For one Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens player, the journey to green glory started when he was born and his father was wearing the same uniform.

No place like home in Ioannis Papapetrou's 'amazing journey' to the EuroLeague title

He was the first of the new champions to cross the Greek divide, leaving Olympiacos Piraeus after five seasons and two runner-up EuroLeague finishes to join Panathinaikos Athens in 2018.

But [Ioannis Papapetrou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ioannis-papapetrou/005161/) trading red for green was not quite seen as betrayal. After all, his father Argiris had played a decade for the Greens, so Ioannis grew up around the club. If anything was surprising, it's how long he took to get home.

Alas, from 2018 to 2022, he and the Greens made the EuroLeague Playoffs just once, and in that case were swept. So, when another Panathinaikos legend, Zeljko Obradovic, came calling, Papapetrou left to play for Partizan Belgrade in the summer of 2022, only to lose Game 5 of the playoffs to Real Madrid last season.

If Papapetrou, 30, seemed cursed not to win a EuroLeague title by then, two things changed that narrative. 

First, he was called back to Panathinaikos by new head coach Ergin Ataman. And second, after an injury-plagued season, he played under 3 minutes as the Greens lost home-court advantage with a 87-91 defeat to Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in Game 1 of the playoffs.

After that game, Papapetrou didn't go home and sulk. He stayed at OAKA, the club's cathedral, and spent time on shooting practice until almost midnight with his older brother, Georgios, feeding him passes.

"I was watching a lot of basketball, so I wanted to play," he explained later of the late-night, post-game, individual practice. "I went out to practice because I didn't play. You know, that's my philosophy all my career. Obviously, through ups and downs, I want to stay ready as much as I can, and I want to help."

To say that Papapetrou helped the Greens become champions is an understatement. He would average 12.5 over the last four games of that series, making 11 of 18 three-pointers – only Kendrick Nunn made more – at a rate of 61.1% – only Luca Vildoza was more accurate. He averaged 28 minutes as the Greens won three of the next four games to reach their first Final Four in 12 years. 

Although he played somewhat less in the Final Four, having started the last two playoff games, Papapetrou would start both at the Final Four, too. Indeed, they were his only four starts of the entire season, but they were all do-or-die games that the Greens swept to lift the title. 

For Papapetrou, the long-awaited moment of victory was the culmination of a lifetime of Panathinaikos pride, from the fans he joined in the stands as  a kid, to the older brother still supporting him, to their father who wore green longer than the new champ.

"Fans know that my father, obviously, played for the club and they know my love for the club. My father didn't get one of these," he said, looking down at the player's individual replica of the EuroLeague trophy in his hand, "and I'm happy I'm bringing one home."

More Ioannis Papapetrou news

Panathinaikos BC guard Kostas Sloukas made history at the EuroLeague Final Four by coming away with his fourth trophy, which have come with three teams.

Kostas Sloukas added to his Final Four legacy in Berlin

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens star [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) was chosen as the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four MVP after an excellent performance in the championship game against Real Madrid. It was the icing on the cake of his many Final Four milestones which, at age 34, he will likely add to in the coming years. 

Sloukas just won his fourth EuroLeague title. He won back-to-back crowns with Olympiacos Piraeus in 2012 and 2013, totaling 22 points (5.5 ppg.) and 6 assists (1.5 apg.) in those four Final Four games. When Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul won the EuroLeague title in 2017, Sloukas had 3 points and 5 assists in the championship game. His highest PIR in a EuroLeague Championship Game was 11 with Olympiacos in 2015. 

Last season, Sloukas had 6 points and 3 rebounds for Olympiacos against Real, then missed the game-winning shot at the buzzer. That frustration was probably in the back of Sloukas's mind throughout the season, and when he returned to the EuroLeague Championship Game last Sunday, he was ready. 

Sloukas led Panathinaikos past Real Madrid with 24 points on near-perfect shooting, only missing one free-throw attempt. He added 3 assists and had a PIR of 31, by far his best performance in the EuroLeague Championship Game. 

Kostas Sloukas led Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens to the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title with a truly legendary performance.

Sloukas is the 2024 Final Four MVP

### Sloukas joined an exclusive club

Above all, Sloukas lifted the trophy with a third consecutive team, something that only [Saras Jasikevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/saras-jasikevicius/adg/) (FC Barcelona, 2003, Maccabi Tel Aviv 2004, 2005, Panathinaikos 2009) was able to do before him. His outstanding display in the title decider allowed him to earn Final Four MVP honors in a situation he knows better than almost anyone. 

After not seeing game time at the Final Four in 2009 and 2010, Sloukas made his Final Four debut in 2012. Since then, he has been to 10 Final Fours and is close to holding some all-time records in European basketball's showpiece event. Sloukas ranks second in PIR at the Final Four (203), only trailing Victor Khryapa (208). He ranks fifth in scoring (191), third in assists (67) and second in free throws made (57). 

### Mr. Final Four

Sloukas has played for the title with Olympiacos in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2023, with Fenerbahce in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and with Panathinaikos this season. Those eight championship game appearances are unprecedented in the Final Four era. 

You have to go back to the late 1970s to find something similar, as Pallacanestro Varese reached 10 consecutive European Cup finals from 1970 to 1979. Dino Meneghin leads the list with 13 championship game appearances. Only Meneghin, Aldo Ossola (10) and Clifford Luyk (9) have been to more top-tier championship games since European competitions started in 1958. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/kos_slou?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kos_slou</a> 🏆👏🏻<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F4GLORY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F4GLORY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7thStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7thStar</a> <a href="https://t.co/9ZURsOrAO0">pic.twitter.com/9ZURsOrAO0</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1795111307827466713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

His four titles rank him high on the all-time lists. Only 17 players have been able to win four or more EuroLeague titles, and only two had previously done so in the 21st century: Jasikevicius and [Kyle Hines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kyle-hines/002812/) (Olympiacos 2012, 2013; CSKA Moscow 2015, 2019). Ahead of him, there's just Meneghin (seven titles), Luyk and Ossola (five titles each). 

Some may think that for many years Sloukas was in the right place at the right time. He has proved all of them wrong by leading Panathinaikos to the title as the Final Four MVP. Right in the prime of his career, Sloukas is in an optimal situation to keep winning, as he looks to lead the reigning EuroLeague champion to glory again next season. 

Time will tell whether Sloukas can add to his personal roll of honors, but his numbers are already legendary. 

More Panathinaikos News

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard Kostas Sloukas lifts the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague trophy along with head coach Ergin Ataman.

The veteran Greek guard wrote his name further into the history books with his championship game heroics

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

Top on-court celebration photos

The two key figures in Panathinaikos success, Coach Ergin Ataman and point guard Kostas Sloukas, were letting all the emotions out after the victory.

Kostas Antetokounmpo joined the list of players who won both the EuroLeague and NBA titles, and his brother Giannis was there on the court to join him in celebration.

Jerian Grant, Juancho Hernangomez and Marius Grigonis all celebrated becoming the EuroLeague champs for the first time.

Kendrick Nunn, who joined Panathinaikos after Round 6, scored 21 points in the championship game despite the early foul trouble.

Kostas Sloukas, who made the move from Olympiacos to Panathinaikos last summer, celebrated at the end as the Final Four MVP.

Grigonis was one of a handful of Panathinaikos players who was not in his first season with the club.

Ioannis Papapetrou won the crown with the club he has been a fan of his entire life.

Sloukas and Ataman raised the trophy together.

It was the first Panathinaikos title since 2011.

For Sloukas, it was his fourth EuroLeague title with third different club, while it was third title in the last four years for Ataman.

Most of the fans at the Uber Arena stayed for the trophy ceremony, witnessing the confetti falling.

Sloukas previously won two titles with Olympiacos (2012 and 2013), and one with Fenerbahce (2017).

This was seventh EuroLeague crown for Panathinaikos, all coming since 1996, and many of the players had seven fingers up when celebrating.

Player and staff families soon joined the on-floor celebrations, making the moment event special for the players.

Konstantinos Mitoglou raising the trophy towards the fans.

Mathias Lessort joined the club of players who have won both the EuroLeague and the EuroCup.

Jerian Grant was last year's EuroCup MVP, coming up just short to win that competition, but now he is the fourth EuroCup MVP to also win the EuroLeague title.

Giannis Antetokounmpo enjoyed the celebrations as much as his brother who won the trophy.

Coach Ataman got used to holding a EuroLeague trophy, after winning back-to-back titles with Anadolu Efes in 2021 and 2022.

Mathias Lessort enjoyed the moment holding his son in his arms.

Luca Vildoza joined the least of six Argentineans who won the EuroLeague crown.

The minutes after the final buzzer sounded in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game brought a release of euphoria as Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens celebrated its first continental title in 13 years.

The best photos of Panathinaikos celebrating on court

The veteran guard starred in both games in Berlin to help Panathinaikos gain its seventh star

 Jerian Grant was an unsung hero of the championship effort 

It’s hard to say there were any unsung heroes on Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens’s championship-winning squad. After all, the Greens’ faithful sang loudly about all the players.

That said, some names flew a bit under the radar compared to their contributions. One of those names was [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jerian-grant/011204/).

The playmaker was among the most important Panathinaikos players in the 80-95 victory over Real Madrid. Whether you measure his contributions by the faith his coach put in him, the numbers or the confidence he gave his teammates, Grant was critical to the Panathinaikos effort.

How much did Coach Ergin Ataman trust Grant? The only player to feature more in the championship game than the 32:38 minutes Grant spent on the court was his teammate, All-EuroLeague First Team center Mathias Lessort (33:13).

Grant also led all players with a +/- of 18. In the roughly 7 and a half minutes in which Grant was on the bench, Real Madrid outscored Panathinaikos 17-14. When Grant played, the Greens controlled the scoreboard 63-81.

After scoring the Green’s first points of the game with a triple, Grant finished the game with 12 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals for a PIR of 17. He tied the 2.06-meter Lessort for the team lead in rebounds and led Panathinaikos in both assists and steals.

Jerian Grant's best plays from the championship game

That came after he scored 13 points and led the team in +/- with 20 in the 73-57 victory over Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in the semifinals.

### His teammates valued Grant's contribution

How did his teammates feel about Grant’s game? His backcourt mate Luca Vildoza singled him out.

“We have really good players,” Vildoza said. "Sloukas was controlling the game, Nunn is always there, but I think the main guy was Jerian. Jerian was playing defense everywhere, helping everywhere, scoring when it was necessary, so I’m really happy for him.”

Grant, as a classic team player, shared all the credit when asked after the game how Panathinaikos changed the game after the halftime break: “As a team. We knew we had 20 minutes left in the second half to bring home the seventh star and we did that.

“From day one, Coach told us our goal was to get to the Final Four and to win the championship, and we got it done. \[The Final Four\] was two games to call yourselves champions of EuroLeague, so whatever we had to do, whatever energy we had to get, we were going to do that.”

### Grant was the EuroCup MVP a year ago

It’s been a rapid rise for Grant, who won the EuroLeague in his fourth season playing in Europe. The son of long-time NBA player Harvey Grant, Jerian spent four-plus seasons in the NBA before crossing the pond, where he first played in Greece for Promitheus Patras during the 2020-21 season. He debuted in the EuroLeague the following season with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, which he also helped to win the Italian League and Cup double.

Last season, Grant moved to Turkey and helped Turk Telekom Ankara reach the EuroCup Finals. He was named EuroCup MVP. He now joins a select list of players to have been both EuroCup MVPs and EuroLeague champions.

Only 31 years old, Grant still has many more seasons to continue contributing at the top levels of European basketball.

Game News

Jerian Grant was an unsung hero of the championship effort

By leading Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens to its seventh Turkish Airlines EuroLeague crown, Ergin Ataman reached several other milestones in his already legendary coaching career. One of them is winning the title in each of his last three Final Four appearances. 

Ergin Ataman achieved a three-peat, of sorts

By [leading Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens to its seventh Turkish Airlines EuroLeague crown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/championship-game-live-real-madrid-vs-panathinaikos/), Ergin Ataman reached several other milestones in his already legendary coaching career. One of them is winning the title in each of his last three Final Four appearances. 

Coach Ataman led Anadolu Efes Istanbul to back-to-back EuroLeague championships in [2021 ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-wins-its-first-euroleague-crown/)and [2022](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb21-finalfour-final-madrid-efes-report/). After missing the playoffs in 2023, Ataman joined Panathinaikos, returned to the Final Four and ended up lifting the trophy. That's three consecutive Final Fours without a loss. 

He is the third coach to achieve that in the Final Four era. Zeljko Obradovic did that twice, once with three different squads and the other with Ataman's current team, Panathinaikos. Obradovic won EuroLeague titles with Partizan Belgrade in 1992, Joventut Badalona in 1994 and Real Madrid in 1995. In 1993, Obradovic coached Partizan, which was not allowed to compete due to the UN embargo on FR Yugoslavia. Obradovic did it again with Panathinaikos in 2007, 2009 and 2010. The Greens missed the Final Four in 2008 and 2010, so Obradovic won the EuroLeague in three consecutive Final Four appearances. 

Pini Gershon won the 2001 SuproLeague with Maccabi, did not coach for the next two seasons and returned to the team to win back-to-back EuroLeague crowns. Aleksander Gomelsky (ASK Riga 1958, 1959, 1960) and Pedro Ferrandiz (Real 1965, 1967, 1968) also won three consecutive championship games before the Final Four era.

### Ataman's trail of trophies

Throughout his coaching career, Ataman has won four different continental trophies. He won the Saporta Cup with Montepaschi Siena in 2002, the EuroChallenge with Besiktas Istanbul in 2012, the EuroCup with Galatasaray Istanbul in 2015 and the EuroLeague with Anadolu Efes Istanbul in 2021 and 2022 and now with Panathinaikos in 2024. Only Dusan Ivkovic (EuroLeague, EuroCup, Saporta, Korac) and Aito Garcia Reneses (EuroCup, Saporta, Korac, EuroChallenge) have also won four different European trophies.

Ataman has now led five different teams to European trophies. He is the second coach to achieve this. Only Obradovic is ahead of him, as he has won European trophies with six different teams: Partizan, Joventut, Real, Benetton Treviso, Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce Istanbul.

Ataman has also won the Turkish League championship with an unprecedented three different teams: Efes, Besiktas and Galatasaray, and it looks like his golden era with Panathinaikos has just started. The one and only, Ergin Ataman!

The Panathinaikos maestro added to his legacy in Berlin

 

A rip-roaring championship game in which both sides dominated one half ended with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens as the new Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champions for the 2023-24 season. Check out the top photos from the final!

 Top 10 photos of the Championship Game 

Juancho Hernangomez of Panathinaikos detonated a huge first-half dunk.

Sergio Llull of Real Madrid confronted the sticky defense of Panagiotis Kalaitzakis.

Kendrick Nunn of Panathinaikos challenged Real big man Vincent Poirier at the rim.

Vincent Poirier of Real got the best of the Panathinaikos defense with this early two-handed slam.

Kostas Sloukas, voted the Final Four MVP, was a smooth operator whether passing or scoring.

Real Madrid tower of power Edy Tavares got loose for more than one slam dunk.

Panathinaikos defensive ace Jerian Grant tussled with Edy Tavares for a loose ball.

Real Madrid swingman Dzanan Musa made a save in the corner in front of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Panathinaikos fans.

Panathinaikos big man Mathias Lessort made a monster put-back dunk amid the Greens' momentum change.

All eyes were on Real Madrid's Facundo Campazzo as he raised up for a three-point attempt.

Top 10 photos of the EuroLeague Championship Game

Kostas Sloukas lifted the EuroLeague trophy as Panathinaikos BC captain, which is the fourth time he's become a EuroLeague champion.

Kostas Sloukas's bold decision has been vindicated

It takes a whole lot of courage to move between rival clubs, but that’s precisely what [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) opted to do last summer. Overnight, the 34-year-old went from being adored by the fans of Olympiacos Piraeus to being despised. On the other side of town, the opposite happened. The Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens supporters went from whistling Sloukas to chanting his name in songs. Oh, how quickly things change in sports.

Well, one constant is Sloukas appearing in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game. The veteran Greek guard played an important role for Olympiacos as it went all the way to the title decider, only to lose in the final seconds to Real Madrid. Having decided that he wanted a new place he could call home, Sloukas was inspired to join the Greens thanks to the arrival of Ergin Ataman.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WE DID IT! ☘️💚<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F4GLORY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F4GLORY</a> <a href="https://t.co/WfW4ZaCIZx">pic.twitter.com/WfW4ZaCIZx</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1794861458725237162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“He trusts me,” Sloukas said of Ataman in the post-game press conference. “The situation is what brought me over here. He’s the main reason why I’m over here in Panathinaikos. He was the first guy who believed in the dream, and now we have shown everyone what was the dream – the championship.”

“Until the first day that we arrived together, after we met casually at the airport in the summer, we told each other that so far we have always been opponents,” Ataman recalled. “But he has a lot of respect for me, I have incredible respect for him for his character and his play. He will have two more years on his contract, I have only one more year, so I can guarantee you \[that we will be together\] for one year.”

Panathinaikos guard Kostas Sloukas talks on the court after winning the EuroLeague

Kostas Sloukas: ‘We are the best team in Europe’

Sloukas missed what could have been the game-winning shot last year, but has now [earned Final Four MVP honors in this year’s title decider](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kostas-sloukas-is-the-final-four-mvp/). It was viewed as a bold decision to leave Olympiacos for Panathinaikos, yet it has only taken Sloukas one year to be vindicated.

In particular, when Panathinaikos’s season was on the line – either in the playoffs or at the Final Four – Sloukas has largely been there to show why he was such a coveted signing by the Greens’ hierarchy. His backcourt connection with fellow star [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) gave Panathinaikos a partnership that could take them all the way, and so it proved.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">TWO WORDS: KOSTAS SLOUKAS 💚<br><br>OUR CAPTAIN 🫡<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F4GLORY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F4GLORY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7thStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7thStar</a> <a href="https://t.co/64Rvuu5FCS">pic.twitter.com/64Rvuu5FCS</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1794842075936239845?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The idea of a fairy tale is often applied to sports, but in Sloukas’s case, he certainly believes that to be true.

“Can you tell me a better story than this: me, from Olympiacos, going to Panathinaikos and showing the European championship to everyone in my first year?”

Now, Sloukas is a four-time EuroLeague champion and has lifted the trophy with three different clubs. His name will forever be remembered in Panathinaikos folklore, too.

Kostas Sloukas celebrates with his Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens teammates after winning the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title.

The Greens' guard lifted his fourth EuroLeague trophy on Sunday night

feast your eyes and ears on what a revolutionary MindFly AI ultralight-powered bodycam embedded in the referee's jersey sees and hears! Game officials Ilija Belosevic and Fernando Rocha wore MindFly's POV Cam during the first championship game between Real Madrid and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens on Sunday at Uber Arena in Berlin.

 See the championship game from inside the court! 

Do you want to know what it feels like to be part of the action of a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship game?

Well, feast your eyes and ears on what a revolutionary MindFly AI ultralight-powered bodycam embedded in the referee's jersey sees and hears!

Game officials Ilija Belosevic and Fernando Rocha wore MindFly's POV Cam during the first championship game between Real Madrid and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens on Sunday at Uber Arena in Berlin. Now, you may not only see the game action from closer than ever through their bodycams, but also hear them speaking with the players, coaches and each other during the game. It's a fascinating look at the professionalism that is at the very heart of the EuroLeague game experience.

Euroleague Basketball and MindFly started their collaboration during the last Final Four held in Kaunas, where all fans had the possibility to re-live some of the best moments of the EuroLeague's final phase as if they were inside the court. This season's debut of the same technology let fans experience *El Clásico* between [Real Madrid and FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/experience-el-clasico-like-never-before/) and since then a true winning streak of derby rivalries: [AS Monaco and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/go-right-on-court-with-monaco-and-asvel/) in France, [Virtus Segafredo Bologna and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/join-virtus-bologna-olimpia-milano-on-the-floor-euroleague-derby-ditalia/) in Italy, [Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahce Beko](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/mindfly-referee-cams-went-inside-the-istanbul-derby/) in Turkey, [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/go-inside-the-belgrade-derby-with-mindflys-referee-cams/) in Serbia, and [Panathinakos and Olympiacos Piraues](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/the-greek-derby-like-youve-never-seen-it-before/) in Greece. The innovative was complete at the Final Four in Berlin with both semifinals and the championship game.

MINDFLY CAMS ARCHIVE

See the championship game from inside the court! 

Go inside the court on the first night of the Final Four with the POV CAM from MindFly!

Andy West reviews the highs and the lows of the EuroLeague championship game between Real Madrid and Panathinaikos BC

Final Four records tumbled in a tale of two halves 

From record highs to record lows on a roller-coaster ride, the first-ever championship game between Real Madrid and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens was well worth the wait. 

Real exploded out of the gate with the highest-scoring first quarter in a final this century, leading 36-25 after 10 minutes. The previous high had been 31 points by Maccabi Tel Aviv in the opening frame of the 2004 title game. 

Furthermore, the 61 points combined in Sunday's first quarter was a Final Four record in general, eclipsing the 53 scored between Montepaschi Siena and CSKA Moscow in their 2003 third-place game. 

By halftime, when Real led 54-49, more records had fallen. It was the highest-scoring first half of a final this century, also tying for the most points in any Final Four first half over that span. And it was the third-most points in any half at the Final Four. 

After being on the receiving end of that opening blitz, it was obvious that defense would be the focus in the Panathinaikos locker room at halftime, and the Greens duly came out to put the clamps on the previously rampant Real offense to record-breaking effect.

In the process of moving into a 61-64 lead after three quarters, Panathinaikos held Real to just 7 points. That was tied for the fewest points ever in any championship game quarter this century, alongside Olympiacos against CSKA in 2012, and was also Real's lowest-scoring quarter all season long.

And finally, Panathinaikos then put the seal on a thrilling 80-95 victory by scoring 31 points in the last 10 minutes, the fourth-highest fourth-quarter scoring in a final and the most in more than a decade.

Victorious coach Ergin Ataman insisted his players never started to panic despite their troubled opening, saying: “We didn't start well, we gave them 36 points in the first quarter, and maybe everybody was starting to think it would be a boring final.

“But we never thought like this, not in the timeouts nor in the locker room. We always talked about improving our defense, improving our aggressiveness. The game came back to us when we held them to 7 points in the third quarter, and in the last quarter we played perfect basketball.”

Juancho Hernangomez echoed those views, claiming his team still felt confident after allowing those 54 first-half points, stating: “They had been making all their shots, but we knew that wouldn’t continue throughout the whole game and we stayed on the same path defensively.

“At halftime, Coach Ataman just told us that we were doing fine, to apply more pressure and keep competing. We just had to be physical, all five players boxing out. All five players on the court had to stay focused and I think we did a great job. Every player is needed to win, not every player is going to score 30 points. We just had to do our jobs.”

Game Videos

Although the Greens players understandably celebrated their triumph by paying tribute to the team ethic, Luca Vildoza was happy to pinpoint one player in particular as the embodiment of the turnaround. 

“We have really good players,” he began. "Sloukas was controlling the game, Nunn is always there, but I think the main guy was Jerian \[Grant\]. Jerian was playing defense everywhere, helping everywhere, scoring when it was necessary, so I’m really happy for him.” 

Grant himself, however, hailed the collective effort throughout the roster as he reflected on how the game changed after the interval, simply stating: “As a team. We knew we had 20 minutes left in the second half to bring home the seventh star and we did that.  

“From day one, Coach told us our goal was to get to the Final Four and to win the championship, and we got it done. \[The Final Four\] was two games to call yourselves champions of EuroLeague, so whatever we had to do, whatever energy we had to get, we were going to do that.” 

No player experienced more of an individual turnaround than Kendrick Nunn, who was unable to contribute much during the early exchanges after committing three first-quarter fouls but returned with a bang after the break to finish with 21 points. 

"I was too aggressive with my hands,” he admitted. “I've been in that position before and just had to stay composed, believing in my teammates and sticking together.” 

Real coach Chus Mateo, meanwhile, believed his team fell into the trap of getting away from their game plan during their second-half collapse. “We probably thought the easy path was to play only on the perimeter,” he said.  

"But what we want to do first is gain advantage in the paint, to penetrate, get into the low post, set picks that give you an advantage, and in that sense, we lost a certain amount of aggressiveness. But this is basketball and sometimes things don’t go the way you want.” 

Andy West reviews the highs and the lows of the championship game 