A pick-and-roll genius whose side-step three-pointers were copied around the world, Vassilis Spanoulis defined what it means to be a clutch player in the EuroLeague. 

Final Four club legend: Vassilis Spanoulis, Olympiacos

A pick-and-roll genius whose side-step three-pointers were copied around the world, Vassilis Spanoulis defined what it means to be a clutch player in the EuroLeague. His legacy was built on game-changing performances on the biggest stage, assisting Georgios Printezis for the shot of last decade to win the first 2012 EuroLeague title, the first for Olympiacos Piraeus in 15 years, and then blowing up the next season's championship game with 5 three-pointers among 22 second-half points to complete a 17-point comeback that made the Reds back-to-back champions. Spanoulis finished his career as the EuroLeague's all-time leading scorer, with 4,455 points, and remains the only player in the competition to have amassed more than 4,000 points and 1,500 assists. His abilities to shoot, create, draw fouls and close out games was unparalleled in the modern history of the European game.

The player who was synonymous with Panathinaikos green is both a club and EuroLeague legend.

 Final Four club legend: Dimitris Diamantidis, Panathinaikos 

Arguably, no player in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague history has contributed so much at both ends of the floor to his team's success as [Dimitris Diamantidis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dimitris-diamantidis/jko/) did for Panathinaikos Athens. He was able to lock down all sorts of opponents on defense but also make the difference on offense with his passing skills and clutch shots. Diamantidis won EuroLeague titles with Panathinaikos in 2007, 2009 and 2011, reaching two more Final Fours in 2005 and 2012. Diamantidis was the Best Defender Trophy's original winner, an award for which EuroLeague head coaches voted him the winner as many as six times. He was chosen as the 2007 Final Four MVP and did even better in 2011, when he became the only player to date to win the EuroLeague MVP, Final Four MVP and Best Defender awards in the same season. Diamantidis was chosen to the All-EuroLeague First Team four times and his #13 jersey now hangs, retired, at OAKA, scene of his greatest exploits.

Final Four club legend: Dimitris Diamantidis, Panathinaikos

No player had a bigger impact on the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague at so young an age as Luka Doncic for Real Madrid. 

Final Four club legend: Luka Doncic, Real Madrid

No player had a bigger impact on the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague at so young an age as Luka Doncic for Real Madrid. Doncic made his EuroLeague debut at age 16 and started his first Final Four game months after his 18th birthday, days after being voted the 2016-17 EuroLeague Rising Star. By the 2017-18 season, Doncic was ready to take over. He not only repeated as the competition's Rising Star but went on to win the EuroLeague MVP award and led Real to its 10th title, also earning 2018 Final Four MVP honors. His basketball IQ, one-on-one skills and overall talent was unprecedented for so young a player. Doncic joined Real at age 13 and has always supported Los Blancos since he left, not missing an important game in football or basketball. The 2017-18 campaign is often referred as the "Luka Doncic season", on in which a teenager took the competition by storm to become a global basketball icon!

Bogdan Bogdanovic helped take Fenerbahce Istanbul to the next level in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Before he joined the team in 2014, Fenerbahce had never made it to the Final Four. 

Final Four club legend: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Fenerbahce

Bogdan Bogdanovic helped take Fenerbahce Istanbul to the next level in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Before he joined the team in 2014, Fenerbahce had never made it to the Final Four. Three years later, Bogdanovic left the club holding the EuroLeague trophy and considered one of the risings stars in world basketball. Bogdanovic won his second EuroLeague Rising Star award in the 2014-15 campaign, his first season with Fenerbahce, in which he helped his team reach its first-ever Final Four. A year later, Bogdanovic took Fenerbahce to the EuroLeague Championship Game, losing against CSKA Moscow in overtime. Bogdanovic bounced back in style, excelling in a EuroLeague playoffs series against Panathinaikos, reaching the 2016-17 All-EuroLeague First Team and above all, helping Fenerbahce become the first Turkish team to win the EuroLeague title. "Bogi" remains a fan favorite for Fenerbahce fans everywhere!

The games of the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four will be in good hands after Euroleague Basketball’s Director of Officiating Daniel Hierrezuelo revealed the eight referees who will oversee the games. They are Ilija Belosevic, Mehdi Difallah, Damir Javor, Emin Mogulkoc, Uros Nikolic, Carlos Peruga, Sreten Radovic and Fernando Rocha.

The names of the 2024 Final Four referees are revealed

The games of the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four will be in good hands after Euroleague Basketball’s Director of Officiating Daniel Hierrezuelo revealed the eight referees who will oversee the games. They are Ilija Belosevic, Mehdi Difallah, Damir Javor, Emin Mogulkoc, Uros Nikolic, Carlos Peruga, Sreten Radovic and Fernando Rocha.

The list boasts tremendous experience at the top levels of basketball as seven of them have previously officiated at Final Fours. Difallah refereed last season's EuroLeague Championship Game and was joined by Mogulkoc at the 2023 Final Four. Difallah, Belosevic and Javor all worked the 2022 Final Four. Belosevic brings the most experience as this will be his 10th time officiating at European basketball’s signature event. Difallah and Rocha will each at their fifth Final Four and Javor and Radovic at their fourth.

"Just like the players and teams at the Final Four, excellence is required to earn a place among the officiating crews, so I am proud to have these eight elite professionals coming to Berlin," said Daniel Hierrezuelo, Euroleague Basketball's Director of Officiating. "Their collective experience and refereeing acumen will help ensure the height of fairness at this season's Final Four."

The 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four will take place at Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany. The semifinals – pitting Real Madrid against Olympiacos Piraeus and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul – will take place on Friday, May 24 followed by the third-place game and championship game two days later.

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-05-24T16:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-05-24T19:00:00.000Z)

For three days, May 24-26, the eyes of the sporting world will be on the German capital as Uber Arena hosts the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four. The two semifinals couldn’t be more different. Let’s have a look.

2024 Final Four at a Glance

[Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (May 24, 18:00 CEST)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/E2023/331/)

Two teams making their Final Four returns after many years away will also face off at the European basketball showcase for the first time. After finishing the regular season in second place, Panathinaikos survived a five-game playoff thriller against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv to reach its first Final Four since 2012.

Fenerbahce was sixth at the end of the regular season and then upset AS Monaco in the playoffs. This will be Fenerbahce’s first Final Four since 2019. Their only previous postseason meetings came when Fenerbahce swept the Greens in the 2017 playoffs en route to the club’s only EuroLeague crown. In the teams’ two games this season, each won at home by a double-digit margin.

Of note, Panathinaikos’s head coach Ergin Ataman is also the head coach of the Turkish national team. Fenerbahce head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius, point guard [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) and center [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) are all former Panathinaikos players.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FINAL FOUR <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MOOD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MOOD</a>! 🎉<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowLegacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowLegacy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/7vrKbB3vsr">pic.twitter.com/7vrKbB3vsr</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1788302709466038327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (May 24, 21:00 CEST)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-olympiacos-piraeus/E2023/330/)

The second semifinal is a rematch of last season’s championship game, which came down to the final shot before Real Madrid triumphed. Los Blancos finished atop the regular season standings and swept Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the playoffs. Olympiacos was placed fifth at the end of the regular season and then overcame a 2-1 deficit to take down FC Barcelona in a grueling playoff duel. Both teams are making their third straight Final Four appearances. 

The protagonists in the first Euroleague Basketball game of the modern era, on October 16, 2000, Real Madrid and Olympiacos have a rich history together. In addition to last season’s final, Real bested Olympiacos in the 1995 championship game in Zaragoza, Spain; the Reds triumphed in the 2013 title game in London and two years later in Madrid, the locals celebrated at Olympiacos’s expense. They’ve also met in the 1996, 2009 and 2014 playoffs.  

On the floor, this game is the ultimate clash of styles and tempo. Real Madrid led the league this season in scoring, rebounds, assists and PIR. Olympiacos boasted the top-ranked defense both in terms of points and PIR allowed. It should be a treat!

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="el" dir="ltr">Είναι τρελός ο πιλότος! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://t.co/GsNvTYQnNs">pic.twitter.com/GsNvTYQnNs</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1788363649704218704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

FINAL FOUR NEWS

World-famous "El Mismo Sol" singer headlines a special night at Krartwerk Berlin.

Tickets on sale now for Alvaro Soler and Mr. BAGS at the FanZone!

The FanZone at the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four will be the place to be, especially on the night of Saturday, May 25 when sports and music lovers will be able to catch world-famous singer Alvaro Soler and cover artist Mr. BAGS at Kraftwerk Berlin, a popular exhibition hall in the district of Mitte. [Tickets are on sale now](https://www.eventim-light.com/de/a/6639e11eac2ac16275181540), so don’t miss out!

Soler is a Spanish-German singer who specializes in Latin pop music. His songs have generated more than five billion streams across audio and video streams, while he has won over 150 gold and platinum awards. The release of his song [“El Mismo Sol”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNHwNreDp3A) in 2015 saw him rise to prominence, but his collaboration with Jennifer Lopez, who has over 80 million record sales, for a Spanish-English version of [“El Mismo Sol”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNHwNreDp3A) allowed Soler to become a household name.

Still with over six million monthly listeners, and having released three albums to date (“Eterno Agosto” in 2015, “Mar de Colores” in 2018, and “Magia” in 2021), Soler is also very popular in Germany. Since 2021 he has been a judge on the German talent show “The Voice Kids”, and he has appeared in the fifth (2021) and ninth (2023) seasons of the German edition of “The Masked Singer”. His collaboration with Morat, a famous Colombian pop rock group, for the song [“Yo Contigo, Tu Conmigo”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SC0Ze4ta9o) appeared in the 2017 film “Despicable Me 3”. Soler was also the voice of the character Camilo Madrigal in the Italian and German dubbed versions of the 2021 film “Encanto”.

Also performing at the FanZone on the Saturday night is Mr. BAGS, an Italian cover band. Led by the singer Serena Bagozzi ([BAGS](https://www.instagram.com/serena_bagozzi/)), a vocalist for some of the biggest artists in Italy, she is joined by Daniele Lulli (guitar), Michele De Carlantonio (bass) and Massimiliano Chiapperi (drums). Bagozzi has been a [vocalist](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35AdXK4_97A) for Claudio Baglioni for almost 15 years and Miguel Bose. She has recorded for Ennio Morricone, too.

If you don’t want to miss out on any of the fun, make sure to [get your tickets now](https://www.eventim-light.com/de/a/6639e11eac2ac16275181540) via Euroleague Basketball’s webshop and on [Eventim.de](http://Eventim.de). Space is limited to 1,600 spectators.  Early Bird tickets are priced at €70, but when they are bought up, the General Entrance tickets left will be €80, so don’t hesitate. Book now!

World-famous "El Mismo Sol" singer headlines a special night at Kraftwerk Berlin.

Panathinaikos BC is the second team to make it to the 2024 EuroLeague Final Four, joining Real Madrid Baloncesto.

 Panathinaikos returns to the Final Four after 12 years 

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens is officially back on the path to its former glories. After more than a decade-long wait, the six-time Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champions have returned to the Final Four for the first time since 2012 after ousting Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in a dramatic best-of-five playoff series. Head coach Ergin Ataman's squad finished the job on Tuesday night with an 81-72 win in Game 5, prompting big celebrations in the Greek capital.

A thrilling and high-scoring series is to come to an end. The Greens' backcourt duo of Kostas Sloukas and Kendrick Nunn look to maintain the form that saw them combine 47 points and 10 assists in Game 4, while Maccabi should feel confident inside the paint after Dinos Mitoglou and Mathias Lessort shared 30 points and 11 rebounds.

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | Playoffs Game 5 | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

By qualifying for the Final Four, Panathinaikos has successfully completed a major turnaround, which seems to be Coach Ataman's specialty. A club that had not seen playoff basketball since 2019, and which had won a total of just 20 games over the previous two campaigns, put together a brand-new team that jelled in time to win 17 of its last 21 regular-season games. Panathinaikos followed that up by battling to register three playoff wins, thus earning the right to compete for glory in Berlin, Germany, later this month. The Greens will face the winner of AS Monaco and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul’s Game 5 clash, which takes place on Wednesday night.

### Journey to the 2024 Final Four

Even though the season did not start as everyone in Athens had hoped, it did not take too long for Coach Ataman to steady the ship. Panathinaikos lost four of its first six games and had a 6-7 record in early December, only for the team to win eight of its next nine games. That winning run saw Panathinaikos shoot up the standings, and the Greek giant never ranked lower than fourth place after Round 18.

Panathinaikos did need a strong regular-season finish to clinch home-court advantage in the playoff – and the team delivered, winning its last five games. It required each one of those, including a dramatic 79-81 win in Bologna on [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/)'s buzzer-beating game-winner.

Following a progressive campaign thus far, Virtus find themselves in free-fall succumbing to four successive defeats. They hope that the experienced Toko Shengelia can contain the marauding presence of Mathias Lessort and Dinos Mitoglou as the Greens clamour to cement their position in the top-four.

Virtus-Panathinaikos | Round 32 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

The ups and downs did not stop with the end of the regular season, however, as Panathinaikos lost that hard-earned home-court advantage with an 87-91 loss in Game 1 of its series against Maccabi. Led by [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) and [Ioannis Papapetrou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ioannis-papapetrou/005161/), the Greens bounced back with a 95-79 win in Game 2, but when the series moved to Belgrade, it was Maccabi that went back in front with a dramatic 85-83 win. Finding itself down 1-2 in the series, and with its backs against the wall, Panathinaikos leaned again on Sloukas, Nunn and [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) in Game 4, pulling out an 88-95 victory to force a Game 5.

With a do-or-die game in front of their passionate fans, the Greens were not going to let the opportunity slip away. In Game 5, Panathinaikos defeated Maccabi 81-72 after strong showings by Kendrick Nunn, with 26 points, and Kostas Sloukas , with 15.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Panathinaikos with a huge victory in GAME 5<a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@paobcgr</a> wins the series 3-2! <br><br>Now time for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F4GLORY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F4GLORY</a> <a href="https://t.co/qs66fqwAqd">pic.twitter.com/qs66fqwAqd</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1787942740782731662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

### Final Four experience

Even though the club has not been at the Final Four since 2012, a trio of Panathinaikos leaders have plenty of Final Four experience. None more so than three-time EuroLeague champion Kostas Sloukas, who will be competing in his 10th Final Four, after reaching five with Olympiacos Piraeus and four with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Sloukas has played in all but two Final Fours since 2012 and has appeared in seven championship games in that time.

Another Panathinaikos player who knows the feeling of competing at the Final Four is Ioannis Papapetrou, who went twice with Olympiacos – but not since 2017 – and lost in the championship game on both occasions.

Last but certainly not least, Coach Ataman is a two-time champion with Anadolu Efes Istanbul. Ataman first took Efes to the Final Four in 2000 and did the same with Montepaschi Siena in 2003 before three more trips with Efes between 2019 and 2022. In 2021 and 2022, the Turkish tactician guided the club to their first-ever EuroLeague titles.

It all comes down to this. Real Madrid, as the most-crowned team in EuroLeague history, take on reigning-champs Efes, who fight for the first back-to-back titles in almost a decade, but who will snatch the glory?

Real Madrid v Anadolu Efes Istanbul - Championship Game - Highlights

### Final Four history

The Greens might have been missing from Final Four action over the past 12 years, but the Final Four was synonymous with Panathinaikos in the decade before its last appearance. The Greek giants went to six Final Fours between 2002 and 2012, winning on four occasions – in 2002, 2007, 2009 and 2011 – and also getting there in 2005 and 2012, when it lost in the semifinals.

Also, Panathinaikos won EuroLeague titles in 1996 and 2000, with two more appearances in 1994 and 1995. Panathinaikos also reached the SuproLeague Final Four in 2001, which also happens to be the only title game it lost.

The return to European basketball’s showpiece event marks a very familiar feeling to the army of Panathinaikos fans, albeit one they needed a lengthy wait to feel once again.

The Greens are looking to become champions for the first time since 2011

Panathinaikos returns to the Final Four after 12 years

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-05-07T18:15:00.000Z)

Starting on May 24, 2004, the former Mercedes-Benz Arena, will become the first venue to host the modern Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four three times.

Berlin's Uber Arena to make history at 2024 Final Four

The 2024 Final Four is set to take place in Berlin, Germany's magnificent Uber Arena, the first venue to host the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague's signature moment this century for a third time.

If you are a diehard basketball fan, you already know what's at stake: the best four clubs in Europe fighting for the ultimate goal – to be crowned as the 2023-24 EuroLeague champion. Even if you are a casual fan, you know that few sporting events, if any, have such an enthralling combination of passion, drama, adrenaline and anticipation – all in a great venue located in one of the most dynamic neighborhoods in one of Europe's greatest cities.

Uber Arena is so big that the Brandenburg Gate would fit into it. Opened in September 2008, it was already home to the EuroLeague Final Four in 2009 and 2016. Its great acoustics and good view from all angles have allowed Uber Arena to host some of the best pop and rock artists in the world, such as Coldplay, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Beyonce, Depeche Mode and dozens of others.

### A unique neighborhood in a dynamic city

The Final Four venue has an ideal location, too, barely a few hundred meters away from the East Side Gallery and the Wall Museum. The East Side Gallery is a permanent outdoor exhibit on the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall. More than 100 artists painted this 1.3-kilometer section of the wall.

The East Side Mall should give Final Four attendees plenty of dining options. Some of the best music venues in Berlin, such as Lido and PrivatClub, are just across a bridge over the Spree River. If you want to walk from the Brandenburg Gate to Uber Arena, it takes just over an hour. Going from the iconic Alexanderplatz to the arena on foot is less than 40 minutes. In any case, Uber Arena is easily accessible from anywhere in the city by bus, train, subway and light rail.

EuroLeague club ALBA Berlin and hockey club Eisbaeren Berlin play their home games at Uber Arena, which has also helped develop the area. With 170 museums, more than 150 theaters, thousands of restaurants and dozens of iconic buildings, Berlin is not only a great destination for first-timers, but the kind of city that also has something new to offer in each visit.

It's a chance to be part of the Final Four, one of the best sports events in world sports, in a one-of-a-kind city that will surely surprise you.

Uber Arena, the home of the 2024 Final Four

Starting on May 24, 2004, the former Mercedes-Benz Arena, will become the first venue to host the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four three times this century.