Name: Top 5 Plays | Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

The 2024 EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin, Germany, is looking to continue promoting sustainable initiatives. Over the Final Four period, basketball fans have the opportunity to take part in the Final Four Walking Challenge, in partnership with the global sustainable mobility app Walk15, just like they could in Kaunas, Lithuania, last season.

Help the environment, adopt healthy habits and take part in the Final Four Walking Challenge!

The 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin, Germany, is looking to continue promoting sustainable initiatives. Over the Final Four period, basketball fans have the opportunity to take part in the Final Four Walking Challenge, in partnership with the global sustainable mobility app Walk15, just like they could in Kaunas, Lithuania, last season.

Last year’s Final Four saw 7,332 people participate in the Walking Challenge, which resulted in 229,417,951 steps being taken. Now, though, the goal is to do even better as the Final Four lands in the German capital.

There is a new addition to the Final Four Walking Challenge this time as fans can now also join a separate challenge that involves biking. This year’s goal for both challenges is to collect steps and kilometers that cover travelling one full trip around the world, i.e. 40,000 km for biking and 50 million steps for walking.

The pre-registration for both challenges are now open, and will remain open until the start of the challenge. Join the challenges by following the instructions below, or downloading the #walk15 app, and going directly to the [Final Four Walking Challenge from this link](https://walk15.app/challenge/code/F42024) and the [Biking Challenge from this link](https://walk15.app/challenge/code/F42024B).

From 00:00 CEST on Friday, May 24, until 23:59 CEST on Sunday, May 26, fans from across the world will be able to join their team’s supporters by selecting the Final Four club they support and add their steps together to come atop the standings. Alternatively, you can join a general EuroLeague group and compete against the EuroLeague community.

Fans will also battle it out individually, with prizes up for grabs. The person who has accumulated the most steps from each team in the walking challenge will win two tickets to attend a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague or BKT EuroCup game in the 2024-25 season, while the individual who comes in second place from each team will win one official jersey of a player from the 2023-24 campaign.

There are prizes available for those competing in the biking challenge, too. Five randomly picked participants who have biked 10km each day of the three-day Final Four period will receive a special Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four merchandise item.

The aim of the Final Four Walking Challenge is to encourage fans in Berlin to foster sustainable mobility when moving between the Final Four venues, be that from the FanZone to Uber Arena or from Uber Eats Music Hall to Kraftwerk Berlin. In addition to being able to walk between venues, the chance to bike encourages the fans all around Europe/world to adopt healthy habits.

For those fans who will be in Berlin, exclusive walking and biking tracks will be available inside the app that allows you to explore the city. What’s more, there are more prizes that will be handed out as a special contest will see two winners in Berlin secure tickets to the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four.

By setting this challenge, Euroleague Basketball aims to support the Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) target, which is titled “Sustainable Cities and Communities”. Euroleague Basketball encourages thousands of fans to adopt sustainable ways of moving around, namely through walking and biking, particularly for those in Berlin when arriving at the Final Four venues. The desire is to educate fans in adopting healthy habits for them and for the planet.

Fans will be able to help their team come out on top in the Walking Challenge leaderboard

Ahead of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four, be sure to check out the top five plays of the season so far from Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul!

Top 5 Plays | Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague 

FENERBAHCE BEKO ISTANBUL NEWS

Top 5 Plays | Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

In order to celebrate such a great Top 10, Euroleague Basketball brought in Beau Estes aka the GOATmentator, universally acclaimed in social media as the best Top 10 announcer in the business. His distinctive voice and second-to-none flow calling plays make our Regular Season and Playoffs Top 10 even better. Go check it out! 

Top 10 PLAYS | Regular Season & Playoffs | 2023-24 Turkish Airlnes EuroLeague 

In order to celebrate such a great Top 10, Euroleague Basketball brought in Beau Estes aka the GOATmentator, universally acclaimed in social media as the best Top 10 announcer in the business. His distinctive voice and second-to-none flow calling plays make our Regular Season and Playoffs Top 10 even better. Go check it out!

Top 10 PLAYS | Regular Season & Playoffs | 2023-24 Turkish Airlnes EuroLeague

A week away from the final action, looking back at the games between the Final Four teams can shed light on what to expect in Berlin. 

Stats review: Final Four teams vs. each other   

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four is set with only two of the four teams that earned home-court advantage for the playoffs surviving to advance to Berlin. Improbable, but not unprecedented, this is not the first time the bracket has broken that way. Back in 2018, the parity in the middle of the playoff field and favorable matchups led to a pair of lower seeds pushing through to the Final Four with no series that year going past four games.

Even with that previous case, this year has still felt different. With [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/roster/oly/?season=2023-24) clawing its way back from a 1-2 series deficit, [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/roster/ulk/?season=2023-24) needing overtime in Game 5 to advance, and [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-bc-athens/roster/pan/?season=2023-24) narrowly surviving Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv's bid to score an upset of its own, the drama in the playoffs was palpable. As much as parity in the EuroLeague is not new, this season has felt like uncharted territory in the manner it has extended into the postseason.

The question now is whether the upsets continue onto the league's biggest stage, and the regular-season matchups between these teams may provide some clarity about what those chances look like.

### Real vs. Final Four teams

[Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/roster/mad/?season=2023-24) stood alone atop the standings with a four-win margin and swept Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz convincingly enough to conjure memories of its nearly unbeaten run through the first half of the regular season. Facing the other three Final Four participants in consecutive rounds around early December, Los Blancos suffered their first loss of the season in Round 11 at Fenerbahce in overtime before dispatching Olympiacos and Panathinaikos in Greece to close their most grueling road trip of the season. Losing to Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce back-to-back after the midseason break came in what was ultimately Real's worst stretch of a difficult second half of the year. As a result, Real split the regular season series with its fellow semifinalists, putting up a better record on the road than at home.

Real Madrid Top Plays of the Round 12, Round 13 and 1 other Season Part

Real Madrid highlights vs Final Four teams

### Olympiacos vs. Final Four teams

Olympiacos did the same, finish 3-3 against the other Final Four teams, despite posting a less encouraging efficiency differential. The Reds were not, however, able to score a victory over Real Madrid during the regular season. Despite slowing the game down to their EuroLeague-low pace and controlling the glass, Olympiacos had a difficult time corralling Facundo Campazzo and Dzanan Musa while Real Madrid was able to put a lid on the rim, limiting Olympiacos to just 49% shooting around the rim. How Olympiacos handles the ball and finds ways to put pressure on Walter Tavares figure to be keys to any potential upset bid.

Nikola Milutinov, Moustapha Fall and Moses Wright give Olympiacos Piraeus plenty of versatility at the center position.

Olympiacos's Big Three

### Panathinaikos vs. Final Four teams

Panathinaikos may have lost most of its games against the other Final Four competitors, but the Greens finished scored double-digit wins over Fenerbahce and on Real Madrid's court while playing Olympiacos close on the road in the second half of the regular season. Indeed, their first three losses against the same team came during a troubling 6-7 start. the Greens' mid-year turnaround has rendered their early struggles moot. The question is how far that takes them against a battle-tested Fenerbahce team that weathered five games and held down Most Valuable Player Mike James to best AS Monaco in the quarterfinals. In their early-season loss to Fenerbahce, Panathinaikos had a hard time getting shots to fall outside of the paint, even going 10-for-19 from the free-throw line. In their early February win, Kendrick Nunn had a productive outing to compensate for a 2-for-12 effort from beyond the arc.

Panathinaikos highlights vs. Final Four teams

### Fenerbahce vs. Final Four teams

Whether Fenerbahce, the lone Final Four team to post a winning record against the others, can prove that its defense has been the driving factor behind Panathinaikos's struggles against it looms large. The Turkish club turned things around after a slow start to the season in their own right and have defended the perimeter at a very high level all season, but gave the Greek powerhouse fits in particular. It will need to avoid a regression to the mean to contend with a Panathinaikos defense that surged to narrowly miss out on usurping Real Madrid as the EuroLeague's most efficient defense of the season overall.

Fenerbahce highlights vs. Final Four teams

Fenerbahce highlights vs Final Four teams

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

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

The 2023-24 BKT EuroCup was full of vicious stops! Check out the best blocks of Season!

Top 10 Blocks | Season  | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup 

[Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/roster/mad/?season=2023-24) started the season with a 10-0 record and later clinched a playoff spot and home-court advantage before anyone else in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign. Then, it became the first team to qualify to the Final Four. However, all that will become a distant memory if Real fails to deliver in the German capital.

It is very easy to make the case as to why Real Madrid will be this year’s EuroLeague champion. Los Blancos come into the Final Four with a 30-7 record – it swept Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 3-0 in the playoffs – and now has the chance to win back-to-back EuroLeague titles for the first time since 1968.

Real has the complete package. If you look back at recent EuroLeague champions, Real ticks all the boxes in terms of creativity, defensive focus and, of course, experience.

### Final Four connoisseurs

Let's put it this way, Real arrives in Berlin as one of the most experienced teams in competition history. Together, all its players have combined for 23 EuroLeague championships, which are way more than all the other Final Four teams combined (9). The main players in its rotation have all won the EuroLeague title, and some have done so multiple times.

Team captain [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/) is entering his 10th Final Four and leads this stage in scoring (198 points) this century. [Sergio Rodriguez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-rodriguez/cvm/) ranks third in that list (190) and first in assists (70). "El Chacho" is playing in his ninth Final Four, just as many as [Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rudy-fernandez/bmt/), who needs two steals to be the Final Four's all-time leader in this category.

Sergio Llull of Real Madrid is going to its 10th Final Four with Los Blancos!

Sergio Llull: 10 Final Fours and counting

Llull, Rodriguez and Fernandez are looking to secure their fourth EuroLeague title, something that just 12 players have achieved since European competitions started in 1958.

There’s more. [Fabien Causeur](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/fabien-causeur/001392/), [Facu Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) and [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) are two-time champions. Tavares is the only Final Four MVP present in Berlin, having won the award last season. In other words, if experience matters, Real has a very significant advantage.

### Sharing is caring

Los Blancos have a very recognizable playing style, based on locking down the defensive boards and running the floor to play fast-paced offense, often taking three-point shots in transition. Having two mobile centers like Tavares and [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/), able to run the floor, play pick-and-roll and finish over the rim is one of the keys to Real's success in recent years.

Real is averaging a league-best 20.8 assists this season. Sharing the ball better than its opponents has been a priority for head coach Chus Mateo's team. Indeed, Real is 27-3 this season when it has had more assists than the opposition, and 3-4 when it has recorded less assists than the other team.

Rudy Fernandez of Real Madrid leads the league in this category: 6.6 assists per turnover!

Rudy Fernandez: assist-to-turnover leader

Added to that, Real limits turnovers to just 12.1 per game, leading the competition in assist-per-turnover ratio (1.71). Fernandez leads the league in this category, having had 6.6 assists per turnover.

### Real Madrid can light it up from deep

Three-pointers have become a must-use weapon for any elite basketball club in the world. Real has been using them in the right way, making sure they have an advantage in this regard. In fact, Los Blancos are 22-1 when they hit more three-pointers than their opponents. When outscored from the three-point line, Real is 8-6. It has not been an issue in key games, however, as Baskonia hit more three-pointers than Real in two playoff games, yet Los Blancos still won.

Real is the only EuroLeague team to attempt more than 1,000 three-pointers in each of the last four seasons. It averages 27.4 attempts from downtown in the 2023-24 campaign, ranking fourth in accuracy (37.9% 3FG).

Four Real Madrid players are shooting over 40% from beyond the arc this season: Guerschon Yabusele (46.3% 3FG), Mario Hezonja (45.2%), Dzanan Musa (41.7%) and Alberto Abalde (41.3%).

Real's more effcicent three-point shooters

Four Real players are shooting over 40% from beyond the arc this season: [Guerschon Yabusele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/guerschon-yabusele/010357/) (46.3% 3FG), [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) (45.2%), [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/) (41.7%) and [Alberto Abalde](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alberto-abalde/003733/) (41.3%). Some teams tend to open the floor to get Tavares and Poirier out of the paint, but Real has made sure it has enough firepower from three-point range to counteract this, making the team even more unpredictable and hard to guard on offense.

### Where it all begins

If you want to find the key to Real's offense, you had better keep an eye on the other end of the court. Real has led the EuroLeague in defensive rebounds in each of the last four seasons. The concept is simple: you need the basketball to start a quick offense. Real forces its opponents to shoots a league-low 51.0% two-point shooting, while it gets a lot of defensive boards and finds either of its creative playmakers, Campazzo or Rodriguez, to get its offense going. Real has made it look easy but, of course, it isn't.

Sergio Rodriguez and Facu Campazzo are critical to Real's run-and-gun game.

Chacho and Facu run the show

It takes a lot to make it work, starting with a team-wide attitude to grab the defensive boards. As many as 13 Real players average over 1.0 defensive rebound per game, led by Tavares (4.2 drpg.), Yabusele (4.0) and Hezonja (3.9). Having the competition's best two shot blockers definitely helps, too, as Tavares and Poirier combine for over 3.0 blocks on average.

Real Madrid kept most of its players from one season to another, but that is not a guarantee in the 2024-25 campaign. It may be a last Final Four for some of the key veteran players on the team, who will be ready to do their all in Berlin to help the club win its 12th continental crown.

After a dominant regular season and playoff sweep, Los Blancos are the team to beat at the Final Four

The case for Real Madrid: Back-to-back titles are in its sights

The three-year deal aims to protect players with equipment to prevent and heal injuries

McDavid joins Euroleague Basketball's family of partners

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce that McDavid has become its Official Sports Protection and Sports Medical Partner. Having signed a three-year contract that includes the remainder of the 2024-25 season, McDavid will provide support to players, trainers and staff in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup.

Thanks to this partnership, the broader market will be able to benefit from high-performance official Euroleague Basketball products which are available to players worldwide. McDavid will engage with fans, supporters and athletes through special activations and events, solidifying its position as the Official Sports Protection and Sports Medical Partner of Euroleague Basketball.

"The health and safety of our athletes is a key factor of Euroleague Basketball's philosophy and we are very proud to team up with McDavid, the global leader in unique and innovative protective apparel," stated Gawain Davies, Euroleague Basketball Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships & Licensing.

Patrick Cloots, the Senior Vice President International and CEO of United Sports Brands Europe, emphasized McDavid's commitment to athlete welfare: "At McDavid, our priority is the well-being of the athletes. Our advanced compression products and innovative HEX™ protective gear are designed to ensure the athlete can perform at their peak. In the end, it's the player that creates the show and we're trying to make sure that the show can go on."

McDavid's campaign "Protect Your Body" sums up its mission, which should prove to be of great benefit to the clubs competing in the two top basketball competitions on the old continent, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup.

One of the young stars of the American team at the ANGT Finals is already living up to his famous surname

OTE's Jayden Wilkins will be rooting for great-uncle's ex-team, Panathinaikos 

[Jayden Wilkins](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/jayden-wilkins/013166/) bears the name and weight of three former NBA stars in his family, but the young Overtime Elite star will be wearing his famous surname with pride at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals. And he will be rooting for his great-uncle's former team Panathinaikos Athens at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four. 

Wilkins is the son of former NBA player Damien Wilkins while his grandfather is 13-year NBA star Gerald Wilkins and his great-uncle is Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins. 

"It's an honor and a privilege to have the name Wilkins, and I don't take that lightly," said the 2008-born Jayden. "I wear that name on the back of my jersey with pride, and it motivates me on the days where I might be struggling because I know the men before me helped pave the way for me. What I focus on is building a legacy for myself without ever forgetting where I came from – and using the things I learned from them to be the best version of myself."

Wilkins stressed he is not worried about being Damien, Dominique or Gerald. He just wants to be Jayden – and he doesn't feel the pressure some might think he faces.

"I don't feel pressure to be just like any of them because I am my own person, but it's great to have someone to talk to about the challenges I face and I know they will be honest with me about my growth and development. I've been able to see with my own eyes how much work it takes to get to where I want to be, so having them in my corner supporting me means a lot," Jayden said.

His father Damien told a US newspaper that Jayden is probably the best shooter in the family – to which he said: "If my dad says it, it must be true, right? Ha! But that's the part of my game that I have the most confidence in right now, and it's because I'm in the gym every day working at it."

When asked what he would like to have from each of his family member's game for his own game, Jayden offered: "From my dad – his attitude and overall leadership. When he played, he was the guy that everyone looked up to and could count on, so I definitely want that from him. From my great-uncle – his athleticism and consistently playing hard no matter what's happening in the game. From my grandfather – his elite defensive skills."

Jayden Wilkins, Highlights: U18 Overtime Elite

Jayden has completed his first season in the OTE league, for which his father serves as general manager and head of basketball operations.

"I like OTE because I have all the access and resources to get better at my fingertips every day – the coaching, the weight training, the skills development – everything is customized for me. There's no other place like it where I can have as many coaches and staff dedicated to making me a better player. And the competition is crazy because you have the best high school players in the country all in one place. I'm going against the best guys day in and day out, so I'm really forced to push myself daily," he said. 

Wilkins is playing for the RWE team and he won last season's Next Up award as the top underclassman in the league. Wilkins is excited and motivated to be traveling to Germany to face the best Europe has to offer.

"I'm always looking for new ways to challenge myself and get better, and this will be another opportunity to do that. Going up against the best of the best is only going to make me better. Our team is really excited to showcase our own talents as well on this European stage," he said. 

Wilkins naturally will be looking to win as many games as possible at the ANGT Finals. But he also wants to experience the rest of the atmosphere around the EuroLeague Final Four – including rooting for Panathinaikos, where his great-uncle Dominique played and with which he won the EuroLeague title in 1996. 

"I'm definitely going to be watching and hopefully getting to experience some of the atmosphere around the games. It's my first time in Berlin, and it's going to be cool to see the team my great-uncle played for in the Final Four – definitely going to have to support them," he said. 

His surname, Wilkins, comes with pedigree, and Jayden Wilkins is ready to do it justice at the Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament Finals in Berlin. 

The Romanian forward found a new source of self-belief after scoring 34 points against U18 Crvena Zvezda

Big game at ANGT Belgrade changed U18 Milan's Denis Badalau

[Denis Badalau](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/denis-badalau/012114/) had a Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade to remember, and an up-and-down day in Serbia changed the U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan forward, who now wants to make history for Romania at the ANGT Finals. 

Badalau was extremely excited when he heard the news that Milan was given one of the wild cards for the season-ending tournament in Berlin. 

“For me personally, it was great news, because it is a new opportunity to perform at the highest level. As a team, after our performance in Belgrade we are eager to prove that we belong there and to show again what we can do on court,” said Badalau, who was named to the All-Tournament Team as Milan took second place at ANGT Belgrade.

“It was the last chance for me to be at the ANGT Finals and I’m very pleased that we will be there along the best U18 teams in Europe. Every team is taking it to the next level and that means we have to as well.”

Milan will be appearing at the ANGT Finals for the second time after the club hosted the event as part of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in 2014. 

U18 Real Madrid lost to U18 Crvena Zvezda Belgrade in the 2014 ANGT Championship Game. The 2015 ANGT Championship Game was a repeat between those teams and Real Madrid won the title - the first of its record four U18 continental crowns. One of the leading figures for Real in the 2015 final was Emanuel Cate, who collected 11 points, 8 rebounds and 8 blocks in a 73-70 victory. 

Cate was also the first Romanian player to appear at the ANGT Finals. And Badalau will be the second - a fact about which he is very proud. 

“I’m always proud and satisfied when I can represent my country in top-level competitions,” said Badalau, who averaged 21.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 5.5 fouls drawn for a PIR of 22.5 at ANGT Belgrade. “I take every competition as an opportunity to represent something bigger than myself and that carries weight. I’ve taken this concept with me everywhere I go. And I’m so grateful to represent also Romania and give it all my best.”

Denis Badalau Highlights, U18 Milan

The native of Giurgiu - a city about 50 kilometers from Bucharest - left Romania in 2021 at age 15 and went to E3 Energy Todi. One year later he joined the Milan organization and last season played in the ANGT Milan and averaged 14.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.8 steals.

Badalau did that despite being a year underage for the event and expectations were high that he would play well at this season’s ANGT Belgrade. Badalau had a first game to forget against the U18 Next Generation Team Belgrade with just 7 points on 3-of-16 shooting for a performance index rating of 3 - albeit a 75-68 victory.

That game tipped off at 11:00 local time. By the time Milan faced host U18 Crvena Zvezda Belgrade at 17:00 later that day, Badalau had a completely different mindset.

The 1.97-meter forward connected on 13-of-20 shots - including 3 three-pointers - in scoring 34 points to go with 11 rebounds and 5 assists for a PIR of 38. The game was all the more thrilling as Zvezda’s Andrej Kostic scored 32 points, but in vain as Milan prevailed 97-90.

“That game has a special meaning for me. It was the second game of the day, and the first one didn't go as I expected. I was a little bit down and before the game, a very important person to me told me: ‘Give them something to talk about.’ And I just did it,” he said. 

“Besides the points I scored and what I did on court, I can say that game changed something in me as a player and helped me a lot to really believe in myself.”

That new-found belief in himself will undoubtedly help Badalau as he looks to make more history for Milan - and Romania.

The U18 ALBA Berlin big man is looking forward to playing in the ANGT Finals in his hometown

Win or lose, Doerries wants to learn from the experience

[Amon Doerries](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/amon-doerries/011626/) has experienced both highs and lows in his career. And looking back, the U18 ALBA Berlin forward realizes the only thing that matters is taking those results and learning from them for the future. 

One of Doerries's biggest low points came in the 2021-22 season in Germany’s U16 JBBL league where ALBA lost in the playoff quarterfinals. 

“One thing I thought about for a long time was our playoff loss in the JBBL. What made it particularly difficult was that everybody saw us as the favorite for the title and then we lost. I was really disappointed after the series even though we didn’t play that bad,” said Doerries. 

The Potsdam native only had to wait one season to experience his top moment to date as ALBA defeated Young Rasta Dragons to win the 2023 U19 NBBL domestic crown. 

“It was great. To finish the season in the best way possible with all those guys you like, it feels amazing. And it shows that all the work you put in matters,” said Doerries, who was two years younger than the competition. 

Still, the 2.10-meter forward said in the long term, it doesn’t really matter much that his youth team was upset early in the playoffs or captured the championship. 

“The thing I learned from both events was that in a couple of years, nobody cares about what happened, whether you lost or won. So what I took away from those experiences is that even if you have a bad game or season in the youth, it’s not so much about the result itself. But your development and the experience you gain throughout the first years of your career matter so much more,” he said. 

Doerries is part of a very talented 2006 generation for Germany and he enjoys so many great players being in the same age group.

“It makes everything more competitive and brings so many opportunities. I think the German 2006 generation is a pretty good one, so we can compete with the top countries in the championship and against some of the best players all over Europe. That brings a ton of experience and chances to learn. So I think it only has upsides,” said Doerries, who in April played in the Albert Schweitzer Tournament - a biennial U18 national team event that takes place in Germany. 

Another experience Doerries had with his generation was the Basketball Without Borders Europe Camp in August 2023 in Poland. 

“The biggest takeaway for me was that you just have to take the shots you get. You cannot always be nice and try to find a more open shot. Of course, you don’t shoot every time you get the ball, but if there is a chance, just take it,” he explained. 

Amon Doerries, Highlights, U18 ALBA Berlin

Doerries will go through another major learning event in his home city in late May as ALBA was awarded a wild card for the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals. 

“I’m very happy about it. To be honest, I didn’t expect it because of our placement in Podgorica. But now that we got it, it’s another really good chance to measure yourself against the best teams in Europe,” Doerries said of the German club placing sixth at the ANGT Podgorica with just one victory. 

“And now with Overtime Elite joining as well there will even be some talents from the United States. It is going to be very exciting,” he added, referring to the American youth league that will field a team in Berlin as another wild card recipient. 

Doerries is not only excited about the ANGT Finals but also about the EuroLeague Final Four. 

“I am really excited to see some world-class basketball. I actually prefer to watch EuroLeague over NBA and at the Final Four there will be the best of the best,” he said. “So just by watching the games you can learn so much. And at the same weekend competing against some of the biggest prospects of Europe is just great. It’s going be a really exciting weekend.”

A weekend where Doerries will have new highs and lows that will help him develop in the long term.

The guard heads to the finals for the third straight season

Mega’s Kroflic thrilled with chance to play ANGT Finals after injury

U18 Mega MIS Belgrade has become one of the most successful teams in the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament. And [Urban Kroflic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/urban-kroflic/011688/) is thrilled to have a chance to show the continent why that’s the case at the ANGT Finals after coming back from an injury. 

Mega claimed the ANGT crown in 2022 and reached the ANGT Championship Game in 2017 and 2019 - making the Serbian side one of just eight teams to reach the title bout at least three times. U18 Real Madrid is the only one to match the feat since 2017.

Kroflic was thrilled to hear the news that Mega was given one of the wild cards for the season-ending tournament that takes place as part of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

"When I heard that we received a wild card, I was very happy and excited. Mega is a regular at the ANGT Finals from 2016 and I am glad we are continuing that streak,” said Kroflic, who will be playing at the ANGT Finals for a third time after helping the U18 Next Generation Select Team reach the ANGT Championship Game in Belgrade in 2022 and playing with Mega in 2023.

Kroflic in 2021-22 played for two Next Generation teams, initially playing at the ANGT Ljubljana event. One of the biggest things he looked back on from that season was getting to play under select team head coach Vassilis Spanoulis.

“The experience was amazing. I couldn’t believe that I was able to talk with great Vassilis Spanoulis. He helped me a lot through every game - both on offense and on defense,” he said about his time as a 16-year-old in 2022.

The games in Berlin later this month will be Kroflic’s first ANGT action since last season’s ANGT Finals in Kaunas as the Slovenian missed this season’s ANGT Belgrade tournament with an injury.

“Being unable to play at ANGT Belgrade was so frustrating for me because I couldn’t help my team on the court and I had to watch it from the sidelines,” said Kroflic. 

The wing said Mega feels comfortable going into the ANGT Finals in Germany.

“Coming to the tournament, we don’t feel much pressure. I think if we play like a team and give everything on the court, I am sure that we can be very successful,” he said. 

Kroflic and some of the Mega players will come into the tournament on a high note after the club won the U19 Adriatic League for a fourth straight time. The games at the U19 ABA Final Four in Novi Pazar, Serbia in mid-April were actually Kroflic’s first games returning from his knee injury. 

uRBAN Kroflic, Highlights, U18 MEGA Belgrade

He scored 20 points to go with 9 rebounds and 5 assists in the U19 ABA final - a 79-60 win over SC Derby.

The U19 ABA Final Four came about a week after Kroflic signed a multi-year contract with Mega, where he joined in 2022.

“When I got the offer from Mega, I set down with my family and we decided that I have to go because Mega is the best basketball club for young players to develop and chase their dreams,” he said about joining Mega after previously playing two seasons in Spain at Spanish Basketball Academy. “I stayed here in Belgrade because I want to develop myself into a better basketball player and at the same time a better person.”

Mega has built a major reputation of developing young players with a number of them reaching the NBA, including former EuroLeague MVP Vasilije Micic and reigning EuroLeague MVP Nikola Jokic. 

“Through the history of Mega, I would say it’s their system that makes it so special. Everybody in the club is very dedicated to players. We have great conditions in the club and players get the chance to play at a very high level of basketball at a young age,” he said. 

Kroflic and Mega now have another chance in Berlin to show what makes them so special.

The non-stop fun of collecting original, eye-catching trading cards depicting the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’s finest players, past and present, is here at last! Panini, the global leader in trading cards and collectibles, is launching its first-ever series of products featuring EuroLeague stars and legends. 

Panini Opens a New World of Electrifying EuroLeague Trading Cards

The non-stop fun of collecting original, eye-catching trading cards depicting the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’s finest players, past and present, is here at last! [Panini](https://www.paniniamerica.net/panini-instant.html), the global leader in trading cards and collectibles, is launching its first-ever series of products featuring EuroLeague stars and legends.

The fun starts with Panini's famous [Donruss](https://www.paniniamerica.net/2023-24-panini-donruss-turkish-airlines-euroleague-trading-card-box-hobby.html) brand making its EuroLeague debut! The release begins with a [Supernova collection](https://www.paniniamerica.net/pi-supernova-elinstant-base.html) consisting of 18 iconic current and former EuroLeague player cards in Instant format, available globally on Panini's official website.

Among the fan favorites you will see in the Supernova collection are Marco Belinelli, Lorenzo Brown, Luka Doncic, Keenan Evans, Pau Gasol, Markus Howard, Mike James, Shane Larkin, Sergio Llull, Vasilije Micic, Nikola Mirotic, Kevin Punter, Ricky Rubio, Luis Scola, Shavon Shields, Sasha Vezenkov, Kemba Walker and Victor Wembanyama.

Current EuroLeague players are the vanguard of a 155-card base set while former stars are included in a 35-card pantheon of EuroLeague Legends!

On the retail side, part of the fun of collecting is finding the hidden gems. In that light, cards depicting players or imagery from previous EuroLeague seasons are included randomly in packs. At the same time, fans can search for retail-exclusive parallels like Yellow Flood and Neon Green Flood. The retail-exclusive cards are available in packs of five cards, in boxes of 48 packs and in cases of six boxes.

When it comes to hobby-exclusive versions, there's even more variety to keep even the most demanding collector entertained, starting with laser and hologram laser versions of players from the All-EuroLeague Team and five Rated Prospects cards. There are also Opti-Chrome sets to collect, not to mention super short-print inserts like Downtown and Night Moves. In fact, when it comes to inserts, there is much more, including Net Marvels, Retro Series, Reigning 3s, Crunch Time, Highlights, League Leaders and Club Edition!

And let's not forget the Signature Series, including Retro Series Signatures, Dominators Signatures and Dual Signatures! The hobby-exclusive cards will be available in packs of 10 cards, in boxes of 18 packs and in cases of 18 boxes.

E[uroleague Basketball and Panini America's multi-year landmark partnership ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/news/euroleague-basketball-panini-america-sign-multi-year-trading-card-partnership/)makes Panini the official trading card partner of the EuroLeague and brings basketball fans an unparalleled collectible experience. The new and exclusive Turkish Airlines EuroLeague card collection offers fans a chance to connect with their favorite athletes in a whole new way. The first EuroLeague trading cards will launch via Panini's real-time Panini Instant product, which celebrates key EuroLeague performances as they happen.

The collection boasts stunning card designs showcasing the best EuroLeague players, their skills, athleticism and passion for the game. While the initiative blasts off with Donruss EuroLeague, rest assured that both Prizm EuroLeague and Crown Royale EuroLeague collections are waiting in the wings, too.

All collections feature a wide range of limited-edition cards, making each card a unique and valuable item for collectors. Whether a fan or a collector, get in on the ground floor of [Panini's new and exciting Turkish Airlines EuroLeague collections](https://www.paniniamerica.net/2023-24-panini-donruss-turkish-airlines-euroleague-trading-card-box-hobby.html)!

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is back at the Final Four and so is guard Marko Guduric. In his second stint and sixth season with the team, the 29-year old Guduric is getting ready for a trip to Berlin which will be his third Final Four, but first since 2019.

Marko Guduric: 'Winning the EuroLeague with Fener would be a dream come true'

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is back at the Final Four and so is guard [Marko Guduri](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/)c. In his second stint and sixth season with the team, the 29-year old Guduric is getting ready for a trip to Berlin which will be his third Final Four, but first since 2019.

"It's been five years and for Fenerbahce that's a lot", Guduric says to [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net)'s Igor Petrinovic. "It's a great feeling. And I am really proud of the team and of myself."

To get to the German capital with the right to compete for EuroLeague glory, Fenerbahce needed to make history and become the first team to win a deciding Game 5 on the road. And it did so in overtime against AS Monaco.

Fenerbahce had to show great character, especially since it previously squandered an opportunity to clinch the series in Game 4 at home. But the team found a way to bounce back and show the traits that it wants to have on display in Berlin.

"The biggest strength of this team is just -  team", Guduric explains. "We don't rely on one guy or two guys. It's about team, sharing the ball, it's about playing the right way and following the rules, which is really important."

For Guduric, the story around this Final Four is different than the previous two occasions when he made the trips, in 2018 and 2019. Both of those years Fenerbahce had the status of a favorite and its Final Four appearances were expected, to say the least.

But since then, Fenerbahce went through four coaching changes in the last four years and Guduric has seen every one of those. The journey proved just how hard it is to make the Final Four, let alone win the title, even for a powerhouse such as Fenerbahce.

"It is really hard to get there. These past four seasons made me realize it even more. It is unbelievably hard", Guduric says about reaching the Final Four. "\[Winning it\] with Fener, since I came here, this has been the dream. That's the only thing that is on my mind. Winning the EuroLeague with Fener would be a dream come true."

The 29-year-old sat down with Euroleague.net's Igor Petrinovic at the club's Final Four media day

The last time Berlin hosted a Final Four, in 2016, it was historic for several reasons, but then went on to also be packed with basketball thrill and drama that created lifetime of memories.

Memories of 2016 Final Four in Berlin

### A championship game to remember

It was a dream championship game with the season's two best teams and two coaches and best of friends, Zeljko Obradovic in his third season on Fenerbahce Istanbul's bench, and Dimitris Itoudis in his second year as the head coach of CSKA Moscow. A ticket for the championship game was like gold with thousands of Fenerbahce fans in front of what is now called Uber Arena, willing to do whatever it took just to get that most valuable piece of paper.

Inside the arena, however, it was a little gloom and plenty of doom for Fenerbahce since CSKA, led by Milos Teodosic and Nando De Colo, played a near-perfect first half of basketball. It was a basketball clinic and at halftime, Teodosic had 10 points and 3 assists and De Colo 7 points and 5 assists to put CSKA up 50-30.

Fenerbahce rallied after the break, melting away the deficit and finally catching up in the final 5 minutes of the fourth quarter. Coach Obradovic's men eventually went ahead  83-81 with 21 seconds to go. But CSKA's legendary team captain Victor Khryapa scored a last-second put-back, probably the biggest basket of his career, maybe even in CSKA history, to force overtime, where CSKA prevailed 91-86.

### History, ended dreams and emotions

After the final buzzer sounded at the end of the extra 5 minutes, one of the most emotional celebrations ever witnessed on a EuroLeague Final Four floor could be seen.

"They have been brewing and waiting for this a long time", one EuroLeague Basketball Legend whispered courtside, watching the entire CSKA team, staff and management crying tears of joy, as the club won its seventh title.

The entire occasion of the Final Four was also very special for Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar, as the Russian club reached its maiden Final Four. But Lokomotiv did not just come to enjoy the experience. Led on the floor by players who later became big stars such as Malcolm Delaney, Chris Singleton and Ryan Broekhoff, and coached by Georgios Bartzokas, they were there there to do damage. Lokomotiv's dream season did end in the semis, in a historic first-ever all-Russian semifinal against CSKA, which won 88-81.

Not to forget, in the other semifinal, Fenerbahce got past Baskonia 88-77, but only after overtime and a big fourth quarter rally fueled by Jan Vesely and capped by Kostas Sloukas. Both of Fenerbahce's Final Four games went to overtime and its dream of winning a first EuroLeague championship had to wait another year.

### De Colo's award collection and reveal nearly ruined

Nando De Colo was voted as the 2016 Final Four MVP, adding that accolade after already winning that season's top scorer as well as being chosen the 2015-16 EuroLeague MVP, thus becoming the first player to win all three awards in the same season. Like every other year, the name of the MVP was revealed at the award ceremony, but the surprise was nearly ruined. During the award ceremony rehearsal, the emcee read De Colo's name as the MVP winner.

Luckily, it was early enough in the morning not to cause any confusion. Especially because it turned out that he did not actually know winners' name, either. Between the All-EuroLeague members who were supposed to be present for the event a couple of hours later – Teodosic, Delaney, De Colo, Vesely and Ioannis Bourousis - he simply practiced his announcement with De Colo's name. He ended up being correct!

### FanZone set the tone – and a record

In the build-up to the game, the Alexanderplatz, one of the city's biggest squares, played a big role in setting the tone as the home of the FanZone. The weather did not always play along that week, but it did not stop the FanZone from being as vibrant as ever and setting a record at the time with more than 1 million people checking it out over three days.

The Alexanderplatz was also where it quickly became evident that Baskonia fans would have an important say in creating the atmosphere and setting the jubilant mood. Back at the Final Four for the first time in eight years, they came representing their team in big numbers. Then, of course, there were the Fenerbahce fans, backing their team in huge numbers in part thanks to the huge Turkish community in Germany. It allowed Fenerbahce feel like it was playing on its home floor.

The last time Berlin hosted a Final Four was in 2016 and it was historic for several reasons. And it was also packed with basketball thrills and drama that created a lifetime of memories.

The 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season was full of high-flying dunks and show-stopping blocks, all of them with plenty of hangtime. When fans were given the opportunity to choose which player flew highest for the Turkish Airlines Flight Time Contest, they overwhelmingly chose Mathias Lessort of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens!



Mathias Lessort of Panathinaikos wins the Turkish Airlines Flight Time Contest

The 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season was full of high-flying dunks and show-stopping blocks, all of them with plenty of hangtime. When fans were given the opportunity to choose which player flew highest for the Turkish Airlines Flight Time Contest, they overwhelmingly chose [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens!

During the Greens' Regular Season Round 10 showdown against Real Madrid, Lessort played a pick-and-roll situation with Luca Vildoza in the high post. Real center Vincent Poirier hedged on the ball handler on defense, while Lessort started to roll to the basket. When he saw he had a clear advantage, Lessort picked up a bounce pass from Vildoza and soared to dunk over Poirier, who was too late in recovering, to bring the Greens' fans at OAKA Altion to their feet. It was one of the dunks of the season against a top-class shot blocker with plenty of hangtime.

Second in the fan voting was Gabriele Procida of ALBA Berlin, whose entry was an outstanding 360-degree dunk against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. Poirier came in third place with a huge alley-oop dunk in traffic against Maccabi Playtike Tel Aviv.

Lessort, 28, is the second Turkish Airlines Flight Time Contest winner. Alen Smailagic of Partizan was the inaugural winner last season. Earlier this month, Lessort was also chosen to the All-EuroLeague First Team for the second consecutive season. 

Everything is ready for the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals in Berlin, Germany! This season's ANGT Finals will be played at Uber Eats Music Hall in the German capital between May 23 and 26. Eight U18 teams will battle for the title and become the 21st winner of this prestigious tournament that has become a reference in youth competitions worldwide. The eight finalist squads have been divided into two groups of four teams each. ANGT Podgorica winners U18 Real Madrid and ANGT Dubai champions U18 ratiopharm Ulm are located in Group A along with U18 Mega MIS Belgrade and U18 Emporio Armani Milan. ANGT Paris winners U18 PFBB INSEP Paris are in Group B along with U18 ALBA Berlin, U18 FC Barcelona and U18 Overtime Elite, which is making its highly-anticipared tournament debut.

To get things started, here are the full roster of all eight teams! 

### U18 ALBA BERLIN

4	MATHEO, HERMANN	194	G

5	BAHN, PAUL	191	G

6	SCHULTZE, NICOLA	196	F

7	NUFER, ANTON	204	G

8	GROSBER, DORIAN	197	G

9	LEHNIGER, FINNEGAN	200	G

10	MUTTER, LUKAS	170	G

11	SCHMITT, RICHARD	205	F

12	MONNINKHOFF, YARI	198	G

13	HYLLA, LEO	198	F

14	DRÜCKE, JONA	194	G

15	BENNEFELD, NEVIO	210	C

16	DOERRIES, AMON	210	F

**HEAD COACH	BOGOJEVIC, VLADIMIR**

### U18 EA7 EMPORIO ARMANI MILAN

1	ALBERTI, JACOPO	174	G

7	CASELLA, RICCARDO	185	G

9	MICCOLI, SAMUELE	190	G

12	TOFFANIN, DAVIDE	188	G

19	SUIGO, LUIGI	214	C

22	LONATI, ACHILLE	195	G

23	GARAVAGLIA, DIEGO	200	F

24	JOŠOVIC, ANDRIJA	200	F

27	BADALAU, DENIS	197	F

33	VAN ELSWYK, LEONARDO	208	C

34	ZAMPIERI, LORENZO	197	C

41	ATAMAH, CHARLES	200	F

**HEAD COACH	CATALANI, MICHELE**

### U18 FC BARCELONA

1	NESSAH , DAYAN	200	F

3	KONE, ABDRAHAMANE	206	C

4	VILLAR, RAUL	190	G

5	PEÑA, POL	180	G

7	  SARR, DAME	198	F

8	  PLUVINET, LLUC	192	F

9	GRUJICIC, MATHIEU	195	F

10	GONZALEZ, MIQUEL	195	F

11	BUTAJEVAS, ARTÜRAS	206	F

16	GONZALEZ, DANIEL	188	F

21	  KEITA, SAYON	212	C

23	SYLLA, OUSMANE	206	C

24	OMOARUNA, JOAN	193	F

32	JAKUCIONIS, KASPARAS	193	G

50	GARCIA, ALAN	198	F

60	DABONE, MOHAMED	208	C

**HEAD COACH	MARIN, CARLOS**

### U18 MEGA MIS BELGRADE

1	KROFLIC, URBAN	198	G

3	FILIPOVIC, DEJAN	206	F

5	DANILOVIC, VUK	190	G

7	KAYIL, JACK	191	G

10	  SOLOMUN, LUKA 	190	G

11	  SIBY, ABDRAMANE	214	C

12	  BOZILOVIC, NIKOLA	193	G

13	  KARALIC, NIKOLA	200	G

17	NIKOLIC, OGNJEN	210	F

21	MLADJENOVIC, VANJA	189	G

23	SRZENTIC, OGNJEN	202	G

24	VOJINOVIC, ALEKSANDAR	197	G

26	  BACKO, PAVLE	210	C

28	OSTOJIC, PETAR	214	C

77	MILOSAVCEVIC, PETAR	197	G

**HEAD COACH	AVRAMOVIC, DRAGOLJUB**

### U18 OVERTIME ELITE

1	ELLIS, ISSAC	185	G

2	FLEMING, AKAI	193	G

3	  COSBY, LINCOLN	205	F

4	JEFFREY, CHRIS	187	G

5	ROBINSON, PARKER	193	G

7	  OUMIDDOCH, ADAM	195	G

11	YARMAH, ABUBAKI	200	F

12	MCVEY, JACKSON	215	C

15	DIOP, MOUSTAPHA	208	F

17	PONDER, MARCIS	210	C

21	  WILKINS, JAYDEN	185	G

**HEAD COACH	MARTIN, DOUG**

### U18 PFBB INSEP PARIS

0	  TRAORE, NOLAN	191	G

00	  MAHOP, MATTHYS	193	G

1	SOULHAC, TALIS	189	G

2	  YIMGA MOUKOURI, HUGO	204	F

3	DIAKITE, MOHAMED	207	F

7	ALLARD, YANNIS	200	F

11	  MBOUNGOLO MOUNANGA, HENRI-SOPRANO	198	F

14	  SOLIMAN, NATHAN	203	F

16	BOULEFAA, JONAS	204	F

20	  NTOWOA, ELIE	199	C

21	  HOUINDO. CAMERON	204	F

23	  EBUNANGOMBE, CHRISTOPHER	196	G

28	  KOUAKOU-HEUGUE, NOA	205	F

29	FAYE, MEÏSSA	198	F

27	ELOUMA, JUNIOR	197	F

45	  SY, ABDOULAY	200	G

**HEAD COACH	KEBE, LAMINE**

### U18 RATIOPHARM ULM 

1	  KULLAMAEE, OLIVER	183	G

2	SCHEFFS, JERVIS	190	G

3	MUELLER, JORDAN	185	G

4	SARNOWSKA, LUCA	188	G

5	MURRAY, MILO	195	F

6	MILICIC, ZORAN	183	G

7	  CWIK, JOEL	194	F

8	ESSENGUE, NOA	205	F

9	BUGLYO, BARNA	198	F

10	AIYAMENKHUE, ENDURANCE	209	C

11	SCHOENTGEN, GUILLAUME	203	F

12	ZILINSKAS, JONAS	204	F

14	JERKIC, NIKO	197	F

**HEAD COACH	RAGNARSSON, BALDUR** 

### U18 REAL MADRID

4	DIAGNE, ISMAILA	214	C

5	ANDZEVS, ADRIANS	188	G

6	MICHEE, KYLLIAN	185	G

7	DURU, DECLAN	200	F

8	BOSNJAKOVIC, MITAR	199	F

9	DEMIN, EGOR	204	G

10	GONZALEZ, HUGO	198	F

11	MIGUEL, ASIER	194	F

12	CAMPOY, IGNACIO	199	F

13	GIMENEZ, GILDAS	196	F

15	GUEYE, SIDI	207	C

18	TRAORE, AMADOU	203	C

20	STOLBETSKIY, DANIIL	206	C

**HEAD COACH	JUAREZ, JAVIER**

ANGT Finals: rosters revealed!

Did you know? Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

- Panathinaikos can win its seventh EuroLeague championship. The Greens previously won the competition in 1996, 2000, [2002](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2002/), [2007](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2007/), [2009](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2009/) and [2011](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2011/). Real Madrid leads the all-time list with 11 continental crowns. CSKA Moscow ranks second with eight titles.
- Panathinaikos is back in the Final Four for the first time since 2012. This is Panathinaikos's 11th EuroLeague Final Four appearance. The Greens also made it to the 2001 SuproLeague Final Four.
- [Ergin Ataman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/ataman-ergin/?season=E2023) has won four different continental trophies. He won the Saporta Cup with Montepaschi Siena in 2002, the EuroChallenge with Besiktas Istanbul in 2012, the EuroCup with Galatasaray Istanbul in [2016](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2015-16/galatasaray-odeabank-istanbul-strasbourg/U2015/306/) and the EuroLeague with Anadolu Efes Istanbul in [2021 ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2021/)and [2022](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2022/). He is one of three coaches to have won four different European competitions: Dusan Ivkovic (EuroLeague, EuroCup, Saporta, Korac) and Aito Garcia Reneses (EuroCup, Saporta, Korac, EuroChallenge).
- Coach Ataman is one of four coaches to win European competitions with four different teams. He won titles with Siena, Besiktas, Galatasaray and Efes. [Zeljko Obradovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/par/obradovic-zeljko/?season=E2023) has won European trophies with six different teams: Partizan Belgrade, Joventut Badalona, Benetton Treviso, Real Madrid, Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce. Ivkovic (Partizan, AEK Athens, Olympiacos Piraeus, Dynamo Moscow) and Bozidar Maljkovic (Split, Limoges, Panathinaikos, Unicaja Malaga) have each won with four teams.

- Coach Ataman has made it to the Final Four with three different teams: Siena, Efes and now Panathinaikos. Obradovic, Maljkovic, Ivkovic, [Ettore Messina](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/messina-ettore/) and Ioannis Ioannidis did in the past, and [Sarunas Jasikevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/jasikevicius-saras/?season=E2023) (Zalgiris, Barcelona, Fenerbahce) joined the list this season.
- [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) has the chance to win his fourth EuroLeague championship. Sloukas won titles with Olympiacos in [2012 ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2012/)and [2013 ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2013/)and lifted the trophy again with Fenerbahce in [2017](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2017/).
- Sloukas is 7-2 in the EuroLeague Semifinals. Sloukas registered six consecutive wins (Olympiacos [2012](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2011-12/olympiacos-piraeus-fc-barcelona-regal/E2011/186/#boxscore), [2013](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2012-13/cska-moscow-olympiacos-piraeus/E2012/250/#boxscore), [2015](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2014-15/cska-moscow-olympiacos-piraeus/E2014/249/#boxscore); Fenerbahce [2016](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2015-16/fenerbahce-ulker-laboral-kutxa-vitoria-gasteiz/E2015/247/#boxscore), [2017](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2016-17/fenerbahce-ulker-real-madrid/E2016/260/#boxscore), [2018](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2017-18/fenerbahce-dogus-istanbul-zalgiris-kaunas/E2017/258/#boxscore)), lost against Anadolu Efes with Fenerbahce in [2019 ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2018-19/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul-anadolu-efes-istanbul/E2018/257/#boxscore)and with Olympiacos in [2022](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2021-22/olympiacos-piraeus-anadolu-efes-istanbul/E2021/328/#boxscore), and won again with the Reds in [2023](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/olympiacos-piraeus-as-monaco/E2022/327/#boxscore).
- Sloukas can join a list of four-time winners with different teams. Dino Meneghin (five titles with Varese, two with Milan) leads the list. Fausto Bargna (two with Cantu, two with Milan), [Kyle Hines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kyle-hines/002812/) (two with Olympiacos, two with CSKA) and [Sarunas Jasikevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saras-jasikevicius/adg/) (one with Barcelona, two with Maccabi, one with Panathinaikos) complete the list.
- Sloukas can join Jasikevicius as the only players to lift the EuroLeague trophy with three different teams.
- Sloukas will compete at his 10th Final Four. He is tied with [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/) for second place for the most Final Four appearances list. [Victor Khryapa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/victor-khryapa/bcq/) leads with 12 Final Fours.
- If he makes it to the championship game, Sloukas will pass [Matjaz Smodis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matjaz-smodis/alc/) for the most finals appearances this century. Smodis played in seven EuroLeague finals: two with Virtus Bologna (2001, 2002) one with Fortitudo Bologna (2004) and four with CSKA (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009). Sloukas is seeking his eighth championship game.
- Sloukas is the second player ever to be chosen to All-EuroLeague teams with three different clubs. Sloukas made it to the All-EuroLeague teams with Fenerbahce, Olympiacos and now Panathinaikos. The late [Alphonso Ford](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alphonso-ford/acf/) previously reached the All-EuroLeague teams with Peristeri Athens, Olympiacos and Montepaschi Siena.
- [Luca Vildoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/luca-vildoza/007947/) can join a list of six Argentineans who have won the EuroLeague. The list also features [Hugo Sconochini](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/hugo-sconochini/alb/) (Virtus 1998, 2001), [Manu Ginobili](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/emanuel-ginobili/akx/) (Virtus 2001), [Pepe Sanchez ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/pepe-sanchez/azu/)(Panathinaikos 2002) and [Andres Nocioni](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/andres-nocioni/apr/) (Real 2015), as well as two players present at this year's Final Four, [Facu Campazzo ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/)(Real 2015, 2018) and [Gabriel Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/gabriel-deck/009005/) ([Real 2023](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2023/)).
- [Olek Balcerowski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/aleksander-balcerowski/007553/) and [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) can join a list of players to have won both the EuroLeague and EuroCup. Balcerowski won the EuroCup with Gran Canaria last season and Lessort lifted the trophy with AS Monaco in 2021. The list features 20 names, and three of those players will be in this year's Final Four: [Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rudy-fernandez/bmt/) (Real Madrid 2015, 2018, [2023](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2023/); Joventut Badalona 2008), [Alberto Abalde](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alberto-abalde/003733/) ([Real Madrid 2023](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2023/); Valencia Basket 2019) and [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) (Panathinaikos Athens [2011](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2011/); Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar 2013).
- Balcerowski has a rare chance to win the EuroCup and the EuroLeague in consecutive seasons. He would be the first player to do it in that order. [Tyrese Rice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyrese-rice/003367/) went the opposite way, winning the EuroLeague with Maccabi Tel Aviv in [2014 ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2014/)and the EuroCup with Khimki Moscow Region in [2015](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2014-15/khimki-moscow-region-herbalife-gran-canaria/U2014/306/#boxscore).

- [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jerian-grant/011204/) was the 2022-23 EuroCup MVP. He received the award while playing for Turk Telekom Ankara. There are three EuroCup MVPs who also became EuroLeague champions: Calathes, Rice and [Alexey Shved](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alexey-shved/kvz/). Grant will join this list if Panathinaikos wins.
- [Ioannis Papapetrou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ioannis-papapetrou/005161/) and Sloukas have joined a select group of players who reached the Final Four with both Olympiacos and Panathinaikos. They join [Dimitrios Papanikolaou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dimitrios-papanikolaou/profile/agz/), [Andreas Glyniadakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/andreas-glyniadakis/profile/bvp/), [Ian Vougioukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ian-vougioukas/profile/tfx/), [Vassilis Spanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vassilis-spanoulis/juo/), [Lazaros Papadopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lazaros-papadopoulos/profile/app/), [Stratos Perperoglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/stratos-perperoglou/profile/krh/), Zarko Paspalj, Alexander Volkov, [Johnny Rogers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/johnny-rogers/profile/apk/) and [Giorgi Shermadini](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/giorgi-shermadini/profile/001386/).
- [Kostas Antetokounmpo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-antetokounmpo/011221/) can join a list of 11 players who have won the EuroLeague and NBA. Antetokounmpo won the 2019-20 NBA championship with Los Angeles Lakers. This list includes Bill Bradley, Toni Kukoc, Bob McAdoo and Manu Ginobili.
- [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) can join a list of players who have won the Basketball World Cup, EuroBasket and EuroLeague. Hernangomez won the World Cup in 2019 and lifted the EuroBasket trophy in 2022. The list of 26 players to win all three includes all-time greats such as [Arvydas Sabonis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/arvydas-sabonis/ayo/), [Juan Carlos Navarro](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juan-carlos-navarro/adi/), Drazen Petrovic and Toni Kukoc, as well as three current Real Madrid players: Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Llull and [Sergio Rodriguez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-rodriguez/cvm/).
- Hernangomez can become the second Spanish-born player to win the EuroLeague with a foreign team. [Sergio Rodriguez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-rodriguez/cvm/) previously won the 2019 EuroLeague championship with CSKA Moscow.
- [Marius Grigonis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marius-grigonis/002328/) leads all Final Four players in career free throw shooting. He ranks seventh [all-time at 90.5%](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=200&viewType=traditional&statisticMode=accumulated&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&statistic=freeThrowsPercent), having made 334 of 369 free throw attempts.

Final Four Team facts

The Greens are returning to the Final Four after a 12-year hiatus. Here are some facts about Panathinaikos and its roster

Final Four team facts: Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

Did you know? - Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

- [Fenerbahce](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/roster/ulk/?season=2023-24) will compete at the Final Four for the sixth time in club history. It reached five consecutive Final Fours from 2015 to 2019! Only CSKA Moscow has ever had a longer Final Four streak than Fenerbahce's.
- [Sarunas Jasikevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/jasikevicius-saras/?season=E2023) has a chance to become the fourth person to win the EuroLeague as a player and coach. Jasikevicius won four EuroLeague championships as a player. Armenak Alachachan, Lolo Sainz and [Svetislav Pesic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/pesic-svetislav/?season=E2002) are the only three members of this exclusive club.
- Coach Jasikevicius is still the only player to win the EuroLeague with three different teams. Jasikevicius lifted the trophy with FC Barcelona in 2003, Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2004 and 2005, and Panathinaikos Athens in 2009. [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) can join him if Panathinaikos wins.
- Coach Jasikevicius has made it to the Final Four as a head coach with three different teams: Zalgiris Kaunas, Barcelona and now Fenerbahce. [Zeljko Obradovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/par/obradovic-zeljko/?season=E2023), [Bozidar Maljkovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/tau-ceramica-vitoria-gasteiz/bas/maljkovic-bozidar/?season=E2006), [Dusan Ivkovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/ivkovic-dusan/?season=E2011), [Ettore Messina](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/messina-ettore/?season=E2023) and Ioannis Ioannidis did so in the past and Ergin Ataman (Efes, Siena, Panathinaikos) joined the list this season.
- Coach Jasikevicius has made it to his fourth consecutive Final Four. Only three other coaches in EuroLeague history achieved that: Obradovic, Messina and [Dimitris Itoudis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/itoudis-dimitris/?season=E2022).

- Fenerbahce won the EuroLeague in 2017. It became the first Turkish team to lift the trophy. [Melih Mahmutoglu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/melih-mahmutoglu/002969/) is the only current Fenerbahce player who was with that winning squad.
- Mahmutoglu has advanced to his sixth Final Four with Fenerbahce. Mahmutoglu leads all Turkish players in Final Four appearances.
- [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) is one of 20 players to win the EuroLeague and the EuroCup. He won the EuroLeague with Panathinaikos in 2011 and the EuroCup with Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar in 2013. [Alberto Abalde](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alberto-abalde/003733/) (Real Madrid 2023; Valencia Basket 2019) was the last player to join this club. [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/scottie-wilbekin/006661/) is one of three players who can join this club in 2024, along with [Olek Balcerowski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/aleksander-balcerowski/007553/) and [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) of Panathinaikos. Wilbekin won the 2017-18 EuroCup with Darussafaka Istanbul.
- Wilbekin is a former EuroCup MVP. He earned full season MVP and Finals MVP honors in 2018. Only three EuroCup MVPs are also EuroLeague champions: Calathes, [Tyrese Rice ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyrese-rice/003367/)and [Alexey Shved](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alexey-shved/kvz/).
- Calathes can join the group of Greek players to win the EuroLeague with a foreign club. That list includes [Nestoras Kommatos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nestoras-kommatos/jgk/) (Maccabi 2005), [Theo Papaloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theodoros-papaloukas/atw/) (CSKA 2006, 2008), [Nikos Zisis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikos-zisis/abn/) (CSKA 2008), [Ioannis Bourousis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ioannis-bourousis/aqu/) (Real 2015) and Sloukas (Fenerbahce 2017).
- Calathes leads the EuroLeague’s [all-time assists](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&statisticMode=accumulated&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&statistic=assistances) table with 2,077. He is also the only player in competition history with more than 1,000 career rebounds (1,319) and 1,000 career assists.
- Calathes is also the career leader in [steals](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&statisticMode=accumulated&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&statistic=steals) (446) and [games started](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&statisticMode=accumulated&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&statistic=gamesStarted) (309). He ranks 15th in [scoring](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&statisticMode=accumulated&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&statistic=score) (3,228 points) and sixth in [PIR](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&statisticMode=accumulated&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&statistic=valuation) (4,221).
- Calathes holds the record for most assists at a single Final Four. He dished 22 assists at the 2022 Final Four for FC Barcelona.

- [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/yam-madar/011052/) is one of three former EuroLeague Rising Stars at this Final Four. Madar was chosen as the 2022-33 EuroLeague Rising Star. He is joined by [Kostas Papanikolaou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-papanikolaou/001255/) of Olympiacos (2012-13) and [Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rudy-fernandez/bmt/) of Real Madrid (2006-07).
- [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/) set the EuroLeague’s single-game scoring record this season. He scored 50 points in a 103-68 home win against ALBA Berlin in Round 32.
- Hayes-Davis and Coach Jasikevicius have been together on three different teams: Zalgiris, Barcelona and Fenerbahce.
- [Tarik Biberovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tarik-biberovic/006961/) leads the 2023-24 EuroLeague in three-point shooting. He has buried 43 of 79 attempts (54.4% 3FG). Tyler Dorsey ranks ninth (58 of 125, 46.4% 3FG).
- [Sertac Sanli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sertac-sanli/002968/) has qualified for each of the last five Final Fours. He went to the Final Four with Anadolu Efes Istanbul in 2019 and 2021, FC Barcelona in 2022 and 2023, and is now back with Fenerbahce. Sanli won the EuroLeague with Efes in 2021.
- [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) ranks seventh all-time in [blocked shots](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&statisticMode=accumulated&seasonMode=All&sortDirection=descending&statistic=blocksFavour). He has 213 blocks in 189 games. [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) leads the list with 420 blocked shots.
- Fenerbahce now holds the record for [most three-point shots made](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-teams/?size=1000&misc=&seasonCode=E2023&category=FieldGoalsMade3&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=perGame) in a EuroLeague season with 449 and counting. Efes had the previous record with 418 three-pointers in the 2020-21 season.
- Fenerbahce also set the all-time single-game record for most three-pointers by hitting 24 shots from downtown in a [118-88 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul-valencia-basket/E2023/258/#boxscore) against Valencia Basket in Round 29.
- Fenerbahce is the only Final Four team that has beaten each of the other Final Four teams in the EuroLeague this season. It downed Real Madrid, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos at home.

FINAL FOUR TEAM FACTS

Fenerbahce is back to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four for the first time since 2019. Here are some of the Final Four facts about the team. 