This new and special collection offers fans another amazing way to celebrate Efes’s historic achievement.

There will be 500 unique NFTs launched and available for purchase via that platform at [championsnft.euroleague.net](http://championsnft.euroleague.net). Upon purchasing an NFT from the 2022 Trophy Collection, the buyer will receive a digital jpg that is compatible for sharing on social media networks as well as access to prize packages including tickets to EuroLeague games, discounts on Euroleague Basketball merchandise, digital access to a meet and greet with Efes players on [EuroLeagueLand.net](http://EuroLeagueLand.net), and an official Euroleague Basketball fan certificate. Moreover, among those who purchase these NFTs there will be 75 special prizes raffled off.

Euroleague Basketball and VRM plan to continue the development of such collectible objects in the future and retroactively so that EuroLeague fans across the globe can build their own collections that connect them to the moments they treasure.

Euroleague Basketball and VRM are pleased to announce the release of the first and exclusive NFT Trophy Collection honoring the 2022 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion, Anadolu Efes Istanbul.

NFT Trophy collection honoring Anadolu Efes to be released

Tribute to the Champs: Ergin Ataman

Under Coach Ataman, every player got his chance and those who played well earned bigger roles. Injuries throughout the season made it so that everyone saw ample time on the floor and Ataman reached the crucial moments of the season with an in-form and confident group. So even though key players like Krunoslav Simon, who missed the Final Four entirely, and Rodrigue Beaubois, who was limited in Belgrade, could not give the team what they would have initially expected at that time of year, there were many role players eager and able to step in.

Ataman was careful to always credit his veteran players for their ability to sacrifice egos for the betterment of the team and for players who had much larger roles with other teams to be happy to just do what was necessary to win at Efes. But that culture starts at the top and Ataman deserves a large share of credit for Efes’s success, not just last season, but for the club’s impressive four-year run.

No team has won more games over the past four seasons than Anadolu Efes Istanbul and that period of time coincides with the first full season of Coach Ergin Ataman’s current reign on the team’s sidelines. Ataman has been the perfect fit for his squad as he combines the confidence his team needed, the ability to get all of his players to buy in and the tactical knowledge necessary to build a juggernaut. And while all of that was also true when Efes won its first crown in 2021, Ataman’s ability to steady the ship through the difficulties of a title defense was even more impressive.

Tribute to the Champs: Rodrigue Beaubois

Beaubois averaged 10.3 points per game during 31 regular-season appearances and once more did so with impressive shooting accuracy. After joining the ’50-40-90’ club the previous campaign, he nearly repeated that feat but was let down by unusually poor free throw shooting as he made 50.9% of two-pointers and 40.7% of three-pointers, but just 67.7% from the foul line.

The veteran shooter’s best performance came in a Round 10 thrashing of Olympiacos Piraeus when he tied his career-high with 29 points on 3-of-4 two-point and 7-of-10 three-point shooting with 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots contributing to a PIR of 33. His best run of form came during a crucial run of games as the regular season approached its climax: between Rounds 24 and 28, Efes won four games out of five to seal its recovery from a slow start to the season and jump into the playoffs places for good, and Beaubois was instrumental as he averaged 15.6 points per game, making 51.5% of three-point attempts in the process.

Tribute to the Champs: Rodrigue Beaubois 

Tribute to the Champs Rodrigue Beaubois.mp4

A particularly memorable occasion came in Round 28 and the red-hot environment of a local derby against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Efes led by 22 points in the third quarter before Fenerbahce rallied to make it a single-digit game, but Beaubois exploded with 16 points in the final period alone, including a three-pointer and decisive free throws in the final 90 seconds, to secure an exciting 84-79 victory.

Unfortunately, Beaubois was hampered by injuries during the latter stages of the season and was consequently unable to make much impact during the playoffs or the Final Four, but his consistent excellence during the regular season meant that he had more than played his part in Efes’s title glory.

The man with the nickname ‘Roddy Buckets’ lived up to that moniker once again, delivering another points-filled season to help Anadolu Efes Istanbul successfully defend the crown.

Every championship-winning team requires a great depth of talent, especially in the modern era of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague which is more physically and mentally demanding than ever before. And so, although others were the star performers in Efes’s title triumph, the significance of role players such as Gazi should not be overlooked.

The hard-working guard made 14 appearances during the season, either giving superstar teammates such as Shane Larkin and Vasilije Micic a chance to rest or covering for absences. He featured most prominently in an exciting 71-68 victory over UNICS Kazan in Round 5, spending more than 16 minutes on the court in a game that Micic missed through injury. And Gazi made his presence felt by providing 5 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist, with his importance to the win shown by his team-high plus/minus of +11.

At other times Gazi was sent onto the court by Coach Ergin Ataman to play hard defense for short but significant stretches of action, with his willingness to fulfill a selfless task shown in a Round 27 blowout of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv when he committed 3 fouls in 6 minutes on the floor without taking on a single shot, while distributing a pair of assists.

Gazi has now spent a decade with Efes on and off, joining at the age of 15 and graduating through the club’s youth ranks, then spending time at college in the United States to develop his game before returning to Istanbul in 2020. His two seasons back at the club have both resulted in title glory and now he will be hoping that his efforts for the team will be enough to earn greater protagonism in the coming months.

His 25th birthday is a perfect time to salute Erten Gazi for his contributions to Anadolu Efes Istanbul’s second straight championship. 

Tribute to the Champs: Erten Gazi 

 	Bugrahan Tuncer's experience came in handy for Anadolu Efes Istanbul as it successfully defended its EuroLeague championship.

Tribute to the Champs: Bugrahan Tuncer

Tuncer, who has been with Efes since 2018 and has made 46 EuroLeague appearances for the team, signed a new two-year contract shortly after Efes’s triumphant return from the Final Four in Belgrade. He appeared in EuroLeague 10 games during the 2021-22 campaign, which included minutes in the decisive Games 3 and 4 of the playoffs series against AX Armani Exchange Milan. Tuncer scored his first basket of the series with a three-pointer towards the end of the first half of Game 3 that gave his team a double-digit lead on the way to a 77-65 victory.

Tribute to the Champs Bugrahan Tuncer

The 29-year-old received a season-high 12 minutes on the floor in an 81-76 victory over FC Bayern Munich near the end of the regular season in April, showing his versatility as he registered 2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists and 2 steals. He was also part of Coach Ergin Ataman’s 12-man roster for the Final Four and, although he did not play any minutes in the semifinal against Olympiacos Piraeus or the championship game against Real Madrid, his presence on the bench was confirmation that he is trusted to add shooting skills and strong defense whenever the team needs.

 

Tuncer also demonstrated his talents in domestic action, averaging 9.3 points and 4.2 assists in 34 regular-season games in the Turkish League, and with his future at the club since secured, he will be aiming to make the 2022-23 campaign his real breakthrough in the EuroLeague.

Bugrahan Tuncer's experience came in handy for Anadolu Efes Istanbul as it successfully defended its EuroLeague championship.

Top photos 2022 Final Four - Valilije Micic, MVP! 

Vasilije Micic and Anadolu Efes Istanbul arrive at the Final Four headquarters hotel in Belgrade

Micic got the Alphonso Fort Trophy as the best scorer for the 2021-22 season

Vasilije Micic and Kostas Papanikolaou hustle for the ball in semifinals

Micic guarded by Olympiacos' Thomas Walkup in the semifinals

Vasilije Micic takes the three that would put Efes in its third straight championship game

Anadolu Efes teammates run to congratulate Micic, on the floor, after his winning three

Vasilije Micic and Guerschon Yabusele at the Championship Game Press Conference

Micic stretching in the Efes official practice for the final game

Vasilije Micic attacks the Real Madrid defense during the Championship Game

Vasilije Micic against Alberto Abalde of Real in the Championship Game

Vasilije Micic celebrates Efes' second EuroLeague title in a row

Also for the second time in a row, Micic was named Final Four MVP

Micic points to the sky remembering the loved ones after winning the title

Micic at the Championship Game press conference after winning the title

Micic celebrating with his Efes teammates at the lockerroom

Vasilije Micic walks away with the cup!

Micic poses with the EuroLeague trophy

Shane Larkin, coach Ergin Ataman and Vasilije Micic, the Efes trio that sparked the full team

Top photos 2022 Final Four - Vasilije Micic, MVP! 

Even though he joined the champs after the season started, Elijah Bryant wasted no time in finding his role and helping Anadolu Efes Istanbul successfully defend its title. 

Tribute to the Champs: Elijah Bryant

When veteran Krunoslav Simon went down injured in the early stages of the season, Anadolu Efes Istanbul reacted by bringing in a new signing with the fresh glow of title glory: Elijah Bryant, who had first appeared in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv before returning to his native United States to help Milwaukee Bucks take the NBA title. Bryant arrived at a tough time after Efes had lost its first four games of the season, but he made an immediate impact by scoring 14 points in his debut – including 7 in the final quarter - as his new team came from behind to gain its first win, edging out UNICS Kazan. 

Elijah Bryant ! Season Highlights | 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

The versatile guard continued to impress in the following weeks, reaching double digits in scoring in each of his first four games, before hitting a mid-season slump which saw his productivity dramatically dip – especially between Rounds 20 and 25 when he totaled just 4 points in five games. Bryant continued to get good minutes, though, and towards the end of the regular season, he enjoyed a resurgence in form. He carried that into the playoffs, making 7 of his 14 field goal attempts during the triumphant series against AX Armani Exchange Milan and further helping the team with averages of 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.8 steals per game.

 

But it was on the biggest stage that Bryant delivered his biggest contribution of the season, scoring 16 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting and adding 6 rebounds to help Efes past Olympiacos Piraeus in the semifinal. And although he didn’t get on the scoreboard in the title decider against Real Madrid, the importance of Bryant within the team was shown by the fact that he spent nearly 29 minutes on the floor, more than playing his part in the win by grabbing a team-high 8 rebounds. In doing so, Bryant joined a select number of just 11 players to become champions of both the NBA and EuroLeague - and only the second to do so in consecutive seasons.

Even though he joined the champs after the season started, Elijah Bryant wasted no time in finding his role and helping Anadolu Efes Istanbul successfully defend its title.

Top photos 2022 Final Four - Best of FanZone

Savski Square hosted the FanZone this year in Belgrade.

Fans always get to experience the Final Four up close and personal at the FanZone.

Basketball time all the time at the FanZone!

Anadolu Efes fans having a goot time at the FanZone.

The balls are always bouncing at the FanZone once the fans start pouring in!

One if the FanZone highlights every year is the Slam Dunk contest!

More basketball at the Belgrade FanZone.

Friendly competitions are a great way to challenge friends while at the FanZone.

As always, Turkish Airlines is the main sponsor of the FanZone at the Final Four!

Some participants warm up before performing at the FanZone.

FanZone - Final Four Belgrade 2022

A gorgeous aerial drone shot of the FanZone in Belgrade.

One Team also had its customary session at the FanZone.

One Team Session at FanZone - Final Four Belgrade 2022

FanZone contest - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Top photos 2022 Final Four - Best of FanZone!

Tribute to the Champs: Vasilije Micic 

Micic was this season's Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy winner after leading the regular season with 18.1 points per game and then leading the playoffs with 18.5 points. In addition, Micic finished the season ranked sixth in assists (4.7 apg.) and fifth in three-pointers made (2.2 per game). He earned All-EuroLeague Second Team honors before going on to do some of his finest work of the season when playing for all the glory, at the Final Four in his city, Belgrade.

Vasilije Micic | Season Highlights | 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

In the semifinals against Olympiacos Piraeus, Micic hit one of the most memorable shots in Final Four history, a game-winning triple that left just 0.5 seconds on the clock to lift Efes to a 74-77 win. In the championship game versus Real Madrid, Micic overcame an injury to top all scorers with 23 points on 4-for-7 three-point shooting in a 58-57 triumph. Those performances had Micic re-writing the basketball history books. He became only the fourth player ever to win back-to-back EuroLeague Final Four MVP awards and, more importantly, he can call himself a two-time EuroLeague champion.

Vasilije Micic not only played a leading role for Anadolu Efes Istanbul, but he again found a way to shine brightest when it mattered the most, elevating his game to another level at the 2022 Final Four and leading his club to a successful title defense.