The 13th installment of AS Monaco versus Fenerbahce Beko in the EuroLeague has all the makings of a blockbuster. 

Monaco vs. Fenerbahce: A playoff rematch with postseason implications

The 13th installment of [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) versus [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague has all the makings of a blockbuster.

After their five-game playoff series last year, Thursday night’s meeting will be the latest that they have ever met in the regular season. By taking place so late in the campaign, it is a fixture that could have a big impact on this year’s playoff race.

Fenerbahce confirmed its place in the postseason by [beating LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne last week](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-seals-postseason-spot-by-downing-asvel-92-82/), so its next goal will be to lock up a top-four finish – and home-court advantage – as soon as possible. Sitting pretty in second place with a 20-9 record, three wins ahead of fifth-placed FC Bayern Munich, the odds are certainly in favor of coach Saras Jasikevicius’s side.

Having gone 10-2 over its last 12 games, Fenerbahce is one of the hottest teams in the EuroLeague and has recently been bolstered by [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/)’s return from injury, as well as the mid-season addition of [Errick McCollum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/errick-mccollum/005216/). Importantly, a victory for the Turkish powerhouse could see it join Olympiacos Piraeus in guaranteeing a top-four finish, so long as one of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, Bayern or FC Barcelona suffers defeat in Round 30.

It is a different story for Monaco. Despite being almost certain to secure the tiebreaker in this fixture, having beaten Fenerbahce by 30 in Istanbul back in Round 15, Vassilis Spanoulis’s fourth game in charge, Monaco has stumbled of late by losing three of their last four games. Last time out, [it fell 91-88 to an already-eliminated Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabi-stuns-monaco-91-88-for-third-straight-win/), a result that left a bitter taste in the mouths of many, particularly Spanoulis.

“In this part of the season, to play with this soft mentality is unacceptable,” the Greek play-caller said in the postgame press conference after the loss at Maccabi. “To give up 17 offensive rebounds, we lost 50-50 balls, we missed a couple of big shots at the end.

“We were up 88-82 with 1:40-something on the clock and we couldn’t make one stop, then they went on a 9-0 run. Everybody has to take responsibility and understand the situation. This is not the way I want my team to defend. This is bad defense; we gave up 91 points. Everybody needs to take responsibility, myself and the players, to understand what it takes to win games.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">⚔️ Plαчoffs αtmosphere 🔥<br><br>⌚️ La <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> reçoit <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBBasketbol</a> pour un duel de haut de tableau en <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> ⏫️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DagheMunegu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DagheMunegu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/zXvxSF71xG">pic.twitter.com/zXvxSF71xG</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1902653625077297299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Just a few days later, Monaco was dumped out of the French Cup semifinals by Le Mans having lost 99-102 in a game that didn’t go to overtime. More improvement is therefore needed on the defensive end if the principality club is to get back on track, but with just five games remaining in the regular season, time is running out.

Coach Spanoulis will be praying and hoping that new signing [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) is able to play after suffering a scary fall in Round 29, as the German big man has made a telling impact across his first three games with averages of 14.3 points and 5.7 rebounds. It’s a small sample size but Theis has already demonstrated that he has what it takes to be a pivotal player for Monaco, which is looking to make its second Final Four appearance this year.

What is clear is that, regardless of whether Theis can play or not, Monaco will lean heavily on its excellent quartet of guards: [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/), [Elie Okobo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/), [Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/) and [Matthew Strazel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matthew-strazel/008099/). All four have the ability to cause a lot of damage to Fenerbahce, and they will be eager to close the season sweep against the Turkish side, a bit of payback after losing 3-2 in the playoffs last season.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">🏀 Maç günü!<br><br>🏆 <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> 30. Hafta<br>🆚 AS Monaco<br>🕘 21.00<br>📍 Salle Gaston Medecin<br>🔗 Maç raporu: <a href="https://t.co/fllLxOzGig">https://t.co/fllLxOzGig</a> <br>🎙️ Maç önü görüşleri: <a href="https://t.co/tIzhOjfE33">https://t.co/tIzhOjfE33</a><br>📺 <a href="https://twitter.com/ssporttr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ssporttr</a><br>📱 <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/sGQGiw6Aeb">pic.twitter.com/sGQGiw6Aeb</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1902621381797327008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Fenerbahce gets contributions from a number of guys on a night in, night out basis, something that was evident last week as nine players netted 8 points or more in the win over ASVEL: Baldwin (15 points), McCollum (10), [Bonzie Colson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bonzie-colson/009783/) (10), [Nicolo Melli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolo-melli/002849/) (9), [Sertac Sanli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sertac-sanli/002968/) (9), [Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/) (9), [Jilson Bango](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jilson-bango/013696/) (8), [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/) (8), and [Devon Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devon-hall/011205/) (8). On the other end, its third-ranked defense (80.4 PPG) will fancy its chances of containing Monaco’s fifth-ranked offense (86.5 PPG), despite what happened in Round 15.

The previous 12 meetings between Monaco and Fenerbahce have resulted in five wins for the Monégasque club and seven for the Turkish side, but who will triumph on Thursday night? Monaco knows it requires a win to keep its top-four hopes alive, while Fenerbahce has the chance to lock up home-court advantage with a win (and if other results go its way). It should be a cracker, so make sure to tune in via EuroLeague TV.

Game News

Vassilis Spanoulis and Saras Jasikevicius, who won the 2009 EuroLeague title together as players, come head to head as coaches for the second time

AS Monaco v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-03-20T18:00:00.000Z)

Episode no. 19 of EuroLeague & Friends saw Lisa Ramuschkat of Germany,  Vasiliki Karamouza of Greece, Aleksandra Radivojevic of Serbia and Giulia Cicchine of Italy come togther and discuss all the hot topics in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

EuroLeague & Friends discuss All-25 team, Sylvain Francisco and the Greek derby

Episode no. 19 of EuroLeague & Friends saw [Lisa Ramuschkat](https://www.instagram.com/lisa_ramuschkat/) of Germany,  [Vasiliki Karamouza](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fkaramouza_vas&data=05%7C02%7Cgeoff.gillingham%40euroleague.net%7C11f1688411b149f3d69008dd54da09f0%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638760017621742220%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=e6ofg13yx1u0i4tOROcbsfxgVO58l%2BWRN1lSWgK5Csc%3D&reserved=0) of Greece, [Aleksandra Radivojevic](https://www.instagram.com/amazing__alex/) of Serbia and [Giulia Cicchine](https://www.instagram.com/lacicchine/) of Italy come togther and discuss all the hot topics in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Among them were the latest Hoop District in Athens and the All-25 EuroLeague team. With 20 names in the bag, the cast debates who the remaining five players might be.

Vasiliki attended the Greek Derby and told the rest of the cast about the great basketball atmosphere at Peace and Friendship Stadium. [Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/) and the way he has stepped up for Zalgiris Kaunas was also discussed as was [The Francisco Show](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQggwwwgIrA).

There was time to chat about Pedro Calles taking over as [ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/alba-berlin/roster/ber/?season=2024-25)'s new head coach and the Rivalry Series game featuring Vassilis Spanoulis of [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/roster/mco/?season=2024-25) and Sarunas Jasikevicius of [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/roster/ulk/?season=2024-25) on the sidelines, years after they won the EuroLeague together as Panathinaikos teammates in 2009. You can listen to the latest episode of EuroLeague & Friends on YouTube and all major podcast services.

The fight to reach the postseason is also a hot topic

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2025-03-20T19:15:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2025-03-20T18:00:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v FC Bayern Munich (2025-03-20T19:30:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-03-20T19:45:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v ALBA Berlin (2025-03-21T19:15:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v Zalgiris Kaunas (2025-03-21T19:30:00.000Z)

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-03-21T19:45:00.000Z)

Back in the top six and feeling good about itself, Paris Basketball still has a long way to go if it is to secure an automatic place in the EuroLeague Playoffs.

Step one complete: Now Paris must gear up for tough three-game road stretch

[Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) has amazed basketball fans all season long with its play, led by Turkish Airlines EuroLeague rookie [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) and first-year head coach [Tiago Splitter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/splitter-tiago/), and the side from the French capital put on a show [against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on Tuesday night](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tj-shorts-stars-as-paris-comes-out-on-top-against-milan-92-79/).

Following three successive defeats, Paris knew that anything less than a win would have been devastating, particularly as Milan had the head-to-head advantage after triumphing by five points in Round 2. But a 92-79 victory in Round 30 allowed Paris to secure the tiebreaker and take another step forward in its bid for a top-six finish.

The hope for a direct passage to the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs is now well and truly on as Paris's victory over Milan allowed it to rise up the standings and back into sixth place. There was a celebratory mode inside Adidas Arena after the team's penultimate home game of the season, yet there is still plenty of work to do if Coach Splitter's squad is to avoid playing in the Play-In Showdown or even dropping out of the postseason picture altogether.

The next three games are going to be vital for Paris. In the double round next week, the EuroLeague newcomer has the unenviable task of facing [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) and [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) in back-to-back road games, then in Round 33 it travels to take on [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/). However, Splitter is choosing to look at the positives.

"I think it's always great when we travel," he told EuroLeague TV. "The team, the bonding, is unbelievable.

"We go to dinners together, we stay a lot \[together\] when we travel – on the bus, airplane – and I feel like on those road trips, the team is special. Hopefully we can go to those tough places and get the W."

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">ISSA WINNNNNNNNNNNN ‼️<br><br>Face à un concurrent direct pour les playoffs l’équipe a fait le job ce soir 😤<br><br>Et que dire de votre soutien Paris…<br><br>MERCI 🖤❤️💙 <a href="https://t.co/Xo2SnipOGo">pic.twitter.com/Xo2SnipOGo</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1902112603389727156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Paris now has a two-win cushion over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Real Madrid, which share a 15-14 record but occupy 10th to 12th in the standings. Remember, only the top 10 sides qualify for the postseason, with teams six through 10 battling it out for two playoff spots via the play-in. 

Admittedly, Paris has played a game more than the rest, aside from Milan, but Shorts is feeling as confident as ever.

"I wouldn't say it's back, it never left," Shorts said of Paris's mojo. "Even in our down times, the flow is still the same. We've still got energy, we've still got the vibes. I know people are watching, so nothing has changed. Win, lose or draw, we're going to be ourselves. We're going to be authentically us."

That message is going to have to be stressed even more so over the next three rounds. One big positive for Paris is that it already has experience this season of winning on the road against elite opposition, having stolen wins at AS Monaco, FC Barcelona and Olympiacos Piraeus.

This has been a magical first season in the EuroLeague for Paris, but the job's not done yet. The mission continues, starting in Istanbul next Tuesday night.

Back in the top six and feeling good about itself, the French club still has a long way to go if it is to secure an automatic place in the playoffs

Paris Basketball v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-03-18T19:30:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Paris Basketball (2025-03-25T17:45:00.000Z)

TJ Shorts had another MVP-level performance for Paris Basketball in Round 30, this time against Olimpia Milano as the French side took a big step forward in the race to make the EuroLeague Playoffs.

Mr. Inevitable does it again: TJ Shorts keeps adding weight to his MVP case

Another win for [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) and another day in the office for [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/). It sure has been a special rookie season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the 27-year-old.

On Tuesday night, Shorts was central to everything good for Paris [as it defeated EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 92-79](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tj-shorts-stars-as-paris-comes-out-on-top-against-milan-92-79/), a result that gave the French team the tiebreaker after previously [losing by five points (79-74)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olimpia-milano-grinds-out-tough-home-win-over-paris-basketball-79-74/) in Italy back in Round 2. 

Given that both Paris and Milan entered their Round 30 clash with an identical record, and both firmly in the race for the top six, the head-to-head advantage may end up proving crucial.

Now back to Shorts. What he has done this season really is marvelous, with his latest masterpiece seeing him finish with a 24-point, 10-assist double-double, as well as 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block (his second block of the season) and a 37 PIR. It's not just the stats with him, though. It's much more than that.

Few players in the EuroLeague orchestrate things in the way that Shorts does at Paris; he is the heartbeat of this team and the one who makes everything tick. Nor did many, if any, people expect Paris to be where it currently is in the standings before the season got underway, yet that is a testament to the way in which Shorts had led the team.

The discussion around what makes an MVP is heard in all corners of the globe, but strip it down and what does it come down to: If you take X player off Y team, is there a noticeable difference? In the case of Paris and Shorts, that is 100% true. He has elevated this team to new heights, as he reminded everyone once more in Tuesday's must-win game against Milan.

"This was a very important win," Shorts told EuroLeague TV. "We know what the standings look like, we know how tight it is. To win like this at home, it's huge in this league. We'll carry this momentum for the rest of the season."

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ici c&#39;est Paris! 🇫🇷 <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParisBasketball</a> <br><br>TJ Shorts leading the fans in the post game celebrations 🥳🎉 <a href="https://t.co/68IONhWbRN">pic.twitter.com/68IONhWbRN</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1902112870432706990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Whenever Shorts went to the free-throw line, chants of "MVP" echoed down from the stands at Adidas Arena – a regular occurrence this season. Yet, particularly after three straight defeats in the EuroLeague, Paris needed an MVP-level display from its star man and that's exactly what it got. 

Not only did Round 30 see Shorts post his fourth double-double in the EuroLeague, but it is the 13th time he has scored 20 points or more. For those keeping count, fellow MVP candidates [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) of [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) and [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) of [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) have reached 20 points on 14 and 12 occasions, respectively, this season, while neither player has dished 10 assists in a game. 

For now, Shorts won't care about any of that. He was able to let his hair down after the final buzzer against Milan by celebrating with the Kop of Paname fan group, but he will be well aware that a tough stretch awaits. 

Next up for Paris, it faces three straight road games at [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/), Panathinaikos and [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) before seeing out the regular season at home to ALBA Berlin. Should Paris come through that spell of games unscathed and still sitting in the top six, Shorts is going to be a huge reason why. 

Who knows, perhaps that could be enough to see Shorts take home the MVP trophy, too.

The EuroLeague rookie had another exceptional performance in Round 30 as Paris beat Milan

TJ Shorts finished with a 24-point, 10-assist double-double as Paris Basketball beat Olimpia Milano 92-79 to secure the tiebreaker between the two teams.

TJ Shorts stars as Paris comes out on top against Milan, 92-79

Paris Basketball downed EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 92-79 in Round 30 to grab the tiebreaker between these two sides, which could be crucial come the end of the regular season. Ettore Messina's men won by five points back in Round 2, but Tuesday night's 13-point victory gave Tiago Splitter's squad the head-to-head advantage. Both Paris and Milan entered this clash with an identical 16-13 record, but Paris now improved to 17-13 while Milan dropped to 16-14. 

TJ Shorts was outstanding for the hosts, posting a 24-point, 10-assist double-double in addition to 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. Sebastian Herrera and Maodo Lo both added 13 points, and Tyson Ward poured in 11. Milan's leading scorer was Fabien Causeur with 18 points, followed by Nico Mannion with 17, Zach LeDay with 14 and Shavon Shields with 10.

Game Videos

It was a perfect start for Paris, which opened the game with a 12-0 run that included threes by Mikael Jantunen, Ward and Yakuba Ouattara. Paris debutant Mathis Dossou-Yovo entered the contest and made a near-instant impression with a dunk to give Paris a 14-6 edge. Milan was starting to get some momentum thanks to the threeball, and Mannion knocked down two in quick succession – his second and third triples of the game – before Stefano Tonut’s pull-up three made it 16-15. Shorts then scored four points in the remainder of the period as Paris led 22-18 after 10 minutes, with all of Milan’s points coming on three-pointers.

Shorts and Ward combined for five points as Paris went up 27-18 to start the period, but Tonut hit back with four points of his own, 27-22. Mannion moved to 11 points as Milan kept up with Paris, 30-24, but the hosts continued to find ways to score, first through Doussou-Yovo and then Nadir Hifi, 35-24. Nikola Mirotic got his first points of the game from the line, 35-26 before a layup by Giampaolo Ricci and back-to-back scores by Mannion, with a Lo three-pointer in between, made it a six-point ballgame, 38-32. A strong finish to the half by Paris, however, saw Tiago Splitter’s side go on an 11-0 run, featuring five points from Shorts and a pair of threes by Herrera and Jantunen as the lead swelled to 48-37 at the break.

Things only got worse for Milan after halftime, with Paris going on an 8-2 stretch to lead by 17 points, 56-39. Shorts responded to a Shavon Shields score to retain that 17-point advantage at 58-41 before Causeur took over. The Frenchman scored 15 points for Milan as the momentum began to swing the way of the visitors, who trailed by just four points at 69-65. Yet, Ward, Herrera and Shorts stepped up in the latter stages of the period in a 7-2 run, which made it 76-67 entering the final frame.

Mannion took his tally to 17 points with a mid-range jumper at the start of the fourth, 76-69, but Herrera continued his impressive night with a deep three, 79-69, then Shorts recorded just his second block of the season by rejecting Mannion. Some bad news befell Paris as Jantunen went down with a lower leg injury and had to make his way back to the locker room, but Ward and Shorts kept Paris in control at 84-71. LeDay tried his best to breathe fire into Milan’s comeback attempt, scoring all eight of his team’s points in a three-and-a-half-minute stretch, but Paris still led 87-77. The game was effectively put to bed when, following a pair of Lo free throws, the German point guard had all the time in the world to knock down a three-pointer, which gave Paris a 92-77 lead. Shields’s layup with 1:27 proved to be the final points scored in the contest.

The guard finished with a double-double in yet another MVP-level performance

The fourth grouping of All-25 EuroLeague Team members is now official with Mike Batiste, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kyle Hines, Juan Carlos Navarro and Theo Papaloukas taking center stage

Meet the next 5 players honored as members of the All-25 EuroLeague Team

The fourth grouping of All-25 EuroLeague Team members is now official with [Mike Batiste](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-batiste/ajv/), [Bogdan Bogdanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/bogdan-bogdanovic/002821/), [Kyle Hines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kyle-hines/002812/), [Juan Carlos Navarro](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juan-carlos-navarro/adi/) and [Theo Papaloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theodoros-papaloukas/atw/) taking center stage. These all-time greats join the previously honored Luka Doncic, Milos Teodosic, Dejan Bodiroga, Georgios Printezis, Walter Tavares, Dimitris Diamantidis, Mike James, Vasilije Micic, Anthony Parker, Sergio Rodriguez, Nando De Colo, Sergio Llull, Ramunas Siskauskas, Vassilis Spanoulis and Nikola Vujcic. Only five spots remain on the All-25 EuroLeague Team and they will be announced next week.

The selection process for the All-25 EuroLeague Team combined the votes of EuroLeague head coaches who had won a championship, past All-Decade Team members and MVPs, media representatives and fans. The coaches and playing greats each made up 40% of the final vote, and the media and fans were 10% each.

 

### Mike Batiste

[Mike Batiste](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-batiste/ajv/) is synonymous with Panathinaikos's glory days in the late 2000s. Having made his EuroLeague debut with Spirou Charleroi in the 2000-01 season, coach Zeljko Obradovic recruited him to Panathinaikos two years later. He became a staple of the Greens' frontcourt for the best part of the next nine seasons, helping Panathinaikos reach another golden age. Batiste’s partnership with playmaker Dimitris Diamantidis remains unmatched, as the American won three EuroLeague titles with Panathinaikos.

In 2007, he had 12 points in the championship game against CSKA Moscow, including a key basket in the final minute. In 2009, Batiste had 19 points in 21 minutes in the semifinal against archrival Olympiacos Piraeus, paving the way to another shot at the title. In 2011, Batiste led Panathinaikos to its sixth star, getting 18 points and 6 rebounds in the championship game against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Batiste was chosen to the 2010-11 All-EuroLeague First Team and the 2011-12 All-EuroLeague Second Team. After a year with Fenerbahce Istanbul, Batiste returned to Athens for a 10th and final campaign with Panathinaikos, where he remains one of the biggest legends in club history.

From the archive: Mike Batiste highlights

### Bogdan Bogdanovic

One of the best shooters in competition history, [Bogdan Bogdanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/bogdan-bogdanovic/002821/) needed just five seasons to write his name into legend. He made his EuroLeague debut with Partizan Belgrade in the 2012-13 season and one year later was named the 2013-14 EuroLeague Rising Star after averaging 14.8 points per game. Bogdanovic then joined Fenerbahce Istanbul to play under Coach Zeljko Obradovic. In 2015, he helped Fenerbahce reach the Final Four for the first time in club history. Bogdanovic added a second consecutive Rising Star Trophy in 2015, something only two other players have achieved in EuroLeague history: Nikola Mirotic and, later, Luka Doncic.

One year after a championship game defeat to CSKA Moscow, Bogdanovic shined in Games 1 and 2 of the 2017 playoffs against Panathinaikos Athens in the Greek capital, getting a 35 PIR in each contest. At the Final Four, he had 14 points in the semifinal against Real Madrid and 17 in the title decider – again against CSKA – to help Fenerbahce lift its first EuroLeague trophy. Bogdanovic was chosen to the 2016-17 All-EuroLeague First Team and to the 2010-20 EuroLeague All-Decade Team.

From the archive: Bogdan Bogdanovic highlights

### Kyle Hines

Having helped change the way EuroLeague fans view size in the paint and open the doors for undersized big men, [Kyle Hines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kyle-hines/002812/) has left a huge mark on Europe’s elite basketball competition. Officially listed at 1.98 meters, Hines is a center who won four EuroLeague championships, matching the record in the Final Four era. He holds another record by appearing in nine consecutive Final Fours.

A member of the EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team, Hines was renowned for his play on the defensive end of the floor as a three-time EuroLeague Best Defender (2016, 2018, 2022). He played for four clubs across a 14-season stretch in the EuroLeague, starting with Brose Bamberg in 2010-11, followed by championship-winning seasons at Olympiacos Piraeus in 2012 and 2013. He continued at CSKA Moscow, where in seven campaigns between 2013 and 2020 he lifted the EuroLeague trophy in 2016 and 2019. Hines finished his career in 2024 after four years with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, finally accumulating 425 appearances, 3,339 points, 1,855 rebounds, 510 assists, 287 steals and 320 blocks.

### Juan Carlos Navarro 

One of the most iconic figures in the history of the competition, [Juan Carlos Navarro](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juan-carlos-navarro/adi/)'s illustrious career with FC Barcelona saw him win EuroLeague championships in 2003 and 2010 and the EuroLeague MVP award in 2009. A deadly shooter with a signature one-legged floater dubbed “La Bomba”, Navarro revolutionized the European guard position with his scoring prowess and leadership.

When he retired in 2018, Navarro was the EuroLeague's career leader in scoring and three-pointers made. In his 17 EuroLeague seasons – all with Barcelona – Navarro was named to the All-EuroLeague First Team a record five times and he earned two Second Team nods, too. He led the league in scoring in the 2006-07 season and Navarro's trophy case also includes the 2010 Final Four MVP and three MVP of the Month honors. One of only two players to have earned a spot on both the 2000-10 and the 2010-20 EuroLeague All-Decade Teams, Navarro's clutch performances and longevity made him a club legend and a symbol of EuroLeague excellence.

From the archive: Juan Carlos Navarro highlights

### Theo Papaloukas

[Theo Papaloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theodoros-papaloukas/atw/)'s presence forever impacted European basketball as he introduced the concept of game-changing sixth-men. The clever playmaker started in only 20 of his 252 appearances in the EuroLeague, however, that did not stop him from earning EuroLeague MVP honors in the 2006-07 season, nor leading CSKA Moscow to EuroLeague championships in 2006 and 2008.

Papaloukas was the Final Four MVP in the first of those two, which memorably ended CSKA’s 35-year title drought. And as much as he has cemented his status as a legend in Moscow, where he spent a total of seven seasons, Papaloukas is even more so a legend with Olympiacos Piraeus, the club where he made his EuroLeague debut and later led to Final Four appearances in 2009 and 2010. A member of the EuroLeague 2000-2010 All-Decade Team, Papaloukas was also selected to All-EuroLeague teams in three of his 12 seasons in the competition and he twice led the EuroLeague in assists.

From the archive: Theo Papaloukas highlights

Batiste, Bogdanovic, Hines, Navarro and Papaloukas see their names etched into the history books among the EuroLeague's 25 greatest players 

Regular co-hosts Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs of Euroleague.net joined forced again to discuss which centers you should select in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge this week.

Centers are the centers of attention in this week's Fantasy Challenge Podcast

Episode No. 23 of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast is destined to be a great one in honor of greats of the game of basketball like Michael Jordan and Sergio Llull who have donned that number in their legendary career. Regular co-hosts [Javier Gancedo](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fganchetto&data=05%7C02%7Cgeoff.gillingham%40euroleague.net%7Cff2a7b4fdb8942bff95208dd654005c4%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638778047824882217%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=sVGmeHZVSTZXEoK1dfvl8YTvEa6Toa04F3Qok%2FuiEr8%3D&reserved=0) and [Frankie Sachs](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FMrEuroleague&data=05%7C02%7Cgeoff.gillingham%40euroleague.net%7Cff2a7b4fdb8942bff95208dd654005c4%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638778047824901897%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=OsbA2cH%2Fonzp6wHTixlMtT0Z7Z56BNvCYzb4CalbbaI%3D&reserved=0) of [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net) joined forced again this week, with Vasiliki Karamouza experiencing technical difficulties.

The name of the fantasy game for Round 30 is centers, with [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade sidelined and [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) of AS Monaco questionable. Moreover, a Tuesday night fixture between Paris Basketball and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan means that a decision must be made by Tuesday evening, so waiting on player updates can be risky.

Javi and Frankie discussed alternatives at center as well as how to build your teams in this three-turn round. If you are – like Frankie – among those who lost both of your centers to injuries, you have come to the right place for help! See what moves Javi and Frankie advise – as well as what they actually do – this week. And make sure your lineups are set by 20:30 CET on Tuesday when Paris vs. Milan tips off in the French capital. Good luck, fantasy fans!

Centers are the center of attention in this week's Fantasy Challenge Podcast

With injuries decimating frontcourts, decisions must be made

In the second episode of the EuroLeague 25 Moments series, listen to coach David Blatt, Rice, Sofoklis Schortsanitis, as well as Real Madrid's Pablo Laso and Ioannis Bourousis, as they relive some highlights from Maccabi Tel Aviv's magical run to the championship title.

EuroLeague 25 Moments: Maccabi and its magical run to the 2014 title

The city of Milan will always bring back fond memories for fans of [Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/tel/).

In 2014, David Blatt's Maccabi made it to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four having beaten EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 3-1 in the playoffs. Now, they would return to the Italian city for a semifinal clash against Russian powerhouse CSKA Moscow.

What transpired was one of the most epic games in EuroLeague history. After being down by 15 points, Maccabi roared back to win 67-68 after [Tyrese Rice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyrese-rice/003367/)'s tough layup with five seconds remaining in regulation, a victory that set up a meeting with Real Madrid in the championship game.

Real Madrid was the overwhelming favorite after beating FC Barcelona by 38 points in the semifinals, yet Maccabi had a chance to win in overtime, only for Rice's three-pointer to be off the mark. Then, in overtime, Maccabi stepped up to come away with an 86-94 victory, the club's sixth EuroLeague title to date.

In the second episode of the EuroLeague 25 Moments series, listen to coach David Blatt, Rice, [Sofoklis Schortsanitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sofoklis-schortsanitis/jxx/), as well as Real Madrid's Pablo Laso and [Ioannis Bourousis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ioannis-bourousis/aqu/), as they relive some highlights from Maccabi's magical run to the championship title.

More Maccabi News

CSKA Moscow v Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv (2014-05-16T16:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv (2014-05-18T18:00:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz has confirmed that guard Kamar Baldwin will undergo surgery after suffering an injury to his right hand during a Spanish League game this past weekend.

Kamar Baldwin to undergo surgery for hand fracture

[Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/bas/) has confirmed that guard [Kamar Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kamar-baldwin/012597/) will undergo surgery after suffering an injury to his right hand during a Spanish League game this past weekend.

Baldwin, playing in his rookie Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, has made 25 appearances for Baskonia so far, posting 7.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 0.9 steals, but he now faces a spell on the sidelines.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Parte médico: Kamar Baldwin<br><br>📰<a href="https://t.co/YQLMsSSHBY">https://t.co/YQLMsSSHBY</a><br><br>¡Ánimo, Kamar! <a href="https://t.co/tffJ2tdVhK">pic.twitter.com/tffJ2tdVhK</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1901676732958040330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"Baskonia's playmaker has suffered a fracture in the first phalanx of his right hand and will have to undergo surgery," read Baskonia's statement on Monday.

"The medical tests performed to Kamar Baldwin in recent hours by the club's medical services, after suffering a collision in this past Sunday's game against Real Madrid, confirm an unstable fracture in the first phalanx of his right hand, which requires surgical treatment for stabilization.

"Baldwin will undergo surgery and the evolution after the operation will mark his return to the team's dynamic."

More Baskonia News

The injury occurred in a domestic game over the weekend