After winning the EuroLeague trophy for the second year in a row, Anadolu Efes Istanbul head coach Ergin Ataman is at the center of European basketball once again.

Galatasaray NEF extended their incredible unbeaten streak in the Turkish league (across regular season and playoffs) by forcing back-to-back EuroLeague champions Anadolu Efes Istanbul to a blowout home loss by 70-105 (16-18, 18-25, 17-36, 19-26) in Game 1 of their semifinal series. 

The back-to-back EuroLeague champion Ergin Ataman gave the TV interview to TRT Spor and touched on various topics.

The head coach of Anadolu Efes Istanbul, Ergin Ataman, believes that one of the team's cornerstones Vasilije Micic will remain in the squad for another run.

Back-to-back EuroLeague title holders Anadolu Efes Istanbul keep winning as they reached the semis in the domestic Basketball Super League (BSL). 

Just three days after they were crowned back-to-back EuroLeague champions in Belgrade, Anadolu Efes Istanbul downed Pinar Karsiyaka 83-68 (28-18, 17-24, 19-17, 17-6, 19-9) at the Sinan Erdem, making it 2-1 in the quarter-final series against their opponents and clinching a semifinal spot.

Elijah Bryant added another major feat to his career resume by winning the EuroLeague title with Anadolu Efes Istanbul in Belgrade on Saturday night. 

An interesting off-season awaits for the back-to-back Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champions Anadolu Efes Istanbul who are set to experience the team rebuilding with "some changes".

The back-to-back EuroLeague champions Anadolu Efes Istanbul show strong interest in signing Zalgiris Kaunas frontcourt player Josh Nebo, per BasketNews sources.

Tibor Pleiss is expected to return to the German national team this summer, according to BasketNews sources.

The iconic EuroLeague duo Vasilije Micic and Shane Larkin did it again. Anadolu Efes' backcourt stars led the Turkish club to a back-to-back EuroLeague title.

Real Madrid's decision not to make a foul in order for them to have the last possession is a dominating topic after EuroLeague's final game.

Anadolu Efes players stormed the official EuroLeague press conference and showered their coach Ergin Ataman and the consecutive Final Four MVP Vasilije Micic.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul defended their champion's title, becoming the third EuroLeague team to win the back-to-back titles.

Vasilije Micic and Nikola Jokic made Serbians proud again, as both country's basketball stars repeated as MVPs at different stages of the season.

The back-to-back EuroLeague champions Anadolu Efes Istanbul have agreed on a deal with Will Clyburn, according to Ugur Ozan Sulak of Socrates.

Just like Anadolu Efes Istanbul defended their EuroLeague title, Vasilije Micic got his back-to-back MVP award.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul won a clash for all the EuroLeague glory at Belgrade's Stark Arena and got their back-to-back title by taking down Real Madrid, 58-57 (14-15, 15-19, 11-8, 18-15).

One EuroLeague final participant might reach a very rare milestone in today's basketball.

Will we witness The Last Dance for Anadolu Efes in the upcoming EuroLeague final? Ergin Ataman and Vasilije Micic discussed the future of the Istanbul powerhouse with BasketNews.

Vasilije Micic is on a mission in Belgrade. But Anadolu Efes point guard's game-winner in the semifinal drama again kept us wondering how long the EuroLeague fans will enjoy his talent in Europe.

Vasilije Micic got hit during the second quarter of the EuroLeague semifinal match against Olympiacos Piraeus yesterday.

Reigning EuroLeague champions Anadolu Efes Istanbul will have the chance to defend their title after downing Olympiacos Pireaus in dramatic fashion on Thursday night.

The Stark Arena was full of the Reds fans who turned Belgrade into Piraeus, but still, Ergin Ataman's squad was able to pull off a last-second win thanks to a Vasilije Micic buzzer-beater.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul advanced to their back-to-back Turkish Airlines EuroLeague final by defeating Olympiacos Piraeus in a tough semifinal fight at Stark Arena, 77-74 (18-21, 24-22, 24-20, 11-11).

The reigning champs will meet one of the Spanish powerhouses in the ultimate match of the competition, either FC Barcelona or Real Madrid. While today's loss sends the team coached by Georgios Bartzokas to the third-place game, which will open Saturday's schedule at the Stark Arena.

The real drama began in the last quarter. It was all about defense. Both clubs couldn't score a single bucket for more than four minutes.

Efes maintained a 3-point lead (73-70) with 2 minutes remaining. Shaquielle McKissic missed a driving layup, while Larkin made just one of two free throws (74-70) with 1:16 to go.

Kostas Sloukas answered with a pair of free throws and cut the deficit to 2 with one minute remaining. Adrien Moerman missed an open three, while Hassan Martin tied the game with a driving layup (74-74) with 20 seconds remaining.

The last possession belonged to last year's MVP Vasilije Micic who sank a last second 3-pointer to send Efes to the EuroLeague final.

EuroLeague Final Four will tip off on Thursday evening, and BasketNews asked its experts' opinion on which teams will advance to the grand final and win it all.

For those who missed, FC Barcelona will meet Real Madrid, while Anadolu Efes Istanbul will face Olympiacos Piraeus in the EuroLeague semifinals.

BasketNews members see a clear favorite in Belgrade's Final Four that has received more than three times as many votes as all three other teams combined.

How will the EuroLeague Final Four unfold? For your attention, the guesses of BasketNews experts.

FC Barcelona (1) vs. Real Madrid (4)

• Uygar Karaca: Real
• Lukas Katilius: Barcelona
• Pijus Sapetka: Barcelona
• Giorgos Kyriakidis: Barcelona
• Jonas Leksas: Real
• Orazio Cauchi: Real
• Edvinas Jablonskis: Barcelona
• Lukas Malinauskas: Barcelona
• Mindaugas Bertys: Real
• Miguel Lois Vidal: Barcelona
• Gustavas Klikna: Barcelona
• Jonas Miklovas: Barcelona
• Karolis Tiskevicius: Barcelona
• Martynas Ziurys: Barcelona
• Florian Kurth: Barcelona
• Tomas Vanagas: Barcelona
• Donatas Urbonas: Barcelona
• Deividas Silanskas: Barcelona

Final tally: Barcelona 14, Real 4.

Reigning EuroLeague champions Anadolu Efes Istanbul will try to achieve a rarely visible feat in EuroLeague – to become back-to-back champions.

In comparison to last season, the status of this Anadolu Efes team has changed a bit. If last year the Turkish powerhouse was seen as one of the main favorites, now they have a more of a wildcard label.

But it's not the only change. Last season Anadolu had a big three of Shane Larkin, Vasilije Micic, and Krunoslav Simon.

However, the Croatian international had a difficult season, and as he revealed to BasketNews, he won't wear Efes jersey anymore.

So, who stepped up and took that 3rd guy's role?

"On different nights, there were different guys," Larkin told BasketNews. "Some nights it's been Thibor (Pleiss), some nights it's Elijah (Bryant) or Rodri (Beaubois). It's always been a different mix, but that's exactly what makes us a great team."

Speaking of being a great team, Ergin Ataman said that it's exactly the reason that gives him confidence and allows him to make those bold predictions of Efes becoming the champions.

"I have a great team," Ataman said to BasketNews. "Maybe we had some problems at the beginning of the season, but we found our rhythm in the playoffs. I have great star players, and I'm sure that they like to play in such an atmosphere. We came here to win another title, but, of course, we have great respect for other teams."

One of the essential pieces of the last year's Anadolu Efes title run, Krunoslav Simon, won't be able to help to retain the title on the court. Apparently, he played his last game for Anadolu Efes.

A 36-year-old Croatian confirmed to BasketNews that he injured his knee in the last practice before Belgrade and won't be able to return to the floor this season.

"I'm out for the season. This is the late part of the season, so it's impossible to come back in less than one month," Simon confirmed.

"It was a season with lots of ups and downs. We had a lot of problems. I had a lot of problems. I wasn't injured for 19 years, so all these injuries came in the same year," Simon, who averaged 6.9 points this year, told BasketNews.

"I found myself in this situation for the first time. It's uncomfortable, but it's sports. You have to be prepared for that. I'm here to support my team to help win the title," Simon added.

Simon, who's on an expiring contract, also confirmed he's returning home after this season.

"It's 90% that I will be back home after this season," Simon said to BasketNews.

"I'm homesick, and my kids will start school. Even after these injuries, I think I have a few more years, and I will continue to play. It's too early to say where, but I think I will play a few more years," Kruno explained.

According to BasketNews sources, Cibona Zagreb is one of the likely career destinations for Simon.

The veteran also confirmed that he's not thinking about coaching after his career.

"This is not my ambition. I don't want to continue with all these trips and the life I'm going through now. I hope I will stay in sports, but not in a coaching position," Simon added.

Since his return to Europe, it took four years for Shane Larkin to be included in the first All-EuroLeague team.

He was getting used to the European basketball in the 2018-19 season, Covid took it away in 2019-20, while in the 2020-21 season, the spot in the first All-EuroLeague team was given to his teammate Vasilije Micic.

However, finally, Larkin's time has come, and he was inducted among the best players of the season along with Mike James, Sasha Vezenkov, Nikola Mirotic, and Walter Tavares.

"The league is obviously full of great players; every year, different guys step up," Larkin answered BasketNews' question, whether such recognition didn't come a bit too late. "Obviously, one of my goals is to be one of the best players in the competition. I know it's not an easy thing to do, so it's great to be acknowledged by being in the first team."