Euroleague: Everything said at the press conference – Watch video
Coaches and players shared their thoughts on the semifinal battles, expressing optimism about the final outcome – Euroleague and Obradović representatives sent strong messages about the future of the competition and the NBA
Newsroom
The unofficial tip-off of the Euroleague Final Four took place this morning at the Louvre Museum (!) in Abu Dhabi, during the official press conference of the tournament. All four coaches and one player from each team spoke in the presence of a large number of journalists and basketball figures who have arrived in the Emirates to witness firsthand the road to crowning the new European basketball champion.
Before the main statements from the teams, we heard the traditional remarks from Euroleague officials, marking the league’s 25th anniversary. Dejan Bodiroga and Paulius Motiejunas highlighted the elements that make the competition unique.
Bodiroga: “My experience as a player taught me what makes European basketball special: the intensity of every game, the big clubs, and the fan culture. What we’ve built over the last 25 years is amazing,” said the Euroleague president, adding:
“I’ve had the privilege to live this league both as a player and now as president, and I have deep respect for everyone who built the Euroleague. It’s a unique competition. Its strength doesn’t come from one person or one team—it’s the result of all of us.”
On the future of the Euroleague: “We must protect what makes European basketball special. We are strong, we have the best fans, the most exciting games, and now we want to grow and evolve. Being in Abu Dhabi is an example of that.”
😅🔴 Vassilis Spanoulis’ kids may be in a dilemma in the semifinal regarding which team they will support pic.twitter.com/lgEZxxcH3u
Euroleague’s CEO shared his views on what makes the league’s product better:
“The fuel comes from the teams. They helped us become what we are. I truly believe we have the best product on the court. This season was the best yet, and we keep growing. Fans and teams push us forward. We’ve had a great start here—this city is incredible. I hope for the best Final Four ever.”
😂 Mike James explains the huge differences with the Monaco team from two years ago pic.twitter.com/VcBaFpmXLU
“The value lies in our product, the fans, and the arenas. We’ve built something that’s hard to copy or recreate. Teams will decide what comes next. I believe we have strong teams that can join and maintain our high standards. We’re exploring new markets, like Paris. We now have Hapoel Tel Aviv, who won the EuroCup. More new teams will come, and they’ll learn from the others. I always say: every game matters. That’s what counts. When you put a game on TV, you can’t stop watching. If we keep that up, we’ll go far.”
— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) May 22, 2025
Obradović: “We Must Protect European Basketball”
The speaker panel for the Euroleague’s 25th anniversary wouldn’t be complete without the coach with the most Final Four appearances (18) and titles (9) – Željko Obradović.
Obradović began by praising Euroleague President Dejan Bodiroga, whom he coached for many years:
“The league has changed. In the past, we had fewer games and more practice. Now, there are more games, and players enjoy that more. But basketball stays the same—it depends on the quality of your team. When you have a player like Bodiroga, you just give him the ball and say, ‘go do it.”
👀 Kendrick Nunn thinks he should have been the EuroLeague MVP last year as well.
He also shared what it takes to succeed at the Final Four and addressed the rumored NBA expansion into Europe:
“All teams share the same ambition. Fans also play a crucial role. When you have so many people behind you, anything is possible. To reach a Final Four, you must be willing to sacrifice and work hard—every second counts. It’s not easy for the players. They don’t get much rest; the season is long, and that’s something we need to talk about.
The Euroleague is very strong. There’s a reason the NBA wants to come here. But we must protect European basketball—this is where the best basketball is played.”
The banter between Nigel Hayes-Davis and Sarunas Jasikevicius never disappoints 😂 pic.twitter.com/2l17lQhXwO
Among the group of eight coaches and players, Kendrick Nunn stood out for his fashion choices, while everyone—as usual—had something meaningful to say to the media.
Ataman: “I Believe We’ll Win Another Title”
Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman expressed pride in reaching another Final Four, but made it clear he’s focused on the present—not the final. He also seemed confident in his team’s mental readiness.
Full remarks from Ataman:
On possibly being the only coach to win back-to-back titles with two different teams: “I don’t really care about doing back-to-back again. I’m proud to have won three Euroleagues already, and I’m here to defend the title.”
