By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The NBA and the EuroLeague are the top two basketball leagues globally, with the former widely regarded as the gold standard. Winning any of these championships is no easy feat. The player has to get many things right, such as being on the right team, delivering the right performance, and putting in maximum effort. Sometimes, they’d also need a little bit of luck.
If you were to count, you’d find hundreds, maybe even thousands, of players who have won either an NBA or EuroLeague title. But winning both? That’s a whole different level of achievement. Only a select few players have managed to hit the championship jackpot twice, winning both the EuroLeague and NBA titles. Speaking of jackpots, you can try your luck here with the Midas Treasure and other exciting online slot titles in your free time.
This article explores five of these rare achievers, highlighting how they secured both titles and the teams they won with. Let’s dive right in!
Bob McAdoo
Bob McAdoo made his mark early in the NBA, winning an MVP award and multiple scoring titles. However, he won the championship later in his career with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1982 and 1985. With the Lakers, McDoo was no longer the usual unstoppable offensive machine that once led the league in scoring three consecutive times. However, he still played a crucial role in both victories. He adapted his game to fit alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, coming off the bench and providing the offense, rebounding, and veteran leadership that proved instrumental in the Lakers’ championship runs.
After his final NBA season with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1986, McAdoo took his talents overseas, joining Olimpia Milan in Italy. If anyone thought he was done, they were mistaken. McAdoo dominated the European scene, winning back-to-back EuroLeague titles in 1987 and 1988. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.
Manu Ginobili
Before taking the NBA by storm, Ginobili made a name for himself in Europe. He played in Italy with Viola Reggio Calabria before joining Virtus Bologna in 2000. It was with Bologna that he won the EuroLeague championship in 2001. That year, he was named the EuroLeague Finals MVP.
As expected, Manu Ginobili’s performances turned heads across the basketball world, and he quickly got the NBA’s attention. He was then drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 1999 with the 57th overall pick. However, Ginobili didn’t join the team until 2002.
Teaming up with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, Ginobili formed one of the most successful trios in NBA history, winning championships in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014. While his career averages of 13.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game might not look flashy, his impact on the court was immeasurable. He was the ultimate team player, often coming off the bench to provide instant offense and defensive energy.
Ginobili retired in 2018 after a remarkable 16-year NBA career. His contributions to the game were recognized in 2022 when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His No. 20 jersey was also retired by the Spurs to honor his immense role in the franchise’s success.
Toni Kukoc
Kukoc was also a dominant force in European basketball before coming to the NBA. He led Jugoplastika Split (later renamed KK Split) to a EuroLeague three-peat from 1989 to 1991, earning the EuroLeague Final Four MVP honors in 1990 and 1991 and the tournament’s top scorer title in 1990.
Kukoc’s European dominance naturally drew the attention of NBA scouts, which got the Chicago Bulls to select him in the second round of the 1990 NBA Draft. He, however, remained in Europe for a few more seasons before making his long-awaited move to the NBA in 1993.
Interestingly, Kukoc arrived when the team had just lost Michael Jordan to his first retirement. Despite this, he made an immediate impact, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 1994. His contributions ultimately helped Chicago dominate the league with another historic three-peat from 1996 to 1998.
Larry Wright
Larry Wright won the NBA with the Washington Bullets in 1978 and the EuroLeague with Banco di Roma in 1984. Wright began his professional career with the Bullets, as he was selected 14th overall in the 1976 NBA Draft. He joined a team that was one of the league’s powerhouses then, so he primarily came off the bench. Despite this, his contributions were crucial, especially during the Bullets’ championship run in 1978, when he averaged 9.2 points and 3.7 assists per game.
Wright eventually moved to Italy in 1982, playing for Banco di Roma, where he quickly became one of the league’s top players. He led the team to an Italian championship in 1983, and the following season, Banco di Roma competed in the FIBA European Champions Cup (now known as the EuroLeague) as reigning Italian champions.
Wright’s performance was once again crucial, especially in the championship game against Barcelona. He delivered 27 points to lead Banco di Roma to a 79-73 victory, helping the team claim its first-ever EuroLeague title.
Josh Powell
Josh Powell played a supporting role in the Lakers back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. While he wasn’t a star on the stat sheet, averaging under 2.5 points per game, his presence as a reliable reserve forward provided depth behind Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Andrew Bynum.
Following his stint in L.A., Powell bounced around China, Switzerland, and Puerto Rico, eventually landing with Olympiacos in 2012. That move would see him add another major championship to his resume. Playing as a key rotation piece, he helped the Greek club secure the 2013 EuroLeague title, averaging 5.1 points and 2.7 rebounds during the campaign.
Conclusion
Winning either the NBA or EuroLeague championship is a dream for many basketball players, but securing both titles is a rare and remarkable achievement. So far, only a select few have achieved this feat, and their legacies continue to inspire the next generation of basketball players.