Barça Basket guard Ricky Rubio returned to action for Spain on Thursday night, 319 since his last appearance on a basketball court.

Ricky Rubio return is good news for basketball

The basketball world tuned in for one of the feel-good stories of the 2023-24 season on Thursday night, as [Ricky Rubio](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rubio-ricky/lfw/) featured for Spain in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers, 319 days on from the last time he was seen on a basketball court.

While Spain ended up falling to defeat against Latvia, losing 75-79 in Zaragoza, basketball fans were able to rejoice in seeing the 33-year-old on the floor after what has been a difficult period for him. There were positive signs for FC Barcelona supporters, too, ahead of Rubio’s potential second debut for the club against AS Monaco on March 1.

[Rubio officially rejoined Barca on February 6](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ricky-rubio-seals-return-to-the-euroleague-with-barca-basket/) and had been training with the team since January 29, but his last basketball game was back on April 9, 2023, when he was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA. Such was the difficult moment that Rubio was going through that he renounced his place in the Spanish national team for last summer’s FIBA World Cup, so seeing him playing again naturally brought plenty of smiles and positivity.

Some young Spain fans with a printout of Ricky Rubio's head (PHOTO: Alberto Nevado/FIBA)

### Rubio started on his return

Sergio Scariolo defied his pre-game comments, in which he stated that Rubio is “far from his best shape”, by naming the current Barca guard as a starter against Latvia. Naturally, there was a bit of rust to Rubio’s play early on, but the fans inside the Pabellon Principe Felipe were there to support him in whatever way they could. When Rubio shot an airball with his first attempt from the field, he was met by applause. The 10,533-strong crowd knew that they had to be there for him.

The first sign of the Rubio we have all come to love came with 8:07 remaining in the first quarter, as he used his basketball IQ to pick out Valencia Basket’s [Xabi Lopez-Arostegui](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/xabi-lopez-arostegui/005356/) with a smart pass from an inbound situation. Then, when he went to the bench with 4:36 left in the quarter, he was once again met by applause. Even if he was showing signs of frustration with his own play, the fans were on hand to show their support.

Ricky Rubio during Spain's EuroBasket Qualifier against Latvia (PHOTO: Alberto Nevado/FIBA)

After a 10-minute spell on the bench, Scariolo called Rubio’s number once more. He dished a couple of assists in the second quarter before getting his first points since his return, going 2-for-2 from the free-throw line with 49.2 seconds on the clock after being fouled while attempting a fadeaway jumper.

Just like in the first half, Rubio started the third quarter and moved to 5 assists with a dish to Valencia’s [Jaime Pradilla](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jaime-pradilla/010393/), who scored from mid-range with 5:30 remaining. When he went to the bench with 5:00 left in the third, there was another round of applause for the 2019 FIBA World Cup winner. Let’s not forget that Rubio also won a gold medal with *La Roja* at EuroBasket 2009 and EuroBasket 2011.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ricky gets his first bucket from the floor! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> <a href="https://t.co/X2nwIdWHC5">pic.twitter.com/X2nwIdWHC5</a></p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1760768370549383283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Rubio almost became the hero

When Rubio came back into the game, there was 4:52 to go in the fourth quarter and Spain trailed Latvia, 64-66. It felt like a storybook ending was on the cards. After netting a mid-range jumper — his first field goal of the night — to make it 66-68 with 2:53 left, he added a couple of free throws to keep things close, 68-70.

Rubio was again on hand to respond for Spain, knocking down a triple with 58.2 seconds remaining to set a 71-73 score. Once more, Rubio added to his own personal run by going 2-for-3 from the line after being fouled by Virtus Segafredo Bologna’s [Rihards Lomazs](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rihards-lomazs/005553/), who had just hit a three down the other end, as the score read 73-76. That 9-point spurt by Rubio meant that Spain had a chance to grab the win with 38.5 seconds remaining.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ricky Rubio made his return. <br>It was a good day for basketball. <a href="https://t.co/Vsf4JyCzeI">pic.twitter.com/Vsf4JyCzeI</a></p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1760774679701209284?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Things did not quite go to plan, however, as Latvia came away with a 75-79 victory. Nevertheless, given that this was Rubio’s first game in 10 and a half months, there were plenty of signs of what he could offer Barcelona: an elite-level playmaker who knows how to step up in crunch time.

Rubio should get some more minutes under his belt when Spain faces Belgium on the road in Charleroi on Sunday, and that can only be good news for all basketball fans.

Ricky Rubio in action for Spain against Latvia. (Alberto Nevado/FIBA)

Despite Spain falling to defeat, the 33-year-old showed glimpses of what he can offer Barcelona in the EuroLeague (PHOTO: Alberto Nevado/FIBA)

The Monegasque team is currently fourth in the standings with a 16-10 record

Case for Final Four: AS Monaco

It didn’t take long for AS Monaco to establish itself as a Final Four-level team. Well, when you have [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) running the show, it certainly makes things easier.

Monaco reached the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs in its first year in the competition in 2021-22, before making it to the Final Four in 2022-23. It looked like a first championship game was on the horizon when it led 29-41 against Olympiacos Piraeus in the semifinals, only for a third-quarter collapse – the Reds outscored Monaco 27-2 in that period – to put the Greek side in the driving seat.

The action begins with Regular Season standings-leaders Olympiacos, who are gunning for a fourth EuroLeague title, taking on Final Four newcomers Monaco. Both had to go the distance in their respective playoff series, but who can offer one extra push to make the final?

Olympiacos Piraeus vs AS Monaco - Semi-Final - Highlights

Nevertheless, Monaco responded to its 76-62 semifinal loss by defeating FC Barcelona in the third-place game to wrap up third spot. Keen to build on the foundations it had put in place, Monaco strengthened its roster last summer and has once again been led by the ever-impressive James, who seems on course to win his first EuroLeague MVP award.

### How the picture looks

With a 16-10 mark, Monaco sits in fourth place but level record-wise with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in third and Virtus Segafredo Bologna in fifth. Sasa Obradovic’s side has been on quite the roll of late, winning each of its last five games, which have all come against teams either in the playoffs or chasing a postseason berth (Real Madrid, Anadolu Efes Istanbul, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and Virtus). 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">💎 𝘈 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙣 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝙙𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙩 😬 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘙𝘰𝘤𝘢 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘢&#39;𝘴 𝟣𝟣-𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘯, 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝟱 𝙒 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙧𝙤𝙬 😎<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/XMD3SlNurh">pic.twitter.com/XMD3SlNurh</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1756420241075163432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Not only has Monaco managed to strengthen its home record to 9-3 in the process, but it is now 7-7 on its travels, too. In a season in which road wins have come at a premium for all the teams in the EuroLeague – it is one of just three teams with at least a .500 record when playing away from home – Monaco’s ability to pick up victories at other clubs’ arenas should make it a strong candidate to make the Final Four.

The club’s last two playoff experiences will help as well, of course. After losing in a five-game series to Olympiacos in 2021-22, Monaco downed Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv – also in a five-game series – before falling in the semifinals. Crucially, last year saw the crucial Game 5 take place in the principality, which could also happen this year if Monaco holds on to a top-four spot.

### Mike James leads a stacked roster

James rightfully gets a lot of plaudits for his play on the court, averaging a league-best 21.6 PIR and a league-high 19.4 points per night, and this year feels like it is his year. The 10-year EuroLeague veteran is on the cusp of becoming the league’s all-time leading scorer, needing 29 points to usurp Greek legend Vassilis Spanoulis in first place, yet his focus has always been on winning. Well, the next few months could be the crowning achievement of James’s career, as he could a) go first all-time in scoring, b) become the EuroLeague MVP, and c) win the EuroLeague trophy. There’s still a lot of basketball to be played, however, and it is not just a one-man show. Instead, James has an elite cast supporting his efforts.

The best plays of AS Monaco star Mike James between Rounds 1 and 26 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Mike James's top plays in 2023-24

One of the keys behind Monaco’s playoff push last year was the Batman and Robin combination that James had with [Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/), so the shooting guard’s return to form post-injury has come just at the right time. In Round 26, the final round of games before the two-week break, Loyd erupted for a season-high 24 points as Monaco beat Virtus. If Loyd can find some consistency in the final weeks of the season, it will make Monaco an even scarier proposition.

But basketball isn’t just about offense, right? Well, Monaco is lucky that it can call upon two of the best defensive-minded players in the competition in [John Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/john-brown/010588/) and [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/). In the case of Brown, he has been a pest for opposition stars all season long, making their lives difficult and often resulting in below-par shooting nights. Meanwhile, for Diallo, his two-way play has made him the ace up Monaco’s sleeve as he impacts the game on both ends of the floor on a night in, night out basis.

Then, there’s a ton of players who are capable of stepping up when their number is called: [Elie Okobo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/), [Donatas Motiejunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/donatas-motiejunas/lcz/), [Donta Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/donta-hall/011196/), [Mam Jaiteh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mam-jaiteh/002581/) and [Jaron Blossomgame](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jaron-blossomgame/011231/). Monaco is certainly able to call upon a number of players, and that’s without even mentioning the likes of [Kemba Walker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kemba-walker/012709/), [Matthew Strazel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matthew-strazel/008099/), [Yakuba Ouattara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/yakuba-ouattara/004197/) and [Petr Cornelie](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/petr-cornelie/004790/). 

When it comes to making a Final Four push, having an array of talent at the coach’s disposal certainly helps. And with James conducting the show, don’t be surprised if we see Monaco playing in Berlin, Germany, in late May.

You can now watch the fourth episode of Euroleague Basketball Originals’ latest documentary, "Overseas", on YouTube.

Episode 4 of “Overseas” released on YouTube

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague is full of players who have switched countries in order to pursue their dreams. In the “Overseas” documentary series, which focuses on EA7 Emporio Armani Milan’s Kyle Hines, Olympiacos Piraeus’s Shaquielle McKissic and AS Monaco’s Donatas Motiejunas, fans are able to get a glimpse of the ups and downs of being a professional basketball player overseas.

Hines, a four-time EuroLeague champion, has been playing in Europe since 2008 and in Europe’s premier club basketball competition since 2010. From Sicklerville, New Jersey, in the United States, Hines’s EuroLeague career has seen him play in Germany (Brose Bamberg, 2010-11), Greece (Olympiacos, 2011-13), Russia (CSKA Moscow, 2013-20) and now Italy (2020-present), where he first began his professional career with Veroli Basket back in 2008.

McKissic signed for Olympiacos during the 2019-20 season, which gave him the chance to make his EuroLeague debut. He has been with the Reds ever since. Born in Seattle, Washington, in the U.S., McKissic’s journey to reach the top of European basketball was not the most straightforward. He split the 2015-16 season between Italy (VL Pesaro) and South Korea (Changwon LG Sakers), then played in Turkiye (Usak Sportif, 2016-17), Spain (Dreamland Gran Canaria, 2017-18), Russia (Avtodor Saratov, 2017-18) and Turkiye again (Gaziantep, 2018-19; Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul, 2019-20). During that 2019-20 campaign, he made a mid-season switch to Olympiacos and, as they say, the rest is history.

In the case of Motiejunas, he is now in his third season at Monaco, having arrived in the principality in the summer of 2021. Having come through the academy of Zalgiris Kaunas, making his senior debut in the 2007-08 season, he then suited up for Aisciai Kaunas in 2008-09 before beginning his worldwide adventure. Motiejunas, born in Kaunas, Lithuania, played in Italy (Benetton Treviso, 2009-11) and Poland (Arka Gdynia, 2011-12), ahead of a move across the water, as he joined up with the Houston Rockets in the NBA. Following four years in Houston (2012-16), he played for the New Orleans Pelicans (2016-17) and then changed continents once again, signing for the Shandong Golden Stars in China (2017-19). A brief stint back in the NBA followed at the tail end of the 2018-19 season, but Motiejunas returned to China by joining the Shanghai Sharks (2019-20) and then the Xinjiang Flying Tigers (2020-21), prior to returning to Europe with Monaco.

During the documentary series, you will hear crucial bits of advice from Hines, McKissic and Motiejunas on how they navigated their careers overseas, as well as the knock-on effects of being so far away from home.

"Overseas" joins a long list of premium, long-form content from the Euroleague Basketball Originals platform. Among the other documentaries available are "[Back 2 Back](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D1m0YpAdW8)", "[Land of MVPS](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMDJsLc01Lg)" and [“Obradovic, the return”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMMDVBd-iwc).

You can now watch the fourth episode of Euroleague Basketball Originals’ latest documentary on YouTube.

Many arrows point to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens making a trip to Berlin for its first Final Four appearance since 2012. Let’s take a look.

Case for the Final Four: Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

### &gt;Coach Ergin Ataman

No coach in EuroLeague history has taken a team from the ashes and led it to greatness like Ergin Ataman did in his previous job with Anadolu Efes Istanbul. The story is well known; he inherited Efes in December 2017 in last place and the next year they played in the EuroLeague Championship Game. Much of that team was reconstructed in the summer of 2018, which is exactly what Ataman has overseen in Athens, where the Greens retained only two players from last season’s squad. Ataman’s 2018-19 squad grew in strength as the season progressed and was in peak form by the playoffs and for the Final Four. And that is surely the plan he has for Panathinaikos this season. 

Panathinaikos’s rebuild is in full flow: ‘We built a very good team’

### &gt;The deep roster

The star power up and down the Green’s roster is undeniable. There are former champions of the EuroLeague (Kostas Sloukas), EuroCup (Mathias Lessort, Aleksander Balcerowski), the FIBA World Cup (Juancho Hernangomez) and the NBA (Kostas Antetokounmpo) as well as the reigning EuroCup MVP (Jerian Grant). That winning culture is critical when it counts most. In fact, every player in the rotation – spare EuroLeague newcomer Kendrick Nunn, who played in the NBA Finals – has experience at the highest level of European basketball. Forward Ioannis Papapetrou, who has appeared in only three games due to injury this season, should be a factor down the stretch, too. The mix of experience and winning culture means that Panathinaikos has players who know what it takes to win games. 

To date, Coach Ataman has relied heavily on his core of players. Four Panathinaikos players rank among the top 20 in average minutes played: Grant (sixth, 29:53), Dinos Mitoglou (11th, 29:00), Marius Grigonis (19th, 28:16) and Lessort (20th, 28:07). Part of the reason for the extra minutes was absences. Sloukas, Luca Vildoza and Hernangomez have all missed time, Nunn only debuted in Round 7 and Papapetrou is just getting into the swing of things now. When fully healthy, the team’s stars should be able to play a little less thanks to the Greens’ overall depth without sacrificing quality. That level of depth is critical come March, April and May.

### &gt; Tip-top form

As mentioned above, Panathinaikos rebuilt its roster over the summer and as such entered the season as a work in progress. In Round 13, Real Madrid came to town and spanked the Greens 78-90. That loss dropped Panathinaikos to a losing record, 6-7, on the season. It would prove to be a turning point. Panathinaikos then won its next three games and has been one of the hottest teams in the league ever since. Only Real Madrid can match the Greens’ 10-3 record in the last 13 rounds. Getting better as the season progresses is always critical for a contender and it’s something that this team has done thus far… and it’s still getting better. 

### &gt;Home court

The Greens have not lost in 2024 in the Greek capital, reeling off six straight victories at OAKA Altion, including several against Final Four contenders. Overall, Panathinaikos is 11-3 at home, with two of those losses coming in the first month of the season. Entering Round 27 as part of a three-way tie for third place, home-court advantage is within Panathinaikos’s grasp. A top-four finish in the regular season could make a world of difference for Coach Ataman’s side in the playoffs as a packed OAKA could be too much for opponents to overcome. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Green Full House vol. 5 ☘️<br><br>Thank you, <a href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAOFans?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>#PAOFans</a> 💚<a href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>#WeTheGreens</a> <a href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>#paobcaktor</a> <a href=https://t.co/HKUexFH7H5>pic.twitter.com/HKUexFH7H5</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href=https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1757832064051671244?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>February 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js charset="utf-8"></script>

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul's season can be split into two: Before Sarunas Jasikevicius arrived as head coach and after. The Canaries slumped to a 6-7 start to the season but switched into a different gear since Saras's arrival and are 9-4 under the Lithuanian tactician. As one of the hottest teams in the competition, Fenerbahce could carry its momentum into the playoffs and challenge for a Final Four spot.

Case for the Final Four: Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul's season can be split into two: Before Sarunas Jasikevicius arrived as head coach and after. The Canaries slumped to a 6-7 start to the season but switched into a different gear since Saras's arrival and are 9-4 under the Lithuanian tactician. As one of the hottest teams in the competition, Fenerbahce could carry its momentum into the playoffs and challenge for a Final Four spot.

### 'Saras' gives added value

Jasikevicius was the catalyst of a significant Fenerbahce reaction. He helped the team rise from a play-in hopeful to a serious Final Four contender. Jasikevicius is the only head coach who has been to each of the last three Final Fours, all of them with FC Barcelona. Additionally, he took Zalgiris Kaunas to the 2018 Final Four. That was Zalgiris's only Final Four appearance since it claimed its only continental crown in 1999. 

Looking Back: Sarunas Jasikevicius Highlights

Not only did Jasikevicius play the Final Four with three different teams as a player, but he led all of them to the title, lifting the trophy with Barca in 2003, Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2004 and 2005, and Panathinaikos Athens in 2009. If he wins the EuroLeague, he will join a list of just three people to lift the trophy both as a player and a coach, along with Armenak Alachachan, Lolo Sainz and Svetislav Pesic. 'Saras' knows what goes on in players' minds in these situations, the fears they have to overcome, and how to be successful in the playoffs and the Final Four. Those intangibles make Jasikevicius's advice and guidance quite valuable.

### Versatility everywhere

Fenerbahce may have the most versatile roster in the competition, which translates into many advantages on offense and defense. Starting with its backcourt, Coach Jasikevicius can opt for a pass-first playmaker who is experienced and tough on defense in [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/). If the game demands more outside shooting, [Tyler Dorsey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tyler-dorsey/009849/), [Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/) and especially [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/scottie-wilbekin/006661/) are there to help. If more defense and court sense are needed, Calathes can get help from [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/yam-madar/011052/). In other words, all possibilities can be covered.

The best plays of Scottie Wilbekin since Saras Jasikevicius's appointment as Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul head coach three games ago.

Wilbekin's top plays since Jasikevicius's arrival

Fenerbahce's frontcourt is no different. [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/) and [DyShawn Pierre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dyshawn-pierre/010560/) can switch positions at both forward spots. Pierre is a rock-solid defender and Hayes-Davis has an off-the-charts basketball IQ that allows him to find good opportunities to score. If size and intimidation are needed, Jasikevicius can rely on [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/johnathan-motley/011157/) and [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) to do so, even playing them at the same time. Other than Motley, all the bigs on the team are reliable three-point shooters: Papagiannis, [Sertac Sanli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sertac-sanli/002968/), [Nate Sestina](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nathan-sestina/011980/) and small forward [Tarik Biberovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tarik-biberovic/006961/). If Fenerbahce stays away from injuries, it has everything it takes to punch its ticket to Berlin.

### True home-court advantage

It is no surprise that Fenerbahce has been extremely reliable at home, winning 10 of its first 11 games and only losing in a double-round week against Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade. Over the years, Fenerbahce fans have learned how to support their team most effectively, pushing harder when it is struggling and if Fenerbahce is on a run, giving its opponent a harder time. Fans had a lot to do with Fenerbahce forcing overtime and handing Real Madrid its first loss of the season in Round 11. Since 2015, Fenerbahce has a 9-3 playoff record at home and has never lost twice at home in any series. It has never hosted a do-or-die Game 5 either. Whether Fenerbahce has the home-court advantage or not, it will be tough for any team to win at Ulker Sport and Event Hall and that, in a five-game series, is always a big plus.

What a shot! Kostas Sloukas wins it on the buzzer!

7DAYS Magic Moment of the NIght: Sloukas wins it!

### What could go wrong

Injuries aside, Fenerbahce should be worried about being equally competitive on the road. Fenerbahce is 0-3 on the road in games decided by 3 points or less. In all three games - against Valencia Basket, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz - Fenerbahce led at some point in the last 3 minutes and missed a shot to either win the game or send it to overtime. Taking care of these important details and finding better scoring options when the game is on the line should be a priority. Fenerbahce learned the hard way last season: Kostas Sloukas buried an incredible three-pointer in Game 3 of the playoffs that eventually sent Olympiacos Piraeus to the Final Four at Fenerbahce's expense.

A mid-season coaching change changed the Turkish club's trajectory

The significance of finishing in the top four at the end of the regular season cannot be overstated.

The race for the top four

The teams going into the playoffs with home-court advantage, which a top-four finish brings, have historically reached the Final Four more than 80% of the time. Moreover, in the last three seasons, teams with home-court advantage have won 11 of 12 best-of-five playoff series, with only the third-seeded EA7 Emporio Armani Milan losing the series against eventual champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul in 2022.

Here are the teams with the best chances to host a playoff series this season, all of them with great home records this season:

### Real Madrid (22-4)

[Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/roster/mad/?season=2023-24) has not yet mathematically qualified for the playoffs (a spot in the top six in the standings), but it can get that done in Round 27 with a win over Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens. The regular-season mission will not be done for Real, however, as its season-long ride atop the standings could lead to it clinching a top-four finish as soon as Round 28 if results fall the right way. Los Blancos have been defending their EuroLeague crown in style, with a four-win lead in the standings while ranking first in scoring (89.0 ppg.), assists (21.2 apg.), PIR (108.3), blocks (3.7 bpg.), defensive rebounding (27.0 drpg.) and allowing a league-low 49.6% two-point shooting. All things considered, it is safe to say Real Madrid will be one of the four teams with the home-court advantage in the playoffs.

Propelled by the constant perimeter danger of Nico Laprovittola, Barça halted a troublesome chapter on their travels with a battling gain at Zalgiris. They travel to a Monaco roster relieved to end a two-game losing run at Bayern, with many thanks to a season-high 28 points from the lethal Mike James.

AS Monaco-FC Barcelona | Round 17 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### FC Barcelona (18-8)

The Round 27 home clash against AS Monaco (16-10) will determine if [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/roster/bar/?season=2023-24) has one foot in the door when it comes to a top-four finish. A win over Monaco would give Barcelona a three-win advantage over a fifth-placed team with seven games to go in the regular season, but even if Barcelona loses and gets swept by Monaco, it would still have a cushion on its other rivals. Barcelona, which is 13-1 at home this season, has already swept Olympiacos Piraeus (15-11), won head-to-head against Virtus Segafredo Bologna (16-10), and won its first games against both Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (16-10) and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (15-11) by 8-point margins. Barcelona's road trip in the season's final double-round week, Round 30 at Fener and Round 31 in Athens, could be crucial for Barcelona in this race, but barring a late-season collapse, Barcelona should be enjoying home-court advantage in the playoffs.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (16-10)

The Greens are the most improved team this season, but to no surprise considering their spending spree in the summer and the arrival of head coach Ergin Ataman. [Panathinaikos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-bc-athens/roster/pan/?season=2023-24) has won its last six home games, but lost three of the last four on the road. However, the team moved up the standings thanks to its five-week run from mid-December to mid-January when it won eight of its nine games, a stretch during which it swept Monaco. Panathinaikos is 11-3 at home this season, but has only three more games in front of its fans. Among the five remaining road challenges is the Eternal Derby in Round 29 in Piraeus where it will try to avoid a sweep against Olympiacos, and a visit to Bologna in Round 32, where it will try to complete a sweep of Virtus.

### AS Monaco (16-10)

In its two playoff appearances to date, [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/roster/mco/?season=2023-24) quickly learned the importance of home-court advantage in the playoffs, having lost Game 5 in Piraeus in 2022 before winning the series decider against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv at home last season. At this moment, with eight games to go, Monaco is on a path to return to the playoffs with the home-court advantage once again. That's not just because of its five-game winning streak, or the play of Mike James, but Monaco is also facing the weakest strength of schedule in the final eight rounds. After visiting Barcelona in Round 27, Monaco does not face a team with a winning record in the final seven rounds. Those include five home games, while the two on the road are against already eliminated ALBA Berlin and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. Monaco is in prime position for a top-four finish.

### Virtus Segafredo Bologna (16-10)

If the latest results are any indication, [Virtus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/roster/vir/?season=2023-24) will struggle to book a top-four finish and maybe even clinch one of the top six places. Virtus has won just two of its last seven games and has lost four in a row on the road, including by double-digit deficits in defeats against Barcelona and Fenerbahce where Virtus also lost head-to-head tiebreakers. Virtus has the toughest remaining schedule in this group, with five games against teams with a winning or an even record, while the other three games all come on the road in Belgrade, Kaunas and Milan. What works in Virtus's favor is that it can only get swept by Panathinaikos, which it hosts, while it can sweep Olympiacos if it wins in Piraeus in Round 28. Looking ahead, Virtus hosting Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (14-12) looks to be one of the most significant games of the regular season's final week, it just depends on what positions Virtus and Baskonia will be fighting for.

### Olympiacos Piraeus (15-11)

The Reds are currently sitting a win behind a trio of 16-10 teams, but that could change in a pinch. [Olympiacos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/roster/oly/?season=2023-24) hosts two of those teams, Virtus and Panathinaikos, in Rounds 28 and 29. With those two wins, Olympiacos would position itself into a leading role in the race for home-court advantage, especially due to sweeping its archrival from Athens. A loss in one of those two, however, would be a significant blow in that race for last year's runners-up. The Reds sport a 6-7 road record this season and will have that tested right after the break when they travel to Kaunas, and especially in Rounds 32 and 33 when on back-to-back Thursdays they play in Belgrade against Crvena Zvezda and Partizan. Olympiacos finishes the regular season at home against Fenerbahce, a team it lost in a Round 6 thriller, and that clash could very well end up being a do-or-die game for home-court advantage.

Fenerbahce Istanbul-Olympiacos Piraeus | Round 6 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (15-11)

Based on the regular season so far, it is hard to find a team that would "need" home-court advantage in the playoffs more than [Fenerbahce](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/roster/ulk/?season=2023-24), which is 11-1 at home but 4-10 on the road. The good news for Fener and Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius is that five of their remaining games are at home and only two of those are against teams with winning records – right away in Round 27 against Baskonia and in Round 30 against Barcelona. Also, Fenerbahce has won head-to-head tiebreakers against Panathinaikos, Monaco and Virtus and it won the first game against Olympiacos. The bad news? Fener will likely need to win in Piraeus in the regular-season finale to finish in the top four. In addition, the other two road games come at Real Madrid and a Play-In Showdown aspirant EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. Fenerbahce might not be allowed to slip up at home if it wants to have home-court advantage come playoff time.

Alec Peters has signed a new contract at Olympiacos B.C. until the end of the 2025-26 season.

Alec Peters renews at Olympiacos B.C. until 2026

Olympiacos Piraeus has announced that [Alec Peters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alec-peters/008829/) has signed a two-year contract extension at the club, which will keep him at Peace and Friendship Stadium until the end of the 2025-26 season.

Peters, 28, joined Olympiacos in the summer of 2022 and is currently in his second year in Piraeus. His deal was set to expire at the end of the current campaign, but this renewal means that he will stay at the Greek club for a further two years.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🎞️ He popped the question:<br><br>“You think you can get use to this view for two more years?” ⁉️<br><br>And she said…. “Oh yeah!!!” 😃<a href="https://twitter.com/petersalec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@petersalec</a> family will enjoy this view till 2026!!! 🔴⚪️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFights?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFights</a> <a href="https://t.co/OsdkzH9f6g">pic.twitter.com/OsdkzH9f6g</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1760227798407315560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Replacing Vezenkov

After having a backup role last season, a campaign in which he averaged 4.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and a 4.5 PIR in 13:13 minutes across 37 games, starting just three times, Peters has become a major part of Olympiacos’s offense this year. In particular, Peters has helped fill the void of 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov, who left for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA.

This season, the American forward has boosted his numbers to 14.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and a 16.1 PIR in 26:46 minutes through 25 games, all of which have been as a starter. Peters’s averages are his best since the 2020-21 season, when he posted 11.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and a 12.5 PIR in 33 games – largely coming off the bench – for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Todays a good day <a href="https://t.co/yBsWpfQlNZ">https://t.co/yBsWpfQlNZ</a></p>&mdash; Alec Peters (@petersalec) <a href="https://twitter.com/petersalec/status/1760236051598061959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Peters is now in his sixth season in the EuroLeague, having suited up for CSKA Moscow (2018-19), Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2019-20), Baskonia (2020-22) and now Olympiacos (2022-present). In that time, he has played 170 games and has career averages of 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist and an 8.2 PIR.

The best plays of Olympiacos Piraeus forward Alec Peters in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Alec Peters's top plays this season

### A career-best season

That 2020-21 season with Baskonia saw Peters record his best overall totals in points (379), rebounds (130), assists (53) and PIR (411), but that came in eight games more than he has played for Olympiacos this year. As such, he is likely to beat those figures during this campaign, having amassed 357 points, 129 rebounds, 40 assists and a 402 PIR through 25 appearances.

Peters is playing the best basketball of his career at present, and his renewal is great news for everyone involved at Olympiacos.

More Olympiacos News

Alec Peters in action for Olympiacos Piraeus in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

His contract was set to expire at the end of the season

Alec Peters renews at Olympiacos until 2026

With no games in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this week, it was a perfect time to welcome an old friend to the Fantasy Challenge Podcast. Reigning EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov, who now plays for the Sacramento Kings in the NBA, is a long time EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge player and hopped on the podcast to discuss the game with cohosts Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs.

Fantasy Challenge Podcast with special guest Sasha Vezenkov

With no games in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this week, it was a perfect time to welcome an old friend to the Fantasy Challenge Podcast. Reigning EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov, who now plays for the Sacramento Kings in the NBA, is a long time EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge player and hopped on the podcast to discuss the game with cohosts Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs.

Vezenkov shared the rules he used to enforce on himself when playing, the two players he considers “must haves” for Round 27, why he likes to choose forwards and much, much more. Click play now to enjoy this conversation with one of Europe’s best forwards about the game we love. 

It is safe to say that Virtus Segafredo Bologna is the closest it's been to the Final Four since its last appearance in 2002. Here's why there is a good chance to see Virtus compete in Berlin in late May.

Case for the Final Four: Virtus Segafredo Bologna

### Competitiveness guaranteed

[Virtus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/roster/vir/?season=2023-24) has been highly competitive against the best teams in the competition, particularily at home, where it has an 11-2 record. Its only losses came against Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 1 and against AS Monaco in Round 26. In between, it knocked off contenders such as Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, FC Barcelona, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and Olympiacos Piraeus. By being so strong at home, Virtus has resided in the upper part of the standings all season long. Only four of its home wins have come by a double-digit margin, which means Virtus had to work hard until the final buzzer, like it did against Barca (80-75), Olympiacos (69-67), FC Bayern Munich (85-83) and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (88-84). 

### Same core, different mentality

Virtus brought in only four new players during the off-season: [Ognjen Dobric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ognjen-dobric/004007/), [DeVontae Cacok](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/devontae-cacok/012714/), [Bryant Dunston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bryant-dunston/003048/) and [Achille Polonara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/achille-polonara/002084/). Only Dunston is a regular starter, yet the team has gone from a 14-20 record last season to a 14-7 start to the current campaign. What happened?

Virtus has won five straight at home and strive to maintain that same smooth offensive fluidity, which has yielded 19.8 assists per game, while Barça are set to unleash the flourishing Nico Laprovittola, whose firepower was on show against ASVEL as he downed a career-high 8 triples on 10 attempts.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs FC Barcelona | Round 12 | Highlights

Head coach Luca Banchi should get a lot of credit for his team's change in mentality. With players like [Iffe Lundberg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/iffe-lundberg/010781/), [Isaia Cordinier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/isaia-cordinier/009549/) and especially [Toko Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/), who thrive in transition, it was critical to increase both the pace of play and ball circulation and Coach Banchi's extra-pass half-court offense has been the perfect fit for the team. Last season, Virtus averaged 78.0 points, ranking last in field goal attempts (57.5 per game) and fourth in assists (19.4 apg.). 

Despite the departure of pass-first genius Milos Teodosic, Virtus has seen its assist average drop a but (18.8 apg.), but improved in everything else, averaging 80.5 points and 61.5 field goal attempts. A faster pace and a more loose mentality, allowing Shengelia to start his team's offense without looking for the point guard, has definitely paid off, turning Virtus into a Final Four contender.

### Well-defined roles

There is no doubt about Virtus's number one option. Shengelia has been playing some of the best basketball of his career. He leads the team in rebounds (5.5 rpg.), fouls drawn (5.4 per game) and PIR (18.1) and is second in scoring (14.5 ppg.) and assists (3.6 apg.). Following Shengelia's undeniable leadership, [Marco Belinelli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marco-belinelli/bcn/) and [Daniel Hackett](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/daniel-hackett/001844/) have been able to contribute night in and night out. At age 37, Belinelli leads the team in scoring (14.8 ppg.) and has more 20-plus point games (7) than single-digit scoring games (6). Hackett has been his team's floor general and everybody else buys into the team's rotation, from experienced big men Dunston and [Jordan Mickey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jordan-mickey/008847/) to team-oriented players like Polonara, Dobric, Cordinier, Lundberg and [Alessandro Pajola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alessandro-pajola/006739/).

Toko Shengelia is leading Virtus Segafredo Bologna this season and earned October MVP honors.

2023-24 EuroLeague highlights: Toko Shengelia, Virtus

### Solid mid-season signings

Virtus has excelled with its mid-season signings, too . When Virtus won the 2021-22 BKT EuroCup, it landed well-rounded veterans Shengelia and Hackett who gave the team the competitiveness, experience and aggressiveness it needed to go all the way in the competition. This season, recent signings [Rihards Lomazs](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rihards-lomazs/005553/) and [Ante Zizic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ante-zizic/004554/) should only make Virtus even better. Zizic stepped in for Cacok, who suffered a season-ending injury, and it is not easy to find a player of his effectiveness, experience and talent so close to the deadline. 

Coach Banchi worked with Lomazs during the World Cup qualifyers, in which he was Latvia's leading scorer. Lomazs provides instant offense and Coach Banchi knows how to bring the best out of him. Taking the steps in the right direction to be more competitive paid off for Virtus in the past, and should pay off in 2024, too.