Paris Basketball is closing in on one of the best seasons in EuroCup history as it is setting offensive records and has lost just once in 21 games. It now heads into the finals with the home-court advantage in the best-of-three series against Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. Mikael Jantunen will be our insider in the series, sharing his thoughts on the 2024 EuroCup Finals.

Mikael Jantunen, Paris: 'We know what's at stake'

Hello, EuroCup fans! It's been a great season for Paris so far, but I think it all started with the work that we did in August and now, we are in the part of the season where the work is starting to pay off. I know it's been a long season and it's been a good season so far, but it comes from the work we put into practice every day and that shows up on the court. So yeah, it's been a great season and we are trying to finish it strong, too. 

This is my first season with Paris and also my first with Coach Iisalo. I knew him before I came here. Actually, he coached against me in Finland. I think it was one of his first years coaching when I was playing for a youth club in Finland and he was coaching another youth club. That was the first time I remember him as a coach. Of course, I knew him as a national team player; I watched him when I grew up, but that was one of the first times he coached against me. And after that, of course, I followed his path as a coach and his results. I also talked to him in the summer when I saw him in Finland, but he had never coached me before this year.

"Playing a final is always special, it is a privilege."

He came along with six players from the same team, Telekom Baskets Bonn, to Paris. That has its own challenges, coming into a pretty much ready system, but the adjustment was pretty quick. A lot of guys know what they are supposed to do, and it makes it easier. At the same time, you have a lot of guys who can help you. You see what you are supposed to do and it makes it easier. Like, if you have four guys who played for him for a year or two already, you notice the small things and you see that maybe you are not as connected at some point. So of course, it has its challenges, but also it is a nice situation to come into a system that a lot of players were familiar with, the staff was familiar with, and it was kind of easy to jump in. There was a lot of learning and that happened in the beginning, but it made it transition pretty easy with a lot of guys familiar with it.

We are seen as an offensive-minded team but everything starts from our defense. I think that's where when we are at our best, that's where it all starts, when we get stops and then we get to play the type of offense we want to. But it all starts with our defense. Of course, we have had some great offensive games this season, but I would say that's still the focal point: being able to play solid defense. That's when we get to do the things we want to do on offense. Everything starts with team defense. 

Mikael Jantunen helped Paris Basketball reach the 2024 BKT EuroCup Finals.

2023-24 EuroCup highlights: Mikael Jantunen, Paris

The last three playoff games were a new challenge for me as I had to play at the '5' position a little bit more than usual. I am ready to play the position the team needs, so if that is the '5' man, I have to be ready to step up. I know the positions and what I am supposed to do in that position. I know I can do it. I played at the center spot before in my career, too, so it was not like I was in unfamiliar territory. But then, of course, it's always a new challenge to do that. I know what I'm supposed to do in that position. We have this next-man-up mentality for that position.

I am super excited about the EuroCup Finals! Playing a final is always special, it is a privilege. Bourg got the best of us earlier this season and they are a really good team. They have had a great season so far, too, so it's going to be a challenge for us. But at the end of the day, we are gonna play our game and going to look at trying to do the things we do well. We've practiced since August. We know the type of basketball we want to play and what it takes to win, and I think that's what we focus on. 

There is a little extra motivation because Bourg already beat us once this season. We know they are capable of beating us, so we've got to be super locked in. We know Bourg pretty well and we will take a good look at them. But as I said, it is our identity, our stuff that's gonna matter the most and those are the things we practice every day. So we just have to do that at a really high level and, if we do all that, we've got to be confident that the work we have done, the work we have put in, is going to be enough.

"This club is ambitious and making it to the EuroCup finals is a part of the process."

I know Petteri Koponen won the EuroCup because he told me about it and I had a guess that Hanno Mottola won it, but that gives me a little extra motivation. You want to be there and be able to match their success. But I think Finnish people are going to follow the finals also because of our head coach. Of course, a lot of Finnish people are interested in seeing his system and his team and then we are two Finnish people on the team, so that's a little extra special for them. Maybe some of them will travel to Paris, it is easy to get here from Finland. Hopefully, I will see some Finnish flags in the arena. I think some people will come and a lot more will be watching from home, so it is going to be nice.

This club is ambitious and making it to the EuroCup Finals is a part of the process. They want to take it to the next level. They have the facilities and the organization for it and they put in a lot of work. They want to be in the EuroLeague. That's the goal that we set out at the beginning of the season and it would be a really big thing for the club and the city. Paris is a pretty central city in Europe also, so it wouldn't be a bad place to have a EuroLeague team! But right now, it is one game at a time. Winning the title is on the players' minds and of course, we know what's at stake. Everybody is waiting and ready for it. We have a new arena, which was one of the club's goals, and are getting more and more people at the games. It's unbelievable. We have to keep performing so that fans will want to show up to the games, and we want to have a home-court advantage. We are playing in one of the nicest basketball arenas I have played in during my career and I expect all of our fans to be there in Game 1!

Paris Basketball is closing in on one of the best seasons in EuroCup history as it is setting offensive records and has lost just once in 21 games. It now heads into the finals with the home-court advantage in the best-of-three series against Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. Mikael Jantunen will be our insider in the series, sharing his thoughts on the 2024 EuroCup Finals. Born in Helsinki, Finland, Jantunen started his career in his hometown, playing for HBA-Marsky. He also suited up for the University of Utah, Filou Ostend of Belgium and Treviso Basket of Italy before joining Paris last summer. Check back here for Mikael's thoughts until the 2023-24 EuroCup champion is crowned!

JL Bourg has confirmed that head coach Frederic Fauthoux has renewed his contract until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Frederic Fauthoux signs three-year extension at JL Bourg

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse confirmed on Saturday that head coach [Frederic Fauthoux](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/fauthoux-frederic/) has penned a new three-year contract extension at the club, which takes his new deal until the end of the 2026-27 season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">𝙎𝙀 𝙌𝙐𝙀𝘿𝘼 💥<br><br>Frédéric Fauthoux prolonge pour 3 saisons supplémentaires au Club ! <br><br>Communiqué 👉 <a href="https://t.co/5zqdP1fRv5">https://t.co/5zqdP1fRv5</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeRedy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeRedy</a> <a href="https://t.co/JGOUmw0Yf2">pic.twitter.com/JGOUmw0Yf2</a></p>&mdash; JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket/status/1776574492778598493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Fauthoux has worked wonders since arriving at Bourg in the summer of 2022, posting a 26-15 record in the BKT EuroCup and securing back-to-back playoff appearances.

"I'm very happy to be able to make this decision, which wasn't easy," Coach Fauthoux told Bourg's official club media after signing his extension. "It's a step forward and a relief because it wasn't easy. It's the best solution I could have had.

"We have a lot of things to do together, with the youngsters like [Hugo \[Benitez\]](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/hugo-benitez/010449/) and [Kevin \[Kokila\]](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kevin-kokila/011837/) or the older guys like [Maxime \[Courby\]](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/maxime-courby/010450/) and [Axel \[Julien\]](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/axel-julien/011161/). I like it when there's a human element to our relationships, with the players, the management and the fans. At Bourg, there's a real project. Bourg has a real project, together with Julien \[Desbottes\]'s staff, with Francois Lamy, with the whole staff."

### Fauthoux's EuroCup success with Bourg

In 2022-23, the French side went 9-9 in the regular season, good for fifth place in Group B, then fell in the eighthfinals to Promitheas Patras.

Then this season, 2023-24, Bourg bypassed the eighthfinals after winning Group B with a 14-4 record, before beating Prometey Slobozhanske in the quarterfinals and defeating Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul 2-1 in a best-of-three semifinal series. Bourg will take on Paris Basketball in its first-ever EuroCup Finals appearance, starting Tuesday, April 9.

It all comes down to a single game, a one-and-done contest. Bourg returns to the comforts of its home floor, where it has a 10-1 record this season, while Besiktas boast one of EuroCup's best road accounts in 23/24 at 6-6, but whose dream ends here?

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse-Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul | Semifinals Game 3 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

### Impressive results in France, too

Domestically, Fauthoux's Bourg also reached the French Cup final in 2022-23, losing 74-83 to LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, and achieved a fifth-placed finish in the French League in that same season. So far this year, Bourg is fourth in the French League and shares the same record as third-placed ASVEL. It also made it to the semifinals of the French Cup.

More Bourg News

Frederic Fauthoux on the sidelines during a Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse game in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season.

The French coach has guided the team to its first-ever BKT EuroCup Finals appearance

Frederic Fauthoux signs three-year extension at Bourg

The architect of the top offense in competition history, Tuomas Iisalo of finals-bound Paris Basketball has been voted by his peers as the Coach of the Year for the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season.

Iisalo has guided his team to a remarkable 20-1 record as Paris gets ready to host Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse in Game 1 of the best-of-three championship series starting on Tuesday. Before those finals start, Paris owns the best winning rate ever seen in the EuroCup at 95.2% and is tied for the best victory total with 20. Iisalo's accomplishment is all the more impressive considering it's his first EuroCup season and his club's second.

The Coach of the Year award is among several trophies handed out to recognize the outstanding work achieved by some EuroCup participants during the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season. The Rising Star Trophy, also voted by the head coaches, was won by Zaccharie Risacher of Bourg. The All-EuroCup Teams and the 2023-24 MVP – for whom coaches, team captains, fans and media all vote – will be announced before the EuroCup Finals begin.

The architect of the top offense in competition history, Tuomas Iisalo of finals-bound Paris Basketball has been voted by his peers as the Coach of the Year for the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season.


Iisalo has guided his team to a remarkable 20-1 record as Paris gets ready to host Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse in Game 1 of the best-of-three championship series starting on Tuesday. Before those finals start, Paris owns the best winning rate ever seen in the EuroCup at 95.2% and is tied for the best victory total with 20. Iisalo's accomplishment is all the more impressive considering it's his first EuroCup season and his club's second.

BKT EuroCup Coach of the Year: Tuomas Iisalo, Paris Basketball

Paris's season has been divided into a pair of winning streaks most clubs would envy: 7-0 to open the season and put its grip on Group A, and then after a single misstep at home against eventual semifinalist Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul, 13 more victories in a row, including a perfect three of three in the playoffs so far.

Paris's current streak matches the EuroCup's fourth-longest ever in-season, but how Iisalo's squad has dominated is unprecedented. Its average winning margin of 19.1 points is a new EuroCup record, as is the team's 42.8% rate of wins by at least 20 points. Winning 13 of its 21 games, or 61.9%, by 15 points or more is another high-water mark in the competition.

As if that were not enough, Iisalo has his team playing some of the most exciting basketball on the planet. His team's average of 98.4 points is not only the highest in EuroCup history, but in either Euroleague Basketball competition this century. The same can be said of Paris's 62.8% two-point shooting rate, unprecedented in the EuroCup or the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Paris also leads the EuroCup this season with 26.7 two-pointers made per game and a league-low 10.8 turnovers. It all adds up to a team performance index rating of 116.0 per game, once again a first in either Euroleague Basketball competition since 2000.

Iisalo, 41, hails from Finland, where he played his entire 14-season professional career as a shooting guard with one trophy to show for it, the 2009 Finnish Cup. He started coaching right after hanging up his playing shoes, with Tapiolan Honka, but one year later found himself in Germany with Crailsheim, where he stayed for five seasons, taking the club from the second division to the first and as high as fifth place in his last season, 2020-21. At his next stop, Iisalo guided Telekom Baskets Bonn to third place in the German League, earning a trip to the FIBA Champions League, which they won in 2023 while finishing as runners-up in Germany. He was the German League Coach of the Year in both 2022 and 2023, and won the same award in the FIBA Champions League last season.

Iisalo is said to make his practices very intense so that games will seem easier for his players, but that did not prevent six of them following him from Bonn to Paris over the summer, making the transition to the EuroCup somewhat smoother. What is sure is that Iisalo and Paris were ready to hit the ground running. They are two wins away from the EuroCup title with home-court advantage in the finals, and Tuomas Iisalo has everything to do with that soaring success to date.

Iisalo is the first Finnish coach to be voted EuroCup Coach of the Year. Aito Garcia Reneses is the only coach to have won the award twice, having done so with Gran Canaria in 2015 and ALBA Berlin in 2019.

The other previous winners were: Oktay Mahmuti of Benetton Treviso in 2009, Ilias Zouros of Panellinios in 2010, Aleksandar Petrovic of Cedevita Zagreb in 2011, Jure Zdovc of Spartak St. Petersburg in 2012, Fotis Katsikaris of Uxue Bilbao Basket in 2013, Andrea Trinchieri of UNICS Kazan in 2014, Maurizio Buscaglia of Dolomiti Energia Trento in 2016, Pedro Martinez of Valencia Basket in 2017, Sasa Obradovic of Lokomotiv Kuban in 2018, Zvezdan Mitrovic of AS Monaco in 2021, Dusan Alimpijevic of Frutti Extra Bursaspor in 2022, and Erdem Can of Turk Telekom Ankara in 2023.

EuroCup Coach of the Year: Tuomas Iisalo, Paris Basketball

Paris has made a strong case that its offense is the best in more than two decades of the EuroCup's existence, and has the numbers to prove it.

Paris Basketball can claim the best-ever EuroCup offense

Next week, Paris Basketball will be trying to finish chasing BKT EuroCup history as it attempts winning first international club trophy in its brief history. The club, founded in 2018, will be making a run at the title in the best-of-three EuroCup Finals series against a fellow French side Minicidelice JL Bourg en Bresse.

During the finals, Paris will also try to put an exclamation mark on a season that has made it one of the most successful and most dominant teams in EuroCup history, while also confirming that it is arguably the best offensive team that has ever played in the competition.

### New all-time scoring records

Guided by head coach Tuomas Iisalo, Paris enters the finals on a 13-game winning streak and with a 20-1 record. Its average winning margin of 19.1 points is a new EuroCup record.

A total of 34 EuroCup games this season have been decided by 20 points or more, and Paris has accounted for nine of those victories, all during the regular season. By winning in 42.8% of its games by at least 20 points, Paris has another EuroCup record. In addition, Paris has won 13 of its 21 games (61.9%) this season by 15 points or more, another first..

It might not be a surprise that Paris is winning big behind the EuroCup's best-ever scoring offense.

Paris enters the best-of-three finals series having scored 2,066 points, the second-highest total by any team ever, but just 25 points shy of the single-season mark for total points scored. The team from the French capital is trailing only ALBA Berlin's 2,091 points from the 2018-19 campaign, but the side from the German capital accomplished that over 24 games.

Led by second-ranked scorer [T.J. Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tj-shorts/012608/) (18.0 ppg.) and fourth-ranked [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nadir-hifi/012640/) (16.9 ppg.), Paris averages 98.4 points entering the EuroCup Finals. Before this season, no team has averaged better than 92.3 points in a single season, record that Paris has shattered. So did a team from its regular season group, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, which posted 95.7 points per game.

Paris and Hapoel are just two of four teams this EuroCup season, along with London Lions (90.4 ppg.) and Dreamland Gran Canaria (88.4 ppg.), that place among top 12 EuroCup teams in average scoring all-time. It all helped made the 2023-24 EuroCup season the highest scoring ever, as the teams have posted 84.6 points per game during this campaign.

### More records and season-leading marks

As far as Paris goes, however, the scoring marks are just a couple of many boxes that Paris and its offense have check-marked, or will do during the finals.

There are four more categories where Paris ranks first this season, and two more are on pace to become the best ever. Paris is averaging a PIR of 116.0, shattering the previous mark of 108.5 set by Joventut Badalona in the 2007-08 season. Hapoel (112.4 avg. PIR) also surpassed Joventut this season.

Also, its 62.8% two-point accuracy is another category in which Paris is on track to set the new EuroCup single-season record, surpassing Dynamo Moscow's 61.8% from the 2007-08 campaign. Paris has done so making 26.7 two-pointers per game, the second-most in a single season ever. Also, Paris has committed a league-low 10.8 turnovers, the best this season and tied for eighth-fewest ever.

Paris also ranks near the top in other categories this season, including ranking third in average rebounds (37.0), third in three-pointers made (10.1), and fifth in assists (20.3 ), defensive rebounds (25.2) and offensive rebounds (11.9), the latter despite missing very few shots.

### No need for timeouts and free throws

What makes this offense even better is that Paris barely needs free throws to score points. Paris ranks 10th this season with 14.5 free throws made per game, and even lower, 15th, in free throw attempts at 19.0 per game. 

Another unique feature is the number of timeout Coach Iisalo has called – or better – has not called. During the 18 regular-season games, the Paris boss has asked for just 32 timeouts, including three games without a single timeout called and four others in which he called only one.

Only nine of his 32 timeouts have come in fourth quarters or overtimes. Meanwhile, the next-stingiest team (Gran Canaria) in terms of timeouts called 49 of them during the regular season, and as many as 13 teams called more than double Paris's 32.

There is no doubt that Paris's 2023-24 season will find its place in competition history, and Paris hopes not only for the record-setting offensive numbers, but also a trophy to lift after the finals.

Paris Basketball v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2024-04-14T22:00:00.000Z)

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Paris Basketball (2024-04-12T17:30:00.000Z)

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce that Zaccharie Risacher of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse has been voted as the BKT EuroCup Rising Star for the 2023-24 season. In a year with exceptional young talent throughout the competition, Risacher was chosen as this season's Rising Star by the competition's head coaches. The EuroCup Rising Star Trophy recognizes the most outstanding player in the competition who was younger than 22 years of age on July 1 of the summer before the season started.

BKT EuroCup Rising Star winner: Zaccharie Risacher, Bourg

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce that [Zaccharie Risacher](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zaccharie-risacher/010718/) of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse has been voted as the BKT EuroCup Rising Star for the 2023-24 season. In a year with exceptional young talent throughout the competition, Risacher was chosen as this season's Rising Star by the competition's head coaches. The EuroCup Rising Star Trophy recognizes the most outstanding player in the competition who was younger than 22 years of age on July 1 of the summer before the season started.

Risacher, who turns 19 on April 8, is the second-youngest player to win the EuroCup Rising Star award. Dzanan Musa of Cedevita Zagreb was exactly a month younger than Risacher when he was chosen as the 2017-18 Rising Star. Nadir Hifi of Paris Basketball came in second in this season's voting and Juan Nunez of ratiopharm Ulm was third.

The Rising Star Trophy is among the awards given in recognition of the EuroCup's finest each season for their efforts on the basketball court. The head coaches will also choose one of their peers as the EuroCup Coach of the Year. The BKT All-EuroCup teams and the season's MVP – for whom fans, team captains and media also voted – will be announced right before the start of the 2024 BKT EuroCup Finals, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday between Paris Basketball and Bourg.

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce that Zaccharie Risacher of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse has been voted as the EuroCup Rising Star for the 2023-24 season. In a year with exceptional young talent throughout the competition, Risacher was chosen as this season's Rising Star by the competition's head coaches. The EuroCup Rising Star Trophy recognizes the most outstanding player in the competition who was younger than 22 years of age on July 1 of the summer before the season started.

2023-24 BKT EuroCup Rising Star: Zaccharie Risacher, Bourg

Risacher helped Bourg reach the EuroCup Finals for the first time in club history by averaging 11.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and a PIR of 10.0 in less than 24 minutes per night. He led all EuroCup players in regular season in three-point percentage, hitting 32 of his 57 shots from downtown (56.1%). Risacher scored 20 points or more four times throughout the season, getting a season-high 22 points in Round 22 against 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys. His combination of size, quickness and athleticism allowed him to become Bourg's x-factor, helping his team finish first in Group B with a 14-4 record and eliminate Prometey Slobozhanske and Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul to storm into the finals.

Born in Malaga, Spain, Risacher's father Stephane was also a professional basketball player who won domestic titles with Unicaja Malaga, Olympiacos Piraeus and PSG Racing, as well as getting an Olympics silver medal with France at Sydney 2000. The younger Risacher grew up with LDLC ASVEL and made his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut with this team in the 2021-22 season. After winning the French League and the French Leaders Cup with ASVEL, Risacher made his EuroCup debut with Bourg this season.

Risacher is the first French player to win the EuroCup Rising Star award. Olek Balcerowski and Bojan Dubljevic were chosen as EuroCup Rising Star trophy winners twice. Dubljevic received the award with Valencia in 2013 and 2014. Balcerowski got it in 2022 and 2023. 

The list of Rising Star trophy winners also includes Milan Macvan of Hemofarm Vrsac in 2009, Victor Claver of Power Electronics Valencia in 2010, Donatas Motiejunas of Benetton Treviso in 2011, Jonas Valanciunas of Lietuvos Rytas in 2012, Kristaps Porzingis of Baloncesto Seville in 2015, Mateusz Ponitka of Stelmet Zielona Gora in 2016, Rolands Smits of Montakit Fuenlabrada in 2017, Dzanan Musa of Cedevita Zagreb in 2018, Martynas Echodas of Rytas Vilnius in 2019 and Khalifa Diop of Gran Canaria in 2022. 

JL Bourg-en-Bresse has gone on quite the journey over the years, and now it gets to play in its first-ever EuroCup Finals.

JL Bourg’s ascent shows no sign of slowing down

What a time to be a fan of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. The club may be 114 years old, but Frederic Fauthoux’s men have done something that no other group in Bourg’s history has been able to do: make it to a European final.

There have been several stories of French clubs rapidly rising to the upper echelons of European basketball over the last few years, most notably AS Monaco’s jump from the French second tier in 2014-15 to becoming one of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’s major forces less than a decade later. Paris Basketball, Bourg’s opponent in the BKT EuroCup Finals, was also playing in the second division as recently as 2020-21, too.

For Bourg, it has been on quite the journey. From a team that could not even make the second division playoffs 13 years ago, it now finds itself in uncharted territory as it looks to do something that has long seemed unthinkable: make the leap to the EuroLeague. Although a tricky best-of-three series with Paris awaits, Bourg has been on the right track for some time now, with its progression having been accelerated since the arrival of Coach Fauthoux in the summer of 2022.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">FINALES EUROCUP 2024 ⭐️<br><br>La JL Bourg est en finale d&#39;EuroCup face à <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParisBasketball</a> 🔥<br><br>2️⃣ clubs représentant la France<br>2️⃣ clubs qui écrivent leur histoire<br><br>Il n&#39;en restera qu&#39;un ⚔️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeRedy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeRedy</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/UFy5gwB6J2">pic.twitter.com/UFy5gwB6J2</a></p>&mdash; JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket/status/1775923785889157208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Julien Desbottes's project at Bourg

But first, let’s go back to 2012. Julien Desbottes had just become the president of Bourg and the club had experienced back-to-back years of failing to make the playoffs in the second tier. Promotion soon arrived in 2013-14, then Bourg hopped between the first and second divisions before returning to the top flight in 2017-18, where it has been ever since. 

The only major title that Desbottes has been able to witness Bourg win since becoming president was the second division trophy in 2016-17, when the club won the league, although he did see the team lift the second division version of the French Cup in 2015-16.

That’s not to say Bourg hasn’t come close to lifting more silverware. The club got to the French Cup final – the first division version – in 2018-19, its second consecutive year back in the first division, but it fell to Strasbourg, 98-97. Then, in 2022-23, it again reached the final but came up short once more, losing 74-83 to LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. Nevertheless, the club was making noise.

That second French Cup final appearance came in Bourg’s third season in the EuroCup, having debuted in the competition in the 2020-21 campaign. Playing continental basketball in addition to domestic hoops requires more investment, but also a greater demand on everyone involved: those in the front office, the coaches, the players, and even the fans. Yet, it is the only way in which a team can truly take a big step forward.

### EuroCup basketball in Bourg-en-Bresse

Bourg made a fleeting impression on its first voyage into the EuroCup, going a decent 6-4 in the regular season before a dismal 0-6 in the Top 16. The following year, 2021-22, was rather forgettable for Bourg as it finished second from bottom in the 10-team Group B with a 6-12 record. But things would soon change, with Laurent Legname being shown the door and Bourg president Desbottes taking a chance on Coach Fauthoux, who had just spent two years working as TJ Parker’s assistant at ASVEL, some 80 kilometers down the road.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;𝙒𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮&quot;<br><br>Check out coach Frederic Fauthoux words after his guys got the EuroCup final ticket yesterday🎫🗣️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> I <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JLBourgBasket</a> <a href="https://t.co/Pv0dd6A6L8">pic.twitter.com/Pv0dd6A6L8</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1775850541295280554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sometimes, a coach and a club can be a match made in heaven – and that seems to have been the case for Bourg and Coach Fauthoux. Following a 9-9 regular-season record in 2022-23, with Bourg finishing fifth in Group A, it went on the road and lost at Promitheas Patras in the EuroCup Eighthfinals, 89-75. It was not the result that the club was hoping for, but it was a good test in a single-legged playoff encounter. Domestically, Bourg finished fifth in the French top flight, its joint highest finish, having also come fifth in 2019-20 and 2020-21 – all of which have come under Desbottes’s reign.

And now we come to today. Bourg finds itself fourth in the French first division standings, level record-wise with ASVEL, a club with a budget that is almost three times bigger. In fact, almost everything about ASVEL is bigger: its trophy case, its arena… hell, even the city it plays in. Those in Bourg-en-Bresse, a city with 40,000 inhabitants, have always had to live in the shadow of the half-million population of Lyon, but basketball is firmly putting it on the map.

Courtesy of winning Group B with a 14-4 record, Bourg was able to bypass the eighthfinals, meaning it had already made European history before its quarterfinal tie with Prometey Slobozhanske had got away; never before had the club reached the last eight in European competition. Then, having home-court advantage proved key in the semifinals against Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul, as the decisive Game 3 took place at Ekinox and the 3,540-strong crowd pushed their team on to victory.

Bourg has long been known for being a club from a small city in France, but it now gets the chance to test itself against a highly ambitious team from the capital, Paris. However, all of the pressure is going to be on Paris heading into the EuroCup Finals, which is just how Bourg will like it.

Desbottes put a plan into action 12 years ago and is now seeing the results of what can be achieved with hard work, good decisions and a winning culture. We’ll soon find out if that’s enough to see Bourg win the EuroCup trophy and, with it, secure promotion to the EuroLeague.

The Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse fans cheer on their team during the club's matchup with Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Semifinals.

Having reached its first European final, the French club now hopes to make it to the EuroLeague

Bourg’s ascent shows no sign of slowing down

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

Euroleague Basketball has announced the following disciplinary sanction pertaining to incidents that occurred in Round 15 of the BKT EuroCup Semifinals.

Semifinals, Game 3 disciplinary sanction

- Mr Bodian Massa, player of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse has been sanctioned with a fine of €9,000, for the attempted aggression against another individual, on the occasion of Game 3 of the EuroCup Semifinals against Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul, under Article 27.2.e) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code.
- Mr Dusan Alimpijevic, Head Coach of Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul has been sanctioned with a fine of €4,000, for the lack of respect towards a member of the officiating crew, on the occasion of Game 3 of the EuroCup Semifinals against Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse under Article 27.2.b) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code.

For the first time in competition history, the BKT EuroCup Finals will be an all-French League affair

BKT EuroCup Finals at a Glance

### Paris Basketball vs. Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse 

The 2024 BKT EuroCup Finals will feature two of the top teams in French basketball, which are both seeking to become the third club from their league in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague next season. Paris will host Game 1 as well as Game 3, if necessary, of the best-of-three series with the opener set for [Tuesday, April 9](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/paris-basketball-mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2023/195/). Paris has the best record in the EuroCup this season after posting a 17-1 mark in the regular season and going undefeated in the playoffs, including a sweep of London Lions in the semifinals. Bourg finished the regular season atop Group B with a 14-4 record and reached the finals with a grueling 2-1 series win over Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul in the semifinals. When they last met in the French League, Isiaha Mike and Maksim Salash scored 14 points apiece to lead Bourg to an 83-81 home win in December. 

Semifinals MVP: TJ Shorts, Paris Basketball

Paris Basketball star guard [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tj-shorts/012608/) knew that a place in the BKT EuroCup Finals was on the line and stepped up his performances to another level in the semifinals, causing headache after headache for a London Lions side that simply had no answer when it came to stopping him.

Shorts was instrumental in Paris sweeping its series with London, winning 2-0, and his 28.5 PIR average shows just how key he was. The 26-year-old, who was also the EuroCup Quarterfinals MVP, led all players in scoring during the semifinals, averaging 22.0 points per game, while he also topped the charts in assists (6.0) and steals (4.0). This, his fifth MVP honor of the season, is a reflection of his dominance.

His 7 straight points, following a three by Mikael Jantunen and a two-pointer by Tyson Ward, in the early stages of the third quarter in Game 1 took him to 17 points personal and helped Paris break the contest open, with the French side leading 54-49 at halftime and then up 17 points, 66-49, 2:46 into the second half. From there, Paris and Shorts, who finished with a 33 PIR and 23 points – both of which are the most by any player in the semifinals – as well as 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals, never looked back en route to a 99-86 win at Adidas Arena.

Paris Basketball star guard TJ Shorts knew that a place in the BKT EuroCup Finals was on the line and stepped up his performances to another level in the semifinals, causing headache after headache for a London Lions side that simply had no answer when it came to stopping him.
Shorts was instrumental in Paris sweeping its series with London, winning 2-0, and his 28.5 PIR average shows just how key he was. The 26-year-old, who was also the EuroCup Quarterfinals MVP, led all players in scoring during the semifinals, averaging 22.0 points per game, while he also topped the charts in assists (6.0) and steals (4.0). This, his fifth MVP honor of the season, is a reflection of his dominance.

TJ Shorts | Semifinals MVP | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

Likewise, Shorts also stepped up late in Game 2 in the English capital. Having recorded 16 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals through the first 30 minutes, at which point Paris was narrowly ahead by two points, 64-66, Shorts helped put the game to bed by amassing 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals in the fourth quarter alone, taking his game tallies to 21 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals, the last of which was the most by any player in the semifinals. He had a 24 PIR in that game, too.