BasketNews Talks – Details, episodes & analysis

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 (9:14);
• Introduction of “salary cap” (14:01);
• Addressing game schedule clashes (16:11);
• Concerns over Maccabi in playoffs & Final 4 (21:02);
• Motiejunas’ time-saving life hacks (24:34);
• Top priorities on Motiejunas’ agenda (26:07);
• The main reason behind ‘poor officiating’ (29:52);
• How Motiejunas united the EuroLeague (35:21);
• Likelihood of EuroLeague having an All-Star Game (36:50);
• Challenges with visiting fans in EuroLeague (38:36);
• Motiejunas on Zalgiris’ changes and playoff hopes (39:34).

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 star who’s scored 50 feels on the plane to Europe (4:34);
• The best lesson from Michael Porter JR (7:50);
• The best and worst of Nikola Jokic (9:03);
• The most difficult EuroLeague team to beat (10:07);
• Facing Red Star with Facundo Campazzo (11:43);
• What made Baskonia special (12:30).

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 care about his role anymore (11:35);
• New sheriffs in Barcelona (12:48);
• Feelings on slow Red Star season start (13:57);
• Why Kalinic left Red Star (15:09);
• What ruined Kalinic’s championship formula idea (17:07).

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.

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 (13:55).

• 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 (39:17).

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 Alimpijevic’s effect (26:49);
• The best fans in Turkey and Andrews’ stolen AirPods (29:38);
• Outro (30:42).

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 (28:07);
• Player selection criteria, creating a team with good chemistry (33:23);
• Living in Bursa, favourite foods, staying out of traffic (39:46);
• Next opponent: Andorra (42:58);
• Leaving a stamp on the club: Young players (45:27).

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 Thybulle is going to play for Australia every time he can (12:18);
• Ben Simmons and new look Boomers (14:53);
• Tough situation for Joe Ingles (15:47);
• The most impressive Australian in the NBA (17:18);
• Exum’s future in Europe (18:05).

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 (21:32);
• Post-career destination (25:45);
• What he likes & dislikes about younger Kalinic (31:33);
• Kalinic’s future with Red Star (35:10);
• Message to Serbian fans (41:00).