Real Madrid beats Olympiacos to win its 11th EuroLeague title!


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Olympiacos Piraeus v Real Madrid (2023-05-21T17:00:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas and center Kevarrius Hayes have agreed to the existing option for the second year of their contract together and to add another one-season option to it, the club announced on Monday. The new contract would last through the 2024-25 season if completed.

 Zalgiris, Kevarrius Hayes agree to extension 

Zalgiris Kaunas and center [Kevarrius Hayes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kevarrius-hayes/010390/) have agreed to the existing option for the second year of their contract together and to add another one-season option to it, the club announced on Monday. The new contract would last through the 2024-25 season if completed.

Hayes, 26, helped Zalgiris reach this season's EuroLeague playoffs as a started in 28 of 37 games. In his first season in Kaunas, he led the club in total (35) and average (0.9) blocked shots despite playing under 18 minutes per night. He ranked second on the team in total (163) and average (4.4) rebounds and third in total steals (27). Hayes ranked among the top six shot-blockers in the EuroLeague by average, total and per-minute measures.

His return alongside frontcourt mate [Rolands Smits, whom Zalgiris retained late last week](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/rolands-smits-signs-contract-extension-at-zalgiris-until-2026/), assures the kind of continuity around the basket that the club was aiming for.

More on Kevarrius Hayes

"Consistency and continuity are very important in team sports and we believed in Kevarrius and wanted to continue to have him in our team," Paulius Jankunas, Zalgiris Deputy Director, said. "We would like to see more stability from him in the upcoming season, but there are no doubts about his skills."

Hayes, who had previously played one EuroLeague season with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne before making the 2022 7DAYS EuroCup Final with Frutti Extra Bursaspor, seconded that emotion.

"I was happy to return to the EuroLeague last summer, but playing in Kaunas was an even better experience," Hayes told [Zalgiris.lt](http://Zalgiris.lt). "I believe that Zalgiris is the best place for me right now."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Make your morning coffee and enjoy. ☕ <a href="https://t.co/MbNOXGXrbw">pic.twitter.com/MbNOXGXrbw</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1663062051961417731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Zalgiris, Kevarrius Hayes agree to extension

En route to an unprecedented 11th Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title, Real Madrid did something no champion has done before – win five consecutive games when facing elimination.

Real Madrid’s unprecedented elimination-game run

En route to an unprecedented 11th Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title, Real Madrid did something no champion has done before – win five consecutive games when facing elimination.

Real was famously 0-2 down in its best-of-five playoff series against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade before winning the next three contests, becoming the first team to turn around a 0-2 playoff deficit in the history of the EuroLeague Playoffs. With Los Blancos then winning both of its games in Kaunas, it meant that they had won five straight elimination games, capped with [a thrilling 78-79 triumph in the championship game](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/olympiacos-piraeus-real-madrid/E2022/330/) thanks to Sergio Llull's game-winner with 3.1 seconds remaining.

### From elimination games to the crown

"When we started the playoffs, we said we've got \[to record\] five victories to be champions," Real coach Chus Mateo said during the Final Four. "When we were losing 0-1, still five victories to go. And when 0-2 happened, the same. And we tried to be focused only on the next game."

It's a feat that will go down in the history books. Five elimination games to end the season is the maximum a team could face in the current format, and Real is the first to come out the other side since the best-of-five playoff series format was introduced for the 2008-09 campaign.

To add more drama, apart from the semifinal in which [it downed FC Barcelona 66-78](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/fc-barcelona-real-madrid/E2022/328/), Real won each of its other four games by a margin of 7 points or fewer.

However, this is not the first time that a EuroLeague team has survived elimination and gone on to achieve great things.

For starters, any team that wins Game 5 of a playoff series and then goes on to win the title faces a minimum of three elimination games. This is exactly what happened with Olympiacos Piraeus in 2013 and Anadolu Efes Istanbul in 2021, for example.

Maybe the most famous run of surviving three straight elimination games before lifting the title came prior to the return of the playoff format, as back in 2004, Maccabi Tel Aviv miraculously survived a Top 16 finale at home against Zalgiris Kaunas before going on to secure Europe's crown.

Winning three successive times in win-or-go-home situations is also something that Olympiacos achieved in 2017 en route to the championship game, as it trailed 1-2 in the playoffs to Efes but managed to turn the series around, winning in Game 5. But, in the title game, it lost to Fenerbahce.

### Real Madrid joins an exclusive group

However, winning more than three consecutive games when facing elimination is rare and only a handful of teams have done it.

Back in the 2008 playoffs, CSKA Moscow won four elimination games on its way to the crown. CSKA lost Game 1 at home to Olympiacos in their best-of-three series, only to take Game 2 in Piraeus, followed by winning a series decider back in Moscow. Then, in Madrid, it defeated Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and Maccabi to lift its sixth EuroLeague title.

This season, Real took that accomplishment a step further. However, that is not the longest run that a EuroLeague team has ever had of winning elimination games in a single season.

In the 2018-19 campaign, Zalgiris finished the regular season with six consecutive wins to improve to a 15-15 record and sneak into the playoffs. Sitting at 9-15 with six regular-season rounds left, Zalgiris had to win every single game, some of which by a certain margin, and get some results to go its way in order to reach the playoffs. Zalgiris eventually survived and made the playoffs as the eighth seed.

However, Zalgiris was then ousted in the playoffs, whereas the name of Real Madrid will forever be inked as the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion.

Zalgiris Kaunas forward Rolands Smits has been rewarded with a contract extension until the end of the 2025-26 season, following an impressive debut campaign at the Lithuanian club. Smits (2.08 meters, 27 years old) joined Zalgiris last summer from FC Barcelona and went on to play a key role in the team reaching the playoffs, where it lost in three games to the Blaugrana. The Latvia international had his best season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague to date in 2022-23, averaging 9.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and a 9.4 PIR.

Rolands Smits signs contract extension at Zalgiris until 2026

Zalgiris Kaunas forward [Rolands Smits](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rolands-smits/007109/) has been rewarded with a contract extension until the end of the 2025-26 season, following an impressive debut campaign at the Lithuanian club. Smits (2.08 meters, 27 years old) joined Zalgiris last summer from FC Barcelona and went on to play a key role in the team reaching the playoffs, where it lost in three games to the *Blaugrana*. The Latvia international had his best season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague to date in 2022-23, averaging 9.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and a 9.4 PIR.

The best plays of Zalgiris Kaunas forward Rolands Smits during the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Rolands Smits's top plays of the 2022-23 regular season

"The season is not over yet, we all want to win the Lithuanian championship, but my family and I are happy to stay in Kaunas for a longer period of time. The players here have all the right conditions, we have an incredible fan base, and I want to keep enjoying it. Moreover, I will play in a familiar environment, close to home \[Latvia\], which makes me happy," Smits told Zalgiris's official website. 

“When we signed Rolands last summer, we already knew what he could bring to the team. During the season we were convinced that we will need all of that in the future, so I am glad that these negotiations did not take long and we kept an important player,” added Zalgiris head coach Kazys Maksvytis.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let’s make it last! Zalgiris agrees on a contract extension with <a href="https://twitter.com/Rolands_Smits?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Rolands_Smits</a>! 🤝 <a href="https://t.co/kChEfi2TPY">pic.twitter.com/kChEfi2TPY</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1661710480031858688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Smits has played a total of 144 games in the EuroLeague, starting 57 times. Through his first four seasons in the competition, which all came with Barca, the forward appeared in 107 games and had 21 starts. During his first campaign with Zalgiris, he was a starter in 36 of his 37 appearances. Smits began his career with Spanish side Fuenlabrada, where he was contracted to between 2012 and 2017, before going on to join Barca. He returned to Fuenlabrada on loan in the 2017-18 campaign, but he spent the next four seasons in Barca's first team. Then, in the summer of 2022, Smits took the decision to leave Spain for the first time in his career and begin an adventure in Lithuania with Zalgiris. Now, Zalgiris fans can look forward to seeing Smits for another three years.

Champion facts: Ndiaye youngest, Rudy third-oldest this century

· Real Madrid now leads the all-time standings with 11 continental crowns since international club competitions began in 1958, three more than second-placed CSKA Moscow. Real has won the competition in 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1974, 1978, 1980, 1995, 2015, 2018… and 2023!

· In addition to its 11 EuroLeague titles, Madrid has won four Saporta Cups, a Korac Cup and a EuroCup for 17 total European trophies.

· Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Llull have now won three EuroLeague titles, all with with Real. The last Spanish players to win three EuroLeague titles were Rafael Rullan, Juan Antonio Corbalan and Luis Maria Prada with Real in 1974, 1978 and 1980.

· Sergio Rodriguez, who also has three EuroLeague titles now, is the first player ever to win the EuroLeague with one team (Real in 2015), then do so with another club (CSKA, 2019) before return to the other club to win again (Real, 2023).

· Fernandez now has three EuroLeague, two World Cup and four EuroBasket titles. Only Dejan Bodiroga and Sergei Belov have won these three competitions multiple times.

· At 38 years, 1 month and 17 days old on Sunday, Fernandez became the third-oldest player this century to lift the EuroLeague trophy. Only his former teammate, Felipe Reyes, and Johnny Rogers (Panathinaikos 2002) were older when they won.

· Walter Tavares has become the second player to earn EuroLeague Best Defender and Final Four MVP honors in the same season. Dimitris Diamantidis was the first to get both awards, in 2011.

· Fernandez headlines the short list of players to have won a World Championship, EuroBasket, EuroLeague and EuroCup. He joins Dejan Tomasevic and Reyes.

· Adam Hanga is the first Hungarian ever to win the EuroLeague. Hanga had reached the championship game with FC Barcelona in 2021 and Real in 2022.

· Walter Tavares, Fabien Causeur and Anthony Randolph are now two-time EuroLeague champions. They all won the EuroLeague with Real in 2018.

· Alberto Abalde and Eli Ndiaye joined an exclusive list of Adidas Next Generation Tournament MVPs who also won the EuroLeague title. Abalde was the ANGT MVP in 2013 with Joventut Badalona. Ndiaye was chosen as the 2022 ANGT MVP with Real. Luka Doncic was previously the only player to get both trophies: he was the ANGT MVP in 2015 and won the EuroLeague in 2018 with Real.

· Eli Ndiaye became the youngest champion to see action in any Final Four this century. Aged 18 years, 10 months and 23 days when the Final Four began, Ndiaye started both games for Real, averaging 7 minutes. 

· Gabriel Deck added his name to a long list of Argentinians who have won the EuroLeague title. The list features Hugo Sconochini (Virtus 1998, 2001), Facu Campazzo (Real 2015, 2018), Manu Ginobili (Virtus 2001), Pepe Sanchez (Panathinaikos 2002) and Andres Nocioni (Real 2015). 

 Put your finger on the pulse of the Final Four in Kaunas! 

The best weekend in world basketball is a whole lot more than balls bouncing and shots falling. Last weekend in Kaunas, Lithuania, all the sights, sounds, colors and action you can ask for around a basketball event were on full display during the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four. That eight hours' worth of games on the court Zalgirio Arena were dramatic enough, but the scenes around the city, in the teams’ hotel, and backstage at the venue were just as festive. If you were not able to be on the ground in a place whose heart beats with basketball, here is your chance to feel what it was like on the inside as one incredible season raced to its thrilling climax. 

Put your finger on the pulse of the Final Four in Kaunas!

No other game of the season has more eyes on it than the championship game, and that includes eyes peering through camera lenses. Here's a selection of some of the images that the photographers at courtside, behind the baskets and are up in the rafters at Zalgirio Arena were about to capture in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship game won by Real Madrid, 78-79, over Olympiacos Piraeus.

Championship Game photography

Their team's thrilling capture of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague trophy with a game-winning shot in the waning seconds of the Final Four in Kaunas, Lithuania, over the weekend inspired an outpouring of Real Madrid fans into the streets of the Spanish capital on Tuesday evening.

Madrid opened its arms to the EuroLeague champions!

Their team's thrilling capture of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague trophy with a game-winning shot in the waning seconds of the Final Four in Kaunas, Lithuania, over the weekend inspired an outpouring of Real Madrid fans into the streets of the Spanish capital on Tuesday evening.

They were there to celebrate as the players paraded the EuroLeague champions trophy from the city hall to the regional government headquarters and everywhere in between.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">📸 Foto de familia en la sede de la Comunidad de Madrid.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHAMP11ONS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHAMP11ONS</a> <a href="https://t.co/Zxd5lA11bi">pic.twitter.com/Zxd5lA11bi</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1661001627585888257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">⏮️🏆 ¡Nuestro equipo ofreció esta mañana la 1️⃣1️⃣º !<br>📍 Comunidad de Madrid<br>📍 Ayuntamiento de Madrid <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHAMP11ONS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHAMP11ONS</a> <a href="https://t.co/LaHxc8mQ9o">pic.twitter.com/LaHxc8mQ9o</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1661084724637384730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



"It's very exciting for all of us to share with all the people of Madrid, including all our club's supporters, this new accomplishment that will stay forever in the memories and hearts of all basketball fans," club president Florentino Perez said.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🙌🏆 <a href="https://twitter.com/23Llull?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@23Llull</a> 🙌🏆<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHAMP11ONS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHAMP11ONS</a> <a href="https://t.co/7UzowMqBnc">pic.twitter.com/7UzowMqBnc</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1661054392244776960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">😀🏆 ¡Nuestros <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHAMP11ONS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHAMP11ONS</a> ofrecen la Undécima a los <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Madridistas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Madridistas</a>! 😀🏆 <a href="https://t.co/gBgZsYJez1">pic.twitter.com/gBgZsYJez1</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1660990907028500486?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Looking sharp in their suits and ties for the occasion, the Real Madrid stars mixed with the fans at each stop along the way, signing autographs and taking pictures and letting them touch the trophy, symbol of the club's 11th continental club title and third in the last eight editions.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🙌 <a href="https://twitter.com/SergioRodriguez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SergioRodriguez</a>: &quot;Muchas gracias a todos y ¡Hala Madrid!&quot;.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHAMP11ONS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHAMP11ONS</a> <a href="https://t.co/Evi8VUo06l">pic.twitter.com/Evi8VUo06l</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1660984233501020161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🤩 <a href="https://twitter.com/DzMusa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DzMusa</a> y Adam Hanga, desde el balcón de la sede de la Comunidad: ¡HALA MADRID!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHAMP11ONS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHAMP11ONS</a> <a href="https://t.co/yVYDsALZym">pic.twitter.com/yVYDsALZym</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1660981102570352640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

"We are very happy to be here again to present you with this EuroLeague title, which has come with a huge effort," team captain Sergio Llull said. "It has been a very difficult season for various reasons. We had a playoff series that was a very steep uphill climb. In fact, no team had previously recovered from 0-2 deficit, and it couldn't be other than Real Madrid to do it. Later, in the Final Four, every last player has been incredible. We made one more demonstration of what it means to wear this jersey."

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">👏 El MVP de la Final Four, <a href="https://twitter.com/waltertavares22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@waltertavares22</a>, da las gracias a los <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Madridistas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Madridistas</a> por el apoyo recibido. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHAMP11ONS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHAMP11ONS</a> <a href="https://t.co/aqWduDtRHZ">pic.twitter.com/aqWduDtRHZ</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1660977742416867329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Walter Tavares, who also took home the Final Four MVP trophy, thanked the crowd for their support from afar.

"We felt the energy that all of you transmitted from Madrid," Tavares said. "We were there \[in Kaunas\], but we always felt you close to us at every moment. The \[game-winning shot by Sergio Llull\] signified the positive energy that you were sending, and it went in clean, so thank you to everyone."

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🏆 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHAMP11ONS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHAMP11ONS</a> ❤ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Madridistas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Madridistas</a> <a href="https://t.co/5UIdUn9LgL">pic.twitter.com/5UIdUn9LgL</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1661024182946131970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🤲 <a href="https://twitter.com/FCauseur1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCauseur1</a> 🤲<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHAMP11ONS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHAMP11ONS</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Madridistas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Madridistas</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qna0Ypfa9s">pic.twitter.com/Qna0Ypfa9s</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1661042805786152962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 EuroLeague on social media: Championship edition 

**CHAMPIONSHIP GAME REACTIONS**: All eyes around the world were on the EuroLeague Championship Game, and reactions were instant and full of awe for the thrills and drama witnessed at Zalgirio Arena.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Increible increible!!!!!!! HALA MADRID Y NADA MAS!!!!! Vamoooooss</p>&mdash; Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) <a href="https://twitter.com/luka7doncic/status/1660358396451647489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This Euroleague championship game is such a beauty of basketball. Tune in if you can</p>&mdash; Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicolas88batum/status/1660354720160968705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Chachoooooo<br>Lluuuuuulllllllll 🍊</p>&mdash; marko popovic (@markopop006) <a href="https://twitter.com/markopop006/status/1660358324808826882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great championship game <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/euroleague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#euroleague</a></p>&mdash; Gabriel Iffe Lundberg (@IffeLundberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/IffeLundberg/status/1660359938319826946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a game</p>&mdash; Elijah Bryant OC©️ (@Elijah_Bryant3) <a href="https://twitter.com/Elijah_Bryant3/status/1660358424306089985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qst" dir="ltr">Wow 🤯</p>&mdash; Jordan Loyd (@mrjloyd) <a href="https://twitter.com/mrjloyd/status/1660358929455489024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’ll say it again… BELIEVE IN THE VETS!!!!</p>&mdash; Will Thomas (@the_common_name) <a href="https://twitter.com/the_common_name/status/1660358244106117120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hell of game!!!! Lots of experience and composure displayed throughout the game. Veteran plays. And OGs coming through in the clutch. Congrats <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a>. Hala Madrid!!!</p>&mdash; K.C. Rivers (@kcriv3rs) <a href="https://twitter.com/kcriv3rs/status/1660359157369946112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dang…. What a game from <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/olympiacosbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@olympiacosbc</a>. That was a great <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/final4?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#final4</a> game period.</p>&mdash; Othello hunter (@O_hunter5) <a href="https://twitter.com/O_hunter5/status/1660358470942457856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I can’t wait to see what next year looks like. The Euroleague is just getting better and better. <a href="https://twitter.com/olympiacosbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@olympiacosbc</a> you guys played great basketball all year long keep your heads up and get back next year. Much love.</p>&mdash; Othello hunter (@O_hunter5) <a href="https://twitter.com/O_hunter5/status/1660360746876776450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


**ABOUT THE SHOT**: Sergio Llull's title-winning shot that fell with 3.2 seconds to go immediately became one of the most memorable in EuroLeague history.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yo yo yo yo yo yo my blood pressure is up right now. <a href="https://twitter.com/23Llull?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@23Llull</a> big shot</p>&mdash; Othello hunter (@O_hunter5) <a href="https://twitter.com/O_hunter5/status/1660357764546445313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="art" dir="ltr">🍊🍊🍊🪄🪄🪄 <a href="https://t.co/mYASHsVEwd">https://t.co/mYASHsVEwd</a></p>&mdash; Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) <a href="https://twitter.com/luka7doncic/status/1660364117192978432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tough <a href="https://t.co/KdGa5YEQmA">https://t.co/KdGa5YEQmA</a></p>&mdash; Jordan Loyd (@mrjloyd) <a href="https://twitter.com/mrjloyd/status/1660375913245159427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Llull is 🥶 and been for over a decade now.</p>&mdash; Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) <a href="https://twitter.com/patbev21/status/1660359388274790401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For the last 10 years, my man been hitting shots going right for game. Just add this one to the list. <a href="https://t.co/F7zoYGJ7ii">https://t.co/F7zoYGJ7ii</a></p>&mdash; Rese (@ReseRice4) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReseRice4/status/1660362931773505543?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Who else 🤷♂️ <a href="https://t.co/Bz3Y6GKffo">pic.twitter.com/Bz3Y6GKffo</a></p>&mdash; Petteri Koponen (@KoponenPetteri) <a href="https://twitter.com/KoponenPetteri/status/1660380191196102656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


**CONGRATULATIONS**: Former two-time champions Nando De Colo and Shane Larkin, as well as Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, the team that Real Madrid eliminated in the playoffs, were among the first to congratulate Los Blancos on their 11th title.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congrats <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> on winning the <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> .. amazing game. Veteran presence is so valuable in Europe n that showed today. <a href="https://twitter.com/23Llull?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@23Llull</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SergioRodriguez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SergioRodriguez</a> .. legendary!</p>&mdash; Shane Larkin (@shanelarkin) <a href="https://twitter.com/shanelarkin/status/1660385018022166536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations on winning the <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a>!<br><br>You showed amazing character and gave an example to all of us of how far the team can go if they believe until the end! 🤝<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F4GLORY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F4GLORY</a> <a href="https://t.co/5UYYXw5ZQ3">https://t.co/5UYYXw5ZQ3</a></p>&mdash; KK Partizan Mozzart Bet (@PartizanBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PartizanBC/status/1660361356430770176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> on becoming EuroLeague CHAMPIONS! 🥇 <a href="https://t.co/OoJTKB27tQ">pic.twitter.com/OoJTKB27tQ</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1660364554642112516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">El <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> se ha proclamado campeón de la <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a>. Enhorabuena!</p>&mdash; Pau Gasol (@paugasol) <a href="https://twitter.com/paugasol/status/1660378346092474370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Cómo me alegra!!! Los viejitos locos siempre presente. <a href="https://twitter.com/23Llull?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@23Llull</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SergioRodriguez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SergioRodriguez</a> <a href="https://t.co/TfAZi8SjkV">pic.twitter.com/TfAZi8SjkV</a></p>&mdash; Andrés Nocioni (@SoyElChapu) <a href="https://twitter.com/SoyElChapu/status/1660358299437473798?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Grande Chacho 👏🏻 <a href="https://twitter.com/SergioRodriguez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SergioRodriguez</a></p>&mdash; Nando De Colo (@NandoDeColo) <a href="https://twitter.com/NandoDeColo/status/1660369949540380673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Enhorabuena <br><br>CAMPEONES.<br><br>⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a>⁩ <a href="https://t.co/ZdzIV9imOe">pic.twitter.com/ZdzIV9imOe</a></p>&mdash; Pablo Laso (@pablolaso) <a href="https://twitter.com/pablolaso/status/1660385121537605632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Enhorabuena a <a href="https://twitter.com/MateoChus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MateoChus</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/rudy5fernandez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rudy5fernandez</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/SergioRodriguez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SergioRodriguez</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/23Llull?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@23Llull</a>, y a todo el <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> por esta autentica gesta!!! Nunca hay que subestimar el corazòn de unos campeones….👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻</p>&mdash; Sergio Scariolo (@sergioscariolo) <a href="https://twitter.com/sergioscariolo/status/1660403363408748544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


**GREAT RESPECT**: Olympiacos was left one shot away from the title. Coach Georgios Bartzokas gave a proud and emotional speech in the locker room, and Walter Tavares had nothing but praise for Olympiacos after battling it out in the championship game.

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsifXMouQwp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Olympiacos B.C. 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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Unstoppable😅 your time will come. Respect 🫡 <a href="https://t.co/cCsSlTqPte">https://t.co/cCsSlTqPte</a></p>&mdash; Edy Tavares (@waltertavares22) <a href="https://twitter.com/waltertavares22/status/1660651953150361601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

**CHAMPIONS' CORNER**: For Sergio Llull, Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez, this was their third EuroLeague title. Fabien Causeur, Anthony Randolph and Walter Tavares have each won two now, while the rest of Real Madrid's players experienced the championship feeling for the first time.

**GAME BALL & CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY**: Mario Hezonja kept the game ball and found a place for it on the flight back to Madrid.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/LbHLz7YFO1">pic.twitter.com/LbHLz7YFO1</a></p>&mdash; Mario Hezonja (@mariohezonja) <a href="https://twitter.com/mariohezonja/status/1660408929455849472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

**TROPHY CABINET**: Back in Madrid, Sergio Llull easily found space for the latest addition to his trophy cabinet.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Todo en su sitio 🏆🏆🏆 <a href="https://t.co/Qz41w1SriY">pic.twitter.com/Qz41w1SriY</a></p>&mdash; Sergio Llull (@23Llull) <a href="https://twitter.com/23Llull/status/1660659034318417921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

EuroLeague on social media: Championship edition

The Lotus watch brand, Official Timekeeper of the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four, has gifted an exclusive watch to Real Madrid center Walter Tavares, the Final Four MVP.

 Lotus awards exclusive Final Four MVP watch 


The Lotus watch brand, Official Timekeeper of the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four, has gifted an exclusive watch to Real Madrid center Walter Tavares, the Final Four MVP.

Tavares received his specially crafted watch soon after Real Madrid defeated Olympiacos Piraeus 78-79 in the thrilling, down-to-the-wire Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game on Sunday in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Lotus, which joined the Euroleague Basketball family of partners before the Final Four, enjoyed exposure as the competition's official timekeeper with a presence on all the 24-second shot clocks around the baskets at Zalgirio Arena.

Lotus watches are known for their contemporary urban and trendy styles, which are befitting of EuroLeague athletes. Just as the EuroLeague stands out on the sporting scene, so too will young consumers seeking a timepiece that marries innovative technology, quality materials and cutting edge design find Lotus unique.

Lotus awards exclusive Final Four MVP watch

 Real Madrid's on-court celebration in photos! 

By edging Olympiacos Piraeus in the dying seconds of an epic Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, Real Madrid lifted its 11th trophy as European club champion since the dawn of continental competitions in 1958. No team other team has won more than eight. After winning the crown just once between 1981 and 2014, Real has now emerged victorious in three of the last eight editions of the Final Four.

Real Madrid's on-court celebration in photos!

The talk about the importance of experience in sports is common and it becomes ubiquitous around the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four. So much so that one might begin to see it as cliché. But it's not cliché, and the proof of that is seen in the Real Madrid roster.

Real Madrid's veterans proved that experience counts

The talk about the importance of experience in sports is common and it becomes ubiquitous around the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four. So much so that one might begin to see it as cliché. But it's not cliché, and the proof of that is seen in the Real Madrid roster.

In the championship game against Olympiacos Piraeus, Real's best minutes came when its oldest and most experienced players were on the floor. And its struggles came when its youngest and least experienced players took the floor.

[Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rudy-fernandez/bmt/) is 38 years old, [Sergio Rodriguez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-rodriguez/cvm/) and [Fabien Causeur](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/fabien-causeur/001392/) will turn 37 and 36, respectively, next month, and [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/) is 35. Not a single one of them started at the Final Four in Kaunas. Only one of them played more than 20 minutes in any game. Yet, with the championship on the line, the team played its best with these four on the count.

Rodriguez led all Real players in the final game in plus/minus – the statistic that measures the score difference when a player is on the court – with +15. Causeur was next at +13, followed by Fernandez (+11) and Llull (+8).

Extrapolating from those numbers in what was a one-point victory, 78-79, you can see that Real outscored Olympiacos by 15 points in the 28:13 minutes in which Rodriguez was on the floor. That also means that Olympiacos outscored Real by 14 points in the 11:47 in which Rodriguez was on the bench.

On the flip side, the Real players with the least Final Four experience struggled the most in terms of the plus/minus measure. All-EuroLeague forward Dzanan Musa had never played in the Final Four before this season and he compiled a plus/minus of -18 in the championship game. Teenage forward Eli Ndiaye was -5 and guard Nigel Williams-Goss, who played less than 1 minute in the 2022 Final Four before leaving with an injury, was -16 in his 18:29 minutes on the floor.

One of Real's best stretches of the game was when head coach Chus Mateo inserted Fernandez into the lineup with 2:34 remaining in the first quarter. He joined Rodriguez, Causeur and Mario Hezonja, who also came off the bench a few minutes earlier, and Walter Tavares, who had started the game. That quintet rallied *Los Blancos* from a 19-10 deficit to take a 32-34 lead.

Last quarter baskets by Real in championship game

Later, with Real's back to the wall, down 68-61 with 8:12 left in the fourth quarter, Coach Mateo sent Causeur and Llull into the fracas. Causeur buried a three on the next possession and added another soon after. Those two remained on the floor for the next 8 minutes. Llull would only exit the game after hitting what proved to be the game-winner with 3.1 seconds remaining. Rodriguez played for almost all of the fourth quarter, during which he recorded 8 points, 2 assists and 1 steal.

In the end, *Los Blancos* outscored Olympiacos 15-20 in the fourth quarter. Those points came from Rodriguez (8), Causeur (6), Tavares (4) and Llull (2). All are previous champions in their 30s, proving once again just how important experience is in the biggest of games.

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