FC Barcelona booked its place in the 2023 edition of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four after defeating Zalgiris Kaunas 3-0 in their playoff series. The Blaugrana were the only team to not have to play a Game 4 or a Game 5 in the postseason, having recorded a sweep in the playoffs for the first time since 2013-14. Here are some other 'Did you know…' facts.

FC Barcelona: Did you know that…

[FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/roster/bar/?season=2022-23) booked its place in the 2023 edition of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four after defeating Zalgiris Kaunas 3-0 in their playoff series. The Blaugrana were the only team to not have to play a Game 4 or a Game 5 in the postseason, having recorded a sweep in the playoffs for the first time since 2013-14. Here are some other 'Did you know?' facts.

**Barca** will compete in its 17th Final Four. Only CSKA Moscow (19) has more appearances in the Final Four era, which began in 1988.

**Barca** is looking for its third Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title. It previously lifted the trophy in 2003 and 2010 and lost championship games in 1984, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1997 and 2021.

[Saras Jasikevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/jasikevicius-saras/?season=E2022) has a chance to become the fourth person to win the EuroLeague as a player and coach. Jasikevicius won four EuroLeague titles as a player. Armenak Alachachan, Lolo Sainz and Svetislav Pesic are the only three members of this exclusive club.

**Saras Jasikevicius** is still the only player to win the EuroLeague with three different teams. Jasikevicius lifted the trophy with Barca in 2003, Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2004 and 2005, and Panathinaikos Athens in 2009.

[Cory Higgins](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/cory-higgins/006450/) can win his third EuroLeague title. He previously lifted the trophy with CSKA in 2016 and 2019. No player ever has won the EuroLeague with both CSKA and Barcelona. Higgins won’t play in the Final Four due to injury.

[Jan Vesely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jan-vesely/000925/) and [Nikola Kalinic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-kalinic/004866/) won the EuroLeague with Fenerbahce Istanbul in 2017. They have a chance to win their second EuroLeague crown. Vesely is in his seventh Final Four, while Kalinic is in his fifth.

**Jan Vesely** has made it to the Final Four with three different teams: Partizan Belgrade, Fenerbahce and now Barca.

[Sertac Sanli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sertac-sanli/002968/) lifted the EuroLeague trophy with Efes in 2021, and he now has a chance to do it again with Barca.

[Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/) and **Jan Vesely** are two of the four EuroLeague MVPs present at the 2023 Final Four. Mirotic was chosen as the 2021-22 EuroLeague MVP and Vesely was named the 2018-19 EuroLeague MVP. Sergio Llull (2016-17 MVP) and Sergio Rodriguez (2013-14) are the other MVPs set to take part in the Final Four.

**Nikola Mirotic** will play in his sixth Final Four. Milos Teodosic is the only other player to have gone to six Final Fours without lifting the trophy, but he did so at the seventh attempt.

[Alex Abrines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alex-abrines/003478/) is the only Barcelona player who has been a part of the team's last four Final Four appearances. Abrines is in his fifth Final Four with Barcelona.

[Rokas Jokubaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rokas-jokubaitis/007519/), **Nikola Mirotic** and **Alex Abrines** are three of the five Rising Star trophy winners present at the 2023 Final Four. Mirotic won the award twice – in 2011 and 2012 – and Abrines was the recipient of the honor in 2016. Rudy Fernandez of Real Madrid (2007) and Kostas Papanikolaou (2013) also secured this prize in the past.

**Tomas Masiulis**, Barca’s assistant coach, won the EuroLeague as a player. He lifted the trophy with Zalgiris in 1999.

[James Nnaji](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/james-nnaji/010641/) could become the first Nigerian-born player to win the EuroLeague. Ekpe Udoh, born in the USA with Nigerian roots, led Fenerbahce to the 2017 EuroLeague title. Another Nigerian, Chima Moneke, is in this year’s Final Four with AS Monaco.

FC Barcelona: Did you know?

Olympiacos Piraeus, the team that had the best record in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season at 24-10, made it to the Final Four after being victorious in Game 5 of the playoffs for the season year in a row. Last season, the Reds defeated AS Monaco 3-2 and this year they beat Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 3-2, with both Game 5s taking place at Peace and Friendship Stadium. Here are some other 'Did you know…' facts.

Olympiacos Piraeus: Did you know that….

[Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/roster/oly/?season=2022-23), the team that had the best record in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season at 24-10, made it to the Final Four after being victorious in Game 5 of the playoffs for the season year in a row. Last season, the Reds defeated AS Monaco 3-2 and this year they beat Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 3-2, with both Game 5s taking place at Peace and Friendship Stadium. Here are some other 'Did you know?' facts.

**Olympiacos** is at its 12th Final Four. Its last eight appearances have come over the last 14 years: 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2022 and 2023. Olympiacos has the chance to win its fourth EuroLeague title, having previously become champion in 1997, 2012 and 2013.

**Olympiacos** is one of five teams that have successfully defended their EuroLeague crown in the Final Four era. The Reds won back-to-back EuroLeague titles in 2012 and 2013, while Olimpia Milano (1987 and 1988), KK Split (1989, 1990 and 1991), Maccabi Tel Aviv (2004 and 2005) and Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2022 and 2023) are also in this exclusive list.

**Olympiacos** is 8-3 in the semifinals. Only Maccabi (10-2) has a better semifinals record.

Two current Olympiacos players have won back-to-back EuroLeague titles together, as [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) and [Kostas Papanikolaou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kostas-papanikolaou/001255/) won the competition with the Reds in 2012 and 2013.

**Kostas Papanikolaou** and **Kostas Sloukas** played against one another in the 2017 EuroLeague Championship Game. Sloukas helped Fenerbahce win the title against Olympiacos. Sloukas was Papanikolaou's teammate when Olympiacos appeared in the 2015 EuroLeague Championship Game, too.

**Kostas Papanikolaou** is one of five Rising Star Trophy winners at this Final Four. He is joined by Rokas Jokubaitis, Alex Abrines and Nikola Mirotic of FC Barcelona, as well as Rudy Fernandez of Real Madrid.  

**Kostas Sloukas** has the chance to win his fourth Euroleague title. Sloukas won two titles with Olympiacos in 2012 and 2013 and then lifted the trophy again with Fenerbahce in 2017.

**Kostas Sloukas** is 6-2 in the EuroLeague Semifinals. Sloukas registered six consecutive wins (with Olympiacos in 2012, 2013 and 2015; and Fenerbahce in 2016, 2017 and 2018), but he lost at this stage against Efes on his last two trips with Fenerbahce in 2019 and with Olympiacos in 2022.

**Kostas Sloukas** can join a list of four-time winners with different teams. Dino Meneghin (five titles with Varese and two with Milan), leads the table. Fausto Bargna (two with Cantu and two with Milan), Kyle Hines (two with Olympiacos and two with CSKA) and Saras Jasikevicius (one with Barcelona, two with Maccabi and one with Panathinaikos) also belong to this group.

**Kostas Sloukas** is in his ninth Final Four. He is tied with Theo Papaloukas, Kyle Hines, Andrey Vorontsevich and Sergio Llull for second place when it comes to the most Final Four appearances. Victor Khryapa leads the way with 12 Final Four appearances.

If he makes it to the championship game, **Kostas Sloukas** will tie Matjaz Smodis for the most finals appearances this century. Smodis played in seven EuroLeague finals: two with Virtus Bologna (2001 and 2002) one with Fortitudo Bologna (2004) and four with CSKA (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009).

**Kostas Sloukas** is fourth all-time in assists at 1,501. Nick Calathes leads the standings with 1,902 assists.

Head coach [Georgios Bartzokas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/bartzokas-georgios/?season=E2022) is in his fourth Final Four. He won the EuroLeague title with Olympiacos Piraeus in 2013, he took Lokomotiv Kuban to the 2016 Final Four and he returned to this stage with the Reds last season.

**Georgios Bartzokas** is one of two Greek coaches to have won the EuroLeague. He led Olympiacos to the 2013 crown. Dimitris Itoudis (CSKA 2015 and 2018) is the other.

[Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) ranks first in PIR this season (21.2). He is also the competition’s top scorer (17.2 ppg.) and ranks second for rebounds (6.8 rpg.).

[Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/) is first in steals at 1.8 per night. He also ranks fourth in assists (5.6 apg.).

**Kostas Sloukas** ranks third in assists this season. He dishes 5.6 helpers per might.

[Moustapha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/moustapha-fall/008811/) leads the 2022-23 EuroLeague in two-point shooting percentage (73.1%).

[Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) and [Alec Peters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alec-peters/008829/) won a EuroLeague title as CSKA Moscow teammates in 2019… and they could go all the way again with Olympiacos in 2023.

**Olympiacos** leads the EuroLeague in assists (20.9 apg.) and steals (7.5 spg.). It is second in PIR (100.9), too.

**Olympiacos** ranks first overall in two-point shooting percentage. At 60.1%, it is the competition’s highest percentage ever. Real Madrid holds the record for a full season, having made 59.2% of its shots inside the arc in the 2001-02 campaign.

Olympiacos Piraeus: Did you know?

In just its second season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, AS Monaco qualified for the 2023 Final Four after beating Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in a do-or-die Game 5 in their playoff series. One year after losing in a Game 5 to Olympiacos Piraeus, Monaco made amends this time around. Here are some other 'Did you know…' facts.

AS Monaco: Did you know that…

In just its second season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/roster/mco/?season=2022-23) qualified for the 2023 Final Four after beating Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in a do-or-die Game 5 in their playoff series. One year after losing in a Game 5 to Olympiacos Piraeus, Monaco made amends this time around. Here are some other 'Did you know?' facts.

**Monaco** is going to its first Final Four. Monaco is the 29th team to reach the Final Four since the format was chosen in 1988.

**Monaco** reached the Final Four in just its second EuroLeague season. The last team to do so was Lokomotiv Kuban in 2016.

**Monaco** is the third French League team to make it to the Final Four? Limoges CSP made it three times – in 1990, 1993 and 1995 – and it became the champion in the middle of that run, in 1993. ASVEL Villeurbanne reached the 1997 Final Four.

[Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) is the only Monaco player with previous Final Four experience. James played in the 2016 Final Four with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.

[Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/) can join the list of 11 players that have won the championship in the NBA and EuroLeague. Loyd won the NBA title with Toronto in 2019. The list includes names such as Manu Ginobili, Toni Kukoc and Bill Bradley.

[Donatas Motiejunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/donatas-motiejunas/lcz/) can join an exclusive list of Adidas Next Generation Tournament MVPs who have also won the EuroLeague title. Motiejunas was the ANGT MVP in 2007 with Zalgiris. Luka Doncic is the only previous player to have achieved this feat: he was the ANGT MVP in 2015 and won the EuroLeague in 2018 with Real Madrid. Alberto Abalde and Eli Ndiaye, the ANGT MVPs in 2013 and 2021, respectively, are also in this year’s Final Four with Real Madrid.

Coach [Sasa Obradovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/obradovic-sasa/?season=E2022) won a Korac Cup title with ALBA Berlin in 1995. He is also an Olympic medalist, having helped Yugoslavia achieve silver at the 1996 Olympic Games.

[John Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/john-brown/010588/) played a 7DAYS EuroCup final with UNICS Kazan in 2021 and lost it against his current team, Monaco.

[Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/) could become the first Nigerian-born player to win the EuroLeague. Ekpe Udoh led Fenerbahace to the EuroLeague title in the 2016-17 season. Another Nigerian, James Nnaji, is in this year’s Final Four with FC Barcelona.

**Monaco** leads the 2022-23 EuroLeague in two-point shots made at 22.6 per game. Its 833 two-pointers rank third all-time. FC Barcelona set the all-time record with 855 two-pointers made in the 2020-21 campaign.

**Monaco** is also first in offensive rebounds (12.3 orpg.). Monaco has pulled down 478 offensive boards and has a good chance to set a new all-time record in the Final Four. CSKA Moscow pulled down 485 offensive boards in the 2020-21 season. Monaco is currently second all-time.

**Mike James** is fourth in the EuroLeague's all-time scoring list. He has scored 3,903 points in 241 career games. Vassilis Spanoulis leads the way with 4,455 points.

**Mike James** is 10th all-time in assists. He has dished 1,083 assists in his EuroLeague career. His former Panathinaikos Athens teammate, Nick Calathes, is first overall with 1,902 assists.

**John Brown** has the record for most steals in a EuroLeague season. He had 69 steals for UNICS in the 2021-22 campaign.

AS Monaco: Did you know?

Real Madrid, the most successful team in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague history, is back at the Final Four for the second year in succession and the seventh time in the last decade. Los Blancos overcame Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in a five-game series in the playoffs, winning Game 5 in miraculous fashion after being down 18 points late in the third quarter.  Here are some other 'Did you know…' facts.

Real Madrid: Did you know that...

[Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/roster/mad/?season=2022-23), the most successful team in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague history, is back at the Final Four for the second year in succession and the seventh time in the last decade. *Los Blancos* overcame Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in a five-game series in the playoffs, winning Game 5 in miraculous fashion after being down 18 points late in the third quarter.  Here are some other 'Did you know?' facts.

**Real** has the chance to win its 11th EuroLeague title. It leads the all-time standings with 10 titles, but only three of them have come in the last 35 years. Real has been crowned European champion in 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1974, 1978, 1980, 1995, 2015 and 2018.

**Real** is making its 12th Final Four appearance since the format was adopted in 1988. Los Blancos previously reached the Final Four in 1993, 1995, 1996, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

**Real** is attempting to reach the EuroLeague Championship Game for the 20th time. It leads the all-time list with 19 championship game appearances. Maccabi Tel Aviv has been to 14 EuroLeague Championship Games and one SuproLeague title game. CSKA Moscow has reached the EuroLeague Championship Game 14 times.

**Real** has the chance to lift its 17th continental trophy. In addition to its 10 EuroLeague titles, Real has won four Saporta Cups, a Korac Cup and a ULEB Cup, which is nowadays known as the 7DAYS EuroCup.

[Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rudy-fernandez/bmt/) belongs to a select group of players to have won both the EuroLeague and the EuroCup titles. Fernandez won the EuroCup with Joventut Badalona in 2008 and has two EuroLeague crowns with Real in 2015 and 2018. The list includes two other Spanish players – Felipe Reyes and Ricky Rubio – and it also features stars like Nando De Colo, Nick Calathes and Romain Sato.

**Rudy Fernandez**, [Sergio Rodriguez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-rodriguez/cvm/) and [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/) belong to a group of 24 players who have won the EuroLeague, EuroBasket and World Championship titles. Llull, Rodriguez and Fernandez are three of the five players on the list not hailing from the former Soviet Union or former Yugoslavia; Felipe Reyes and Juan Carlos Navarro are the others. The list includes all-time greats such as Arvydas Sabonis, Drazen Petrovic and Toni Kukoc.

**Sergio Llull** is at his ninth Final Four. All of his previous Final Four appearances have come with Real: in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. Victor Khryapa leads the list with 12 Final Four appearances. Llull is now the Spanish player with the most trips to the Final Four.

**Rudy Fernandez** and **Sergio Rodriguez** are at their eighth Final Four. Fernandez has played in the Final Four with Real in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. Rodriguez has made four Final Four appearances with Real – in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 – as well as two with CSKA in 2018 and 2019 and one with Milan in 2021.

**Sergio Llull** and **Sergio Rodriguez** are two of four EuroLeague MVPs present at the 2023 Final Four. Llull earned that honor in the 2016-17 season, while Rodriguez was the 2013-14 EuroLeague MVP. FC Barcelona duo Nikola Mirotic (2021-22) and Jan Vesely (2018-19) are the other two MVPs.

**Sergio Llull** is the fifth-best scorer in EuroLeague history. He has amassed 3,684 points in 372 EuroLeague career games. Llull ranks sixth for assists (1,324), too.

**Rudy Fernandez** ranks third all-time for steals. He has recorded 343 in 323 games. Dimitris Diamantidis leads the way with 434 steals.

[Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) is the all-time leader for blocks. He has 368 blocked shots in 200 games.

[Fabien Causeur](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/fabien-causeur/001392/) is the only French player to have reached the Final Four with two different foreign teams. Causeur made it to the Final Four with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2016 and with Real in 2018, 2019 and 2022.

**Rudy Fernandez**, **Sergio Rodriguez** and **Sergio Llull** won the EuroLeague title with Real in 2015 and are still with the team. Rodriguez returned to the club last summer and is now in his second stint with the club.

[Adam Hanga](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/adam-hanga/005099/) can become the first Hungarian player to win the EuroLeague title? Kornel David came closest when he reached the championship game with Baskonia in 2005.

**Sergio Llull** ranks third on the Final Four's career scoring list. Llull has 191 points and could climb at least one spot in Kaunas. Nikos Galis leads the list with 231 points, followed by J.R. Holden with 194.

**Sergio Llull** ranks first for assists in Final Four history. He has dished 62 helpers. Sergio Rodriguez ranks third with 56 assists.

**Sergio Rodriguez** is the only Spanish-born player to win the EuroLeague with a non-Spanish team (CSKA in 2019). He is also the only Spanish player to win the EuroLeague with different teams.

**Sergio Rodriguez** ranks sixth in scoring (3,603), second in assists (1,724), third in three-point shots made (574) and eighth in PIR (3,914) in EuroLeague history.

**Rudy Fernandez** is tied for third place in steals in Final Four history. He has collected 18, just like Dimitris Diamantidis. J.R. Holden ranks first (24), followed by Victor Khryapa (22).

**Rudy Fernandez**, **Sergio Rodriguez** and **Sergio Llull** can win their third EuroLeague title. The last Spanish players to win three EuroLeague titles were Rafael Rullan, Juan Antonio Corbalan and Luis Maria Prada with Real in 1974, 1978 and 1980.

**Walter Tavares** ranks third all-time in two-point shooting percentage this season (69.0%, 748 of 1,084). Moustapha Fall is first overall (71.2% 2FG), followed by Sasha Kaun (70.2% 2FG).

[Alberto Abalde](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alberto-abalde/003733/) and [Eli Ndiaye](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/eli-ndiaye/009213/) can join an exclusive list of Adidas Next Generation Tournament MVPs who also won the EuroLeague title. Abalde was the ANGT MVP in 2013 with Joventut Badalona. Ndiaye was chosen as the 2022 ANGT MVP with Real. Luka Doncic is the only previous player to have achieved this feat: he was the ANGT MVP in 2015 and won the EuroLeague in 2018 with Real.

Real Madrid: Did you know?

Fans at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four have grown accustomed to jaw-dropping pre-game shows over the years, and the 2023 edition in Kaunas, Lithuania will be no different, with popular DJ and music producer Dynoro set to get the party started ahead of Sunday's championship game.

 DJ Dynoro brings his talents to the 2023 Final Four! 

Fans at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four have grown accustomed to jaw-dropping pre-game shows over the years, and the 2023 edition in Kaunas, Lithuania will be no different, with popular DJ and music producer [Dynoro](https://www.instagram.com/dynoro/) set to get the party started ahead of Sunday's championship game.

Born just down the road in Vilnius, the 23-year-old's array of toe-tapping tunes will create quite the atmosphere inside Zalgirio Arena, as fans from all over the world get hyped for the biggest game on the European basketball calendar. Both teams in the EuroLeague Championship Game will have plenty of talent to call upon, and Dynoro's music will be the perfect way to set the scene for a wonderful celebration of basketball.

 [Dynoro](https://www.dynoro.com/) first made waves across the globe with his hit song "In My Mind" in 2018, which has almost 1.27 billion – yes, billion! – plays on Spotify. That song reached No. 1 on Spotify, Apple Music and Shazam in 13 countries, while it has also sold 3.7 million copies worldwide. What's more, Dynoro has almost eight million monthly listeners on Spotify, most of whom come from Mexico, Brazil, England, Australia and Germany, which shows the global impact of his music.

Elsewhere, basketball fans attending the 2023 Final Four will be able to check out pop-rock star Beatrich and one of Lithuania's biggest electronic acts, DJ Jovani, during the EuroLeague FanZone, which will be held at Unity Square, Kaunas, on Saturday and will be free to attend.

DJ Dynoro brings his talents to the 2023 Final Four!

Who is the greatest player in the modern era of the EuroLeague? Now that's a loaded question.

And how one might answer depends on many variables and what metrics they lean on. Is it stats? Titles? Awards?

Based on most people's views, no matter who wins in the semifinals we will have some all-time great legends meeting in the championship game on Sunday as there are players from each team in Kaunas who can easily slide into the conversation of the greats.

There are two, however, who are different from the rest. [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/) and [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) are the best players of the modern era to have never worn the EuroLeague crown.

Don't believe me? He’s the proof.

Take a look at the 20 greatest scorers in EuroLeague history. Sixteen of them are former champions. The others are James (fourth; 3,903 points), retired Zalgiris Kaunas star Paulius Jankunas (10th; 3,241), Mirotic (12th; 3,164) and Ante Tomic (19th; 2,780).

How about the all-time leaders in PIR? The same is true. Sixteen are former champs and then there’s Jankunas (fifth; 4,067), James (seventh; 3,947), Mirotic (13th; 3,777) and Tomic (15th; 3,723).

Among the 15 players with at least 400 career triples, James is one of three without a ring. The others are Scottie Wilbekin (486) and Arturas Milaknis (461). James enters the Final Four with 445. 

When it comes to awards, the same is true. Mirotic is the all-time leader with seven MVPs of the Month awards. James is second with four. Eighth more players are tied for third with three.

Mirotic has been named to the All-EuroLeague Team five times, which is tied with Nikola Vujcic for the fifth-most in competition history. James has been named three times. The only players with three All-EuroLeague selections to their name and no title to show for it are Mirotic, James, Alphonso Ford, Luis Scola, Tomic, Marcus Brown, Mirsad Turkcan and Tiago Splitter.

Add in MVP of the Week and you have James's 10 tied with Turkcan and Vasilije Micic for third place all-time followed by Mirotic and Sasha Vezenkov with nine each.

There are only championship-less players to ever be named EuroLeague MVP. They are Andrei Kirilenko (2012), Nemanja Bjelica (2015) and Mirotic (2022).

Mirotic and James will have their chance to change that in Kaunas.

The Barcelona forward enters his sixth Final Four and he has played in the championship game three times. He lost to Olympiacos Piraeus in the 2013 finale, in overtime to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 2014 championship game and to Anadolu Efes Istanbul in 2021.

James will play in just his second Final Four; he lost with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz to Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in his lone Final Four appearance in 2016. He perhaps had an even better chance in the 2019-20 season, when he was with CKSA Moscow, but that season was aborted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

These two stars are each just two wins away from shedding the unwanted title and exiting the argument of the “best players to never win". Moreover, lifting the crown in Kaunas could even put them in a different class among the greatest in competition history. 

The best to never win? Mirotic, James have chance to shed that ‘title’

Basketball lovers and the general public are invited to immerse themselves in one of the largest fan-based events in sports at the official EuroLeague FanZone, which will be held at Unity Square in Kaunas, Lithuania, during the coming weekend's 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four!

The EuroLeague FanZone comes to Kaunas!

Basketball lovers and the general public are invited to immerse themselves in one of the largest fan-based events in sports at the official EuroLeague FanZone, which will be held at Unity Square in Kaunas, Lithuania, during the coming weekend's 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four!

The EuroLeague FanZone at Unity Square will be open from 10:00 to 23:00 local time between Friday, May 19, and Sunday, May 21, and at just a 13-minute walk from Zalgirio Arena, the FanZone, promises all the basketball fun you can hope for around Friday's semifinals and Sunday's championship game. No tickets are required, so everyone can enjoy the festivities and create unforgettable memories.

Even before the FanZone officially opens, some lucky fans can get in on the action there with limited-edition tickets for the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four Tipoff Event, for which the protagonists from the would-be title teams – AS Monaco, FC Barcelona, Olympiacos Piraeus and Real Madrid – will take the stage. [Apply for tickets here](https://euroleague.tbits.me/tb_app/487236).

If you can't get into the Tipoff Event, don't worry. Final Four stars and EuroLeague Ambassadors will visit the Unity Square on Saturday amid non-stop special activities culminating in [the FanZone Concerts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/beatrich-dj-jovani-light-up-fanzone-concerts-in-kaunas-on-saturday/), a pair of live music shows featuring Beatrich and DJ Jovani.

Performing first will be 25-year-old Lithuanian pop/rock star [Beatrich](https://www.instagram.com/beatrich/) at 22:00 local time. Beatrich burst onto the scene by winning the 2017 Lithuanian Music Association Awards for Best New Act and Song of the Year, "Superstar". [Beatrich](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD2oI1evzY8Xr5kmdzxQeLQ), who currently resides in London, released her first studio album, Songs About You, last year.

[DJ Jovani](https://www.instagram.com/dj_jovani/) will follow Beatrich's at 21:15 local time. With over half a million followers across social media and over 100 million YouTube views, [DJ Jovani](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvE5_PJFElK2aLSxCP4NEfA) is one of the fastest-growing music professionals in Europe. He has performed around the world and has DJ residencies in Dublin, London and Chicago. Both concerts are free of charge.

Of course, each day at the FanZone will include plenty of basketball, with tournaments and contests to watch and participate in. These include:

·       3x3 tournaments for U16 boys, U16 girls, U18 boys, U18 girls, men and women. [Register here](https://euroleague.tbits.me/tb_app/486404).

·       One Team sessions involving Final Four ambassadors and players.

·       The traditional slam dunk contest with the top players from the Euroleague Basketball Adidast Next Generation Tournament.

·       A three-point shooting contest featuring some of the best talents from the ANGT.

·       Performances by the Zalgiris Kaunas cheerleaders.

In addition to that, there are a sorts of opportunities for fans to take part and win must-have prizes thanks to Euroleague Basketball's partners:

·       Turkish Airlines will have three challenges – a Destination Wall, Basketball Challenge and FreezeShot – with Final Four tickets, signed basketballs and flight tickets to Istanbul available as prizes. 

·       There is also the Turkish Airlines VR Experience stand, where fans will be able to try virtual reality headsets and immerse themselves in a unique EuroLeague experience. 

·       BKT has a stand with an Arcade Basketball Hoop, with prizes available, as well as a Share Box Trophy Picture so that fans can pose next to the EuroLeague trophy and have a photograph that they'll never forget. 

·       7DAYS, Frutti Extra, Coca-Cola and Battery will also be present with prizes and giveaways for those at the EuroLeague FanZone.

Food and drink options will be available courtesy of Svyturis and Olybet, while hostesses from Ardu Prime will be on hand, as well. For those without Final Four seats at Zalgirio Arena, the FanZone will be the next-best place to take in the live game action via watch parties on giant screens for the semifinals, the third-place game and championship game. There is also a skate park at Unity Square, which means that any fans with scooters and skateboards will be able to enjoy the space with their equipment, as well.

In short, there is a whole lot on offer at this year's EuroLeague FanZone – and there are even more surprises in store! Make sure that you're there in attendance so that you don't miss out on one of the most eagerly anticipated Final Fours in years.

Beatrich, DJ Jovani light up FanZone Concerts in Kaunas on Saturday

When the sun goes down at the EuroLeague FanZone, to be held at Unity Square, in Kaunas, Lithuania, on Saturday of the Final Four, the volume will go up with of two live musical performances that are sure to keep the crowd buzzing long into the night.

The FanZone concerts run one after the other starting at 21:00 local time and featuring Lithuanian stars [Beatrich](https://www.instagram.com/beatrich/) and [DJ Jovani](https://www.instagram.com/dj_jovani/).

Kaunas-born [Beatrich](https://www.youtube.com/@BEATRICHOFFICIAL/videos) will get the party started with her uniquely danceable urban pop music and rich ballads. The 25-year-old Lithuania pop/rock star burst onto the scene in 2017 and won the Lithuanian Music Association Awards that year as Best New Act and Song of the Year for "Superstar".

Her career took Beatrich from Lithuania to Los Angeles and London, where she is based now. Last year, she released her first studio album, Songs About You, and also finished third among the Lithuanian contestants for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Now, she returns home to bring her special beat to the basketball lovers who are flocking to Kaunas this weekend for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

Taking over the main stage at the FanZone for the nightcap concert is DJ Jovani, whose vibrant shows have taken him around the world.

With more than half a million social media followers 100 million views on YouTube, [Jovani](https://www.youtube.com/@djjovani/featured) is one of the fastest-growing music professionals in Europe. He won Lithuania's national music award for the best electronic act of 2021. He has not only shared the stage with such well-known performers as David Guetta, Don Diablo and Tiësto, but has had DJ residencies in Dublin, London and Chicago.

The FanZone will be held in the city's Unity Square from Friday morning to Sunday after the EuroLeague Championship Game ends and is free for the public, as are the FanZone Concerts.

Lithuania Travel becomes Final Four partner

Euroleague Basketball is delighted to announce that Lithuania Travel has joined our family as an Official Final Four Partner. Lithuania Travel is the national tourism development agency for Lithuania, which made it a natural addition to the EuroLeague family of partners since the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Kaunas is among the most popular weekends on the sporting calendar.

Lithuania's people are warm and welcoming and visitors can experience the country's vibrant culture through plenty of experiences and events. From the charming Old Town of Vilnius, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the picturesque Trakai Castle surrounded by stunning lakes, there are plenty of historical and cultural sites to explore in Lithuania.

While the Final Four games at Zalgirio Arena and the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals at Kaunas Sports Hall shine a spotlight on Lithuania as a sports destination, the architectural masterpiece that is Unity Square will be seen around the world as the host of the Final Four FanZone.

Around the games, Lithuania has plenty to offer visitors, from its fine locally-sourced cuisine, scenic seaside views along the Baltic Sea coast, hikes along beaches or national parks, or trips to museums and historic sites. Travelers to Lithuania this week – or any week – should be sure to check out Lithuania Travel and customize a perfect vacation.