Olympiacos wins opening game in Greek finals

Olympiacos Piraeus struck first in the Greek League finals with an 84-89 victory over freshly crowned Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens. The Reds took over with a big second-quarter run and never trailed in the second half. Thomas Walkup led six Olympiacos scorers in double figures with 17 points and 5 assists. Nigel Williams-Goss added 16 points and Nikola Milutinov dominated the paint with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. Kostas Papanikolaou and Shaq McKissic contributed 11 points each and Filip Petrusev 10. Kendrick Nunn scored 21 to lead the Greens, Kostas Sloukas netted 16 with 5 assists and Mathias Lessort posted 14 points and 7 rebounds in defeat.

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">Final 🏀 Basket League - Finals - Game 1: Παναθηναϊκός ΑΚΤΟΡ - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> 84-89 (40&#39;) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAOOLY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAOOLY</a> <a href="https://t.co/qX9EWUEHII">pic.twitter.com/qX9EWUEHII</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1798447997602378151?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The game had early swings as Milutinov’s three-point play punctuated a 9-18 start for the Reds. Back-to-back threes by Sloukas triggered a response as Panathinaikos rallied to within 17-19 after 10 minutes and Nunn gave the Greens the lead with a triple to open the second quarter. Petrusev netted 6 points in a 0-11 Olympiacos run that made 31-40 and a Milutinov slam pushed the margin to double figures. The margin stood at 37-46 at the break.

Juancho Hernangomez scored 5 straight points in the third quarter to bring Panathinaikos within 56-59, but Olympiacos responded quickly and Williams-Goss free throws at the end of the quarter left the visitors up 56-66. Threes by Walkup and Kostas Papanikolaou made it 57-72. Nunn heated up to breathe new life into the game and Sloukas got Panathinaikos within 3 in the closing seconds, but free throws by Walkup sealed the win for Olympiacos.

### Lithuania: Zalgiris falls to Rytas in OT in Game 1

Rytas Vilnius upset Zalgiris Kaunas 88-89 after overtime in the opening game of the Lithuanian League finals at Zalgirio Arena in Kaunas. Gytis Radzevicius made the go-ahead three for Rytas with 2 minutes left and – though Lukas Lekavicius and Dovydas Giedraitis twice brought the hosts within 1 – Zalgiris ran out of time to catch up. Radzevicius led five Rytas scorers in double figures with 19 points, Justin Gorham tallied 15 points and grabbed 9 rebounds and R.J. Cole also scored 15 to for the winners. Lekavicius paced Zalgiris with 21 points, Giedraitis added 16 and Laurynas Birutis 14. Rytas hosts Game 2 of the best-of-three series on Friday.

World-famous actor Bill Murray was present for the 2024 EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin, and he enjoyed it greatly.

The story of how Bill Murray attended the Final Four

The first semifinal at the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four was coming to an end and there was a commotion outside Berlin’s Uber Arena. Alongside fans eager to get in to watch Real Madrid and Olympiacos Piraeus lock horns, there was a VIP who had decided to show up on the off chance there was a spare ticket. That person was Bill Murray.

The 73-year-old had been made aware that the Final Four was taking place in Berlin thanks to his son, Luke, who is an assistant coach for the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team, the reigning back-to-back NCAA champions. Once Murray arrived at Uber Arena, the Euroleague Basketball staff acted quickly to accommodate the star of such movies as “Ghostbusters”, “Groundhog Day” and “Space Jam”.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bill Murray enjoying the Final 4 👏 <a href="https://t.co/5mvoli4Keb">pic.twitter.com/5mvoli4Keb</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1794067899004436907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Fortunately for Mr. Murray, there were two Olympiacos courtside seats that were available – enough for Bill and his guest, fellow actor Marshall Bell. By the time they got comfortable, Real and Olympiacos’s semifinal clash was underway. *Los Blancos* were able to rush out to a 28-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and remained ahead the rest of the way, eventually winning 87-76. Speaking to the EuroLeague afterward, Murray was taken aback by the passion of the supporters.

“That’s some serious volume, that’s some real good noise,” said Murray. “I love that noise. That’s great noise. I’m a basketball lover. I don’t know either of these teams, but I’ve heard that they’re fun to watch. There are some great players, of course. It was a kick.”

Marshall Bell (left), Bill Murray (center) and Misko Raznatovic (right) in attendance at the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four

For Murray, attending the Final Four was a good way to let his hair down. After all, he was temporarily based in Potsdam – about an hour’s drive from Berlin – shooting a new Wes Anderson movie, “The Phoenician Scheme”, with fellow actors Benicio del Toro and Michael Cera, so it was a good opportunity to watch the sport he loves and get a taste of the passion of a EuroLeague game.

With Friday’s semifinals in the books, Murray didn’t hesitate when it came to returning for championship game day on Sunday. As he made his way into Uber Arena ahead of the third-place game, Murray once again stopped to speak with the EuroLeague.

“I hadn’t heard enough about it because it’s much more exciting in person,” he declared. “Even getting into the stadium is a lot of laughs. It’s hilarious just to come through the singing crowds and all the people who are very, very excited, very emotional. They sing through the whole game, they shout through the whole game. The game is more physical I think than the NBA game, it’s a lot more physical game. I’m looking for a close game. So far, the games haven’t been close. I want a dogfight. I want to see a dogfight.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bill Murray on his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F4GLORY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F4GLORY</a> and EuroLeague basketball experience so far 🔉 <a href="https://t.co/e8HNc2CxAa">pic.twitter.com/e8HNc2CxAa</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1794772796813525291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Courtside, Murray was able to once again chat with Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen, as he did on the Friday. The three VIPs were then treated to a fascinating third-place game between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, which finished 87-84 in the Reds’ favor, but Murray could not hang around for the championship game as he had filming commitments on the Monday.

Murray has been able to see what NCAA and NBA basketball is like back in the United States, but his time at the EuroLeague Final Four is something he won’t forget any time soon. The passion, the fans, the basketball – he enjoyed it all.

The legendary Bill Murray is a self-confessed “basketball lover”, so what better place to be than the EuroLeague Final Four?

Actor Bill Murray and Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke with one another at the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

Basketball fans were stunned to see the world-famous actor in Berlin

Real Madrid v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-05-24T19:00:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-05-24T16:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-05-26T18:00:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-05-26T15:00:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade re-signed swingman Rokas Giedraitis after a successful first season together

Zvezda re-signs Rokas Giedraitis

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade re-signed swingman [Rokas Giedraitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rokas-giedraitis/006436/) after a successful first season together. The contract will keep them together through the 2025-26 season. Giedraitis (2.00 meters, 31 years old) averaged 10.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in 34 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season. It was his fifth EuroLeague campaign with three different clubs. He previously suited up in the EuroLeague for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and ALBA Berlin.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Contract extension! 🔒<br><br>Rokas Giedraitis will stay with red and whites for 2 more seasons! 🔴⚪️<br><br>Košarkaš Crvene zvezde Meridianbet Rokas Giedraitis produžio je vernost crveno-belima na još dve sezone!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CrvenoBelaPorodica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CrvenoBelaPorodica</a> <a href="https://t.co/OV6vaFhe4t">pic.twitter.com/OV6vaFhe4t</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1798336489555960160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Prior to his EuroLeague debut in 2019, Giedraitis established himself in the BKT EuroCup. Despite largely having a bench role during his three seasons with Lithuanian club Rytas Vilnius, he increased his numbers year on year. Then he moved to ALBA, where he posted 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.6 steals and a 15.8 PIR as the German club reached the 2019 EuroCup Finals. That year, the Lithuania international was named to the All-EuroCup First Team.

Earlier in his career, Giedraitis suited up for Saule-Aukstabalis Siauliai (2010-11), the University of Siauliai-ABRO Siauliai (2011-12), Mazeikiai (2012-13) and Siauliai (2013-15), all of which are in his native Lithuania. Giedraitis trophy case includes championship in Germany and the ABA League and national cups in Lithuania, Germany and Serbia.

The contract will keep them together through the 2025-26 season

Thanks to the Walk15 app, Final Four attendees were able to reduce their carbon footprint in Berlin

Basketball fans went the extra mile at the 2024 Final Four

Euroleague Basketball always encourages sustainable modes of transport in and out of the arenas, particularly at the Final Four, as thousands of fans embark upon one city. This year, in Berlin, Germany, Euroleague Basketball united with the Walk15 app once again to help basketball fans track how many steps they have done in the Walking Challenge, while the introduction of the Biking Challenge meant they could track their distance covered .

This was an invitation to basketball fans and citizens to walk to the Final Four facilities and around the world, which further allowed them to get to know the city better at the same time. This helped with ensuring individuals understood the importance to use these sustainable mobility alternatives and take action on achieving healthy habits, which have benefits for both them and the planet.

Over the course of the Final Four, the Final Four volunteers were encouraged to move around Berlin in a sustainable way through a dedicated Walking Challenge organized for them, while they were also provided with public transportation passes to be used during the event, if needed.

There were 11,142 fans from over 45 countries across the world who signed up for the Final Four sustainable mobility challenges. Altogether, they recorded 184,043,130 steps in the Walking Challenge and 11,070km in the Biking Challenge over the course of three days – from Friday, May 24, to Sunday, May 26. 

When you combine those two sets of numbers together – the combined steps from the Walking Challenge and the kilometers from the Biking Challenge – that’s the equivalent of walking and biking around the world five times, which helped save 25,066 kilograms of carbon emissions at this year's EuroLeague Final Four. Across the last two Final Fours, the initiative of One Team and #Walk15 has led to 54,539 kilograms of carbon emissions being avoided.

Real Madrid Baloncesto followed a trend that has seen the No. 1 seed in the EuroLeague fail to win the title.

The first-place curse lives on

The wind was well and truly in Real Madrid’s sails coming into the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four. Chus Mateo’s squad had set a new EuroLeague record for wins in the regular season by going 27-7, which saw them wrap up first place in the process, and then swept Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the playoffs. It looked like the infamous first-place curse was going to come to an abrupt end.

Even more so after Real managed to beat Olympiacos Piraeus 87-76 in the semifinals, having led the entire game. A shot at back-to-back EuroLeague titles was in play as *Los Blancos* prepared to take on Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in the championship game, and things looked good at halftime, with Real leading 54-49. However, the 2023 champion was limited to just 26 second-half points as [the Greens flipped the script to come away with an 80-95 triumph](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/championship-game-live-real-madrid-vs-panathinaikos/).

For the first time since the current competition format was introduced in 2016, the top two teams from the regular season meet in the final. Real Madrid topped the standings after winning its first 10 games and finished with a 27-7 mark, while Panathinaikos soared late to place second at 23-11.

Real-Panathinaikos | Championshp Game Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

What that meant is that the first-place curse lives on. You would have to think that if a Real side that looked almost unstoppable all season long couldn’t break the spell, then who can? Ever since the introduction of the current round-robin format in the 2016-17 season, no leader at the end of the regular season has lifted the EuroLeague trophy in late May.

Curiously, the best positions to finish when it comes to winning the EuroLeague have been second, third or fifth, as there have been two winners from each of these spots over the last seven years. Panathinaikos (2023-24) and CSKA Moscow (2018-19) both became the champions after coming second, Real Madrid (2022-23) and Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2020-21) did so after finishing third, and Real (2017-18) and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2016-17) won it all as the fifth seed. In 2021-22, Efes secured its second successive EuroLeague title after being sixth at the end of the regular season.

Leading the standings at the end of the regular season has even had a negative impact on reaching the championship game for a few years, with FC Barcelona becoming the first No. 1 seed to make it to the title decider in 2021. That came after Real (2017), CSKA (2018) and Fenerbahce (2019) lost in the semifinals. Barcelona ended up suffering that fate in 2022, but Olympiacos (2023) and Real (2024) both got to the championship game, before losing.

One would assume that having the best record in the regular season would be the best recipe for winning the EuroLeague title, but as we have seen over the last seven years, sometimes it makes sense to finish second, third... or even fifth or sixth.

Real Madrid's Walter Tavares reacts to a play during the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game against Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens.

Since the round-robin format was introduced in 2016-17, no top overall seed has lifted the EuroLeague Trophy

Turk Telekom BK has confirmed the signing of Anthony Brown.

Turk Telekom adds small forward Anthony Brown

One day after bringing back head coach Erdem Can, Turk Telekom Ankara has confirmed the signing of small forward Anthony Brown, the club announced Wednesday. Brown (1.99 meters, 31 years old) arrives from Bursaspor, where he averaged 16.6 points on 40.5% three-point shooting, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 30 Turkish League games last season. 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Anthony Brown Türk Telekom&#39;da ✍👏<br><br>Geçtiğimiz sezonu Bursaspor İnfo Yatırım takımıyla başarıyla geçiren Anthony Brown’u renklerimize bağladık. Welcome to family, Anthony Brown.🔥 <a href="https://t.co/YCCvxioDOg">pic.twitter.com/YCCvxioDOg</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1798273932984004650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He started his professional basketball career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA, and also played for Los Angeles, Erie Bay, Iowa and Lakeland Magic of the G League. His NBA journey also saw him suit up for the New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves, before he began his European adventure.

On the old continent, Brown has suited up for Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in Serbia, Limoges CSP and Boulogne Metropolitans in France, Maccabi Rishon Le-Zion in Israel and UNICS Kazan in Russia. 

He brings in plenty of BKT EuroCup experience, as Brown averaged 10.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 32 games with Partizan, Limoges, Metropolitans and Bursaspor. He also helped UNICS win the VTB League title in 2023 and was previously a member of the USA U19 national team. 

More Turk Telekom News

Anthony Brown in action for Bursaspor in the FIBA Basketball Champions League (PHOTO: FIBA).

The Turkish club is already putting its team together for next season

 Final Four Fans in photos 

The fans had photo opportunities with the trophy at the Fanzone in Kraftwerk

Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman takes a selfie with some young fans!

The Olympiacos proud filled the stands with red

Panathinaikos fans were some of the noisiest and certainly the happiest when it all ended!

Real Madrid fans ready to cheer for their team at the Final Four

More Panathinaikos fans before going inside the Uber Arena

The Real Madrid Berserkers follow the team everywhere it goes

Fenerbahce fans posing proud in front of the Uber Arena

The noisy Panathinaikos crowd doing its thing

Fenerbahce fans making osme noise for their team

A nice gathering of fans from different teams enjoying the Final Four weekend

The support of thousands of Panathinaikos fans was one of the key factors for the Greens to take their seventh European crown

Communion between Panathinaikos fans and players after winning the title!

Just like every year, the absolute protagonists of the Final Four were the fans that flocked to Berlin to cheer for their favorite teams. Here are some of the best images!

The Final Four fans in pictures

Turk Telekom Ankara is reuniting with head coach Erdem Can, whose lone season at the club’s helm was a success for all involved. 

Turk Telekom, Coach Erdem Can reunite

Turk Telekom Ankara is reuniting with head coach [Erdem Can](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/ttk/can-erdem/?season=U2022), whose lone season at the club’s helm was a success for all involved. Can was the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Coach of the Year in a season that saw him guide Turk Telekom to that season's EuroCup Final and the Turkish League semifinals.

Can made his head coaching debut in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague last season with Anadolu Efes Istanbul, where he went 9-15 before being relieved of his duties in early February.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Evine hoş geldin Erdem Can! ✍️👏<br><br>Türk Telekom Basketbol ailesi olarak, yeniden Başantrenörümüz olan Erdem Can&#39;a başarılar diliyor, birlikte koşacağımız zaferler için sabırsızlanıyoruz! 💙🤍<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreHereForaReason?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreHereForaReason</a> <a href="https://t.co/8LmEE5UV9a">pic.twitter.com/8LmEE5UV9a</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1798036998525186156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Coach Can’s career until now

The Ankara native began his coaching career in 2008 as an assistant at Turk Telekom for two years. From there, he took the reigns as head coach for the first time at Turkish First Division club Olin Edirne, where he remained between 2010 and 2012. Ahead of the 2012-13 campaign, Can agreed to become an assistant again, this time at Fenerbahce Istanbul.

In his first season at the club, he worked under Simone Pianigiani and Ertugrul Erdogan, before learning from legendary coach Zeljko Obradovic for the next seven years. Alongside Obradovic, Can became a EuroLeague champion in 2017. The final Fenerbahce head coach that Can assisted was Igor Kokoskov in the 2020-21 season.

He departed Fenerbahce to become an assistant for Quin Snyder at the Utah Jazz. After one season in the NBA, Can returned home to become Turk Telekom's head coach.

With Turk Telekom Ankara on the brink of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, head coach Erdem Can has been rewarded for his impressive coaching performances this season by being named the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Coach of the Year.

7DAYS EuroCup Coach of the Year: Erdem Can, Turk Telekom Ankara

Can led the club to the EuroCup Final in 2023

Turk Telekom, head coach Erdem Can reunite

AS Monaco defeated BKT EuroCup champion Paris Basketball 90-80 in the opening game of the best-of-five French League finals on Tuesday night behind 31 points from EuroLeague MVP Mike James.

Mike James leads Monaco to Game 1 win in French finals

AS Monaco defeated BKT EuroCup champion Paris Basketball 90-80 in the opening game of the best-of-five French League finals on Tuesday night behind 31 points from EuroLeague MVP Mike James. Monaco used a monster second quarter to open 46-30 halftime lead, with James throwing in 21 points in the first half. The margin grew to the 24 midway through the third quarter before Paris trimmed the deficit in the last 10 minutes.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">📽 Les highlights de ce match 1️⃣ électrique 🆚️ <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParisBasketball</a> 💥<br><br>📺 <a href="https://twitter.com/LNBofficiel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LNBofficiel</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/lachainelequipe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lachainelequipe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FinalesBetclicELITE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FinalesBetclicELITE</a> <a href="https://t.co/sggZ4oGfRn">pic.twitter.com/sggZ4oGfRn</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1798072026894364701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Elie Okobo contributed 15 points off the bench for Monaco, Jaron Blossomgame added 13 points and 6 rebounds and Alpha Diallo netted 10 points for the winners. Nadir Hifi led the Paris attack with 18 points, TJ Shorts tallied 17 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists and Justin Simon contributed 11 points and 6 rebounds in defeat.

The series against Paris continues with Game 2 in Monaco on Thursday

Let's take a look back at some of the biggest upsets at the EuroLeague Final Four in the 21st century, in chronological order.

A chronology of Final Four upsets

Real Madrid entered the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game with a 31-7 record. However, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens won the crown, upsetting Real 80-95 to claim the seventh star on its jersey. Let's take a look back at some of the biggest Final Four upsets in the 21st century, in chronological order.

The Euroleague had a new champion, and it was none other than Panathinaikos! The Greens triumphed 83-89 over Kinder Bologna on its own court in the Euroleague Final in a thriller that should go down as one of the great title games in history.

2002 EuroLeague Final: Kinder Bologna vs. Panathinaikos

### Obradovic makes it happen

Back in 2002, Kinder Bologna - now Virtus Segafredo Bologna - was the heavy favorite for many reasons. It was the competition's original champion, hosted the Final Four and had an all-around strong team led by Manu Ginobili, Marko Jaric, Sani Becirovic and Matjaz Smodis. 

Panathinaikos had other ideas and head coach Zeljko Obradovic offered a master class, running his offense through backup center Lazaros Papadopoulos to rally from a 14-point deficit and make it a close game. Then Dejan Bodiroga and Ibrahim Kutluay stepped up to lead the Greens to an 83-89 win. To this date, Panathinaikos remains the only team to win a championship game on its opponent's home court.

Tau Ceramica provided one of the biggest surprises ever in the Euroleague Final Four by beating mighty CSKA 78-85 in the second semifinal of the Final Four in the Olympiysky Arena.

CLASSIC GAME: 2005 EuroLeague Semi Final: CSKA Moscow vs Tau Cermica

### The biggest upset

CSKA Moscow had an outstanding 2004-05 season, smashing records and reaching the Final Four in the Russian capital with just one loss in 20 games. Led by Theo Papaloukas, J.R. Holden, Marcus Brown and David Andersen, CSKA seemed unstoppable, but a fiesty Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz - then Tau Ceramica - stood in the way.

Arvydas Macijauskas led the way with 23 points, including a game-clinching catch-and-shoot three-pointer for the ages. Jose Manuel Calderon had 13 points and Kornel David tallied 11 with 12 rebounds as Tau won 78-85 in Moscow. It wasn't a happy ending for Tau, which was then defeated by Maccabi in the championship game.

In arguably one of the most thrilling title games ever seen in European club basketball, CSKA Moscow won the Euroleague crown for the first time in 35 years and ended Maccabi Tel Aviv's dynasty with a 73-69 victory in the final in front of almost 17,000 fans

CLASSIC GAME: 2006 EuroLeague Final: CSKA Moscow vs Maccabi Elite

### Three-peat interrupted

A year later, Maccabi was looking for a threepeat with most of the same roster that won consecutive EuroLeague titles in 2004 and 2005. Willie Solomon had replaced Sarunas Jasikevicius, but Anthony Parker, Nikola Vujcic, Maceo Baston and Tal Burstein remained with the team. 

After leading 51-32 at halftime en route to beating Baskonia 85-70 in the semifinals, everyone expected a third consecutive title at Sazka Arena in Prague, Czechia. Instead, CSKA claimed its first EuroLeague title in 35 years, beating Maccabi 73-69 behind 18 points and a PIR of 28 (one short of his career-high) from 2006 Final Four MVP Theo Papaloukas.

In a game for the ages, Olympiacos Piraeus came from 19 down in the third quarter to stun CSKA Moscow 61-62 and become the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion.

CLASSIC GAME: 2012 EuroLeague Final: CSKA Moscow vs Olympiacos Piraeus

### A comeback for the ages

The 2012 EuroLeague championship game seemed to be over. CSKA had put together one of its strongest rosters ever, led by Andrei Kirilenko, Nenad Krstic and Milos Teodosic. It led 53-34 late in the third quarter and held a 59-52 edge with over 3 minutes left. 

Kostas Papanikolaou brought his team within 61-60 and the rest is history: former MVP Ramunas Siskauskas missed twice from the line with 9.7 seconds left and then Vassilis Spanoulis found Georgios Printezis for his trademark one-handed floater off the baseline. CSKA did not score on its last possession. Spanoulis scored 15 points and was chosen as the 2012 Final Four MVP as Olympiacos won in come-from-behind fashion!

The city of Milan was painted yellow on Sunday as Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv bested Real Madrid 98-86 in overtime for its sixth European championship!

CLASSIC GAME: 2014 EuroLeague Final: Real Madrid vs Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv

### Not one, but two upsets

Maccabi entered the 2014 Final Four with a 19-9 record, with CSKA Moscow (22-7) and Real Madrid (24-5) as the heavy favorites. In the semifinals, CSKA led 55-40 late in the third quarter and held a 67-63 lead with 19.2 seconds left. David Blu hit a three-pointer, then stole the ball at the other end and fed Tyrese Rice for the game-winning layup. 

Two days later, for the first time in 45 years, the championship game between Real and Maccabi went to overtime. Rice scored 14 of his 26 points in overtime to lead Maccabi to an 86-98 victory in front of a sea of yellow fans at the Forum in Milan, Italy. Real had three All-EuroLeague players that season in Rudy Fernandez, Nikola Mirotic and MVP Sergio Rodriguez, and it had beaten FC Barcelona 62-100 in the semifinals... but it was not enough. 

Recalling times when the heavy favorites did not leave the Final Four with a trophy


EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge: 2023-24 season winners

Congratulations to Ilias Preveza of Greece on winning the 2023-24 [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home)! Ilias finished atop the pack with his team NEW ENTRY, which tallied 7,633.00 fantasy points, nearly 100 more than anybody else! As our overall winner, Ilias has earned a one-of-a-kind trip for himself and a friend to the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four including flights, four nights at a hotel and VIP tickets. Ilias also won a EuroLeague TV VIP Subscription for the 2024-25 Season to follow all games live or on-demand.

Nikolas Dimitropoulos was second overall with 7,538.43 fantasy points, followed by Aykut Kadioglu (7,524.95), Georgios Makris (7,494.65) and Giannis Papagiannopoulos (7,467.96). Ivan Jelenkovic won the lottery for the managers with the most points in each of the 34 regular-season rounds. Ivan's team Tara 2016 2, the Round 18 winner, won two tickets to the 2025 Final Four and a EuroLeague TV Subscription for the 2024-25 Season!

Here is a list of winners and their respective prizes:

#### 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season WINNER

**NEW ENTRY - Ilias Preveza, Greece**

\- Winner and friend will be Euroleague Basketball's VIP guests at the 2025 Final Four - including Flights, four nights at a hotel and VIP tickets

\- 1x EuroLeague TV VIP Subscription for the 2024-25 Season

#### 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, second place

**6 estrellas ☘️ - Nikolas Dimitropoulos, Greece**

\- 10x Regular season game tickets for the 2024-25 season of winner’s choice (based on availability)

\- 1x EuroLeague jersey of winner’s choice

\- 1x EuroLeague TV VIP subscription for the 2024-25 season

\- 1x official EuroLeague Spalding basketball

#### 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, third place

**JamieFraser - Aykut Kadioglu, Turkiye**

\- 8x Regular season game tickets for the 2024-25 season of winner’s choice (based on availability)

\- 1x EuroLeague jersey of winner’s choice

\- 1x EuroLeague TV VIP subscription for the 2024-25 season

\- 1x official EuroLeague Spalding basketball

#### 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, fourth place

**Next Big Thing - Georgios Makris, Greece**

\- 6x Regular season game tickets for the 2024-25 season of winner’s choice (based on availability)

\- 1x EuroLeague jersey of winner’s choice

\- 1x EuroLeague TV VIP subscription for the 2024-25 season

#### 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, fifth place

**Rodos13 - Giannis Papagiannopoulos, Greece**

\- 4x Regular season game tickets for the 2024-25 season of winner’s choice (based on availability)

\- 1x EuroLeague jersey of winner’s choice

\- 1x EuroLeague TV VIP subscription for the 2024-25 season

#### Rounds Winners Lottery (lottery only exclusive to regular season round winners, 34 participants)

**Tara 2016 2 - Ivan Jelenkovic, Serbia (Regular Season Round 18 winner)**

\- 2x Tickets to the 2025 Final Four

\- 1x EuroLeague TV subscription for the 2024-25 season

The EuroLeague Final Four is the perfect place for One Team to demonstrate the way in which it impacts lives all year round. Between Thursday, May 23, and Sunday, May 26, One Team hosted a series of events that positively impacted the community and good causes.

 

To kick things off, One Team put on a session for the Final Four volunteers on Thursday to help them understand just what the program represents while creating a bond between one another ahead of the event. The volunteers took part in a typical One Team session, which included five stations in which different activities were carried out by ALBA Berlin’s One Team Coaches and Manager, in addition to three Final Four Ambassadors in Joe Arlauckas, Patrick Femerling and David Rivers.

 

 

“Of the weekend that I spend here, we do so many things,” reflected Joe Arlauckas. “I always work with the volunteers on the first day and \[the Final Four Ambassadors session\] is always the last day. They’re two special days, really. \[The Final Four Ambassadors session\] is the most special for me because this is the way I started with the EuroLeague, with One Team. Every time I hear that they started in 2012 and I joined in 2014, it makes me feel more of a part of it. The most important thing is it’s a way for us to give back. Everybody talks about giving back, but sometimes there’s not a way to give back. One Team gives us that opportunity.”

 

The following day, Lisa Tetzner Schule elementary school took center stage as One Team and BKT came together to unveil a refurbished court. Once the unveiling was done, it was time for the fun to begin. The schoolkids, who are socially disadvantaged children in a socio-economically challenging environment, were able to witness a spectacular breakdancing display, before joining in for some One Team activities featuring Final Four Ambassadors Femerling and Heiko Schaffartzik. There were so many smiles on the kids’ faces, and they now have an improved basketball court that they can make the most of.

 

“The most important thing is that the kids feel great,” commented Patrick Femerling. “I think they had fun, and we always have fun. Every year we do it, every time we do it, it’s something special. We are one society and One Team.”

 

On Saturday morning, One Team took over Kraftwerk, the location for the Final Four FanZone, by putting on a session for ALBA’s One Team participants that featured players from all four Final Four clubs. Present at the event were: Juancho Hernangomez and Kostas Antetokounmpo from Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, Eli Ndiaye from Real Madrid, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul duo Nigel Hayes-Davis and Georgios Papagiannis, and Olympiacos Piraeus pair Kostas Papanikolaou and Giannoulis Larentzakis. They joined in with the on-court activities, which were led by ALBA’s One Team Coaches, then the session came to a close with an exhibition game for fun that saw the players and participants mixed together across two teams.

Championship game day saw another One Team session at Kraftwerk, only this time it featured the Final Four Ambassadors and participants from Special Olympics Germany. ALBA’s One Team Coaches once again prepared the on-court drills, with the Final Four Ambassadors and participants getting familiar with one another before an exhibition game closed the session. The playful nature of the exhibition game led to some laughs, too, as Joe Arlauckas – playing for the team in the black bibs – tried to steal any player who was making shots for the orange team, leaving Femerling and Felipe Reyes’s side shorthanded. Nevertheless, the orange team came out on top and everyone came together one last time in a circle before shouting “One Team”. Once the session had come to an end, the Final Four Ambassadors posed for photos and signed autographs for the participants from Special Olympics Germany. The Final Four Ambassadors who were present were: Joe Arlauckas, Patrick Femerling, Felipe Reyes, Ramunas Siskauskas, Jonas Maciulis, Igor Rakocevic and David Rivers.

 

“This is what it’s really all about at the end of the day, giving these kids a moment of joy where they can be active and express themselves with the ambassadors of EuroLleague One Team,” said David Rivers. “This is really what’s most important during this week, really. The games are great, but what One Team does is immeasurable, the impact it has on local communities and projects and events like this.”

 

“These types of events are very nice for us former basketball players that can play a little with the guys from Special Olympics Germany and One Team,” noted Felipe Reyes. “We are very happy to be here to spend some time having fun and, above all, seeing them so happy.”

 

“I always say that it’s a very good session, a very good event,” stated Ramunas Siskauskas. “It’s very important for everybody – for the kids, for Euroleague \[Basketball\], for us. We all are One Team, so I think these words say everything.”

 

“This participation in Euroleague \[Basketball\]’s One Team is very important,” said Jonas Maciulis. “It’s important for the kids. It’s very nice to be part of it for us as ex-players because we understand that this participation is needed. We have to give our contribution to communities.”

 

A few hours after the Final Four Ambassadors and Special Olympics Germany participants took over the court on the upper floor of Kraftwerk, another collaboration between One Team and BKT saw a bike donation event take place. The joint venture saw 30 bikes donated to ALBA Berlin’s One Team program and to Special Olympics Germany, with the aim being to encourage healthy habits and promote sustainable mobility for communities in Berlin.

 

“Thank you so much for this four-year collaboration with One Team,” said Marco Santin, sponsorships specialist at BKT. “And a special thank you to ALBA Berlin and Special Olympics for accepting the BKT bikes. We love the fact that together we are able to foster a positive and concrete change with this donation."

 

“All of this is thanks to BKT,” added Abigail Martin, Director of Sustainability and Development Projects at Euroleague Basketball. “We’ve been in partnership for four years and it’s all built on communities and everything One Team stands for. So the fact we have a partner like BKT that deeply supports our goals is amazing.”

 

Basketball fans from all over the world were able to see a couple of One Team activities during the two showpiece events on Sunday, too. First, during halftime of the ANGT Championship Game at Uber Eats Music Hall, Euroleague Basketball invited ALBA’s One Team participants to take part in a One Team drill, accompanied by one player from each ANGT participant team apart from the two finalists. They participated in an activity in front of the crowd, which allowed for a powerful and inclusive experience. The main purpose of this activation was to show to these young players the importance to be close to their local communities and become not only a professional player but also a role model.

 

Then, between the first and second quarter of the EuroLeague Championship Game at Uber Arena, ALBA’s One Team participants and athletes from Special Olympics Germany went onto the court alongside Final Four Ambassadors for an unforgettable moment of recognition and a family picture.

A number of activities took place in Berlin, Germany

One Team left its mark at the 2024 Final Four

Top 10 photos of the ANGT Finals

Egor Demin of U18 Real Madrid was one of the main protagonists in his team's success in Berlin

Jack Kayil of U18 Mega MIS Belgrade flies for the block

Nolan Traore of U18 PFBB INSEP Paris shined throughout the tournament as expected of one of Europe's top prospects

Diego Caravaglia of U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan shows his prowess on defense

Meissa Faye of Paris flies for a dunk against U18 ALBA Berlin

Isaac Ellis of U18 Overtime Elite had a monster game against ALBA with 25 points

Ognjen Srzentic of Mega had his best game of the weekend against U18 ratiopharm Ulm

Hugo Gonzalez led Real to the title and he earned tournament MVP honors in the process

Jordan Mueller of Ulm tries to hit the fadeaway shot against the Milan defense

Big man Sayon Keita of U18 FC Barcelona puts one of the 6 blocks he had during his three games

One more year, running parallel to the Final Four, the ANGT Finals took place in Berlin. The Uber Eats Hall, right next door to Uber Arena, hosted the tournament between eight teams that shocased some of the best basketball prospects on the planet.

The ANGT Finals weekend in photos

Crvena Zvezda Meridian Bet Belgrade took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Serbian League finals against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade after holding on for a dramatic 89-88 win on Monday night at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall. Game 2, hosted by Partizan, is scheduled for Wednesday at Belgrade Arena.

Zvezda edges Partizan in Serbian League finals opener

Crvena Zvezda Meridian Bet Belgrade took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Serbian League finals against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade after holding on for a dramatic 89-88 win on Monday night at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall. Game 2, hosted by Partizan, is scheduled for Wednesday at Belgrade Arena.

Zvezda grabbed an early 10-point lead behind Yago Dos Santos, who nailed three three-pointers in the opening quarter, but Partizan rallied behind Aleksa Avramovic, and had a slim 51-52 lead at halftime. The hosts went up again in the third as Dejan Davidovac took over, and opened a 71-62 lead, but Avramovic was at a center of another rally.

With Dos Santos and Nemanja Nedovic both getting injured for Zvezda, teams traded blows with the hosts remaining ahead. Partizan had a final possession and 8 seconds to win the game, but the ball went to Zach LeDay who missed a short jumper in traffic and Zvezda prevailed for its seventh consecutive win over Partizan in all competitions.

Davidovac finished with 23 points and 9 rebounds, while Dos Santos had 18 points and 7 assists. Rokas Giedraitis and Luka Mitrovic each finished with 12 points in a victory. For Partizan, Avramovic had 20 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds, Danilo Andjusic scored 17 while Jaleen Smith netted 14 in defeat.

 

Milwaukee Bucks and NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo had a great time as he attended the EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin, Germany.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had a Final Four experience to remember

Sitting courtside for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Semifinals and Championship Game were some of the biggest names on the planet and perhaps none more so than Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Once it became clear that his younger brother, [Kostas Antetokounmpo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-antetokounmpo/011221/), would be competing at the Final Four in Berlin with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, Giannis didn’t hesitate in booking a trip to attend the games at Uber Arena.

After all, the Bucks’ exit from the NBA Playoffs provided a golden opportunity for the “Greek Freak” to see some EuroLeague basketball up close and personal. Come Sunday night, the two Antetokounmpo brothers were able to come together in celebration as [the Greens won their first EuroLeague title in 13 years](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/championship-game-live-real-madrid-vs-panathinaikos/).

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Giannis isn’t the first major star to attend the EuroLeague Final Four, nor will he be the last. For example, last year saw Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis and New Orleans Pelicans big man Jonas Valanciunas fly in to watch the EuroLeague Championship Game in Kaunas, Lithuania. This time, it was the turn of Giannis, Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen and world-renowned actor Bill Murray to get the front-row attention at the Final Four.

It was incredible to see just how engaged Giannis was during the games – even when Kostas wasn’t playing. On Friday, the Milwaukee forward got himself comfortable at Uber Arena early so that he could watch Kostas and Panathinaikos take on Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in the Final Four’s curtain raiser.

When Kostas delivered a big block on Scottie Wilbekin midway through the second quarter, Giannis quickly got off his seat to applaud his younger brother’s hustle. In fact, it was reminiscent of when fellow NBA superstar Kevin Durant celebrated every big play by AS Monaco as he watched his friend [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) in action at Salle Gaston Medecin during the 2022 EuroLeague Playoffs.

Once the first semifinal was over and Panathinaikos had won 73-57, a proud Giannis briefly took over Martin Henlan’s reporting duties by asking Kostas a few questions on EuroLeague TV. Notably, Giannis made clear what he thinks of the EuroLeague before beginning his questions: “EuroLeague basketball, best basketball in the world.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo interviews his brother Kostas on EuroLeague TV

It would have been perhaps understandable if Giannis opted not to show up for the second semifinal between Real Madrid and Olympiacos Piraeus given that Kostas’s night was done, but no. Instead, the two-time NBA MVP returned to his courtside seat and was again amazed by the incredible atmosphere put on by those inside Uber Arena. It also provided Giannis with an opportunity to see Panathinaikos’s competition ahead of Sunday’s championship game.

On Sunday, the trio of Giannis, Pippen and Bill Murray once again earned plenty of off-court attention, with the Greece international being the first to arrive so that he could take in the third-place game between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce. It’s worth remembering that despite Kostas playing for Panathinaikos, Giannis suits up for the Greek national team with the likes of the Olympiacos trio of [Kostas Papanikolaou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kostas-papanikolaou/001255/), [Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/) and [Giannoulis Larentzakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/giannoulis-larentzakis/010392/) as well as Fenerbahce big man [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/), so it was a chance to see his friends play.

Having played 7:12 minutes in the semifinal, Kostas Antetokounmpo saw his game time drop to 3:10 in the championship game, yet Giannis was as proud as he could have been – his brother had now won a championship in both the NBA, which came with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, and the EuroLeague. Giannis also sought out Greens head coach Ergin Ataman afterward to offer him some words: “You are No. 1, the best coach. I would love to play for you.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Giannis Antetokounmpo to Ergin Ataman: “You are the No1 coach, the best”. <a href="https://t.co/R5ig57visj">pic.twitter.com/R5ig57visj</a></p>&mdash; Vasiliki Karamouza (@karamouza_vas) <a href="https://twitter.com/karamouza_vas/status/1794831567141122264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

For Coach Ataman, he was overjoyed to receive such praise from a player of Giannis’s quality. "Thank you to Giannis Antetokounmpo,” he said in the post-game press conference. “He came after the game and told me that I'm the best coach in the world. If the NBA MVP tells you this, I'm very proud. He didn't say from Europe, he told me \[I’m\] the best coach in the world. Thank you, Giannis."

Indeed, it was such a pleasure to have the 2021 NBA champion at the Final Four that we should all be saying thank you, Giannis. For a true basketball lover, the EuroLeague is like no other league on the planet – and that is something Giannis got to experience during his few days in Berlin.

NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo (right) embraces his brother Kostas (left) after Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens became the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion.

The “Greek Freak” saw his younger brother, Kostas, become a EuroLeague champion

Zvezdan Mitrovic is the new head coach of Cedevita Olimpija, having signed a one-year deal with the club.

Cedevita Olimpija names Zvezdan Mitrovic as its new head coach

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana has a new play-caller after Zvezdan Mitrovic was appointed as the club's new head coach on a one-year deal, the club confirmed Monday. 

A BKT EuroCup champion with AS Monaco in the 2020-21 season, the same year in which he was named EuroCup Coach of the Year, Mitrovic is overjoyed to have signed for the Slovenian club.

“I am happy to have signed the contract with Cedevita Olimpija," said Coach Mitrovic in a statement to Cedevita's official club media. "I feel happy, thrilled and motivated. I am returning to the regional league that I met for the first time 20 years ago as the assistant coach at Buducnost VOLI and, of course, to the BKT EuroCup, where I made my mark before."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sl" dir="ltr">Zvezdan Mitrović je novi glavni trener članske ekipe KK Cedevita Olimpija!<br><br>Dobrodošel v Zmajevi družini, Zvezdan! 💚🧡<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevaDruzina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevaDruzina</a> <a href="https://t.co/V2OJ2qlUwf">pic.twitter.com/V2OJ2qlUwf</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL/status/1797584048807899171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Last season saw Cedevita finish rock bottom of Group A with a dismal 1-17 record, but Coach Mitrovic is determined to do his all to bring back the excitement factor to Arena Stozice.

"We need to build a high-quality team from high-quality players, players with a good character, that will, with their devotion and attitude, achieve good results and draw the fans to the arena," he continued. "Our main focus will be on getting the fans back to the stands, to follow basketball and enjoy doing so."

In an extensive coaching career, Mitrovic has led Pikadili (1992-95), Mogren (2000-01), Buducnost (2001-02), Khimik (2002-07), Krivbas (2007-11), Budivelnyk (2011-12), Khimik again (2012-13), Azovmash (2014), Monaco (2015-18), Montenegro (2017-19), LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2018-20), Monaco again (2020-21), and most recently Galatasaray (2023-24).

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Zvezdan Mitrovic on the sideline during an AS Monaco game in the 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

He previously led Monaco to the EuroCup title in 2020-21

Cedevita names Zvezdan Mitrovic as its new head coach

There was very little to separate the two teams, who needed overtime to determine this year’s champion

Real Madrid, PFBB relive 2024 ANGT Championship Game thriller

The championship game at the 2024 Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals will go down in history as one for the ages. U18 Real Madrid and U18 PFBB INSEP Paris went back and forth all game, and overtime was needed to determine a champion.

Real went on to win 85-84 to defend its title and add a record fifth trophy to its collection, but what was it like playing in the final?

“It was amazing. A lot of mixed emotions,” said Real star Hugo Gonzalez, the MVP of the ANGT Finals who scored 23 points to go with 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals and 1 block against PFBB. “The only thought I had during the game was, ‘We can’t lose this. We are fighting and it’s impossible that we are fighting for nothing.’ Our team did a great job all year believing in itself. The only thought now is we achieved the goal we had since the first day of the season.”

Of Gonzalez’s 23 points, three came thanks to a triple with 20 seconds left which tied the game and sent it to overtime. There were 15 lead changes and 10 ties for the contest in front of a packet house at Uber Eats Music Hall, with the lead changing hands 11 times in the final 5:11 minutes of regulation and overtime. In the last three minutes of the extra session alone, there were seven lead changes.

The famous Real Madrid DNA ended up shining through after Los Blancos found themselves trailing by six points on three occasions in the second quarter and down by seven points in the third stanza.

“This game showed that we have heart, playing until the end,” added Gonzalez. “We were down seven and we came back. They punched us, but we got back up.”

“The emotions were unbelievable, amazing. We live for games like this. It was magic, but we lost,” said a dejected PFBB point guard Talis Soulhac, who picked up 10 points and 7 assists.

### A crazy end to the ANGT Championship Game

One of the defining factors of the ANGT Championship Game was the number of big plays made by the star players on the floor. For a moment, it looked like PFBB’s Hugo Yimga Moukouri was going to become the hero after he grabbed a miss and somehow fought it back up for an and-one to make it 70-73. However, Gonzalez responded soon after with his aforementioned three-pointer to knot things up.

In overtime, the teams’ big-name players – Gonzalez and Ismaila Diagne for Real, Nolan Traore and Jonas Boulefaa for PFBB – came to the floor, with Boulefaa’s circus shot with 1:32 minutes giving the French side an 80-81 edge.

Inside the final minute, Real’s Asier Miguel missed a corner three but teammate Declan Duru flew in to grab the offensive rebound and put it back in while being fouled, before converting the bonus free throw. That was answered by a huge corner triple from Boulefaa and PFBB was up 83-84 with 18 seconds remaining.

Gonzalez took responsibility but missed his shot, only to have Diagne – a player he has been playing with for four years – grab the rebound and draw a foul. Despite fighting through foul trouble, the Senegalese big was still on the court and calmly made both foul shots for an 85-84 lead with 11 seconds to go after having made only 4 of 10 from the line in the game.

PFBB’s star Traore then missed his three-point attempt, allowing Real’s players and staff to start the celebrations.

“For me, I aways enjoy it. It was hard for me to stay in the game \[with foul trouble\],” said Diagne who, like fellow Real stars Gonzalez, Egor Demin and Mitar Bosnjakovic, was playing his final game for Los Blancos’ youth program. “But in the end, when my team needed me I made the free throws.”

“I am really excited to win it in Germany in front of my family and friends in Berlin,” commented German native Duru. “I don’t have words to explain how happy I am right now. I was nervous, we were nervous. We knew we were going to get the win because we knew our defensive strengths. We knew if we just defend hard on offense, we will find answers and get the win.”

### Real Madrid eyeing more history

Duru now has an ANGT crown of his own, but the German forward is 2007 born, meaning he will be back next season and can help Real attempt to secure a three-peat, something only one club has managed to do before – CSKA Moscow between 2004 and 2006.

“We will have to defend our title,” added Duru. “We will do our best because it’s what we do. We are Real Madrid and we win European championships.”

But it’s hard to imagine any ANGT Championship Game matching the thrill of Real’s victory over PFBB in 2024 in Berlin, an instant classic for fans and players alike.

Real Madrid, PFBB players reflect on 2024 ANGT Championship Game thriller

Like every year, the pregame show at Uber Arena was in charge of setting the stage for the big games

The spectacular pregame shows were, once again, produced by the multiple award-winning Filmmaster

 The “Ritual of Glory” offered an exciting dialogue between the audience gathered inside Berlin’s Uber Arena and the performers

The extraordinary show cast of dancers, music performers and acrobats created a symbolic celebration with the crowd that put basketball at the center.

One of the most spectacular moments was the entrance of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague trophy

As always, the Final Four volunteers played a crucial role in the development of the pregame show

All eyes on the prize!

The EuroLeague trophy descended on the floor and was carried to the sidelines for a new owner at the end of the championship game

Mr. BAGS performed also during the halftime show with a set of cover songs

Another energestic moment during the performance of Italian act Mr. BAGS at halftime

Re-live the magic of the shows that entertained the audience at Uber Arena in Berlin before the games of the Final Four and at halftime!