Top 10 photos: 2022 EuroLeague Championship Game: Chris Singleton and Rudy Fernandez battle for a rebound.

Top 10 photos: 2022 EuroLeague Championship Game: Chris Singleton scored 4 points in the championship game, both on two-handed dunks.

Top 10 photos: 2022 EuroLeague Championship Game: Shane Larkin attempts to drive past Guerschon Yabusele in the final minute of the championship game.

Top 10 photos: 2022 EuroLeague Championship Game: Vincent Poirier with a big second-quarter alley-oop dunk.

Top 10 photos: 2022 EuroLeague Championship Game: Tibor Pleiss pulled down 7 rebounds in the championship game, helping Efes finish the game with a 44-40 rebounding advantage.

Top 10 photos: 2022 EuroLeague Championship Game: Final Four MVP Vasilije Micic goes for a layup against Real big man Walter Tavares.

Top 10 photos: 2022 EuroLeague Championship Game: Guerschon Yabusele, in the crowd between Adrien Moerman and Tibor Pleiss, finished the game with 3 points.

Top 10 photos: 2022 EuroLeague Championship Game: Shane Larkin with a pass, defended by Walter Tavares.

Top 10 photos: 2022 EuroLeague Championship Game: Walter Tavares collected 14 points and 11 rebounds in 22 minutes of the championship game.

Top 10 photos: 2022 EuroLeague Championship Game: Micic drives past Alberto Abalde en route to a game-high 23 points.

AWARDS

SEASON IN REVIEW

Season in review: Anadolu Efes Istanbul

### Biggest win

This is a no-brainer. Can there be a bigger win than the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game? Efes joined some rare company when it outlasted Real Madrid 57-58 in Belgrade to successfully defend the EuroLeague crown. Vasilije Micic and Tibor Pleiss did the heavy lifting as the former scored 23 points and the latter tallied 19 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks to lead Efes. Best known for its offensive prowess, Efes turned to its defense to limit Real and march to the championship.

Top 5 Plays | Championship Game | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### Record-setting night

Efes set a EuroLeague record with 22 three-pointers made in a 109-77 rout of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in Round 27. It missed only 12 shots from downtown and its three-point accuracy of 64.7% was a club record. Five players made multiple three in that game: Adrien Moerman (5 of 7), Vasilije Micic (4 of 5), Shane Larkin (4 of 6), James Anderson (3 of 3) and Elijah Bryant (2 of 2). Efes tallied 28 assists, which were a season-high and the second-most in club history. It finished with 109 points, the most it has scored in a home game this century, and a performance index rating of 149, which was the second-best ever.

An overtime loss to Olympiacos has dented Efes' hopes of reaching the playoffs, whilst Israeli champs Maccabi have Avi Even as interim-coach after Ioannis Sfairopoulos' departure.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv - Round 27 - Highlights

### New defensive standards

While the focus on Efes’s greatness has surrounded its scoring prowess, Coach Ataman’s charges proved whenever needed that they have the defensive chops to get the job done. And never was that more true than in the playoffs. Efes held AX Armani Exchange Milan to 48 points on the road in Game 1 of their playoff series and held the opponents to an average of 64.0 points in that phase. Every other team averaged at least 70 in the playoffs. What’s more, the Efes defense held Milan to the lowest three-point shooting (29.7%) and true shooting (39.6%) percentages of any playoff team. It was the best defensive showing in a playoff series in terms of points allowed since 2014 and the best in opponents’ true shooting since 2013! Efes needed that defense against Real Madrid once again in the championship game and the champs proved they can win with offense and defense.  

Anadolu Efes’s defensive highlights from Game 1 in Milan 

Anadolu Efes s defensive highlights from Game 1 in Milan

### Shooting stars

En route to the championship, Efes had an elite attack on display with several players who flirted with the famed 50-40-90 shooting club. James Anderson came up short, but only because the swingman didn’t shoot the ball enough. He made 54.5% of his two-pointers, 45.5% of his threes and shot 90.9% from the foul line, but only attempted 22 three-pointers and 11 foul shots. A single missed free throw kept Tibor Pleiss from becoming the tallest member of the 50-40-90 club. He made 59.8% of his twos, 44.2% of his threes and 89.1% of his foul shots. Shane Larkin was knocking on the door at the end of the regular season when he shot 53.2%, 39.9% and 91.9%, but those numbers dipped in the playoffs and at the Final Four to finish at 51.2%, 38.2% and 89.8%.  

Anadolu Efes Istanbul was up to the ultimate challenge in 2021-22 as it successfully defended its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague crown. Here’s a look back at Efes’s special season. 

Tribute to the Champs: Ergin Ataman

Under Coach Ataman, every player got his chance and those who played well earned bigger roles. Injuries throughout the season made it so that everyone saw ample time on the floor and Ataman reached the crucial moments of the season with an in-form and confident group. So even though key players like Krunoslav Simon, who missed the Final Four entirely, and Rodrigue Beaubois, who was limited in Belgrade, could not give the team what they would have initially expected at that time of year, there were many role players eager and able to step in.

Ataman was careful to always credit his veteran players for their ability to sacrifice egos for the betterment of the team and for players who had much larger roles with other teams to be happy to just do what was necessary to win at Efes. But that culture starts at the top and Ataman deserves a large share of credit for Efes’s success, not just last season, but for the club’s impressive four-year run.

No team has won more games over the past four seasons than Anadolu Efes Istanbul and that period of time coincides with the first full season of Coach Ergin Ataman’s current reign on the team’s sidelines. Ataman has been the perfect fit for his squad as he combines the confidence his team needed, the ability to get all of his players to buy in and the tactical knowledge necessary to build a juggernaut. And while all of that was also true when Efes won its first crown in 2021, Ataman’s ability to steady the ship through the difficulties of a title defense was even more impressive.

AX Armani Exchange Milan bolstered its frontcourt with the signing of center Brandon Davies to a two-year deal. 

Milan signs star center Davies

AX Armani Exchange Milan bolstered its frontcourt with the signing of center [Brandon Davies](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/brandon-davies/007870/) to a two-year deal. Davies (2.08 meters, 30 years old) spent the past three seasons with FC Barcelona and averaged 9.9 points and 3.7 rebounds in 36 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season. In the last two seasons, Davies helped Barca win the 2021 Spanish League titles, the last two Spanish Copa el Reys and reach the 2021 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">📝 Brandon Davies all&#39;Olimpia: &quot;Felice di essere qui, non vedo l&#39;ora di cominciare&quot; ➡ <a href="https://t.co/oaoWD6bx46">https://t.co/oaoWD6bx46</a><br><br>📝 Brandon Davies is coming to Olimpia: &quot;Excited to be here, I can&#39;t wait to start&quot; ➡ <a href="https://t.co/9a179SBCib">https://t.co/9a179SBCib</a> <br><br>⚪🔴<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/insieme?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#insieme</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WelcomeBrandon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WelcomeBrandon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Brandon_Davies0?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Brandon_Davies0</a> <a href="https://t.co/zoeAhFs9lr">pic.twitter.com/zoeAhFs9lr</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1540262794037235712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Davies started his professional basketball career with Philadelphia and Brooklyn of the NBA and also played for Austin of the G League, Chalon-sur-Saone and AS Monaco in the French League and Pallacanestro Varese in Italy before making his EuroLeague debut with Zalgiris Kaunas in the 2017-18 season. He helped Zalgiris reach the 2018 Final Four and win back-to-back Lithuanian League titles in 2018 and 2019. Davies was named the EuroLeague MVP for April 2018 and was chosen to the 2018-19 All-EuroLeague First Team and the 2020-21 all-EuroLeague Second Team. In 169 EuroLeague career games, Davies has averaged 11.0 points and 4.2 rebounds.

“I’m excited to be here and play for the Italian Champions. I can’t wait to start working, alongside this group of guys. See you all soon.”

Milan signs star center Davies 

Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade finished its 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign. Check this Slide Show with its best 10 pictures! 

Top 10 Photos of the 2021-22 Season: Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade

Nate Wolters - Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade

Dejan Davidovac - Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade

Luka Mitrovic - Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade

Nikola Kalinic - Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade 

Ognjen Dobric - Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade

Austin Hollins - Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade

Nikola Ivanovic - Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade

Aaron White - Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade

Ognjen Kuzmic - Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade

Maik Zirbes - Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade

Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade knocked at the door of the playoffs all the way until the end of its 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign. Check this Zvezda's best 10 pictures of the season! 

Season in review: Olympiacos Piraeus 

### Biggest win

Olympiacos qualified for the Final Four by downing AS Monaco 94-88 in Game 5 of an outstanding playoff series. The Reds, pushed by a sellout crowd, trailed most of the way and were down 80-81 with over 4 minutes left. Kostas Sloukas had 7 points in a 9-2 run that gave Olympiacos control of the game until the final buzzer. Tyler Dorsey sealed the outcome from the three-point line, getting the basketball party started at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. Shaquielle McKissic led the way with 18 points and Thomas Walkup added 17. 

Monaco rallied to the final minute to produce a remarkable comeback in Game 4 and force a final showdown decider. Olympiacos aim to heal the wounds from a frustrating evening and book their Final Four spot.

Olympiacos Piraeus v AS Monaco - Playoffs Game 5 - Highlights

### Biggest highlight

It was chosen as the 7DAYS Magic Moment of the season. Sloukas's game-winning shot against Anadolu Efes Istanbul had everything you look for in a highlight. Efes led 84-85 in overtime and Vasilije Micic missed a shot with 10 seconds left. Sloukas grabbed the rebound and found McKissic, who gave him the ball back in the right corner with 2 seconds remaining. Sloukas faked a shot to get Adrien Moerman to fly past him and then buried the game-winner on the buzzer, much to the delight of thousands of Olympiacos fans in the stands! 

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

### Impressive numbers

Sasha Vezenkov was chosen to the All-EuroLeague First Team for the first time in his career and his great consistency allowed him to earn this achievement. He had a PIR of at least 20 as many as 13 times during the regular season. Vezenkov ranked fifth in that phase in PIR (17.8) and ninth in rebounds (5.6 rpg.) while shooting the ball well from all distances (67.7% 2FG, 38.8% 3FG, 84.0% FT). He was even better in the playoffs, ranking first in rebounds (6.6 rpg.) and fifth in PIR (18.0). Vezenkov was an all-around leader in taking Olympiacos to its first Final Four in five years. 

Sasha Vezenkov enjoyed his finest season as a professional this year to help get Olympiacos back to the Final Four. He led the Reds in both scoring (13.7 ppg.) and rebounding (5.8 rpg.), ranking ninth in the competition in the latter.

2021-22 All-EuroLeague First Team: Sasha Vezenkov, Olympiacos Piraeus

### Bidding farewell

He hinted at it in the Third Place Game; it was probably Georgios Printezis's last EuroLeague showdown. And then after he helped the Reds win the Greek League championship, he confirmed that news. An All-EuroLeague First Team selection in 2016-17, Printezis walks away ranked fourth all-time in scoring (3,599 points), sixth in rebounds (1,452) and seventh in PIR (3,818). Printezis is second on the career charts in two-point shots made (1,194) and games played (375). He helped Olympiacos to five Final Four appearances and win back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. Most famously, he authored one of the most iconic shots in competition history - a last-second, one-handed baseline floater that gave Olympiacos the 2011-12 EuroLeague crown. 

Olympiacos Piraeus had a successful season as it reached the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four for the first time since 2017. Let's take a look back at its outstanding 2021-22 campaign. 

Top photos 2022 Final Four - Re-live Final Four weekend in pictures

Hassan Martin and Shaquielle McKissic - Olympiacos Piraeus - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Chris Singleton - Anadolu Efes Istanbul - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Trophy and Ball, Final Four Belgrade 2022 

Teams Captains photo session - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Noah Penda - U18 PFYM INSEP Paris - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

2022 Final Four Official Press Conference

Nikola Mirotic 2021-22 EuroLeague MVP - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Players FC Barcelona practices - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Felipe Reyes and Adam Hanga - Real Madrid practices - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Nikola Djurisic - U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

One Team session volunteers - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Stark Arena - Final Four Belgrade 2022

FanZone - Final Four Belgrade 2022

EB Institute, Sports Business MBA - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Players Educational Session - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Fans Olympiacos Piraeus - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Kostas Sloukas - Olympiacos Piraeus - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Shane Larkin - Anadolu Efes Istanbul - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Anadolu Efes Istanbul celebrates - Final Four Belgrade 2022 

Guerschon Yabusele - Real Madrid - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Nicolas Laprovittola - FC Barcelona - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Walter Tavares - Real Madrid - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Luka Vudragovic - U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Championship Game Press Conference - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Platinum and Ambassadors Game - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Rodrigue Beaubois - Anadolu Efes Istanbul practices - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Jordi Bertomeu - Final Four Belgrade 2022

One Team Session at FanZone - Final Four Belgrade 2022

U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade champ Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Stark Arena, 3rd place, Barcelona vs. Olympiacos - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Shaquielle McKissic - Olympiacos Piraeus - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Rokas Jokubaitis - FC Barcelona - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Show - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Vincent Poirier - Real Madrid - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Tibor Pleiss - Anadolu Efes Istanbul - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Vasilije Micic MVP - Anadolu Efes Istanbul champ Final Four Belgrade 2022

Anadolu Efes Istanbul champ Final Four Belgrade 2022

Ergin Ataman in Locker Room - Anadolu Efes Istanbul champ Final Four Belgrade 2022

Shane Larkin, Ergin Ataman and Vasilije Micic - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Top photos 2022 Final Four: Re-live Final Four weekend in pictures

Fenerbahce, Akpinar agree on extension

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul guard [Ismet Akpinar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ismet-akpinar/004056/) will remain with the club for at least one more season after the sides agreed to a contract extension on Thursday. Akpinar (1.93 meters, 27 years old) joined Fenerbahce last summer and contributed 4.8 points on 41.7% three-point in 14 EuroLeague games in a reserve role. He raised that to 6.0 points on 45.8% three-point shooting in domestic action to help Fenerbahce win the Turkish championship. 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">İsmet Akpınar bir yıl daha bizimle! 💛💙✍️<br><br>Bu anlaşmanın Kulübümüze ve İsmet Akpınar’a hayırlı olmasını diliyor, oyuncumuzun sarı-lacivertli forma altında zaferlerle dolu bir sezon yaşamasını temenni ediyoruz.<br><br>👉 <a href="https://t.co/CsZAy3DB92">https://t.co/CsZAy3DB92</a> <a href="https://t.co/fW4iedkr0l">pic.twitter.com/fW4iedkr0l</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1539896064878288896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Akpinar, whose brother Mutlu also plays professional basketball, started his career with Hamburg Tigers in his native Germany and played for SC Rist Wedel, ALBA Berlin and ratiopharm Ulm in Germany before joining Besiktas Istanbul in 2019. He finished that season with FC Bayern Munich and played for Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul before signing with Fenerbahce. Akpinar helped ALBA win a German Cup in 2016 and has been a member of the German national team. 

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv is welcoming back forward Guy Pnini after five seasons away. 

Maccabi reunites with Pnini

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv is welcoming back forward [Guy Pnini ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/guy-pnini/lkx/)after five seasons away. Pnini (2.01 meters, 38 years old) signed a one-year deal with the team for which he previously spent eight seasons. A former team captain, Pnini helped Maccabi reach a pair of EuroLeague Final Fours and win the 2014 EuroLeague championship. In 154 career EuroLeague games, all with Maccabi, Pnini made 149 three-pointers and totaled 726 points. He also led Maccabi to three Israeli championships and eight Israeli Cups.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">He&#39;s back! 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FireUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FireUp</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PniniIsBack?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PniniIsBack</a> <a href="https://t.co/49fqgA6Qyx">pic.twitter.com/49fqgA6Qyx</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC (@MaccabitlvBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabitlvBC/status/1539898679838081030?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Pnini spent the past five seasons with Hapoel Holon, which he helped to the Israeli championship last season with 5.7 points per game. He also won the Israeli Cup in 2018 with Holon. Pnini began his career with Maccabi Raanana and later played for Bnei Hasharon and Hapoel Jerusalem before going abroad with FMP Zeleznik in Serbia and Keravnos in Cyprus. Pnini first joined Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2009.

"I am delighted to come back home, to where I grew and learned to play basketball," Pnini told Maccabi's website. "I am excited to once again wear the yellow jersey and meet the fans I Iove so much in the arena. I missed it. I'm sure that it will be a very exciting season."

Real Madrid finished its 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign. Check this Slide Show with its best 10 pictures! 

Top 10 Photos of the 2021-22 Season: Real Madrid

Thomas Heurtel - Real Madrid

Rudy Fernandez - Real Madrid - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Alberto Abalde - Real Madrid

Adam Hanga - Real Madrid - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Gabriel Deck - Real Madrid

Vincent Poirier - Real Madrid

Walter Tavares - Real Madrid

Trey Thompkins - Real Madrid

Jeffery Taylor - Real Madrid

Domestic leagues: ASVEL forces Game 5 in France

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne's dream for a French League three-peat remained alive after beating AS Monaco 68-85 in Game 4 of their best-of-five finals series, tying it at 2-2. The deciding Game 5 will take place in Villeurbanne on Saturday, when either ASVEL will become the first team in more than three decades to win three consecutive titles, or Monaco will win its first ever French League crown.

In this game, ASVEL stormed out of the gate scoring the first 7 points, and opening the game with a 2-12 run during which Elie Okobo had a three-point play. Mike James tried to get Monaco going and scored 7 first-quarter points, but Okobo, David Lighty and James Gist helped ASVEL open 9-22 lead after 10 minutes, then a triple from Chris Jones made it 11-27 early in the second quarter. Paris Lee ended Monaco's drought, before James and Dwayne Bacon scored all points in a 9-0 run to cut it to 23-30. But in the final 3 minutes of the half, William Howard knocked down a pair of three-pointers, including the one that made it 28-41 at halftime.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">💥 LE COEUR DU CHAMPION !!! <br><br>QUEL MATCH DE NOS VILLEURBANNAIS QUI VONT CHERCHER UN GAME 5️⃣ ! <br><br>SOIRÉE DE FOLIE EN PRÉVISION SAMEDI À L&#39;ASTROBALLE ! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LDLCASVEL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LDLCASVEL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FinalesBetclicELITE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FinalesBetclicELITE</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZzsEoHcsaH">pic.twitter.com/ZzsEoHcsaH</a></p>&mdash; LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1539707083922227202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Second half opened with Marcus Knight and Yakuba Ouattara trading triples, before Knight and Williams hit back-to-back threes for the visitors to open 33-52 advantage. The hosts were without a single field goal for exactly 7 minutes, and another three from Howard opened 36-59, and led 38-63 late in the third quarter. James tried to ignite the hosts' offense in the fourth before Alpha Diallo and Paris Lee each knocked down a three-pointer, and James hit back-to-back threes, but Monaco never managed to get within single digits again. James starred with 34 points, and Bacon scored 10 in a losing effort. Knight and Jones paced ASVEL with 19 point apiece. Howard collected 13 points plus 7 rebounds, and Okobo scored 11 points in a victory.

### Final Four drama

No matter how you spin it, Real Madrid's 2021-22 campaign will be remembered by its final two games at the Final Four at Belgrade's Stark Arena. In the semifinals, Real rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to outduel archrival FC Barcelona 83-86. It was a remarkable feat considering Real had lost five straight times against Barcelona going into the game. But Guerschon Yabusele scored 18 points and Sergio Llull added 15, including a key layup with 22 seconds left. Two nights later in a tight championship game against Anadolu Efes Istanbul, Llull scored a layup with 44 seconds to go to get Real within 57-58, but Los Blancos never got the ball back in their hands. It was the fifth championship game since 2013 for Real and its head coach Pablo Laso, but after winning it all in 2015 and 2018, they returned empty-handed on this occasion.

One of basketball's fiercest rivalries embarks on a new chapter as el clásico heads to Belgrade with Barça having overcome Madrid in their last four EuroLeague meetings. Will this play to form or will it be revenge?

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid - Semi-Final - Highlights

### Ups and downs before a playoff sweep

What preceded the Final Four was a bit of a roller-coaster ride for Los Blancos. For the first four months, it seemed like an ordinary season for Real with the team holding first place in early February with only 5 losses after 25 rounds. But Real then went on a pair of four-game losing streaks, including one to end the regular season, forcing the team to finish fourth and face a surging Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the playoffs. But Coach Laso's team put behind those regular-season woes and breezed through the playoffs with three double-digit victories in the best-of-five series. With Yabusele averaging 15.7 points and 5.0 rebounds while off the bench Llull netted 11.7 points per game and Vincent Poirier 10.7 points plus 5.7 rebounds, Real was the only team to sweep in the playoffs this season. It capped the series with a resounding 76-87 win in a packed Menora Mivtachim Arena to return to its first Final Four since 2019.

A dominant display from Real Madrid in the second showdown sees them on the brink of a Final Four spot. They travel to Israel with Maccabi battling to restore their championship-hopes and avoid a 3-0 exit.

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Real Madrid - Playoffs Game 3 - Highlights

### Tavares the paint ruler

Walter Tavares was an All-EuroLeague First Team selection at center for the second consecutive season thanks to his consistent dominance in the paint. Tavares ranked second this season with 7.5 rebounds while finishing as the league leader in offensive rebounding (3.1 per game), and second with 1.7 blocks per game. The Real big man averaged 10.9 points and ranked seventh in two-point accuracy (69.5%), all leading to having the third-highest average PIR (18.4) during the 2021-22 campaign while playing 23 minutes per game. In the final game of the season, Tavares also inked his name in the EuroLeague record books by pulling down 8 offensive rebounds in the championship game, tying the single-game Final Four record.

Walter Tavares heads to his third Final Four after another standout season with Real Madrid. The man dubbed 'Sergeant Swat' has been a major factor at both ends of the floor for Los Blancos and ranked third in the league this season with a career-best PIR of 18.5 per game. Tavares was second in both blocks (1.7 bpg.) and rebounds (7.6 rpg.) and seventh in two-point shooting accuracy (69.5%).

2021-22 All-EuroLeague First Team: Walter Tavares, Real Madrid

### Incredible stat

Real Madrid's greatest strength was its rebounding as it was not only the best rebounding team this season, but one of the best rebounding teams in EuroLeague history. Real led the league with 38.3 rebounds per game, which is the sixth-best average this century and a single-season mark for total rebounds (1,455). The team was especially dominant on the defensive glass, where it shattered previous records. Real averaged 26.5 defensive rebounds per game - a rebound and a half better than the previous single-season record - and became the first team in EuroLeague history with more than 1,000 defensive rebounds for a season. Subsequently, Real allowed the second-fewest offensive rebounds (8.6 per game). Los Blancos dominated under the opponents’ basket, as well. The team ranked second in offensive rebounding (11.8 per game) with a total of 448, the second-most offensive rebounds in a single season ever.

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague runner-up, Real Madrid, had a rollercoaster season. Los Blancos shined in the playoffs and came within a basket from winning it all in Belgrade at the Final Four.

Season in review: Real Madrid

Tribute to the Champs: Rodrigue Beaubois

Beaubois averaged 10.3 points per game during 31 regular-season appearances and once more did so with impressive shooting accuracy. After joining the ’50-40-90’ club the previous campaign, he nearly repeated that feat but was let down by unusually poor free throw shooting as he made 50.9% of two-pointers and 40.7% of three-pointers, but just 67.7% from the foul line.

The veteran shooter’s best performance came in a Round 10 thrashing of Olympiacos Piraeus when he tied his career-high with 29 points on 3-of-4 two-point and 7-of-10 three-point shooting with 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots contributing to a PIR of 33. His best run of form came during a crucial run of games as the regular season approached its climax: between Rounds 24 and 28, Efes won four games out of five to seal its recovery from a slow start to the season and jump into the playoffs places for good, and Beaubois was instrumental as he averaged 15.6 points per game, making 51.5% of three-point attempts in the process.

Tribute to the Champs: Rodrigue Beaubois 

Tribute to the Champs Rodrigue Beaubois.mp4

A particularly memorable occasion came in Round 28 and the red-hot environment of a local derby against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Efes led by 22 points in the third quarter before Fenerbahce rallied to make it a single-digit game, but Beaubois exploded with 16 points in the final period alone, including a three-pointer and decisive free throws in the final 90 seconds, to secure an exciting 84-79 victory.

Unfortunately, Beaubois was hampered by injuries during the latter stages of the season and was consequently unable to make much impact during the playoffs or the Final Four, but his consistent excellence during the regular season meant that he had more than played his part in Efes’s title glory.

The man with the nickname ‘Roddy Buckets’ lived up to that moniker once again, delivering another points-filled season to help Anadolu Efes Istanbul successfully defend the crown.

News

Tribute to the Champs: Rodrigue Beaubois

Article

Season in review: Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Article

Tribute to the Champs: Ergin Ataman

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