Name: Mike James appears on the EuroLeague & Friends podcast... with a surprise guest!
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Don’t miss your chance to see the brightest prospects in European basketball when the 2025 Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals land in Abu Dhabi. Between May 22 and 25, the 22nd edition of the NextGen Finals will take place as eight teams come together with one goal in mind: becoming the champion.

Tickets for 2025 Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals Abu Dhabi now on sale

Don’t miss your chance to see the brightest prospects in European basketball when the 2025 Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals land in Abu Dhabi. Between May 22 and 25, the 22nd edition of the NextGen Finals will take place as eight teams come together with one goal in mind: becoming the champion.

Tickets [can now be purchased here](https://abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/99199/2025-adidas-nextgen-euroleague-finals-abu-dhabi) or at [www.f4tickets.com](http://www.f4tickets.com). Day tickets are available from AED 60, while you can get a four-day pass for the entire tournament for AED 160. Scout packages are also on offer, which includes a series of benefits for international scouts.

The NextGen Finals, the world's premier club-based junior basketball event, will feature eight elite teams divided into two groups:

- Group A: Mega Super Belgrade, FC Barcelona, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and Dubai Basketball
- Group B: Pole France INSEP Paris, Real Madrid, Zalgiris Kaunas and Overtime Elite

There will be 12 group-stage games that take place over the first three days [– from Thursday, May 22, to Saturday, May 24](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/2024-25-nextgen-finals-teams-and-calendar-announced/) – will be played at the Mubadala Arena, where Sunday’s championship game between the two group winners will also be held.

See the full game schedule below:

U18 Dubai Basketball v U18 FC Barcelona (2025-05-22T06:00:00.000Z)

U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v U18 Mega Super  Belgrade (2025-05-22T08:15:00.000Z)

U18 Pole France INSEP Paris v U18 Zalgiris Kaunas (2025-05-22T10:30:00.000Z)

U18 Real Madrid v U18 Overtime Elite (2025-05-22T12:45:00.000Z)

Big Brazilian Bruno Caboclo was a force in the paint – and on the perimeter – from the day he joined Hapoel Tel Aviv

Tribute to the champs: Bruno Caboclo

Training camp was already underway when [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) announced that it had signed [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/) and it was nothing short of a "wow" moment. While Caboclo would not be the final piece to the championship puzzle, it was absolutely a building block. 

The Brazilian big was a formidable asset for Hapoel, whether taking on starring or supporting roles. As the backup to [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/), he made sure Hapoel had 40 minutes of strong center play every night. When he played alongside Motley, Hapoel had a long and versatile frontline that few could handle. And when Motley missed games, stepped up to hold down the fort.

Caboclo was Hapoel’s most productive player on [opening night](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/ec2425-rs1-report-jov-hta/) with 14 points and a PIR of 18 at Joventut Badalona. In the first game that Motley missed, Caboclo posted a double-double [against Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-stays-atop-group-a-by-downing-hapoel-90-82/). His best game of the season came [in Round 14](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/total-team-effort-was-key-to-hapoels-thrashing-of-trento/) when the big man posted 19 points and 9 boards in [an 89-68 blowout of Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-cruises-past-trento-89-68/). 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a play by <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HapoelTLVBC</a>! 😤<br><br>Bullet pass from Yam Madar for a huge dunk by Bruno Caboclo after a crafty pump fake! 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MagicMoment</a> <a href="https://t.co/26W3hZdhEI">pic.twitter.com/26W3hZdhEI</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1874930036241015207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Come the postseason, Caboclo left his mark with strong efforts in limited minutes. He missed only one postseason game – and that was the lone game Hapoel lost. Caboclo posted 5 points and 6 rebounds in the [quarterfinals victory over Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-fights-off-turk-telekom-moves-into-semifinals/). He played the entirety of the fourth quarter in the decisive [Game 3 of the semifinals against Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-found-new-go-to-guys-and-made-history/). Caboclo helped turn the tide in [Game 1 of the finals against Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-beats-gran-canaria-74-65-in-finals-opener/) with 5 second-quarter points and would total 15 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in the two-game sweep.

Over 23 EuroCup games this season, Caboclo averaged 7.4 points by making 59.0% of his two-pointers and 39.0% of his threes. He added 3.7 blocks, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks in 17:19 minutes per game. Hapoel could not have turned in such a spectacular season without him.

The big Brazilian was a force in the paint – and on the perimeter – from the day he joined Hapoel

Tribute to the Champs: Bruno Caboclo

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans are going to be in for a treat in Abu Dhabi, with the FanZone acting as the perfect accompaniment to all the Final Four action. 

The Final Four is not a Final Four without its FanZone!

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans are going to be in for a treat in Abu Dhabi, with the FanZone acting as the perfect accompaniment to all the Final Four action. Taking place at The Galleria Al Maryah Island - South Bridge Link between May 23 and 25 from 10am to 10pm local time, the FanZone will be full of entertainment for fans of all ages to enjoy.

This year’s FanZone brings the excitement of the game beyond the court, with three dynamic zones packed with interactive fun. From testing your shot on electronic hoops to comparing your hand size to EuroLeague stars and reliving the most iconic plays from the past 25 years, there's something for everyone. Ever wondered how your height stacks up to your favorite player? Now’s your chance to find out!

Many of Euroleague Basketball’s family of sponsors will be involved in the FanZone festivities, too, as they help bring their own unique flavor to the celebration.

Turkish Airlines will be on hand to deliver immersive experiences and activations that transport them to new heights, while BKT invites attendees to pose with the official EuroLeague Trophy and test their skills on custom arcade games. Motorola amps up the energy with tech-infused excitement, offering interactive games and gadget showcases that blend innovation with entertainment.

For collectors, Panini is a must-visit. Here, fans can grab the latest stickers and cards while trading with fellow enthusiasts. CFI adds a competitive edge with its Trading Court, as it combines financial education with prize-winning excitement. Meanwhile, Trendyol brings creativity to the forefront by connecting fans to EuroLeague Final Four players in a fun and engaging way.

Of course, no fan experience would be complete without the chance to gear up. The Official Final Four Merchandise stand will be stocked with iconic T-shirts, team gear, and more.

The fun doesn’t stop there! The FanZone will be buzzing with activities throughout the weekend. A live DJ will keep the energy high with music all day long. Face painting stations will be available on game days for fans of all ages, while dance performances will light up the stage. Multiple basketball zones will feature spectator challenges, prizes, and non-stop action.

Don’t miss your chance to meet the stars, too. Throughout the weekend, fans can look forward to special appearances from current Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four players, as well as All-25 EuroLeague team members and legendary players from across the last 25 years.

Whether you’re a lifelong EuroLeague follower or new to the game, the FanZone is for you. See you there!

Challenges, music and prizes are awaiting you at the FanZone between May 23 and 25 at The Galleria Al Maryah Island

It almost seemed like Taylen Kinney couldn’t help himself from saying it. His catchphrase. The two numbers that turned the talented Overtime Elite point guard into a certified social media sensation.

Two numbers turn OTE star guard Taylen Kinney into social media star

It almost seemed like Taylen Kinney couldn’t help himself from saying it. His catchphrase. The two numbers that turned the talented Overtime Elite point guard into a certified social media sensation.

The 17-year-old was asked how much older his basketball-playing brothers were than him, and there he goes: “They’re about 6-7 years older than me.” Rocking his hands back and forth as followers of his have seen millions of times.

That’s because over the course of his first season at OTE, Kinney jumped from about 60 thousand followers on social media platforms to over 1 million. One mention of “6-7” after the next. Even young children wanting to give their best impression of his “6-7”.

Looking back on the sudden surge in popularity, Kinney admits: “I got lost in it throughout the season because it was so much. For me as a kid, I just wanted to play basketball. I just happened to say two numbers and blew up. It’s crazy.”

He continued: “I felt like there was a lot of pressure on me. All of the kids hyping me up and stuff. I wasn’t expecting all this stuff to happen. I was just a kid.”

<center>
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It wasn’t like Kinney didn’t have the game to back up the brighter spotlight.

The lightning quick, strong ball-handling playmaker was selected to participate last summer at the Adidas Euro Camp in Treviso, Italy, where former NBA veteran star Jason Terry was his coach and James Harden was also on hand.

“I learned a lot playing against pros and older guys,” he said. “It was great having coaches with a lot of experience and they could talk about their time in the league \[the NBA\].”

Just more than a week later, Kinney answered the call from USA Basketball for the first time, participating in the training camp for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024. And he got to go up against some of the best young stars in the country such as AJ Dybantsa, the Boozer twin brothers Cameron and Cayden, as well Koa Peat, Tyran Stokes and others.

“It was fun going against those guys,” Kinney said. And when asked what he learned, he added: “In order to be great you gotta be vocal, gotta be perfect in all aspects of the game, defense, offense, teammates, leader.”

Kinney ended up not making the final team that went to Istanbul last summer and stormed to the title. But he stored it in his memory bank.

“It motivated me a lot. But it showed me to just keep working and working and make the next team.”

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Kinney then in September was chosen as the number one pick in the first-year player draft at OTE for the 2024-25 season. And in the end, “TK” – as he is more commonly known – was a finalist for OTE’s Most Valuable Player of the season.

OTE is a big jump up for Kinney, who helped the Newport Wildcats to back-to-back ninth regional title in 2023 and 2024. He mentioned the level of competition as the main reason for leaving the Kentucky high school for OTE.

“I wanted to get to the NBA and I just thought it would help me a lot playing against those top guys every day,” he said.

Kinney also valued greatly how much access he had to the OTE gyms in Atlanta and the coaching staff and trainers in the program.

Another precious opportunity OTE provides is to travel to Abu Dhabi for the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals – the second time the organization is competing in the competition.

When asked what he expects from the event, Kinney answered: “Good players, very tough competition. Playing against players I don’t usually get to play against – guys who are not in the mix in the States.”

And while Kinney has not made his way to Abu Dhabi yet, he shouldn’t be shocked if there are kids there who already know his signature saying and you hear the odd youngster call out to him: “6-7”.

He has the game – and catchphrase – of an internet sensation (PHOTO: Overtime Elite)

U18 Overtime Elite v U18 Pole France INSEP Paris (2025-05-23T12:45:00.000Z)

U18 Zalgiris Kaunas v U18 Overtime Elite (2025-05-24T12:45:00.000Z)

Javier Gancedo makes his picks for which why Saben Lee, Jordan Loyd, Nicolo Melli and Jerian Grant might be the biggest difference makers at the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi

Who might be an X-factor at the Final Four?

When it comes to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four, the unexpected has almost become expected. Over the years, many role players have taken on key roles and surprised opponents and casual fans alike to become difference-makers at Final Fours. Why should the 2025 Final Four in Abu Dhabi be an exception? Before I examine who those X-factors might be this year, let's take a look back at recent Final Fours.

### Sleepers: A look back

You only need to check the list of champions to find who, against all odds, helped lead their teams to the title. Maccabi Tel Aviv fans probably remember [Nestoras Kommatos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nestoras-kommatos/jgk/)'s iconic performance in the 2005 championship game against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and how [Aleksey Savrasenko](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/aleksey-savrasenko/alr/) surprised their team a year later as CSKA Moscow claimed the 2006 crown. [Fabien Causeur](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/fabien-causeur/001392/) may be the king of all Final Four sleepers; he played a big role for Real Madrid at the 2018 and 2023 Final Fours. Causeur had 17 points and a PIR of 21 in the 2018 championship game against Fenerbahce Istanbul and - despite averaging 4.0 points in the 2022-23 campaign, he scored 11 points in the 2023 final against Olympiacos Piraeus.

Last season, [Panagiotis Kalaitzakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/panagiotis-kalaitzakis/011209/) gave Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens the energy it needed in both the semifinals and the final to average a PIR of 6.5 in barely 7 minutes per night. In 2022, [Tibor Pleiss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tibor-pleiss/lhk/) had an iconic performance to lead Anadolu Efes Istanbul to a 57-58 win over Real Madrid: 19 points and 7 rebounds for a PIR of 24. Even when [Vasilije Micic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vasilije-micic/002580/) and [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) got all the credit in the [2021 championship game](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-wins-its-first-euroleague-crown/), [Adrian Moerman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/adrien-moerman/001833/) took care of all the dirty work, amassing 6 points and 8 boards for a PIR of 12. Whenever a team wins the EuroLeague, there is always an unsung hero. Here are four players I will have my eye on in Abu Dhabi.

Adrian Moerman took care of the dirty work in the 2021 championship game

### Saben Lee, Olympiacos Piraeus

It has been a rollercoaster season for [Saben Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saben-lee/013389/); he started it with Turkish side Manisa Basket, made [a stunning EuroLeague debut with Maccabi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/saben-lee-announced-himself-to-the-euroleague-with-stellar-maccabi-debut/) that included poster dunks and even a game-winner against Real Madrid, returned to Manisa only to join Olympiacos a little later. Energy guys are a must to succeed in the Final Four, plus Lee has been playing better lately. Lee averaged 5.2 points and a PIR of 7.9 in the playoffs series against Real despite playing less than 12 minutes per game. If Olympiacos goes all the way, Lee would put an incredible end to one of the most eventful seasons any player ever had in the competition.

Saben Lee of Olympiacos Piraeus has a chance to win the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title in his first season in the competition.

2024-25 EuroLeague highlights: Saben Lee, Olympiacos

### Nicolo Melli, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

[Nicolo Melli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolo-melli/002849/) knows what it takes to do well at the Final Four, even though he's never lifted the trophy. In 2018, he posted 28 points and 6 rebounds for a PIR of 27 in the championship game against Real Madrid. Seven years later, Melli is still a reliable scorer and a key player in Fenerbahce's frontcourt defense. He is one of many seasoned Fenerbahce veterans looking to win their first EuroLeague title after many years in the competition. A fierce competitor, Melli should be ready to bring out his best as a rock-solid defender who can score from anywhere and use his off-the-charts basketball IQ to take care of the important small details. 

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul big man Nicolo Melli is trying to win his first Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title at the 2025 Final Four.

2024-25 EuroLeague highlights: Nicolo Melli, Fenerbahce

### Jerian Grant, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

Though eyes will be on other players, [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jerian-grant/011204/) always seems to get the job done. He scored only 3 points in [Game 1 of the playoffs](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-beats-efes-87-83-in-game-1/), but hit the game-clinching corner three-pointer in the final minute. [In the do-or-die Game 5](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-downs-efes-in-game-5-75-67-to-reach-final-four/), he made the difference with 11 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals. Grant always takes on a critical role on defense and he brings experience from last year's Final Four. [He was all over the place in the 2024 championship game](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-euroleague-final-four-panathinaikos-jerian-grant-was-an-unsung-hero-of-the-championship-effort/) with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals against Real Madrid. In big games, Grant can fix almost any problem Coach Ataman may have.

In two years, Jerian Grant earned 2022-23 BKT EuroCup MVP honors and helped Panathinaikos to win 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, the club's first continental crown in 13 years. Grant wants more in Abu Dhabi.

2024-25 EuroLeague highlights: Jerian Grant, Panathinaikos

### Jordan Loyd, AS Monaco

[Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/) is an experienced player who should find his groove in Abu Dhabi. And when he is in good rhythm, he can be just as deadly a scorer as any of his backcourt teammates, whether looking for his own shots off the dribble or coming off screens to use his quick release. Loyd should be ready to bounce back after the playoffs (4.6 ppg., 22.2% 2FG, 30.8% 3FG). A veteran of six EuroLeague seasons, this is Loyd's best shot to win the EuroLeague and he will be sure to make the most of it.

AS Monaco guard Jordan Loyd earned another shot to lift the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague trophy at the end of the season.

2024-25 EuroLeague highlights: Jordan Loyd, Monaco

Javier Gancedo makes his picks for which unheralded players might be the biggest difference makers in Abu Dhabi

Olympiacos Piraeus v AS Monaco (2025-05-23T18:00:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-05-23T15:00:00.000Z)

In the lead-up to the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi, AS Monaco star Mike James joined the EuroLeague & Friends podcast at the club's pre-Final Four Media Day. There was a surprise, too, as Olympiacos Piraeus forward Sasha Vezenkov briefly joined the podcast!

Mike James appears on the EuroLeague & Friends podcast... with a surprise guest!

In the lead-up to the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi, [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) star [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) joined the EuroLeague & Friends podcast at the club's pre-Final Four Media Day. There was a surprise, too, as [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) forward [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) briefly joined the podcast!

James discussed what it has been like to have Vassilis Spanoulis as head coach, inviting friends to the Final Four, the upcoming semifinal against Olympiacos, going up against Thomas Walkup, plus much more.

What can we learn about the semifinals from the duels between Fenerbahce Beko and Panathinaikos BC or the clashes between Olympiacos BC and AS Monaco? 

Examining regular-season matchups to understand the semifinals

Thanks to the league format of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, no teams can meet in the postseason without having previously butted heads twice in the regular season. What can we learn about the semifinals from the duels between [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul-panathinaikos-aktor-athens/E2024/328/) or the clashes between [Olympiacos Piraeus and AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/olympiacos-piraeus-as-monaco/E2024/327/)? Below is just some of the data that is useful to know ahead of the games on Friday, May 23.

### Fenerbahce vs. Panathinaikos

The Greens are 4-1 against Fenerbahce in the Ergin Ataman era with wins in the last four games. This season, those victories were [a 76-81 road win in Round 5](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-roars-back-for-a-thrilling-76-81-win-at-fenerbahce/) and [a 91-90 thriller in Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-edges-fenerbahce-91-90-in-a-titanic-tussle/) in Round 25 in February. [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) was Panathinaikos’s best weapon against Fener this season with 13 points on near-perfect shooting and 3 assists for a PIR of 20 in less than 20 minutes in the first meeting and 23 points in the second clash.

Fenerbahce star [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/)’s two games against Panathinaikos could not have been more different. In the first, he scored a season-low 3 points and had a PIR of negative-4. It was one of six games in his three seasons with Fener in which Hayes-Davis had a negative PIR. Two of those came against Panathinaikos. The next time they met, he was back to his old self with 21 points and 9 boards for a PIR of 26.

The rosters also underwent changes between the two meetings. Panathinaikos centers [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) and [Omer Yurtseven](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/omer-yurtseven/005353/) combined for 26 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks against Fener in October. Neither played in February. [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/), who was a non-factor for the Greens in Round 5 (2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 PIR in 28 minutes) was a major factor in Round 25 with 15 points and 8 boards for a PIR of 20.

Fenerbahce's second-best scorer in both games against Panathinaikos was a guard who did not play in the other game. The first time it was [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) with 14 points and 4 assists, but an injury kept him from playing in the rematch. [Errick McCollum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/errick-mccollum/005216/), who was not yet with the club in their first Panathinaikos encounter, poured in 18 in the second. With both healthy for the semifinal, the Fenerbahce backcourt is that much stronger.

When it comes to team numbers, very little has separated these teams. For instance, they were nearly identical on the boards (Fenerbahce took 1 rebound more than Panathinaikos over the two games). Where they were different was in turnovers and outside shooting. Fenerbahce’s 13.5 turnovers per game against Panathinaikos were 4.0 more than the Greens committed. However, Fenerbahce made up for that by bagging 25 of 61 three-pointers (40.9%), while Panathinaikos made only 18, though at slightly better accuracy (41.9%).

### Olympiacos vs. Monaco

Olympiacos and Monaco split their two regular-season meetings this season, with each triumphing on the road. The Reds raced to [an 80-89 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-sinks-monaco-80-89-handing-spanoulis-first-defeat/) in Round 13 before Monaco claimed [a 77-80 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/spanouliss-monaco-downs-olympiacos-77-80/) at Peace & Friendship Stadium in Round 32. The stars did not disappoint in either encounter, though it is worth noting that [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/), the [EuroLeague's all-time leading scorer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/mike-james-becomes-the-euroleague-all-time-leading-scorer/), did most of his damage as a passer.

James dished a dozen assists in both games against Olympiacos, while scoring 10 in the first encounter and 11 in the second. The Olympiacos defense held James to 40% shooting on two-pointers and 30% on threes. Monaco's best scorer against Olympiacos this season has been [Jaron Blossomgame](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jaron-blossomgame/011231/) with 30 points between the two games, including a career-high 18 in Round 32. [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/) scored 21 in Round 13.

[Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) was his rock-solid self against Monaco with averages of 17.5 points, 6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2 steals in the two games. In the game at Monaco, [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) and [Shaquielle McKissic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shaquielle-mckissic/007853/) combined for 37 points, but they accounted for just 13 in the home leg, in which [Alec Peters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alec-peters/008829/) scored 15.

Olympiacos outrebounded Monaco by an average of 6 rebounds per game, though both teams played without complete frontcourts at times and should be deeper in Abu Dhabi. Foul shooting had an impact on the results in both games. Monaco shot only 4 times from the charity stripe – and made only 2 – in the game that it lost and Olympiacos was an abysmal 19 for 33 (57.6%) when it lost as five players missed multiple free throws.

Could foul shooting be what decided the outcome of this game? Will it be a strong shooting night from Mike James? Or a moment of brilliance from Sasha Vezenkov? Or someone unexpected stepping up? I know you can’t wait to find out!

Let’s see what we can learn from the games the semifinalists played against each other this season

It will go down as one of the biggest shots in BKT EuroCup history - and certainly the shot that wrote a golden chapter in the annals of [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) history. In Game 3 of the best-of-three semifinals, on the road against Valencia Basket, [Marcus Foster](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marcus-foster/010386/) pulled up from mid-range and nailed the go-ahead jumper with 2.7 seconds remaining to lift Hapoel to [a 92-94 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-upsets-valencia-to-reach-the-finals-92-94/) that sent the team to the EuroCup Finals.

Even though there were two games remaining, both of which Hapoel won in convincing fashion to win the trophy, Foster’s shot was the cherry on top of a series of masterful performances in the quarterfinals and semifinals that made all the difference for Hapoel.

After averaging 13.2 points in the regular season, Foster scored 21 points in the one-and-done [quarterfinals against Turk Telekom](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-fights-off-turk-telekom-moves-into-semifinals/) and then 20 points in [the opening game of the semifinals](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/valencia-outlasts-hapoel-at-home-91-82/) and 22 points in Game 3. He is one of three Hapoel players who played in each of the team's 24 games this season and he led the team in [total minutes with 577](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/statistics/hta/?season=2024-25&phase=All%20phases&statistic=minutesPlayed&sortDirection=descending#accumulated). Foster finished the season ranked third on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg.) and shot 42.6% from three-point range.

Foster was a key cog in Hapoel’s EuroCup journey and now can be proud to be known as a EuroCup champion.

No one played more minutes this season for Hapoel than Foster, who was third on the team in scoring

Tribute to the Champs: Marcus Foster

The mid-season signings who helped their teams reach the Final Four

Sometimes adding a player to the roster mid-season can be the difference between a team achieving its goals or falling just short. Ahead of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four, all four clubs – [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/), [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/), [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) and [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) – signed at least one player during the regular season, with four of these individuals set to play important roles in Abu Dhabi.

In terms of name and prestige, Monaco beating out competition from both sides of the Atlantic to sign [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) in mid-February has to go down as a master stroke. Overnight, coach Vassilis Spanoulis saw his team go from a side that could maybe reach the Final Four to potential title contenders.

Theis, who is averaging 12.2 points and a team-high 5.4 rebounds entering the Final Four, played the final eight regular-season games before appearing in all five games against FC Barcelona in the playoffs. With 452 NBA games under his belt, the 33-year-old won’t be overawed by playing at the Final Four and will be eager to leave his mark as Monaco goes in search of its first EuroLeague championship.

<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DI0jSfDM4VY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DI0jSfDM4VY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DI0jSfDM4VY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Daniel Theis (@dtheis10)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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Another player who will be feeling confident ahead of his first Final Four is [Errick McCollum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/errick-mccollum/005216/), who joined Fenerbahce in early January. The veteran guard is in his 15th season overseas and, even at 37, remains a source of instant offense for Fenerbahce. He arrived at a time when the team was suffering with plenty of injuries, but he settled in immediately and heads into the Final Four as the team’s second leading scorer (11.5 ppg.).

McCollum was initially brought in to cover for injuries to Wade Baldwin and Scottie Wilbekin, but with Baldwin available since Round 27, Fenerbahce has a 1-2 punch at the guard positions that will cause plenty of headaches for defending champ Panathinaikos in the semifinals. A 2016 BKT EuroCup champion with Galatasaray, McCollum will be determined to add a EuroLeague championship to his résumé in Abu Dhabi.

<center>
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Speaking of the Greens, the broken fibula suffered by Mathias Lessort in Round 17 could have thrown their season into disarray. Eventual MVP Kendrick Nunn took his game to another level, but at center Panathinaikos was light – and even more so when Omer Yurtseven (who has now returned) went down. [As he revealed on the EuroLeague & Friends podcast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7reD5qyjQ34&list=PLXcjy-GNBj1yVF3i2kWIseta5qBjEJSmP&index=2), Nunn quickly spoke with management to recommend his former teammate from the Los Angeles Lakers, [Wenyen Gabriel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wenyen-gabriel/013383/), and a few days later – on December 23 – he was at OAKA.

Gabriel blocked 5 shots on his Panathinaikos debut in Round 18 and went on to finish the regular season with averages of 7.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 17 games. While the South Sudan international struggled to make an impact in the first four games of Panathinaikos’s playoff series with Anadolu Efes Istanbul, he stepped up in the win-or-go-home Game 5 with 8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block to help book the Greens’ passage to the Final Four.

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Just south of Athens, [Saben Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saben-lee/013389/) landed at Olympiacos minutes before the transfer deadline on February 26. It has been quite the debut season in Europe for Lee. After creating shockwaves with Turkish side Manisa Basket, he got a shot with EuroLeague side Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, where he played eight times and made several highlight reels. He soon returned to Manisa, but a call from Olympiacos – and a contract until 2027 – saw him join the Reds.

Working his way into coach Georgios Bartzokas’s well-oiled machine on the fly has been a difficult task, but there have been reasons for optimism in his 11 appearances, including good minutes in the playoffs against Real Madrid, posting 5.2 PPG, 1.5 RPG and a 7.2 PIR. Even if Lee is more a signing for the future, he has the chance to emerge and make a real name for himself at the Final Four.

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The fight for the EuroLeague title begins with the semifinals on May 23 and will end with the championship game on May 25. Perhaps after the title decider, fans will look back fondly on the impact one of these mid-season signings made in Abu Dhabi.

These four players made a significant impact after joining during the regular season

Ahead of the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi, Olympiacos BC star Sasha Vezenkov appeared on the EuroLeague & Friends podcast at the Reds' Media Day. 

Playoffs MVP Sasha Vezenkov joins the pre-Final Four EuroLeague & Friends podcast

Ahead of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi, [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) star [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) – the first-ever winner of the Playoffs MVP trophy – appeared on the EuroLeague & Friends podcast at the Reds' Media Day. 

Vezenkov discussed being named the Playoffs MVP, his family and friends who will be coming to Abu Dhabi, the upcoming semifinal matchup with AS Monaco, the possibility of a first all-Greek final, plus much more.

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to welcome KTL Sports Flooring to its family of partners as the official supplier of basketball courts for the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi.

KTL is the official court supplier of the 2025 Final Four

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to welcome KTL Sports Flooring to its family of partners as the official supplier of basketball courts for the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi. Like everything else at the Final Four, the court that the players compete on will be world-class, both for the games at Etihad Arena and the NextGen EuroLeague competition at Mubadala Arena. 

KTL is a manufacturer of high-end wooden sports flooring, which EuroLeague players have already played many games on. KTL floors are used by EuroLeague clubs Real Madrid and Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz as well as by BKT EuroCup power Valencia Basket.

These wooden courts incorporate remarkable innovation. All the graphics, lines and paint are factory printed using laser techniques under the layers of sports UV lacquer, allowing the display of graphics never before seen on a traditional wooden court. KTL's innovation also brings added value in terms of player safety by eliminating friction variations between logos, perimeters and the rest of the court. 

KTL's state-of-the-art courts are certain to upgrade the viewing experience for fans both in the stands at Etihad Arena and at home and will enable some surprises that have yet to be unveiled. 

Zalgiris Kaunas has announced that forward Arnas Butkevicius has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2027.

Arnas Butkevicius pens new deal at Zalgiris until 2027

[Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/zal/) has announced that forward [Arnas Butkevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/arnas-butkevicius/002676/) has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2027.

Butkevicius has spent the last three seasons with Zalgiris, playing 92 times for the club in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague over that period. In 33 appearances in the 2024-25 campaign, the 32-year-old averaged 4.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steal per game.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New deal locked in! Zalgiris and Arnas Butkevicius have agreed on a new contract valid until the end of the 2026–2027 season. ✍️ <a href="https://t.co/9hAVPTBctc">pic.twitter.com/9hAVPTBctc</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1922285424493355167?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In addition to his three years of EuroLeague experience with Zalgiris, Butkevicius also appeared in the competition in the 2014-15 season with Neptunas Klaipeda. That same year, he played for Neptunas in the BKT EuroCup, and then again in the 2015-16 campaign. Between 2017 and 2020, Butkevicius suited up for Rytas Vilnius in the EuroCup.

More Zalgiris News

The do-it-all forward will remain at the club for a further two years

The saying goes: In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. But in order for that to happen, you first have to see and face the best. And U18 Dubai Basketball believes facing Europe’s best teams at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals will serve as an inspiration for the country’s future generations. 

NextGen Finals to inspire future generations in United Arab Emirates

The saying goes: In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. But in order for that to happen, you first have to see and face the best. And [U18 Dubai Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-dubai-basketball/jdu/) believes facing Europe’s best teams at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals will serve as an inspiration for the country’s future generations.

Dubai received one of the wild cards for the NextGen EuroLeague Finals after it participated in the competition for the second straight season. And Petros Krasopoulos, the general manager of Dubai Basketball’s youth program, is thrilled to give his youngsters and the emerging basketball community in Abu Dhabi – and the rest of the United Arab Emirates – a chance to witness some of the best players on the globe.

“For the kids coming through Dubai Basketball’s academy and other young players across the UAE, seeing a team from Dubai competing in the NextGen EuroLeague has been a massive source of inspiration,” said Krasopoulos, a Greek native who has been with the club since 2015. “It makes professional basketball an achievable feat – highlighting that there’s a clear pathway from playing the game here locally to stepping onto the court against some of the biggest youth teams in Europe.

“Being selected for the NextGen Finals is a historic milestone for UAE youth basketball and a unique opportunity for Dubai Basketball to gain valuable experience, especially for our top talents born in 2010.”

The country in general will experience a landmark moment in the next couple of weeks, with the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four taking place between May 23 and 25, while the NextGen Finals will be played between May 22 and May 25.

“Having both the EuroLeague Final Four and the NextGen Finals in Abu Dhabi puts the country firmly on the global basketball map. For fans here, it’s a rare chance to witness the highest level of the game live. And for young players, it shows them what’s possible,” Krasopoulos said.

"For Dubai specifically, it brings attention to what’s already happening here with Dubai Basketball, and hopefully it inspires more people to engage with the sport – whether that’s by picking up a ball or coming to support our team. It all feeds into the bigger goal of building a lasting basketball culture in the region.”

Dubai Basketball’s official youth program, The Falcons Academy, has been operational for over a decade now and has been a major contributor to the success of Dubai Basketball. Starting with just three students in 2014, the academy now consists of 500 youngsters aged 3 to 18, indicating the momentum of the sport in the Middle East.

“We are determined to build a passion for basketball from within the community, instilling a love for the sport from a young age,” said Krasopoulos, who moved into the position of the club’s sports director and coached the U18 team the last two years.

“The UAE is on track to being a global hub for basketball, and Dubai Basketball is a key contributor to the cause. We still have a long way to go to support and build a culture of basketball in the country, but the response we have been receiving from the public has been nothing but resoundingly positive.”

The Falcons Academy comprises mostly of expats, just like the population of the country. But Krasopoulos and the other leaders of the club are working to change that.

“We are tasked with the job of inciting an interest in basketball with the local population, and this begins at a grassroots level,” he said. “We’re laying the structure now to ensure Emirate talent is a strong part of our future.”

In addition to the NextGen EuroLeague Ulm event, the club’s youth team has been competing this season in the U19 ABA League against the best teams from the Adriatic region and domestic leagues such as the Dubai Open Basketball Academy and Ball Above All. And the youth team will also compete starting in 2026 as Dubai Basketball in the UAE National League.

This was actually the second time the club participated in the NextGen EuroLeague, having previously hosted one of the qualifiers in the 2023-24 season. And the academy actually picked up a victory, beating eventual first-place finisher U18 ratiopharm Ulm 80-73.

Krasopoulos knows his young team will face a major test in the NextGen Finals as they are in Group A along with 2022 continental champion [U18 Mega Super Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-mega-super--belgrade/jmv/), the 2016 winner [U18 FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-fc-barcelona/jba/) and Italian powerhouse [U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-ea7-emporio-armani-milan/jmi/).

“Milan, Mega and Barcelona are great teams and represent countries that have a legacy of producing amazing talent. The teams have proved their level over the years and bring to Abu Dhabi a great deal of experience. We anticipate some tough games, but we are prepared and look forward to some great competition and proving the level we bring here at Dubai Basketball,” Krasopoulos said.

The fans in Dubai have seen some pretty high quality basketball at the senior level this season as Dubai Basketball is competing for the first time in the ABA League, a competition which includes EuroLeague teams Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, BKT EuroCup clubs Buducnost VOLI Podgorica and Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, as well as strong sides such as SC Derby Podgorica, KK Igokea and Mega Super Belgrade.

Dubai finished the ABA League regular season with an impressive 25-5 record, including a 13-2 mark at home, after Jurica Golemac's squad went on a 13-game winning streak to lock up the third seed entering the playoffs. After Game 1 of the playoffs, Dubai holds a 1-0 lead in its series with Cedevita Olimpija.

“It’s huge for us. Having these elite teams from the ABA League come to Dubai is a massive step, not just for our club, but for the basketball scene here as a whole. We're talking about some of the most respected teams in European basketball – with strong legacies, passionate fanbases, and world-class talent,” Krasopoulos said.

“For our players, it’s an opportunity to measure themselves against the best. And for the fans, it’s a chance to experience top-tier basketball up close, maybe for the first time. It raises the bar and puts Dubai Basketball in the spotlight. It reinforces what we’re trying to build – a team that belongs on an international stage. This kind of exposure is only going to help us reach more fans around the world and inspire the next generation to get involved.”

And the EuroLeague Final Four and NextGen Finals will also do their part in terms of inspiration.

Abu Dhabi will become the center of the basketball world for the EuroLeague Final Four and NextGen Finals

U18 Mega Super  Belgrade v U18 Dubai Basketball (2025-05-23T06:00:00.000Z)

U18 Dubai Basketball v U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-05-24T06:00:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket has confirmed that captain Josep Puerto has renewed his contract at the club for a further two years, taking his deal up until the summer of 2027.

Josep Puerto renews at Valencia until 2027

[Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/pam/) has confirmed that captain [Josep Puerto](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/josep-puerto/006643/) has renewed his contract at the club for a further two years, taking his deal up until the summer of 2027.

Puerto is currently in his ninth season in Valencia's first team and this is his first campaign as captain.

During the 2024-25 season, the 26-year-old posted 7.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and a 7.8 PIR as his side reached the BKT EuroCup Semifinals.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">🥖 Continuarem tenint l&#39;Almussafes en carta fins a 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣7⃣<br><br>🔐🧡 Josep Puerto<br> <br>Cas 👉 Josep Puerto prolonga su vinculación con Valencia Basket hasta 2027<a href="https://t.co/AexMZ4Y15a">https://t.co/AexMZ4Y15a</a><br><br>Val 👉 Josep Puerto prolonga la seua vinculació amb Valencia Basket fins a 2027… <a href="https://t.co/imBjzomjWe">pic.twitter.com/imBjzomjWe</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1922233632711987659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

To date, Puerto has spent four years in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (2017-18, 2020-21, 2022-23, 2023-24) and four seasons in the EuroCup (2015-16, 2016-17, 2021-22, 2024-25), although he only made one appearance in each of the 2015-16 and 2016-17 campaigns.

More Valencia News

He is currently in his ninth season in Las Taronjas' first team

A simple peak at the 2024-25 statistics might suggest that veteran forward Oz Blayzer had a sporadic and a minimal role in Hapoel Shlomo’s Tel Aviv's BKT EuroCup-winning season. 

Tribute to the Champs: Oz Blayzer

A simple peak at the 2024-25 statistics might suggest that veteran forward [Oz Blayzer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/oz-blayzer/009877/) had a sporadic and a minimal role in [Hapoel Shlomo’s Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/)'s BKT EuroCup-winning season. And his 16 appearances off the bench might strongly suggest so. Blayzer averaged 7:12 minutes per game this season, totaling 24 points and 19 rebounds. However, little do we know that without Blayzer, Hapoel might not have gone all the way.

Starting with Round 6, Blayzer appeared in all but one of the remaining regular-season games, and his most productive appearance was during 18 minutes in a 23-point road win against eventual EuroCup finalist Dreamland Gran Canaria. He had season highs with 5 points and 4 rebounds that night. Blayzer was a dependant role player for coach Dimitris Itoudis, happy to fill in any minutes and seconds needed.

But in a one-and-done quarterfinal tie against a dangerous Turk Telekom Ankara, Blayzer was asked to do something he has not done during the entire season – to step up in a close game. With a first-half injury to team captain Tomer Ginat, it was Blayzer’s number that was called. He spent 17 minutes on the floor, including seven minutes in the fourth quarter, and had a significant defensive contribution. It is hard to imagine how Hapoel, without the help of Blayzer, could have held Turk Telekom to just 5 points in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, build a double-digit lead and hold on to it until the end.

Blayzer became an unsung hero, and a shining example of Hapoel’s team unity and the importance of a 12-man roster. Thanks to that, the 32-year-old Blayzer and Hapoel can call themselves EuroCup champions.

Tribute to the Champs

All four teams heading to Abu Dhabi have EuroLeague Final Four newcomers on their rosters. Here’s a breakdown of them with a focus on those players most likely to leave their marks. 

What can we expect from the Final Four newcomers?

From now until the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four tips off at Etihad Arena on Friday, May 23, you will hear plenty about Final Four experience. But what about those new to the Final Four? What impact can they have?

Just last season, [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) was tied for the Final Four lead in rebounds (16 total) and ranked second in PIR (42) while teammate [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) was third in scoring (35 points) to help [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) take the crown. It was the first Final Four for both. Another Final Four rookie, [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jerian-grant/011204/), was every bit as impactful for Panathinaikos with averages of 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in the games in Berlin.

[Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) needed no introduction to the Final Four. He was smashing records with Anadolu Efes Istanbul as he tallied 30 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists for a PIR of 43 in his first game at the 2019 event in Vitoria-Gasteiz. [Vassilis Spanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vassilis-spanoulis/juo/) (2009 with Panathinaikos), [Tyrese Rice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyrese-rice/003367/) (2014 with Maccabi Tel Aviv) and [Andres Nocioni](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/andres-nocioni/apr/) (2015 with Real Madrid) were all Final Four MVPs in their first time at the end-of-season extravaganza.

All four teams heading to Abu Dhabi have Final Four newcomers on their rosters. Here’s a breakdown of them with a focus on those players most likely to leave their marks.

### Olympiacos Piraeus

The Reds have three members of their senior roster who are heading to their first Final Four. Two of them – [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) and [Saben Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saben-lee/013389/) – are completing their first EuroLeague campaign, while the third, [Keenan Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/keenan-evans/011218/), has not played yet this season due to a knee injury.

Evans would be the best Hollywood script. Olympiacos signed him to a multi-year deal last summer after he was originally hurt with his previous team, Zalgiris Kaunas, banking on him becoming a difference-maker after his return. But the recovery took longer than expected and even though he has returned to practice, it does not appear likely that Evans will play in Abu Dhabi, let alone make an impact.

Lee is Olympiacos’s best bet for instant offense off the bench. A midseason signing who poured in points for Maccabi in his first eight games and for Manisa Basket in Turkiye, Lee’s first year in Europe has been an eventful one. His ability to heat up and change games could prove critical at the Final Four.

Olympiacos guard Saben Lee.

If the exercise is to find the newcomer most likely to leave a mark in Abu Dhabi, for Olympiacos the answer is clearly Fournier. The swingman is second on the team in scoring and, after a dozen seasons in the NBA, during which he went to the playoffs four times, Fournier should be ready to shine under the bright lights for the Reds.

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

No fewer than six Fenerbahce players and four members of its backcourt could make their Final Four debuts this season. And several of them will have big roles.

Let’s start with [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/), who leads the team in assists (3.7 apg.) and is third in scoring (11.1 ppg.). Baldwin missed a dozen games in this campaign, his first with Fenerbahce, and that in some ways limited his impact after he was an All-EuroLeague selection in each of the previous two seasons with Maccabi. While this may be his first Final Four, Baldwin has starred under the pressure of the playoffs before, including a 27-point, 7-assist masterpiece in a Game 5 loss with Maccabi at AS Monaco two years ago. Baldwin can be counted on as a go-to guy in Abu Dhabi.

[Errick McCollum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/errick-mccollum/005216/) joined Fenerbahce during the season and has become a steadying force off the bench. At age 37, the former EuroCup champion and MVP marches into the Final Four comfortable in his role. The newcomer stigma should not apply to McCollum here at all.

[Devon Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devon-hall/011205/) has been a part-time starter this season and raised his scoring and PIR in the playoffs. While he has been impactful, especially on the defensive end, Hall has never been a player who posts big numbers and that is unlikely to change at this Final Four. [Arturs Zagars](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/arturs-zagars/008104/) did not feature at all in the playoffs and – barring something unexpected – should not have a role in Abu Dhabi.

Fenerbahce guard Devon Hall.

In the frontcourt, the newcomers are forward [Bonzie Colson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bonzie-colson/009783/) and center [Jilson Bango](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jilson-bango/013696/). Colson is one of only two Fenerbahce players to appear in every game and his never-ending hustle has a way of popping up in big games. Bango is behind [Khem Birch](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/khem-birch/007182/) and [Sertac Sanli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sertac-sanli/002968/) on the depth chart, which limits his upside at the Final Four.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

As the defending champs, it is only natural that the majority of Panathinaikos's roster has Final Four experience. Nevertheless, there are a few set to debut at the event this season. [Cedi Osman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/cedi-osman/004088/) is the premier member of the Greens’ roster without prior Final Four experience and after he set and then re-set his EuroLeague scoring highs in Games 4 and 5 of the playoffs with 22 and 28 points, respectively, all signs point to Osman being a difference-maker again.

[Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/)'s role has dwindled over the season and he did not appear at all in the fifth and final game of the playoffs. That said, the 34-year-old playmaker has a history of stepping up in big moments, like he did last season for Maccabi with 29 points in the Play-In Showdown and a key role in the playoffs. If needed, Brown could be a surprise in Abu Dhabi.

The only EuroLeague rookie on the Panathinaikos roster is [Wenyen Gabriel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wenyen-gabriel/013383/), who joined the club midseason from Maccabi. Not a player known for his offensive impact, Gabriel can be counted on to make a difference with his energy, defense and rebounding. That should not change regardless of the pressure of the Final Four. Another center, [Omer Yurtseven](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/omer-yurtseven/005353/), is likely to take part in his first Final Four as an active player, though he was a part of the wider Fenerbahce roster when it reached the 2015 Final Four.

Panathinaikos center Omer Yurtseven.

### AS Monaco

The Monaco newcomers can be split into the big men upon whom Coach Spanoulis will rely and the fringe players not expected to have big roles. The former is made up of [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) and [Mam Jaiteh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mam-jaiteh/002581/).

Theis joined Monaco in February after parts of eight seasons in the NBA. He appeared in 41 NBA playoff games, including the 2022 NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics. Theis also won the FIBA World Cup with the German national team. Jaiteh was the 2022 EuroCup MVP after leading Virtus Segafredo Bologna to that crown. These two centers should be ready for the challenges that the Final Four throws at them. The same is true of [Petr Cornelie](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/petr-cornelie/004790/), who was a member of Real Madrid's 2023 championship-winning squad, but did not appear in a Final Four game.

Monaco center Daniel Theis.

Swingman [Terry Tarpey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/terry-tarpey/012515/), who is in his second season with Monaco, can lean on his experience at the EuroBasket and World Cup to prepare him for the pressures of the Final Four. [Vitto Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vitto-brown/013365/), who only made one appearance in the playoffs, and [Juhann Begarin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juhann-begarin/008161/), who did not play at all against FC Barcelona, are unlikely to have roles at the Final Four.

Let's examine which Final Four newcomers can be counted on to make the biggest impacts in Abu Dhabi

Top  10 Plays | Season |  2024-25 BKT EuroCup 

Top 10 Plays | Season |  2024-25 BKT EuroCup 

Veteran playmaker Joe Ragland's experienced and cool head helped Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv navigate a challenging season that finished with the team celebrating winning the BKT EuroCup. 

Tribute to the Champs: Joe Ragland

Veteran playmaker [Joe Ragland](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/joe-ragland/005181/)'s experienced and cool head helped [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) navigate a challenging season that finished with the team celebrating winning the BKT EuroCup. 

Ragland, who had already played three successful seasons for two different clubs in Israel, was targeted for a starting role when he first joined Hapoel in the summer, but the unexpected signings of first Patrick Beverley and later Yam Madar limited his minutes. 

Nevertheless, Ragland was as effective a ball-handler as could be. He ranked third in the EuroCup in assists on a per-minute basis, as well as in assist-to-turnover ratio.

Ragland averaged 5.7 points, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 16:25 minutes per game. That translated into 9.7 assists prorated over 40 minutes and he dished 3.6 dimes for every turnover. He recorded at least 5 assists nine times despite not playing even 25 minutes in any game after Round 1. 

A back injury sidelined Ragland at the tail of the season; after not missing any time in the regular season, he was unable to suit up in the semifinals or the finals. However, as the lone player with previous EuroCup Finals experience (Ragland was a EuroCup runner-up in 2018 with Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar), he made sure to contribute what he could in the locker room and on the bench to help push Hapoel over the final hurdles to make history. 

The playmaker's steady hand and cool head helped Hapoel navigate the challenging EuroCup waters
