Episodes
EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas delves into the future of the competition, addresses concerns about Maccabi’s situation, evaluates Partizan’s and Zvezda’s case for long-term licenses, weighs in on Dubai’s potential entry, and discusses other crucial topics.
Topics:
Motiejunas’ reaction to viral Belgrade video (0:00);
US feedback on ESPN deal (2:32);
Serbian teams for long-term license (3:08);
Major criteria for EuroLeague entry (6:56);
Dubai team’s potential entry next season...
Published 01/10/24
In the latest episode of BN Talks, current Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and former Denver Nuggets guard Markus Howard ranks the top five most challenging basketball leagues to score. He also shares valuable insights he’s learned from players like Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr., and Facundo Campazzo.
Topics:
Ranking the NBA among 5 most difficult leagues to score in (0:00)
Explaining to the Baskonia coach what makes a good or bad shot (2:30);
The Top 3 EuroLeague scorers (4:00);
How the NCAA...
Published 02/14/23
In the latest episode of BN Talks, Donatas Urbonas is joined by 2-time EuroLeague champion & current FC Barcelona guard Cory Higgins. Cory talks about his relationship with Michael Jordan & why he does not use social media.
Topics:
The most overlooked EuroLeague players (00:00);
Michael Jordan’s message after an iconic shot (2:50);
Learning from the worst NBA season ever (4:29);
NBA offers that Higgins has passed (5:35);
Bringing Michael Jordan to the EuroLeague game (6:20);
Higgins’...
Published 01/25/23
In an exclusive interview with BasketNews, EuroLeague CEO Marshall Glickman shared the league’s future plans, and discussed the reasoning behind the ban of Crvena Zvezda and the situation with Facundo Campazzo.
Topics:
The inbox & WhatsApp chat history after controversial events (00:00);
Why Glickman didn’t lift the ban for Crvena Zvezda (4:38);
Reaction to the famous Doncic quote (10:52);
Keeping Wembanyama in the EuroLeague (14:44);
Recovering the relationships with the NBA (19:02);
Top...
Published 01/17/23
BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas interviews Olympiacos Pireus forward & EuroLeague star Sasha Vezenkov. Donatas & Sasha discuss his incredible ability to score off-ball, his personal & Olympiacos' growth through the last few years and his future regarding the NBA & Sacramento Kings.
Topics:
When Vezenkov is Aleksandar & when he’s Sasha (00:00);
Reaction to 275 points in 26 dribbles (1:16);
Top 3 off-ball EuroLeague players (4:17);
If not Vezenkov, who’s the EuroLeague MVP...
Published 01/12/23
BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas interviews Fenerbahce Istanbul center Kostas Antetokounmpo. They discuss his unique quality among the Antetokounbros, painful EuroBasket loss, Panathinaikos & Olympiacos rumors, and misconception about Giannis’ favorite Greek team.
Topics:
Kostas’ unique quality among the Antetokounbros (00:00);
Where Kostas is better than Giannis (2:22);
Antetokounbros’ reaction to a painful EuroBasket loss (3:13);
Is it easier to score for a big man in the NBA or EuroLeague?...
Published 01/09/23
BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas interviews Bayern Munich head coach Andrea Trinchieri. They discusses the changes needed in European basketball, potential format ideas that would benefit all parties, coaching Allen Iverson, overachieving, and why we lost control of Twitter.
Topics:
Challenging utopia for EuroLeague coaches (00:00);
What will ruin the EuroLeague (8:20);
The best format for EuroLeague and FIBA (13:20);
The misconception about great coaches losing (22:38);
How Trinchieri would coach...
Published 12/29/22
BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas interviews Real Madrid center Edy Tavares. They discuss Tavares’ NBA comparison, a hypothetical phone call with Facundo Campazzo, Victor Wembanyama, and one game he would show to Cape Verdean kids.
Topics:
Favorite Tavares football jersey (00:00);
The biggest football fan in Real basketball team (00:51);
Decisive phone conversation with Facundo Campazzo (2:00);
What 7-foot-3 Tavares loves about 7-foot-3 Wembanyama (3:35);
Tavares comparison in the NBA (5:31);
Why...
Published 12/17/22
Panathinaikos Athens star Derrick Williams sits down with Donatas Urbonas to discuss how challenging EuroLeague game is even for the top NBA draft picks, which EuroLeague players could succeed in the NBA, and where he wished to get drafted in the 2011 NBA draft.
Topics:
How European fans surprised Derrick Williams (00:00);
Why top NBA draft picks couldn’t make it in Europe (5:12);
Advice for the NBA players coming to Europe (8:13);
NBA friends asking about Europe (9:06);
How DWill would...
Published 12/07/22
Fenerbahce Istanbul head coach Dimitris Itoudis sits down with Donatas Urbonas for a discussion about FIBA’s problematic schedule, EuroBasket superstars, coaching Giannis and the fresh start with Fenerbahce.
Topics:
A hilarious press conference that raised a serious question (00:00);
Itoudis raising uncomfortable questions to FIBA (3:31);
An inspiring moment with Thanassis after a painful loss (11:15);
Coaching Giannis Antetokounmpo (17:15);
Why Jokic, Doncic or Giannis don’t guarantee a...
Published 11/24/22
Barcelona's forward Nikola Kalinic sits down with Donatas Urbonas for an interview about Serbian national team, FIBA windows, new & improved Fenerbahce and struggling Crevena Zvezda.
Topics:
Anxious Kalinic watching Serbia vs. Turkey (00:00);
Two big FIBA format ideas (1:50);
New EuroLeague format idea (5:52);
EuroBasket 2022 lesson for Serbia (7:07);
What Kalinic loves about reshaped Fenerbahce (9:10);
Sarunas Jasikevicius & Zeljko Obradovic comparison (10:30);
Why Kalinic doesn’t...
Published 11/17/22
EuroLeague legend Vassilis Spanoulis sits down with Donatas Urbonas for a quick interview. The new Peristeri Athens coach talks about his ideas for new-school coaching, the potential bridge to the NBA for European coaches and reveals who he would love to have dinner with for some basketball discussions.
Published 11/03/22
BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas talks to the former Golden State Warriors and current Virtus Bologna guard Nico Mannion.
Topics:
Intro (0:00);
NBA & EuroLeague differences (0:08);
Dealing with the infection (1:40);
How a point guard's status in Europe differs from the NBA (4:39);
The lessons from Curry & Teodosic (5:45);
The surprising Green & Poole incident (9:27);
How Banchero might help the Italian NT make another leap (11:55);
The most exciting thing of this season's Virtus...
Published 10/19/22
BasketNews’ Uygar Karaca interviews the key players of Galatasaray Nef Istanbul Isaiah Canaan and Melo Trimble.
Topics:
Watching the EuroLeague Final Four (00:00);
How Galatasaray turned their season (04:40);
Canaan’s decision to join GS (10:51);
What new coach Andreas Pistiolis brought to the team (18:32);
Canaan’s different role (23:00);
Their inside joke (26:58);
Is Micic good enough for the NBA? (30:00);
Why they are not intimidated by Efes (35:00);
Melo on his NBL experience...
Published 05/31/22
BasketNews’ Uygar Karaca interviews the key players of EuroCup sensation Frutti Extra Bursaspor John Holland and Andrew Andrews.
Topics:
The upcoming EuroCup final against Virtus (04:27);
Andorra game and coming through adversity (09:23);
Strange paths collided: How did Andrews and Holland join Bursa (13:20);
Andrews’ stepping up after Freeman’s departure (17:32);
Last timeout against Partizan, Holland's game-winner, and stopping Punter (21:46);
Holland’s 'Pitbull Saga' (24:49);
Coach Dusan...
Published 05/11/22
BasketNews’ Uygar Karaca interviews the head coach of EuroCup sensation Frutti Extra Bursaspor Dusan Alimpijevic.
Topics:
Introduction (0:00);
Last seconds of the Cedevita game (01:39);
Team’s improvement during crunch time throughout the season (7:30);
Feelings after beating Partizan, coming to a full circle (13:30);
Coming through adversity, poor results and positive FIBA windows (21:00);
The effect of Allerik Freeman’s departure (25:36);
Building the most-efficient offense in EuroCup...
Published 05/02/22
Donatas Urbonas sits down with FC Barcelona guard Dante Exum to share his wild beginnings in the EuroLeague, future in Europe, shining Josh Giddey, and new look Boomers with Ben Simmons.
Topics:
The trip to Lithuania that changed his fate (00:00);
Unusual Lithuanian inspiration (1:55);
Unforgettable Ataman’s ejection (02:52);
Wild beginnings in Europe (04:17);
The biggest change in Europe (6:48);
The only regret after the NBA draft (08:40);
The decision to go to Europe (09:53)
Why...
Published 03/16/22
Donatas Urbonas sits down with Crvena Zvezda’s star forward Nikola Kalinic to discuss recently winning Serbian Cup, Zeljko Obradovic’s interest in him and what he hopes from Red Star & their fans in the future.
Topics:
Next big passion of Nikola Kalinic (00:00);
Partizan’s mistake that made Red Star hungry (6:32)
Which Red Star is better: 2015 or 2022? (10:43)
Why Kalinic refused Zeljko’s interest (14:07);
First terrible contract (19:18);
Why teammates respect Kalinic...
Published 03/09/22
Donatas Urbonas interviews legendary coach Svetislav Pesic, who's now taking on the challenge to lead the Serbian NT to gold after more than 20 years.
Topics:
Coaching the unlikely champions (0:00);
What Zeljko & Partizan need to reach their goals (2:56);
Why Madrid is in trouble & Barca might win it all (7:29);
How Jokic & Doncic changed the NBA (12:42).
Published 03/04/22
Donatas Urbonas sits down with UNICS point guard Isaiah Canaan. Isaiah addresses the infamous 'Shush' to Barcelona fans & shares thoughts on his roughest periods in life.
Topics:
Isaiah Canaan addresses the infamous ‘Shush’ (00:00);
Surviving Hurricane Katrina in a trailer (6:36);
Freaky NBA injury that made his teammates cry (15:27);
The most irritating thing you hear as the NBA role player? (20:26);
Why Canaan feels lucky to start his overseas career in UNICS (25:16);
Surviving...
Published 02/09/22
BasketNews' Uygar Karaca is joined by UNICS Kazan forward John Brown III to talk about his unique style of play, the love for flare screens & mid-range game, and UNICS team chemistry.
Topics:
Intro (00:00);
“Zero gravity” John Brown (1:30);
Making strange sounds after plays (2:30);
Transitioning from offensive to defensive mindset (4:00);
Concern for early foul troubles (6:40);
Challenges coming from EuroCup ( 8:00);
UNICS team is full of funny guys (9:50);
This season's game...
Published 02/04/22
BasketNews' Uygar Karaca is joined by ALBA Berlin and German national team guard Maodo Lo to talk about his NBA aspirations, the decision to stay in the hometown team, and favorite memories with Dirk Nowitzki at EuroBasket 2015.
Topics:
Intro (00:00);
Why Maodo Lo was called "The Chairman" in college (2:14);
His NBA aspirations (3:04);
On the gap between players in Europe and NBA (5:44);
Remembering Bamberg days (6:55);
Choosing to stay in ALBA (11:10);
Development as an offensive...
Published 02/01/22
BasketNews' Uygar Karaca is joined by Utah Jazz assistant coach Erdem Can who shares his thought on the rising Turkish youngsters in the NBA & how Rudy Gobert impacts the Jazz's game.
Topics:
Life in Salt Lake City and the beginnings of his NBA life (00:00);
Utah’s recent slump after a good start and Gobert’s impact on the game (04:30);
The Jazz’s overwhelming 3-point tendency (8:19);
The defensive transformation of Utah (11:30);
The comparison of reaction to losing series NBA vs...
Published 01/18/22
A new BasketNews’ podcast series featuring the voices and faces of our channel. The Whos of Basketnews debuts with perhaps the loudest voice on our platform - AndOne host Martyna Motum!
Topics:
Intro (0:00);
The first Zalgiris TV host (3:30);
First interview back with Mike James (6:12);
Ranking all EuroLeague work trips so far (9:58);
AndOne’s best & most surprising guests (12:57);
New challenges that excite (15:09);
Women in sports broadcasting (18:42);
A game of 'Would You...
Published 01/08/22