Even though he missed the 2022 Final Four due to a season-ending knee injury sustained in the final practice before the trip to Belgrade, make no mistake that [Krunoslav Simon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/krunoslav-simon/cpr/) was an instrumental part in Anadolu Efes Istanbul getting back to the throne.

Injuries were not Simon's friend during the 2021-22 season and the team felt his absence. During the regular season, Efes had a 3-6 record in games that Simon missed, including opening the season with a 0-4 record as Simon missed four of the first five games and needed time to get going.

Tribute to the Champs Krunoslav Simon

Simon has been a glue guy for Efes and its overpowering offense over the years and it was no different this season. A crafty and intelligent player, the 36-year-old Croatian native contributed in many ways despite playing a career-low 21:20 minutes per game. He posted 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists, scoring in double figures in nine of his 27 appearances. However, Simon's contributions go beyond the numbers he posted.

Not only has he been an integral part of the team on the court, but off of it as well. In his five seasons with Efes, Simon played 152 games - more than any other player during that span. He is one of only three players – along with team captain Dogus Balbay and Bryant Dunston – who were part of the team that finished at the bottom of the EuroLeague standings in 2018 only to go on to dominate the next four seasons. And now Simon is proud to be called a back-to-back EuroLeague champion. 

Tribute to the Champs: Krunoslav Simon

Krunoslav Simon - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 (photo Efes) - EB21

Krunoslav Simon - Anadolu Efes Istanbul - EB21-RS33

Adrien Moerman, one of the stalwarts of Anadolu Efes Istanbul's recent rise to glory, filled a key role again in the 2021-22 season, playing in every single game and mustering more than solid averages of 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Tribute to the Champs: Adrien Moerman

[Adrien Moerman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/adrien-moerman/001833/), one of the stalwarts of Anadolu Efes Istanbul's recent rise to glory, filled a key role again in the 2021-22 season, playing in every single game and mustering more than solid averages of 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

The trust shown in Moerman by Efes head coach Ergin Ataman is reflected in the fact that he spent at least 19 minutes on the court in 36 of Efes's 40 games this season and was given more than 30 minutes on nine occasions. That meant that Moerman ranked seventh in the league in minutes played (989:39) – a list topped by his teammate Shane Larkin – and he became the only Efes player to have appeared in all 81 games during the Turkish team's back-to-back title triumphs.

Adrien Moerman | Season Highlights | 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Throughout his long EuroLeague career, which now spans nine seasons and 223 games, Moerman has always been lauded for two prime qualities: rebounding and three-point shooting. The 2021-22 campaign was more of the same, as he ranked 12th in the league in boards while shooting threes at an impressive 41.5%, the 14th-best conversion rate in the competition.

The Frenchman's personal highlight of the campaign came in Round 22 as he settled a thriller against Panathinaikos OPAP Athens with a nerveless game-winning three-pointer on the final buzzer, sending fans inside the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall wild and taking his personal tallies for the night to 15 points, 2 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocked shots.

Adrien Moerman was the hero for Efes against Panathinaikos

He finished the regular season by making at least 1 triple and grabbing at least 5 boards in eight consecutive games, again underlining the fundamental part he has played in making Efes repeat champs.

Adrien Moerman - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

Top photos 2022 Final Four - One Team Final Four review

One Team Welcome Session for Final Four volunteers - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Joe Arlauckas and Dusko Savanovic with the volunteers - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Stefan Lazarevic of Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade with the volunteers - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Joe Arlauckas - One Team Welcome Session for Final Four volunteers - Final Four Belgrade 2022

One Team Session & Ambassadors Unified Tournament at the FanZone's main court - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Ibrahim Kutluay - One Team Session & Ambassadors Unified Tournament in the FanZone - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Final Four Ambassadors - Joe Arlauckas, Ramunas Siskauskas, Matjaz Smodis, Ibrahim Kutluay, Dusko Savanovic, David Rivers, Dejan Tomasevic and Patrick Femerling during One Team Session & Ambassadors Unified Tournament - Final Four Belgrade 2022

David Rivers - One Team Session & Ambassadors Unified Tournament in the FanZone at Savski Square - Final Four Belgrade 2022

One Team Session & Ambassadors Unified Tournament - Final Four Belgrade 2022

One Team session in the FanZone - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Dusko Savanovic - One Team Session & Ambassadors Unified Tournament - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Patrick Femerling - One Team Session & Ambassadors Unified Tournament - Final Four Belgrade 2022

David Rivers during the One Team session - Final Four Belgrade 2022

The youngest player on the Anadolu Efes Istanbul roster, Filip Petrusev made most of his on-court contributions early in his first EuroLeague season, which finished with him celebrating on the podium.

Tribute to the Champs: Filip Petrusev

The youngest player on the Anadolu Efes Istanbul roster, [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/) made most of his on-court contributions early in his first EuroLeague season, which finished with him celebrating on the podium.

There were high expectations of Petrusev, who was the Adriatic League MVP the season before, and he came out of the gate firing. Petrusev scored 17 on 6-of-8 two-point shooting in his debut on opening night at Real Madrid. He added 10 points, 5 boards and 2 blocks against AX Armani Exchange Milan in Round 4 and netted 14 points with 6 boards and 3 assists against Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 7.

In the second half of the regular season, Petrusev’s role diminished as Tibor Pleiss and Bryant Dunston rolled into form and the team relied more on the veterans who got the job done the season before. For the season, Petrusev averaged 5.2 points on 61.1% two-point shooting and 1.6 rebounds in 9:18 minutes over 22 appearances, all in the regular season.

Filip Petrusev Top Plays from 09/01/2021 to 06/07/2022

Tribute to the Champs Filip Petrusev.mp4

He ranked fifth in the league in scoring on a per-minute basis with a prorated average of 22.5 points per 40 minutes. That alone shows the vast potential Petrusev has and even though it wasn’t needed in the playoffs or the Final Four, his constant inclusion in the roster gave the team comfort that they had another weapon in the paint if needed. Already a EuroLeague champion at age 22, Filip Petrusev has a bright future ahead of him.

Filip Petrusev - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

Filip Petrusev - Anadolu Efes Istanbul - EB21

[Chris Singleton](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chris-singleton/006614/) saved some of his most decisive basketball for the most important occasion of the 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season. After spending much of the campaign with a less prominent role for Anadolu Efes Istanbul than in the past, the veteran forward was vital in his team's championship game triumph. 

The 29 minutes 20 seconds that Singleton spent on the court against Real Madrid on the last day of the Final Four in Belgrade were the most he had played all season and fourth-highest of all players in the title game. Although he scored just 4 points, Singleton used his time to great effect, grabbing 7 rebounds and 2 steals to epitomize his team's gritty defensive effort in battling for a 58-57 victory worth the EuroLeague's first back-to-back title in almost a decade. Crucially, one of Singleton's 3 offensive rebounds led to Tibor Pleiss scoring the decisive final basket with 1:05 to play.

Chris Singleton | Season Highlights | 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Earlier in the season, though often a more peripheral presence, Singleton still stepped up when required to average 3.9 points and 2.7 rebounds over the course of 36 games. And as a statistical side-note, the 2021-22 campaign saw Singleton finally end his all-time record of consecutive appearances in the competition. His absence from a Round 13 meeting with Barcelona ended the run at 214 games, a streak that had started nearly seven years earlier when he debuted in the EuroLeague with Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar.

Spalding Dunk of the Night: Singleton dunks off a steal!

The season also saw Singleton pass the milestone of 1,000 rebounds in the competition. He has now grabbed 1,063 boards at an average of 4.5 per game in his total of 238 appearances, and ranks 22nd on the all-time EuroLeague rebounding list with a very realistic chance of breaking into the top 20 next season.

Tribute to the Champs: Chris Singleton

Chris Singleton - Anadolu Efes Istanbul - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - E21-FFF

Chris Singleton - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 (photo Efes) - EB21

All week long, Euroleague Basketball Legends and Final Four Ambassadors were out and about at all the activities in Belgrade to make the event even more special for both fans and One Team participants.

Top photos 2022 Final Four - Euroleague Basketball Legends and Final Four Ambassadors

David Rivers - One Team Session at FanZone - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Patrick Femerling - One Team Session at FanZone - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Dusko Savanovic - One Team Session at FanZone - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Ibrahim Kutluay - One Team Session at FanZone - Final Four Belgrade 2022

One Team Session at FanZone - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Joe Arlauckas, One Team session volunteers - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Dusko Savanovic, One Team session volunteers - Final Four Belgrade 2022

One Team session volunteers - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Ibrahim Kutluay - Platinum and Ambassadors Game - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Platinum and Ambassadors Game - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Dusko Savanovic with Kostas Sloukas - Magic Moment - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Patrick Femerling with Rokas Jokubaitis - Rising Star 2021-22 - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Igor Rakocevic with Vasilije Micic - Best Scorer 2021-22 - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Felipe Reyes with Walter Tavares - First EuroLeague Team - Final Four Belgrade 2022 

Zeljko Obradovic with Nikola Mirotic 2021-22 EuroLeague MVP - Final Four Belgrade 2022

2022 Final Four photos: Euroleague Basketball Legends and Final Four Ambassadors

Amid their title celebrations, Anadolu Efes Istanbul players and coaches took time out to pose with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Trophy in the annual championship trophy photo shoot. Check it out!

Top photos 2022 Final Four - Efes trophy photo shoot!

Shane Larkin, Ergin Ataman and Vasilije Micic - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Rodrigue Beaubois and Adrien Moerman - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Tibor Pleiss - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Shane Larkin and Vasilije Micic - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Elijah Bryant - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Vasilije Micic - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Erten Gazi - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Bryant Dunston - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Rodrigue Beaubois - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Chris Singleton - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 (photo Efes)

Shane Larkin - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Dogus Balbay - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

James Anderson - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Filip Petrusev - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Adrien Moerman - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Bugrahan Tuncer - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Krunoslav Simon - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 (photo Efes) 

2022 Final Four: Efes trophy photo shoot!

Rodrigue Beaubois and Adrien Moerman - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

Shane Larkin, Ergin Ataman and Vasilije Micic - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

Tibor Pleiss - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

Shane Larkin and Vasilije Micic - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

Vasilije Micic - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

Erten Gazi - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

Bryant Dunston - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

Rodrigue Beaubois - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

Shane Larkin - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

Dogus Balbay - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

James Anderson - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

Bugrahan Tuncer - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

Elijah Bryant - Anadolu Efes Istanbul photo shoot - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21

Tibor Pleiss played some of his best basketball in the biggest games to help Anadolu Efes Istanbul return to the Final Four and repeat as the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champions.

Tribute to the Champs: Tibor Pleiss

[Tibor Pleiss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tibor-pleiss/lhk/) played some of his best basketball in the biggest games to help Anadolu Efes Istanbul return to the Final Four and repeat as the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champions.

Let’s work backwards. With all eyes on Efes’s backcourt stars, Pleiss dominated the paint in the EuroLeague Championship Game to the tune of 19 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. He was at his best with the game on the line, posting 10 points, 4 rebounds and 1 steal in the fourth quarter alone against Real Madrid. Pleiss paired 8 points with 7 boards in the semifinal victory over Olympiacos Piraeus and between the two games, missed just 4 shots!

Tibor Pleiss is a versatile big man who can dunk the ball and use his soft touch for scoring from downtown! Take a look at his 2021-22 season highlights!

Tibor Pleiss | Season Highlights | 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Those performances were a direct continuation of Pleiss’s fantastic outings in Games 3 and 4 of the playoffs against AX Armani Exchange Milan. After going for 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in Game 3, he followed that with 25 points on 3-for-3 three-point shooting, 6 boards, 2 steals and 2 blocks in the series clincher. 

For the season, Pleiss was a missed free throw away from becoming the tallest ever member of the 50-40-90 club. He made 59.8% of his free throws, 44.2% of his threes and 89.1% of his foul shots. Though his minutes and role fluctuated at times in the regular season, he finished the season with averages of 9.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 18:03 minutes over 40 games. 

This was the 11th EuroLeague campaign for Pleiss, who ranked ninth in the league in PIR per minute (24.9 prorated over 40 minutes). His timely production was vital for the team’s success and a big reason that he – and Efes – finished the season as back-to-back EuroLeague champions.

Tibor Pleiss - Anadolu Efes Istanbul - Final Four Belgrade 2022 - E21-FFF

Tibor Pleiss - Anadolu Efes Istanbul - EB21-RS32

Even though injuries limited Dogus Balbay’s on-court contributions for Anadolu Efes Istanbul this season, the club captain nevertheless impacted things behind the scenes on the way to a successful title defense. 

Tribute to the Champs: Dogus Balbay

Even though injuries limited [Dogus Balbay](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dogus-balbay/003521/)’s on-court contributions for Anadolu Efes Istanbul this season, the club captain nevertheless impacted things behind the scenes on the way to a successful title defense. 

Balbay was not able to play a direct role in Efes’s title triumph at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Belgrade due to injury, but the club’s veteran captain still featured prominently behind the scenes. His vast experience and team-first ethic helped ensure the right mood was maintained in the locker room on the path to glory.

As the captain of the reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champions, point guard Dogus Balbay of Anadolu Efes Istanbul takes to heart the role of building a bridge between the coaches and the players.

Focus on: Dogus Balbay, Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Having joined the team in 2011, Balbay is by far the longest-serving member of the Efes roster and has made more than 200 EuroLeague appearances for the team. A knee injury meant that he could only add seven games to that tally this season, with most of those coming in the opening weeks of the campaign. Balbay was able to play a part in Efes’s important turnaround in form following a disastrous start to the season, spending limited time on the court in victories over ALBA Berlin and Olympiacos Piraeus in Rounds 9 and 10. But he was then sidelined and made only one more appearance, getting nearly 5 minutes on the floor in a Round 29 loss at AS Monaco.

In the end, he totaled just 22 minutes of playing time all season, scoring 1 free throw, grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing 2 assists. But it is a testament to his professionalism and character that despite that minimal on-court contribution, Balbay never let his injury woes get in the way of his role as captain, always providing a positive presence on the sideline and in the locker room. And from a player whose combination of basketball IQ, selflessness and hard work screams ‘future coach’ like few others, you can be sure that Efes boss Ergin Ataman greatly appreciated the support of Balbay over the course of the campaign. Even at the season’s climax, Balbay showed his team-first spirit by calling on long-time teammate Bryant Dunston to do the honors of raising the EuroLeague Trophy. 

Dogus Balbay - Anadolu Efes Istanbul champ Final Four Belgrade 2022 - EB21-FFF

Dogus Balbay - Anadolu Efes Istanbul - EB21