Over the course of this week, Euroleague.net will be posting interviews with the Hoop District team captains

Getting to know: Marco D’Uva, Team Bologna captain

We are just four days away from the launch of the [Hoop District](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/euroleague-basketball-launches-3x3-content-creators-tournament-hoop-district/) tournament in Paris, France. Ahead of the action getting underway at the brand-new Adidas Arena, we spoke to [Marco D’Uva](https://www.instagram.com/marcoduva/) of [International Young Ballers](https://www.instagram.com/__iyb__/), the Team Bologna captain.

This is the second of six ‘getting to know’ interviews with the Hoop District captains that will be dropping this week. Here’s what we found out.

**How did you fall in love with the game of basketball?**

“I started playing basketball at five years old, just because my big brother also started and I wanted to do the same thing. Then I fell in love with this sport, with this game, because it’s beautiful. I’ve met very kind people, starting when I was on a basketball team as a kid. I grew up with them and I still play with some of them – it’s crazy. I love this game.”

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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4dd_3YI1tO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4dd_3YI1tO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">Ver esta publicación en Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4dd_3YI1tO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">Una publicación compartida de International Young Ballers (@__iyb__)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

**What made you create the International Young Ballers (IYB) account?**

“I started the International Young Ballers account because in 2017, I wanted to create a space where every young basketball player could share their best plays and games with the Instagram community. After one month, I received a lot of clips, a lot of videos, so I had to change the format of the page a bit. I then started to share content on basketball shoes, the EuroLeague, every league around the world, and guys can still share their plays on our stories. They tag us and we repost them. So International Young Ballers started in this way and it’s still growing, it’s still changing, but we’re ready for new challenges, like Hoop District, for example.”

**Is there a particular post from IYB that you remember fondly?**

“The best post in terms of views was when I went to the NBA store in Milan. There are some balls with NBA players’ hands – I just compared my hand with them and this post got 22 million views, so it’s crazy. I don’t know if we will have views like that again, but it was crazy. This is one of the best posts we’ve done.”

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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiFk5Y7jZJL/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiFk5Y7jZJL/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">Ver esta publicación en Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiFk5Y7jZJL/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">Una publicación compartida de International Young Ballers (@__iyb__)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

**Have any EuroLeague players inspired you?**

“Gigi Datome, for sure. I met him when he played here in Rome when I was 13 years old. Then I saw him again 10 years later during a Milan game against Olympiacos, and he signed my jersey. He’s a very kind person and, for me, he’s a big influence. My idol in Italy is Gigi Datome.”

**Which EuroLeague player – past or present – shares your playing style?**

“Well, a little like Gigi Datome because he was a very good three-point shooter – and I love to shoot threes. I hope I’m going to make a lot of threes during the Hoop District tournament. I really like Datome’s game. I also like Nicolo Melli and Kyle Hines, but they’re big men and I’m thinner than them, so I’ll say Gigi Datome.”

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**What criteria did you look for when picking your Hoop District team?**

“First of all, I thought about my best friend. He grew up with me and I played with him since I was a kid, so I wanted to give him an important opportunity. For the girls, I chose people from the Rome 3x3 community, which is growing, and I wanted to give them this opportunity."

**Which Hoop District team could be the trickiest to face?**

“I think Team Barcelona and Team Paris will be very tough to face, but we are ready.”

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**What does it mean for you to be a Team Captain?**

“For me, it is a crazy opportunity. I am really proud about this, and I am really proud to represent Italy and Bologna, which is ‘Basket City’. It is an opportunity, but there is also some pressure because, although ‘Basket City’ knows that we ready, they want us to win and do good plays. There’s pressure, but I’m very happy to be the captain of Team Bologna, so I’m very proud about this.”

Javier Gancedo chats with Paris Basketball forward Tyson Ward about his maiden season in the EuroCup and what it would mean to win it all.

Tyson Ward, Paris Basketball: 'It's going to be a pretty good series'

Paris Basketball is having one of the best-ever seasons in the BKT EuroCup, having reached the semifinals with an 18-1 record as the top offensive team in competition history. Paris raised its competitiveness in a very unconventional way, bringing in head coach Tuomas Iisalo and six players who played for him on a very successful Telekom Baskets Bonn team last season. One of them is forward [Tyson Ward](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyson-ward/012610/), whose all-around performance has allowed him to be one of the pillars of his new team.

Ward is averaging 11.7 points on strong shooting (65.8% 2FG, 39.0% 3FG, 86.8% FT), 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and a PIR of 14.2, having started all 19 games until now. Ward hopes that Paris continues its run and gets the four wins the club needs to qualify for the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

"Being in the EuroCup for three years now and then going into the EuroLeague would be an incredible thing. You bring a different type of love for the game in Paris, a different type of atmosphere, make it a major city for basketball and allow it to bring in a new age of basketball into the city," Ward told the official EuroCup website.

"It would mean the world to the guys in the locker room. That would mean better opportunities for the next year for the coaching staff. It would be great for the front office, the guys that have been here for five years, grinding and building the organization."

**Hello, Tyson. Congratulations on a great season. How much fun has it been to play for Paris Basketball so far and get that 18-1 record?**

"It's a blessing, especially to move leagues and still have that same success. It's definitely been a testament to all the work that we put in throughout the year. It's just been a lot of fun, especially with these guys. You know, winning is always fun for a team, but it definitely makes it extra special sharing it with new guys and some of the same guys that I've played with in the past."

**You came to Paris from Bonn, just like Coach Iisalo and five other teammates. Were you surprised to see that happening?**

"It's always a surprise. It doesn't happen too often, where you get some of the same guys. We talked about it over the summer with the guys that were going to be there and even the guys that were part of the team last year. It's just wild, but there's a lot of comfort in that. I would say you don't have to know as many new personnel going into a team, you have familiarity with play types and people, and what you expect with the attitudes or not attitudes, but how people are and how people react to certain things. So it definitely was and is a bonus."

"It's pretty remarkable for both teams to be able to accomplish such a feat."

**One of the new players who didn't come from Bonn is Nadir Hifi, who has had a big impact on the competition. How he is on and off the court?**

"He's a good kid, man. He has learned so much since the beginning. He is willing to learn and is not one of those kids that has an ego. It's always a positive thing with him, you can always talk to him. He's taking coaching well, and he's taking some of the leadership very well throughout the year. And you can see it as his games progressed throughout the year."

**Paris is breaking all the offensive records in the competition. It seems that you play easy run-and-gun basketball, but it is never easy. What's allowed you to play so fast and score so much?**

"I think that just comes with Coach's knowledge of personnel. He's got a lot of guys that like to get out and run, and when you get a lot of turnovers or when you get a lot of stops defensive early, it leads to those opportunities to get out and run. And that's the main strategy for us, to get as many stops as possible and that will lead to transition. And Coach did a great job with picking his personnel to help break the record."

**This is your first EuroCup season. In general terms, how do you find the competition?**

"It's completely different. You've got high-level talent all the time, guys that have been in the EuroLeague, guys that are looking to go into the EuroLeague. This is the next step to get there, and every single night you are just playing against great talent. It is fun to be around and definitely a challenge coming into your matchup every single night."

Tyson Ward is averaging 11.7 points on solid shooting (65.8% 2FG, 39.0% 3FG, 86.8% FT), 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and a PIR of 14.2, starting all 19 games for Paris Basketball until now.

2023-24 EuroCup highlights: Tyson Ward, Paris

**You are going to play against London in the semifinals. Both teams were EuroCup rookies less than two years ago. How great is it to see both teams grow together and create a sports rivalry?**

"it's awesome. With such little time doing that, it's pretty remarkable for both teams to be able to accomplish such a feat like that. I know that they have some guys that are excited to play in the semifinals and I know we are as well. As the year progressed, I have learned about the rivalry a little bit. And I think with it being such a rivalry now, it's going to be a pretty good series."

**You beat London twice this season. Since then, London signed David Nwaba and brought back Sam Dekker. How different will the next games be, with more pressure and different lineups?**

"It's a lot of pressure for both teams. I don't think either team has been further than this and they have a lot of seasoned guys that have been in different environments where they had to win games and in high-pressure situations. I think we have had the same thing as well, so it's going to be a battle of who can maintain their identity and their brand of basketball. And as simple as it may be, who can stop what they do best, and that's what it's going to come down to. It's not going to be who has the better strategy or anything. It's just who can contain who for the most number of possessions. And that's what it's going to come down to for 40 minutes."

**Since you played against both teams during the season... What's your take on the other semifinal, Bourg vs. Besiktas?** 

"It's going to be fun to watch. Both teams definitely have a lot of talent. Bourg is, I would say, a similar style to us with how they play and so it's going to be a fun game to watch. I just don't know who's going to bring it out, to be honest with you. I mean, at the end of the day, we are going to focus on London first and then whoever's on the other side we will handle that accordingly. But as far as the other side, I don't really know what to expect from either team. I think both teams are very tough. Bourg has beaten us and so did Besiktas, so that shows you that they are very high-level teams as well."

**Paris has never been closer to playing in the EuroLeague in the 21st century. How great would it be for the club, the city and especially for you guys to win the EuroCup and qualify for the EuroLeague?** 

"It would be a huge accomplishment, especially for the city. Being in the EurocCup for two years now and then going into the EuroLeague would be an incredible thing. You bring a different type of love for the game in Paris, a different type of atmosphere, make it a major city for basketball and allow it to bring a new age of basketball into the city. As the time progressed, they have been building the fan base. I think that would be huge for the fan base to have something back behind. That's another thing to be a part of along with PSG as a major soccer club, and then to have us \[in the EuroLeague\], that would be huge. It would mean the world to the guys in the locker room. That would mean better opportunities for the next year for the coaching staff. It would be great for the front office, the guys that have been here for five years, grinding and building the organization. It would be huge. It would be a huge accomplishment for everybody involved."

Javier Gancedo chats with the Paris forward about his maiden season in the EuroCup and what it would mean to win it all. 

Paris Basketball v London Lions (2024-03-26T19:45:00.000Z)

London Lions v Paris Basketball (2024-03-29T19:30:00.000Z)

Here are Javier Gancedo's recommendations for the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge games this week.

Fantasy Tips EuroCup Semifinals: And then there were four! 

Here come the BKT EuroCup Semifinals! The competition changed its format to best-of-three series for the semifinals and finals, which means EuroCup Fantasy Challenge managers have more opportunities to win! With just four teams available, anything can happen. We are not going to beat around the bushes and are recommending one player per team, plus an extra star which should do really well. Here they are: 

[T.J. Shorts, Paris Basketball (19.9 credits)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tj-shorts/012608/)

It is a no-brainer. This is the biggest week of the season for Paris and its superstar should live up to the massive expectations. Shorts did not have his best games against London: in fact, he had a career-low PIR of 6 in both teams' last meeting. Far from being a problem, I see this as a motivation. Expect Shorts to be at his usual level. 

[David Nwaba, London Lions (16.0 credits)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/david-nwaba/012797/)

He has taken London to a new level with his physicality and all-around game. Nwaba has done everything well until now, averaging 14.3 points on great shooting (68.8% 2G, 44.4% 3FG), 4.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals and a PIR of 18.7. He is set to face Paris for the first time and is supposed to give London the extra push to go past its opponent. 

Angel Delgado, Jeremy Morgan, T.J. Shorts, Hugo Benitez and David Nwaba are featured in this week's article.

EuroCup Semifinals tips: Games 1-2

[Angel Delgado, Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (15.8 credits) ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/angel-delgado/012647/)

Besiktas plays point-to-point, possession-to-possession basketball, looking for advantages. Bourg does not have a star center, which makes Delgado dangerous in this series. An elite rebounder (9.7 rpg.), Delgado is a reliable scorer (61.9% 2FT) in the paint. His free throw shooting (46.3% FT) is an issue but still, he is a great choice. 

[Hugo Benitez, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (7.1 credits)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/hugo-benitez/010449/)

Arguably the only bargain left in the game. All managers should buy Benitez. In his first game after being injured, Benitez had 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and a PIR of 19. Benitez also shined in the French League this weekend with 16 points, 7 assists and a PIR of 23. All for 7.1 credits: what's not to like about Hugo? 

[Jeremy Morgan, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (10.2 credits)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jeremy-morgan/010431/)

Bourg plays team-oriented basketball but when it comes to putting the ball in the basket, Morgan is its first choice. Morgan comes off a strong game in the quarterfinals against Prometey: 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a PIR of 22. He even did better in the French League this weekend, amassing a PIR of 29. The man of the moment! 

On the eve of his team hosting Game 1 of the semifinals against Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul, forward Isiaha Mike of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse returns to blog for EuroCupbasketball.com. 

Isiaha Mike, Bourg: 'We are prepared'

It's been a good season for us. The club did a really good job of putting together a team that really doesn't have any drop-off in terms of skill intensity. I feel like we have a roster of 12 guys that could all be starters on any given EuroCup team, and I think that's the major difference, honestly. Everybody is dynamic in their position this year as opposed to last year where we had a crazy scorer in Jordan Floyd. But then, on the flip side, his substitutions, Axel \[Julien\] and Frantz Massenat, who were more like distributing guards. So I feel like we are a more dynamic team, a team that is constructed to fight for 40 minutes. It's been great to get to know these guys and to get out there and fight with these guys. Everybody steps up to the challenge when it comes, and there's just no let up. It's beautiful to line up with guys that are going to go as hard as you.

### Signature win, playing with Risacher

Our biggest regular season win was probably beating Gran Canaria at home. When we were in second place, there was a point in the season when we were like two or three wins behind them. They dropped a few, and the fact that we could take number one just started to get more and more real. And when we got the opportunity to play them, we beat them. When we played them in Gran Canaria, Hugo \[Benitez\] had just got hurt, and I think JeQuan \[Lewis\] was still hurt, so we weren't at full strength yet. When things like that happen throughout the season for teams, it takes a couple of games to kind of readjust to the vacuum that the injury creates, but once we saw them again in the second half of the season, we were rolling at that time. It felt really good to beat them and make a statement win, because it just feels like, even still, that there are critics out there that don't think we are the real deal. But it is what it is. We know what we are capable of.

"We have a roster of 12 guys that could all be starters on any given EuroCup team"

Our team is so strong, it makes it hard for teams to scout us. There are so many things you can try to do, but if you try to take anybody away, it's just going to open up somebody else. And we are the type of team that if we see that you are open, we are going to tell you to shoot the ball. We are very encouraging to each other, and it's beautiful, it's really beautiful. We're all out there just trying to win. We don't really care who gets to shine as long as we are the winners at the end of the day.

Of course, Zaccharie Risacher gets a lot of attention but he is a super humble kid. All he cares about is working hard and trying to be great. He is a great kid and deserves everything that's coming towards him. And he might be the number one draft pick in the in the NBA. That's crazy to me! It's super impressive to see the things he's doing, and he does them so efficiently and so consistently that I forget that he's only 18 – often – and it's like, "OK, yeah, that's that's why you are about to be a top three pick in the NBA." I'm so happy for him. I hope he can finish the season strong and solidify that first pick. Or even if it's not the first pick, he will go to a team that will build around him or put him in a position to be successful at the next level, because that kid right there, he's a hard worker.

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse forward Isiaha Mike averages 12.5 points, 3.9 assists, 1.7 steals (6th overall) and a PIR of 13.1 in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season.

2023-24 EuroCup highlughts: Isiaha Mike, Bourg

### Facing Besiktas in the semis

I am really, really looking forward to playing against Besiktas. It is going to be a big test for us. We like to fight, but I think Besiktas are probably the biggest fighters of both groups, as they have shown in the postseason so far. I didn't really get a chance to watch them much during the regular season but when we went to Turkiye to play Turk Telekom Ankara, we were in Istanbul for a little bit before, and we got a chance to watch them play Bursaspor. And they just dominated Bursaspor. They are a really tough team that crashes the offensive glass really hard and makes it hard for teams to score on them. It's going to be interesting to see how it plays out: at the end of the day, it comes down to who wants to wants to win more. Defensive rebounding is going to be a big thing. Winning 50-50 balls is going to be a big thing. Whoever comes on top in those categories, in my opinion, is going to be the winner of the series. 

"There are critics out there that don't think we are the real deal. But... we know what we are capable of."

I think we are prepared. Offensively we probably have the edge, as we have played against Gran Canaria and Hapoel. That's not always going to be the deciding factor in these games, so if we get the lead, we really have to fight to keep it, because what they did against Hapoel was incredible, man, like, unbelievable. It takes a lot of heart to come back and do that. But like I said, the team that shows a lot of fight will win. We've just got to show that we are bigger fighters.

I think the home-court advantage definitely gives us a little edge because we have done really well at home in the regular season. But at the same time, Besiktas has come into hostile environments and won, so hopefully we can change that narrative. Experience is the main factor that that kind of makes the critics count us out. I think that they don't realize that we also have some experience, maybe not EuroLeague or postseason EuroCup experience, but we do have guys that have won throughout their careers, whether it be in college or high school or at the pro level and some other level. We have winners, too, and we built a winning culture this season. We just got to build on our principles and stay true to what we have been doing this season and not try to play any hero basketball. Just do what we have been doing throughout the year and we will see what happens! 

The two series will open in France on Tuesday, with the two regular season group winners hosting the first contests on the best-of-three series. The second legs will be on Friday night with Game 3, if necessary, next week. 

This week: The BKT EuroCup Semifinals begin

[Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse vs. Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse-besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul/U2023/190/)

The semifinals will begin at Ekinox, where Group B winner Bourg hosts Besiktas at 19:00 CET. Bourg held off Prometey Slobozhanske in their semifinal duel while Besiktas rallied from 21 down to upset Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv. Frederic Fauthoux’s Bourg is 15-5 on the season, 9-1 at home and 2-0 against Turkish clubs, having defeated Turk Telekom Ankara twice. Dusan Alimpijevic improved to 5-2 as an underdog in EuroCup elimination games with his team's victory over Hapoel. However, all of his magic has come in single-game settings. 

This marks uncharted territory for both teams. Besiktas will try to become the third straight Turkish team to reach the finals, following Frutti Extra Bursaspor with Alimpijevic and Derek Needham two years ago and Turk Telekom last season. Bourg seeks to become the first French finalist since Strasbourg in 2016.

Expect a high-scoring showdown with Paris leading in scoring (99.5 ppg), while London is ranked third (92 ppg.). Sam Dekker was the hero for the Lions with a late three-pointer to overcome Prometey, while T.J. Shorts continued his stellar campaign through an weekly MVP award in a gain over Hamburg.

Paris Basketball-London Lions | Round 13 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

[Paris Basketball vs. London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/paris-basketball-london-lions/U2023/189/)

Adidas Arena will be the site when Group A winner Paris tips off against London at 20:45 CET. Paris enters this series on an 11-game winning streak after eliminating Joventut Badalona in the quarters. Opposite the team from the French capital will be the squad from the English capital; London stormed to the semis with a pair of double-digit do-or-die victories, including a 12-point road triumph against U-BT Cluj Napoca.

Led by playmaker TJ Shorts, Paris is 18-1 this season — and two of those wins came against London during the regular season. First, it was a 102-106 overtime thriller in London, then a comfortable 94-77 win on its home floor in Round 13. But London did not have David Nwaba nor Donte Granham in that last clash, while Sam Dekker got injured mid-game. Since that loss, London is 5-2 and a perfect 3-0 on the road.

This week: The EuroCup Semifinals begin

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (2024-03-26T18:00:00.000Z)

Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2024-03-29T17:45:00.000Z)

Over the course of this week, Euroleague.net will be posting interviews with the Hoop District team captains. Today, we start with Rookicks.

Getting to know: Rookicks, Team Paris captain

The excitement is already building for the inaugural [Hoop District](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/euroleague-basketball-launches-3x3-content-creators-tournament-hoop-district/) tournament, which gets underway this coming Saturday, March 30, in Paris, France. So, ahead of the event at the brand-new Adidas Arena, it’s time to get to know the team captains a little better.

In the first of six ‘getting to know’ interviews that will be dropping this week, we got to speak to Reda Ouahbi, otherwise known as [‘@rookicks\_’](https://www.instagram.com/rookicks_/?hl=en), who is the captain for Team Paris. Here’s what we found out.

**Tell us about yourself. Who is @rookicks\_?**

“@rookicks\_ is a content creator that loves basketball a lot. I really love basketball, and it is basketball that drove me to love sneakers. Since I was four years old, I’ve been in love with basketball – watching a lot of games, playing basketball outside and obviously sharing my passion with all of the French community. I’m a basketballholic!”

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border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4xhugks_lJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by 🇫🇷 REDA - BASKETBALL &amp; SNEAKERS (@rookicks_)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

**How did you come up with the name Rookicks? What does it mean?**

“My first name is Reda, so with an ‘R’, and my last name is ‘Ouahbi’, so it’s like ‘oo’ – it’s like the first two letters of my last name. And ‘kicks’ for kicks \[sneakers\]. It’s quite simple, but it sounds good so I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’”

**What made you want to become a basketball content creator?**

“I played basketball for a long time and I was the guy who always had different sneakers. People like wearing regular sneakers, but I was coming with new colorways and knew every product that came on the market, so people around me were like, ‘You need to advise people on how to choose their basketball shoes and stuff.’ That’s where my journey began. Then I kind of expanded all of the content I’m doing by covering big events, like EuroLeague events – I’m a basketball fan, so it was the next step to \[take after previously\] just talking about sneakers.”

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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4lSw4fscrG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4lSw4fscrG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4lSw4fscrG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by 🇫🇷 REDA - BASKETBALL &amp; SNEAKERS (@rookicks_)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

**Is there a particular moment during your time as an influencer that particularly stands out?**

“To be honest, there are so many. But last year I went to a EuroLeague game, it was Olympiacos against Panathinaikos, and it was so loud. The crowd was crazy! I was like, ‘Is that the real atmosphere? It’s like that?’ Because I saw a lot of NBA games, French League games, and it was not as loud as the derby in Greece, so that was a big memory for me.”

**Have any EuroLeague or EuroCup players inspired you?**

“There’s a lot. Nando De Colo was one of the top players that inspired me because he comes from not the same city but the same state, kind of: the north of France, like me. There’s obviously one of the top young players in the EuroCup, Nadir Hifi, who plays really well. I know him as a friend so we talk a lot, even before he was a pro player. He’s very inspiring because he’s young, he plays really well, and I can’t wait to see him playing in the EuroLeague in the next few years.”

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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CbnRuVUMndt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CbnRuVUMndt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"&gt;&lt;g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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**Which former or current EuroLeague player most closely resembles your style of play?**

“That’s a good question. I’m a guy that loves shooting… and I need to be humble. I’m not going to say a player like Mike James! I would say a point guard who passes the ball. I love a guy named Marcelinho Huertas \[a nine-year EuroLeague veteran\]. I know he’s not a young player, but I love his energy, I love the way he plays, and I know he’s a really professional player. He takes every day and every training session seriously, so I’ll say Marcelinho Huertas.”

**What criteria did you look for when picking your team?**

“I’m kind of an entrepreneur, so I need to go for the cash prize. There were two things I looked for: creativity and being a content creator, i.e. people I follow so that we can create basketball together; and then people who can play basketball because there is a cash prize to win, so we need to be good. And \[the Hoop District tournament\] is in our hometown, so we need to represent Paris and we need to be as good as we can.”

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**Which Hoop District team could be the trickiest to face?**

“Maybe the Spain one or the UK \[team\]. I know the SBB guys – they play basketball well and they’re such nice guys. They’re creative and they’re doing a great job in the UK. I love their content. We’re going to be in the same group, so I’m going to say the UK team. And shout out to the SBB boys!”

**What does it mean for you to be a Team Captain?**

“It’s such an honor. When I saw the video, I thought, ‘That’s so nice.’ I’m the kind of guy who works a lot – I’m in my room creating content. I’m kind of in my space and when I saw that the EuroLeague, a big league, is talking about the tournament and I can see myself in the video, that’s such a blessing, so I’m really happy about that. I can’t wait to be there, to play basketball and go to the final, maybe. It’s such a blessing. I couldn’t have imagined this happening.”

Hoop District, the talent and culture celebration at the intersection of sports and social media that’s coming to Paris and Berlin this spring, is not your average basketball tournament. Influencer-led 3x3 teams will compete for a chance to be part of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four festivities and win the €10,000 grand prize.

Hoop District’s dynamic new 3x3 rules guarantee drama!

[Hoop District](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-basketball-launches-3x3-content-creators-tournament-hoop-district/), the talent and culture celebration at the intersection of sports and social media that’s coming to Paris and Berlin this spring, is not your average basketball tournament. Influencer-led 3x3 teams will compete for a chance to be part of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four festivities and win the €10,000 grand prize.

But they won't be playing your grandfather's game – or even your mother's. Not at all. 

Hoop District will feature some unique 3x3 game rules called that are designed to keep everyone – players, fans, viewers and even referees – constantly engaged throughout swings in the action and the scoreboard.

In addition to the standard one- and two-point shots, taken inside or outside an arc indicated on the court, several novel scenarios called Power Ups may be activated during Hoop District games. 

There are four Power Up options, of which each team can use two during the course of any game. The clock will be stopped by the referee when a team captain raises his hand and invokes one of the following Power Ups.

### Three-Point Shot

A player chosen by his or her team captain will shoot alone from one of special three-point circles in the corners near the half-court line. After the shot is taken, whether made or missed, possession changes to the other team.

### Point Boost 

By activating this Power Up, a team can earn double points on its next two possessions. Any possession ends when the opposing team gets the ball.

### One-on-One 

The team captain chooses a player to go one-on-one against an opponent of the same gender. They play each other head-to-head until someone scores.

### No Dribble 

When activated by one team, the opposing team will not be able to dribble for the next two possessions. If the ball is dribbled during this time, the team that activated the Power Up will be awarded a free throw plus possession.

Only one Power Up at a time may be activated. So if a two-possession Power Up is in progress, neither team can interrupt it by asking for another Power Up until the first one is complete. Also, Power Ups can only be called for during live action, never when the clock is stopped.

Speaking of live action, Hoops District also features innovative substitutions, happening on the fly without game stoppages. Any player coming off the court must sit in an empty seat before his teammate can enter the game. 

You can imagine how fast this must happen for that team not to lose an advantage on court. Remember, the rest of the official FIBA rules for 3x3 also apply in Hoop District, so the 12-second shot clock will be running. With 10 minutes and hardly any stoppages, there will be no time to waste in trying to reach the 21-point winning score.

Hoop District is poised to captivate a young and diverse audience, bringing together basketball enthusiasts and social media followers for an unforgettable experience. Six top Influencers – Marco D'Uva (Italy), Dimitris Kyrsanidis (Greece), Reda Ouahbi (France), SBB (UK), Tresco (Spain) and Valentina Vignali (Italy) – will jump from the screen to become team captains, hand-picking their own four-player rosters of the most promising male and female players ito njecting a fresh and dynamic energy into the competition.

Hoop District Paris will tip off on March 30 at the brand-new Adidas Arena with six participating teams divided into two groups. The best two teams from the Paris Hoop District edition will qualify for the Berlin edition, which will also feature a local Berlin team and an all-star team. The winner of Hoops District will earn a cash prize of €10,000, while engagement will also be rewarded with a €5,000 bonus prize for the team achieving the biggest social media impact.

Hoop District is designed for the digital age. From live highlights of the thrilling matches to behind-the-scenes glimpses of player interactions, fans can expect a constant flow of engaging content. Social media platforms will serve as a virtual court where the excitement of the event extends far beyond the physical arena.

The latest chapters in the EuroCup rivalry between Paris Basketball and the London Lions will be written during the best-of-three semifinals.

The Paris Basketball, London Lions rivalry is ready to go to new heights

Paris and London. Two of the world’s biggest cities, and two capitals that have a curious rivalry that has taken on a new chapter – yes, in the (wonderful) world of basketball.

Ever since their arrival in the BKT EuroCup in the 2022-23 season, Paris Basketball and the London Lions have been endlessly compared. After all, they are two franchises shooting for the top. Or, in other words, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

For Paris and London, there has been no separating one another. That has helped build the narrative in this rivalry, too.

### How the games have played out

The 2022-23 regular season witnessed the first-ever meeting between the two, which led to plenty of build up and what was at the time a record attendance at Copper Box Arena in Round 9, with 5,297 fans watching on from the bleachers. The London fans, which included celebrities such as Maya Jama, Julie Adenuga and Antigoni, were treated to influencer Yung Filly as the game’s host and a halftime performance from rapper K-Trap. Yet, on the court, [the Lions fell 80-93 as Paris’s depth made the difference](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/ec2223-rs9-report-lli-prs/). In this brand-new rivalry, it was 1-0 Paris.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Best seat in the house for <a href="https://twitter.com/MayaJama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mayajama</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JulieAdenuga?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@julieadenuga</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/jammerbbk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jammerbbk</a> last night ❤️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wearelondon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wearelondon</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ik6mrbLJyA">pic.twitter.com/Ik6mrbLJyA</a></p>&mdash; London Lions (@LondonLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions/status/1605929747460067331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

When they met in the French capital in Round 18, it was a far more low-key affair. Just 800 people were present inside Halle Georges Carpinter for a game that had little significance, with Paris and London having already qualified for the playoffs and unable to change their seeding. The Lions, despite being without star player [Sam Dekker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/), nevertheless wanted to make amends for its Round 9 defeat to Paris and [managed to grab an 85-96 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/london-exacts-revenge-against-paris-85-96/) in a focused performance.

When the two clubs were once again paired in the same regular-season group this year, it felt like this rivalry could grow even further – and it has. Following a summer in which Paris overhauled its entire roster and brought in a new head coach in Tuomas Iisalo, London kept its main core together but also made some top-notch signings and appointed a new head coach in Petar Bozic.

(Image credit: IMAGO/Federico Pestellini)

The two teams took a big leap forward from day one, and a club-record 6,152 fans packed out Copper Box Arena for the visit of Paris in Round 4. That was just the second time London has had a 5,000-plus crowd in the EuroCup, and both have come for games against Paris. If there was any doubt, this is a fixture that is circled on the calendar for Lions fans.

While there was a spectacle off the court for London’s first game against Paris, the second meeting at Copper Box Arena was a far more basketball-orientated affair – and the crowd were able to watch not 40, not 45, but 50 minutes of elite-level basketball full of thrills and spills. The double-overtime thriller earned headlines right across the continent as fans reveled in the atmosphere for a basketball game in London, a city where this sport is rapidly on the rise.

In particular, Dekker’s game-tying three-pointer at the end of regulation caused an eruption inside Copper Box Arena that showed just how far London – and basketball in England in general – has grown since its EuroCup debut. However, after [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tj-shorts/012608/) had impressed inside the first 40 minutes, [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nadir-hifi/012640/) stepped up for Paris in both overtime periods by playing a key role in [the eventual 102-106 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/paris-outlasts-london-after-double-overtime-102-106/) as the Parisians improved to 2-1 in the all-time series between these two.

London Lions-Paris Basketball | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

Then, in Round 13, [Paris did the double over the Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/paris-completes-sweep-of-london-94-77/) for the first time by coming out on top at Halle Georges Carpentier, 94-77, in front of 2,764 people. Hifi once again showed what he is capable of, netting 26 points, but London’s night was compounded by Dekker going down with an injury early in the third quarter when the score was 54-46. Still, it was quite a statement by Coach Iisalo’s side and it was the first time a team had won by a comfortable margin in this series.

### What to expect in this new chapter

All of that history brings us to the EuroCup Semifinals. Paris and London will go head-to-head in a best-of-three series, with the French side having a potential do-or-die Game 3 at home courtesy of securing a higher seed in the regular season. The interesting part is that this derby will take on a new home for the game – or games – in the French capital, as Paris is now playing at the brand-new adidas arena. So far, Iisalo’s men are 1-0 there in the EuroCup.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">POUR UNE PLACE EN FINALE⚡️<br><br>BILLETTERIE OUVERTE 🔥<br><br>La première manche se joue à la maison le 26 mars ‼️ <br><br>On continue la rivalité avec Londres 😈 <br>On mène 2-0, objectif 3-0 tu poses la manette 🎮<br><br>IL FAUDRA UN VOLCAN 🌋<br><br>🎟️<a href="https://t.co/9oT7p2SxzJ">https://t.co/9oT7p2SxzJ</a>🎟️ <a href="https://t.co/NrCK95iXQW">pic.twitter.com/NrCK95iXQW</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1768722453121913097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Paris moving to adidas arena is just another sign of the progress these two clubs are making, on and off the court, and it’s something that Dekker could see coming a long time ago.

“I definitely see similarities between the way London and Paris are going about things, from the top down – from ownership to the front office to the players,” [Dekker said ahead of the first-ever game between these two clubs](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/videos/sam-dekker-london-we-feel-so-ready-for-these-games/?player=009672&title=SAM%20DEKKER) back in 2022. “\[They’re\] trying to build that culture from within, grow basketball in those areas in two big cities. I love the way they’re both going about it, trying to grow their brand, and trying to put on exciting shows for fans and new basketball fans.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">THE EUROCUP SEMIFINALS! 🦁<br><br>🇬🇧 London vs <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@parisbasketball</a> 🇫🇷<br><br>It’s the biggest game in our team’s history and tickets are ON SALE NOW! 🎟<br><br>🏆 <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@eurocup</a> semifinal, game 2<br>🆚 <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@parisbasketball</a> 🇫🇷<br>📆 Friday 29th March<br>📍 <a href="https://twitter.com/CopperBoxArena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@copperboxarena</a><br>⏰ 7:30pm<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreLondon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreLondon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a></p>&mdash; London Lions (@LondonLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions/status/1769840483616923996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Should either Paris or London go on to make it to the EuroLeague, with just the EuroCup Finals against either Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse or Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul standing in their way, it would be a big step towards something that feels inevitable: two of Europe’s most powerful cities in the elite of European basketball.

First, though, the fifth and sixth chapters are ready to be written in the EuroCup Semifinals. Who knows, we may need a seventh chapter, too.

Paris Basketball's Collin Malcolm and the London Lions' Sam Dekker get ready to fight for the rebound during their teams' Round 13 clash earlier this season.

Their series in the EuroCup Semifinals will make for must-watch TV

The Paris, London rivalry is ready to go to new heights

The Group B winner will square off against a historically dangerous upset-monger in the BKT EuroCup semifinals.

Semifinals breakdown: Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse vs. Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul

BKT EuroCup semifinalists Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse and Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul both took different paths to reach this stage and now they are each two wins shy of playing for the trophy. Bourg, which finished atop Group B in the regular season with a 14-4 record, knocked off a semifinalist from the season before, Prometey Slobozhanske, 95-82 in the quarterfinals last week. Besiktas, which was sixth in Group A with a 9-9 mark, knocked out defending champion Dreamland Gran Canaria 78-80 in the eighthfinals before rallying past Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv 89-94 in the quarters. [Bourg will host Game 1](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse-besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul/U2023/190/) of the best-of-three series on Tuesday, March 26, with [Game 2 set for Istanbul three days later](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul-mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2023/192/). Game 3, if needed, will return to Bourg’s Ekinox on Wednesday, April 3.  

### The upset kings

There has never been anything quite like what Coach Dusan Alimpijevic and point guard [Derek Needham](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/derek-needham/008945/) have done together. Over the last three seasons, since the introduction of the single-game elimination formats from the eighthfinals, [the coach and point guard have together won five of their six games](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/gambling-on-each-other-has-helped-needham-alimpijevic-succeed/). The rest of the EuroCup together has gone 7-25. 

They began their run with Frutti Extra Bursaspor in 2022, when they upset Partizan Belgrade, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and MoraBanc Andorra en route to the EuroCup Final, where Bursaspor fell to Virtus Segafredo Bologna. This season the duo came together to Besiktas and have already won two more games on the road. 

Bourg is by no means a slouch at home. It won its first seven home games this season and is 9-1 at Ekinox thus far, but no one in competition history has made the home-court advantage a mockery quite like Alimpijevic and Needham. 

### Besiktas’s French (League) Connection

Besiktas scorer [Jonah Mathews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jonah-mathews/011936/) made his EuroLeague debut last season in France with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, where he was a teammate of Bourg forward [Zaccharie Risacher](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zaccharie-risacher/010718/). Besiktas guard [Kyle Allman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-allman/011924/) and forward [Matt Mitchell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matthew-mitchell/012622/) also played in the French League last season. Allman suited up for Paris Basketball and Mitchell was with Strasbourg. Needham also has a history in the French League (AS Monaco, 2018-19).

On the other side, Bourg guard [Bryce Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/bryce-brown/012628/)’s first stop in Europe was with Besiktas, though it proved to be a short one. He started last season with Besiktas and averaged 9.5 points and 3 rebounds in a pair of Turkish League games before they parted ways. Brown resurfaced in Poland where he was MVP of the finals with Wilki Morskie Szczecin before joining Bourg over the summer. Youngsters [Yagiz Aksu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yagiz-aksu/012233/) and [Samet Yigitoglu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/samet-yigitoglu/011357/) are the only remaining Besiktas players from Brown’s brief spell at the club.

Besiktas Istanbul, JL Bourg en Bresse Top Plays from 09/30/2023 to 03/21/2024

Bourg and Besiktas's top plays in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

### Key stats – rebounds and threes

Despite all that went well for Bourg this season, the club has been outrebounded on average by 2.4 boards per game. It has allowed an average of 11.6 offensive rebounds per game, which is fifth most in the EuroCup. In contrast, Besiktas has outrebounded its opponents by 1.6 rebounds per game and leads the competition with 13.5 offensive boards per outing. [Angel Delgado](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/angel-delgado/012647/) leads all players with 3.8 offensive rebounds and is second in the EuroCup with 9.7 rebounds per game. While Bourg’s top board-getter, [Kevin Kokil](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kevin-kokila/011837/)a (4.6 rpg.) only has one game with 9 rebounds this season, Delgado has nine double-doubles. 

Bourg has impressed this season on the perimeter with its three-point shooting and its ability to stop opponents from making triples. The French squad’s 39.2% accuracy from deep is fourth-best in the EuroCup led by teenage sensation Risacher’s 53.3%, which is third-best in the EuroCup. The long arms of Risacher are among the reasons that Bourg boasts the best defensive three-point shooting allowed, with opponents making a EuroCup-low 29.2% of their triples. Besiktas is last in three-point shooting at 31.6%, though it rose to the occasion in the quarterfinals when as a team it shot 13 for 29 (44.8%) with Mathews and Needham sinking 4 each. Besiktas will seek a similar display against Bourg’s staunch defense.

The Group B winner will square off against a historically dangerous upset-monger