the paint.

Paris forced Bourg into 19 turnovers, while hounding the visiting team’s top shooters. The hosts collected 10 steals with TJ Shorts, Mehdy Ngouama and Justin Simon getting 2 each. The aggressive defense also kept Bourg’s best scorers off-balance as All-EuroCup selection Isiaha Mike misfired on all 7 three-pointers he attempted and EuroCup Rising Star Zaccharie Risacher was 0 for 5. As a team Bourg shot 4-for-24 (16.7%) from downtown.

Paris's strong D was critical in Game 1

When its defense was controlling the game, Paris dominated the pace en route to a 54-31 halftime advantage. It made two-thirds of its two-pointers in the first half, including 5 baskets off turnovers.   

“Obviously a great first half from us, amazing defensive intensity and honorable offensive play. We built a big lead,” Paris head coach Tuomas Iisalo said after the game.

Bourg actually outrebounded Paris 33-42, with 16 of those coming on the offensive end. However, despite those numbers, Paris scored 15 second-chance points, which were 4 more than Bourg. The visitors took advantage of Paris seeking to run and crashed the boards, but in the end it did not make a major impact.

Michael Kessens, who had a season-high 7 rebounds in 14 minutes for Paris, was the game’s leading rebounder.  

Game News

Game Videos

Forcing 19 turnovers and stopping Bourg’s shooters proved to be keys to the win

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

Paris overpowers Bourg 77-64 in Game 1 of finals

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.

Paris was fully focused throughout the first quarter with the only exception allowing too many offensive rebounds. Bourg only managed to trade baskets; the visitors started 0 of 8 from downtown. After 10 minutes, it was 23-11, with Paris owning Bourg in terms of speed, focus and intensity.

Lewis buried Bourg's first three on his team's first play of the second quarter and repeated it on the next one, hitting a long three-pointer in transition. Paris coach Tuomas Iisalo stopped the game right away. Shorts and Herrera got back on track and Hifi's three-pointer gave Paris a new game-high lead, 33-17, midway through the second quarter. Shorts, Hifi and Herrera combined for 27 first-half points as Paris extended the lead to 54-31 at the break.

Paris held Bourg scoreless for over 4 minutes after the break, playing with added physicality. Mikael Jantunen, in particular, drew a huge charging foul. Even though it wasn't pretty, it was a very positive third quarter for Paris, which kept a big lead and got closer to the victory. Nevertheless, Bourg got stops and found more open shots, which is a good sign for Game 2 on Friday. The score was 65-43 entering the fourth.

Bourg continued to fight on defense and slowed the pace down in the final quarter, during which it outscored Paris 12-21 and gave its fans reasons to hope for Game 2.

EuroCup MVP TJ Shorts led the way with 15 points and 4 assists for the winners. 

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

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

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