URBONUS

Sasa Djordjevic on NBA adventure, exceptional De Colo & Zeljko’s goal

Fenerbahce BEKO Istanbul head coach Aleksandar Djordjevic joined the Urbonus podcast in Kaunas to talk about early days playmaking for Larry Bird, choosing between two NBA offers, the quite weird similar thing he shares with Sarunas Jasikevicius, the great leader he found in Fener, and what fuels Serbian basketball.

Topics:

• Intro & playing with Larry Bird (00:00);
• Two NBA offers & Sabonis joke (5:05);
• Crazy Djordjevic numbers & radical change (9:05);
• Scorer’s advice to solve Fenerbahce problem (12:59);
• Teodosic tip on Fenerbahce leader (15:59);
• Inspiring Serbia NT locker room story  (19:05);
• Tough goal to repeat for Zeljko (25:57);
• Djordjevic phone calls with his dad (29:46).

Booed Hezonja and wild Crvena Zvezda - Partizan derby

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas discuss Mario Hezonja’s return to Athens, the most exciting things from the first Crvena Zvezda and Partizan derby game, a coaching change in Baskonia, and top EuroLeague teams facing issues.

Topics:

• Intro, Vysniauskas comeback, Urbonas mystery (00:00):
• Did Hezonja deserve to be booed at OAKA (6:22);
• Timma, Lambo and OJ Mayo (18:07);
• Rivalry ghosts in Europe (22:39);
• Uncomfortable scenes in Crvena Zvezda - Partizan derby (27:30);
• Why Zvezda dominated Partizan (30:31);
• Two best Zvezda & Partizan players (38:10);
• If CSKA can rely on Iffe Lundberg (42:57);
• Two ways to solve Fenerbahce issues (57:01);
• Finding a hard time in understanding Bartzokas (1:05:55);
• If Othello Hunter was right blaming referees (1:10:54);
• Not that type of a change we’ve expected in Baskonia (1:14:08);
• Rytis is back with Ataman’s impression (1:16:58);
• The best upcoming double-week games (1:18:38);
• The best format idea for the EuroLeague (1:21:05);
• Undiscovered talent pool for the NBA scouts (1:27:23).

Sarunas Jasikevicius on winning formula, happy Zeljko & NBA in Europe

FC Barcelona head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius joined the Urbonus podcast in Milan to talk about his philosophy of building a championship team in Barcelona, the direction in which the EuroLeague should be heading, his good old friend Zeljko Obradovic in Belgrade, and his first love Zalgiris going through a very challenging rebuild process after his era in Kaunas.

Topics:

• Intro about what’s more important than winning (00:00);
• How to get better after losing the final against Efes (2:00);
• Explaining Mirotic what a good and bad shot is (5:08);
• Big goal for Rokas Jokubaitis (11:00);
• Discussing salary reduction with Barca stars (13:00);
• Jordi’s dismissal and the necessary EuroLeague change (15:30);
• The beauty of the EuroLeague over the NBA (18:45);
• What went wrong with Zalgiris (23:00);
• Funny message to Zeljko Obradovic (28:32);
• Obsessed winners (30:03).

 

Angry Saras and ridiculous EuroLeague TV interviews

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas discuss the game of the week in Milan and what was unusual behind the scenes, why CSKA are not in crisis yet, painful days in Vitoria & Kaunas, and crazy fan experiences in the top EuroLeague arenas.

Topics:

• Intro about the unsung heroes (00:00);
• A game-changer in Milan (4:59);
• Unusual post-game scenes at Mediolanum Forum (12:29);
• Hines three-pointer, Armani’s question marks (18:19);
• “Fire Itoudis!“; “CSKA in crisis!“; “Shved is bad!” (24:34);
• Fenerbahce and their late-game ghosts (28:16);
• What’s common between bad starts of title contenders (33:42);
• The problem with the EuroLeague TV interviews (38:32);
• Hero of the week in Zenit (44:41);
• The way to win games for low-budget teams (50:00);
• Another development in Baskonia’s saga (56:45);
• Greatest EuroLeague backcourt so far (1:01:10);
• Ridiculous Zdovc’s statement (1:05:02);
• Crazy scenes in Athens (1:17:05);
• The EuroLeague gym where players looked scared (1:21:23);
• Is there a place in the EL for young players (1:26:00);
• Another Ataman’s impression in the making (1:32:53);
• Ideal EuroLeague model (1:34:00).

Ataman (not) on a hot seat, Zalgiris survival plan & time for a change in Baskonia

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas discuss the possibility of a coaching change in Anadolu Efes and Baskonia, the roster changes in Zalgiris, and the hottest topics of the latest EuroLeague double-game week.

Topics:

• Intro, if Ergin Ataman is on a hot seat (00:00);
• The pros and cons of Zalgiris signing Zoran Dragic (12:37);
• Can Tai Webster be the answer for Zalgiris problems (17:45);
• The necessary mentality change in building Zalgiris roster (26:39);
• If Mudiay belongs in the EuroLeague (29:37);
• The rebirth of Maccabi (35:20);
• One weird game for Mike James & Monaco (39:31);
• Why TJ Parker is a hero of the week (44:50);
• The change needed in Baskonia (51:53);
• Ranking Top 3 teams to cover on TV (58:55);
• What Fenerbahce are missing to win close games (1:10:20);
• Unexpected turnaround for UNICS (1:14:35);
• NBA in Europe scenario (1:16:44);
• Good situation for Gudaitis and Kuzminskas (1:20:37);
• If Baldwin will surpass Granger for main PG minutes (1:27:52).

Weird revolution, new EuroLeague boss, and struggling NBA players in Europe

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas talk about Jordi Bertomeu’s position as CEO and the most interesting Euroleague games of round 5

Topics:

• Intro about Rytis finally joining Twitter (00:00);
• Potential NBA project in Europa (3:43);
• Who could replace Jordi Bertomeu as Euroleague’s new CEO? (08:51);
• Anadolu Efes get their first win (20:09);
• The struggles of O.J. Mayo and other newcomers from the NBA (27:15);
• Xavi Pasqual facing tough challenges with Zenit (30:43);
• Kenneth Faried’s unsuccessful first Euroleague minutes but CSKA overcoming obstacles again (35:48);
• Crazy moment of Alexey Shved (41:32);
• Mike James and Monaco disappointing performance vs Baskonia (42:52);
• Hard working Tadas Sedekerskis delivers (45:27);
• Drama in Milan as Olimpia extend their winning streak (46:38);
• Praises for Ellie Okobo and ASVEL (48:14);
• Memorable night for Edy Tavares and Real Madrid’s victory (50:55);
• Hero and Zero of the week nominations (55:50);
• Interesting time outs in Kaunas (01:01:12);
• Reacting to comments on YouTube (01:05:42);
• Best games to watch this week (01:15:47).

Sergio Scariolo on improving NBA bridge, key in post-Gasol era & clear goal with Virtue

Sergio Scariolo talks to BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas about building a connection with Spain NT stars, Spain basketball future in the post-Gasol era, the missing piece in the bridge between NBA and Europe, why it would be a mistake to create a rivalry between him and Ettore Messina, and his expectations from a new chapter with Virtus.

Topics:

• Intro, the reasons behind the discipline of Scariolo (00:00);
• The first speech at Spanish NT locker room (5:22);
• The turning point, when Scariolo went for his first title with Spain NT (8:29);
• Why it’s necessary to keep Pau Gasol in basketball (14:40);
• Ricky Rubio future with Spain NT (17:12);
• What’s wrong with the bridge between the NBA and European coaches (21:48);
• The NBA qualities which Scariolo will try to bring to Virtus (26:13);
• If Scariolo would win the Serie A at the age of 30 nowadays (30:00);
• Why you shouldn’t create a rivalry between Scariolo and Messina (33:58);
• What Scariolo wants from his new chapter with Virtus (37:21).

Are Efes in trouble, the best EuroLeague team & coaches on the hot seat

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas discuss the hottest topics of the first four EuroLeague rounds.

Topics:

• Intro about the long break between Urbonus episodes (00:00);
• What crossing the street between Monaco and France means (1:54);
• Are Anadolu Efes in trouble? (9:49)
• Rytis does his Ergin Ataman impersonation (16:11);
• The best EuroLeague team after four games (18:15);
• Our gift for Messina, jokes and unexpected atmosphere in Milan (22:23);
• Nikola Mirotic nemesis (30:05);
• Olympiacos statement, and massive room for their improvement (36:30);
• The next future Real Madrid player from ASVEL (41:59);
• The best announcer in the EuroLeague (46:42);
• Another headache for Itoudis; Faried, and Shved’s time (48:25);
• Why Crvena Zvezda is a team to respect (58:55);
• Maccabi problems and why Sfairopoulos shouldn’t be on a hot seat (1:02:23);
• The biggest Zalgiris mistake (1:07:38);
• Candidates to upgrade Zalgiris and must-do roster moves (1:15:20);
• Zdovc adjustments, head coaches on a hot seat (1:23:01).

Nikola Vujcic on debating the best EuroLeague team ever & provoking miracles in Maccabi

Nikola Vujcic talks to BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas about the championship formula in the EuroLeague, debating the best modern EuroLeague team ever, a tough transition from playing to working in a front office for former basketball stars, the core of Maccabi future and changes he would like to see in Israeli basketball.

Topics:

• The plan of surviving in Tel Aviv before the miracle happened (00:00);
• Maccabi vs. Anadolu Efes & the best EuroLeague team ever (3:13);
• Provoking miracles in Maccabi & Twitter GMs (9:10);
• Talking basketball with Anthony Parker (16:49);
• The tough transition from playing to the front office for ex-stars (19:22);
• Building the dynasty behind Sfairopoulos and Wilbekin (27:46);
• Marin Vujcic and main issue with Israeli basketball (31:50).

Monaco GM Efimov on recruiting Mike James, building an arena on the sea & making a miracle

Monaco GM Oleksiy Efimov joins BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas to talk about creating a miracle in Monaco, recruiting Mike James, going through an incredible basketball journey, and building a team where one-third of residents are millionaires.

Topics:

• Intro about meeting Alex Albon, Caroline Wozniacki, Novak Djokovic, and NBA stars in Monaco (00:00);
• How AS Monaco signed Mike James (5:37);
• The biggest highlight of the first-ever EuroLeague game in Monaco (10:57);
• How AS Monaco went after Donatas Motiejunas and the next big star in Monaco (13:50);
• How to attract people to watch basketball in Monaco when one-third of Monaco residents are millionaires (16:20);
• How Oleksiy Efimov became the sports director of Ukrainian club at the age of 21 (23:25);
• Who is the head of Monaco club Serhiy Diadetchko (26:15);
• How the sports journalist became the head coach of the Ukrainian team in few years and how terrorists set the basketball arena on fire (29:04);
• Key Zvezdan Mitrovic strength that fit Monaco project (32:53);
• Advantages and disadvantages of having a club in the Principality of Monaco and building the arena on the sea (36:23);
• The next dream for Monaco and Oleksiy Efimov (44:10);