Main interviews

Vassilis Spanoulis, Panathinaikos

Sat, 09 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

You have only to read the arc of his career to know how much Vassilis Spanoulis wanted a Euroleague title. He worked his way up from his native Larissa to reach Athens in his teens and join Panathinaikos at age 23, also reaching the Euroleague for the first time. Although he played so well as to be voted All-Euroleague Second Team that first season, 2005-06, the Greens missed the Final Four. The next season, Spanoulis went to the NBA, only to watch from afar as the Greens took the Euroleague crown. He returned to Panathinaikos the following season, but again the team was knocked out short of the Final Four. Only four times all decade have the Greens missed the event, and the last two coincided with the first seasons that Spanoulis played for them. Earlier this month, however, all that would change as the Greens survived the closest Final Four in history and Spanoulis was voted MVP. With two trophies in his hands, Spanoulis had made up for a lot of lost opportunity in this, his first Final Four. "The first title is sweet," Spanoulis told Euroleague.net, "but after experiencing the joy and the pride, you just want to feel it again!"

David Andersen, Regal FC Barcelona

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

By reaching the 2009 Final Four, he has already set one record, becoming the first player to make the event with four different teams.

Nikola Pekovic, Panathinaikos

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One of the biggest off-season moves last summer came when Panathinaikos announced a multi-year deal with Nikola Pekovic.

Ioannis Bourousis, Olympiacos

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Olympiacos is back in the Final Four for the first time in a decade and one of its major catalysts in that historic step has been Ioannis Bourousis.

Erazem Lorbek, CSKA Moscow

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One of the influx of newcomers who will try to help champion CSKA Moscow defend its Euroleague title at the Final Four is center Erazem Lorbek.

Zeljko Obradovic, Panathinaikos

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In an 18-year head coaching career, he has reached 11 Final Fours and won six of them. No one else even comes close.

Xavi Pascual, Regal FC Barcelona

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Largely unknown a year ago, Xavi Pascual has guided Barcelona with resolve and ingenuity to a shot at its second continental crown.

Panagiotis Giannakis, Olympiacos

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A symbol of Greek basketball greatness for 30 years, Panagiotis Giannakis will be making his Final Four coaching debut in Berlin.

Ettore Messina, CSKA Moscow

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Recognized world-wide for his basketball expertise, CSKA Moscow coach Ettore Messina has built a monument to success from his 33-year career on the bench.

Antonis Fotsis, Panathinaikos

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Even before his 28th birthday falls this week, Antonis Fotsis of Panathinaikos owns a collection of trophies that most players can only dream about.

Mirsad Turkcan, Fenerbahce Ulker

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The highest-rated player of the Top 16 and one of the Euroleague's very top performers talks in this interview.

Novica Velickovic, Partizan

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Novica Velickovic, February MVP, quickly admits that the secret to his successful and fast progression is only one: team work.

D'or Fischer, Maccabi Electra

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

No player all decade has finished his rookie Euroleague season with the competition's highest performance index rating, but Fischer is trying.

David Hawkins, Armani Jeans Milano

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Three months ago, no basketball expert would have predicted that Armani Jeans Milano would be where it stands now.

Igor Rakocevic, Tau Ceramica

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There has never been any doubt that Igor Rakocevic of Tau Ceramica is a born scorer of the type that comes along very rarely.