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.

The champions of the 2022-23 Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals will celebrate the title in one of the most famous buildings in Lithuanian sports history and Kaunas folklore, Kaunas Sports Hall, which recently received a major facelift.

[**BUY TICKETS FOR THE 2023 ANGT KAUNAS HERE**](https://www.bilietai.lt/eng/tickets/sportas/adidas-next-generation-tournament-84757/)

Eight teams will battle it out for the U18 continental crown from May 18 through 21 in the hallowed hall, which is located in the art deco-styled district Zaliakalnis. But whichever team hoists the trophy will be only the latest to shed tears of joy in the arena.

The Kaunas Sports Hall was built in just six months - and just in time - to host EuroBasket 1939. The host team Lithuania went undefeated to win the title and defend its crown from 1937, with games drawing 11,000 spectators even though the hall had only 3,500 seats.

The arena itself - the first hall in Europe designed specifically for basketball - became the first modern sports hall in Lithuania and is referred to as the “Mecca of Lithuanian basketball”. It was praised architecturally for, among other highlights, its four riveted steel arches. The hall hosted many different sports over the years including handball, boxing, volleyball and futsal.

Kaunas Sports Hall, which is also known as the S. Darius and S. Girenas Hall, was also the first home to the country’s powerhouse basketball club Zalgiris Kaunas. The club played its home games in the hall from its foundation in 1944 until 2010, winning the Lithuanian championship eight times between 1946 to 1958 as well as 15 times between 1991 and 2008, to go with five Soviet Union League titles. Zalgiris and its fans at the Kaunas Sports Hall also celebrated the 1998-99 EuroLeague crown and finishing as runners-up in 1985-86. During that time, Zalgiris claimed the Saporta Cup in 1997-98 and the Intercontinental Cup in 1986, too. Zalgiris left the hall in 2011 when the club’s current home, Zalgirio Arena, opened.

Another highlight for the Kaunas Sports Hall was the FIBA U16 European Championship 2015, where Lithuania reached the final but lost 85-83 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in front of 4,500 spectators.

In 2007, the complex of buildings of the S.Darius and S.Girenos sports center entered the Register of Cultural Values and became protected by the state. And Kaunas Sports Hall was awarded the European heritage mark in 2014.

Still, the arena needed renovations - with partial reconstruction from 1958 to 1962 to replace the wooden tribunes with reinforced concrete stands, improvement of the building’s insulation and installation of a heating system.

Major reconstruction began in June 2019.

Over three years of work, facades were renovated and insulated; the roof and supporting structures were repaired; the entire premises were set up with modern equipment; the layout of the rooms was changed; rooms were installed on the second floor; fixed and telescopic grandstands for 2,500 spectators were installed; and special acoustic curtains were added to divide the space into four smaller zones so that different activities can take place simultaneously.

A new multi-purpose floor was also laid with markings for various sports besides basketball, including handball, volleyball, tennis, badminton and futsal.

At the same time, the builders made sure to keep the building’s original appearance with valuable features including the arches, doors and windows having been preserved and restored.

After three years of reconstruction, Kaunas Sports Hall reopened on September 24, 2022, with a concert and dancing performance. City officials say sports will initially take a back seat in terms of usage of the hall, which will serve the needs of the urban community with exhibitions, concerts, non-formal education, cultural events and community activities.

But from May 18-21, Kaunas Sports Hall will once again return to its original roots and host the ANGT Finals to determine the best on the continent - just like when it opened in 1939.

Former Zalgiris home, venue for EuroBasket 1939 to host ANGT Finals

Anadolu Efes Istanbul registered a thrilling 74-77 victory over Olympiacos Piraeus in the first semifinal on Friday at the Final Four in Belgrade and thus will continue to fight for the first back-to-back Turkish Airlines EuroLeague titles in almost a decade. Vasilije Micic, last season's Final Four MVP, broke a tie with a step-back three-pointer from the top of the circle on the buzzer to win it.

Real Madrid rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to outduel arch-rival FC Barcelona the rest of the way and win 83-86 in the second semifinal at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Belgrade, Serbia. Real's French connection drove the comeback, with Fabien Causeur and Geurschon Yabusele drilling 18 points each and Vincent Poirier coming up with big plays down the stretch. Sergio Llull added 15 points for the winners, including a key layup with 22 seconds left. For Barcelona, season MVP Nikola Mirotic had a monster double-double of 26 points and 12 rebounds. Nicolas Laprovittola added 17 points and Brandon Davies 15 for Barcelona, which got 9 assists from Nick Calathes.

Real Madrid v Anadolu Efes Istanbul - Championship Game - Full Game Replay

Anadolu Efes Istanbul made history by defending its crown from last season with a defensive-minded 57-58 victory over Real Madrid, the team with the most titles in competition history, 10. Efes becomes the first back-to-back EuroLeague champion since Olympiacos Piraeus in 2012 and 2013. The only other repeat winners since 1988 when the modern Final Four era began are Maccabi Tel Aviv (2004 and 2005) and Jugoplastika Split (1989, 1990, 1991).

### [Game Info](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2021-22/real-madrid-anadolu-efes-istanbul/E2021/330/)

Game Info

Final Four 2022 Belgrade

### Barcelona’s Higgins, Efes’s Micic shine under Friday night lights

Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany, witnessed one of the most exciting nights of semifinals in Final Four history. Friday's first game was a thriller that went down to the last seconds in which Anadolu Efes Istanbul advanced to its second straight championship game after holding off CSKA Moscow in what was a rematch of the 2019 championship game. Efes led by as many as 21 points in the third quarter before CSKA erased the deficit. The game came down to the closing seconds and Will Clyburn missed a go-ahead three, which allowed Efes to hold on. Vasilije Micic led the Efes attack with 25 points and 6 assists before fouling out and Sertac Sanli also shined with 19 points and 8 rebounds. For CSKA, Clyburn scored 26 and Daniel Hackett had 11 of his 17 in the fourth quarter.

In the second semi, FC Barcelona edged AX Armani Exchange Milan 84-82 on Cory Higgins's game-winning jumper with 0.8 seconds remaining. Barcelona fought back from an 8-point third-quarter deficit and survived a fourth quarter that featured three lead changes and was tied entering the final minute. Milan's Kevin Punter missed an open look from behind the arc before Higgins raced down the floor and buried a pull-up jumper from the top of the key, sending Barcelona through. Nikola Mirotic led the winners with 21 points and Nick Calathes tallied 17 points and 6 assists before leaving with an ankle injury. Higgins finished with 11 points and Pau Gasol scored 10 points for Barcelona, which returned to the championship game for the first time since 2010 when it won its second EuroLeague crown. Punter paced Milan with 23 points.

Catch up on FC Barcelona v Anadolu Efes Istanbul from Final of the 2020/21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, May 30, 2021

FC Barcelona v Anadolu Efes Istanbul - Final - May 30, 2021

### Efes makes history

Anadolu Efes Istanbul made history by winning the EuroLeague for the first time after outlasting FC Barcelona 81-86 in the championship game at Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. The victory made all the Efes players champions for the first time as well as Coach Ergin Ataman, who became the first Turkish-born head coach to lift the trophy.

In a tight game, Barcelona came back from an 11-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter and was within a single point with 3:25 remaining, but Vasilije Micic scored 7 points in the final 3 minutes to make sure Efes went home with the trophy. Micic finished with 25 points and 5 assists to earn Final Four MVP honor in addition to his season-long MVP accolade. His backcourt mate Shane Larkin added 21 points while big man Sertac Sanli chipped in with 12 for the winners. Cory Higgins led Barcelona with 23 points and Kyle Kuric netted 18 for Barcelona, which came up short in its bid to win its third continental crown, and first since 2010.

AX Armani Exchange finished third in its first Final Four appearance since 1992, defeating CSKA Moscow 83-73 in the third-place game.

### [Game Info](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2020-21/fc-barcelona-anadolu-efes-istanbul/E2020/328/)

Final Four 2021 Cologne

### Guards star in high-scoring semis

The climax to the season was staged at Fernando Buesa Arena in Vitoria-Gasteiz and got underway with the first-ever Final Four meeting between two Turkish teams. Anadolu Efes Istanbul used its stellar backcourt to comfortably overcome Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, with Shane Larkin scoring 30 points and Vasilije Micic adding 25 in a 92-73 victory. Larkin’s PIR of 43 was the best ever at a Final Four.

The second semifinal saw CSKA Moscow fall behind by 14 points in the third quarter against Real Madrid, but Nando De Colo stepped up with 10 points in the final quarter and CSKA finished the game on a 13-5 run to triumph 95-90. De Colo finished with 23 points and Sergio Rodriguez also came up big with the same point total against his former club.

Catch up on Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs CSKA Moscow from the 2018/19 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game, 19th May 2019

Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs CSKA Moscow - Championship Game - 19th May 2019

### CSKA stays strong for its eighth crown

The championship game was a well-balanced tussle that saw CSKA dominate the first quarter before Efes controlled the second, making it 44-42 to the Muscovites at halftime. The outcome was still in the balance midway through the fourth quarter before a 6-0 run for CSKA featuring 4 points from Nando De Colo established a double-digit lead. Efes fought back to a 4-point deficit inside the final 2 minutes, but CSKA used strong defense and accurate free throw shooting to seal the outcome and clinch its eighth continental crown with a 91-83 victory.

Will Clyburn played through an injury to lead his team with 20 points and 5 rebounds and was rewarded with the Final Four MVP award. Shane Larkin’s 29 points in defeat were the highest total in championship game history. The title triumph saw CSKA big man Kyle Hines join an elite group by winning his fourth EuroLeague crown, a feat achieved by only 14 other players in European basketball history.

### [Game Info](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2018-19/anadolu-efes-istanbul-cska-moscow/E2018/260/)

Final Four 2019 Vitoria-Gasteiz

### Zalgiris celebrates despite semifinal loss

The Final Four was staged at the Stark Arena in Belgrade and Friday’s semifinal saw Coach Zeljko Obradovic maintain his hopes of winning his 10th title in his home city as Fenerbahce Istanbul overcame Zalgiris, 76-67. Ali Muhammed scored 19 points to lead the winners. Brandon Davies gave it his all with a double-double in defeat for the Lithuanian champs in Zalgiris’s first Final Four appearance in nearly two decades.

The reigning champ was joined in the championship game by Real Madrid, which fought back from a first-quarter double-digit deficit against CSKA Moscow to win 83-92. Luka Doncic and Sergio Llull scored 16 points apiece and Gustavo Ayon added a double-double. Nando De Colo netted 20 un defeat.

### Real wins 'La Decima'

The championship game saw the title winners from 2015 and 2017 go for glory once again as Real battled Fenerbahce. Nicolo Melli topped the scoring with a championship-game record 28 points and Fenerbahce had a narrow lead, 38-40, at halftime. But Los Blancos scored the first 7 points of the second half and never trailed again, with the lead peaking at 11 in the fourth quarter. Fenerbahce rallied late to get within 3, but a Trey Thompkins tip-in and free throws from Fabien Causeur settled the outcome.

The victory saw Real become the first team to take 10 continental crowns, while Pablo Laso became the first Spanish coach in 37 years to win multiple EuroLeague titles. Real’s triumph was a team effort as 11 different players scored in the championship game, but the man picked out for more individual plaudits was Luka Doncic, who added to his personal collection by being named Final Four MVP after recording 16 points and 7 rebounds in the semifinal followed by 15 points and 4 assists in the title game.

Sunday’s title decider was preceded by an unusually intense third-place game, culminating in wild celebrations for thousands of traveling fans from Lithuania as Zalgiris withstood a late charge from CSKA to prevail 79-77.

### [Game Info](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2017-18/real-madrid-fenerbahce-dogus-istanbul/E2017/260/)

Final Four 2018 Belgrade

Real Madrid v Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul (2018-05-20T18:00:00.000Z)