By Antonis Stroggylakis / astroggylakis@eurohoops.net
ABU DHABI – Pushing Fenerbahce Beko to the second Turkish Airlines EuroLeague championship in team history, Nigel Hayes-Davis was named Most Valuable Player of the Final Four 2025.
With players and coaches heading to the podium to lift the trophy, the 30-year-old forward collected the trophy for the individual award, following a winning effort against AS Monaco in the championship game of the Final Four on Sunday.
The former Wisconsin standout averaged 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game in the championship-crowning tournament, including a game-high 23 points in the Final.
With the trophy in his hands, celebrating, Nigel Hayes-Davis explained that he was ready for his close-up: “I’ve worked very hard in the last three or four years trying to be present, and I’ve played this moment out in my mind for the last month, this past year. So now that I’m here, it kind of feels like I’ve already done it. I don’t look as excited as I am, but I’m extremely happy, extremely proud. We worked very hard all year, a lot of ups and downs like every season, but it’s tremendous to be a champion.”
Over the last two years, Hayes-Davis earned a spot in the All-EuroLeague First Team and also set a new record for the most points in a single game with 50 points, leading to the most important success of his overseas career.
Per the press release: “After leading Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul to its second-ever Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title, Nigel Hayes-Davis has been crowned as the 2025 Final Four MVP.
Hayes-Davis was absolutely dominant in Fenerbahce’s 70-81 Championship Game victory over AS Monaco at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, posting game highs of 23 points and 9 rebounds, as well as 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block, good for a game-high PIR of 30.
Even though he struggled somewhat from the field, shooting 4 for 13, he was a perfect 14 for 14 from the free-throw line as he continued to find ways to positively impact his team. This performance came after posting 7 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and zero turnovers as Fenerbahce eliminated last year’s champion, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, in the semifinals.
Hayes-Davis now follows in the footsteps of Ekpe Udoh, who was the Final Four MVP when Fenerbahce became the EuroLeague champion for the first time in 2017.”
The 2024-25 journey for the team coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius switches to the Playoffs of the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi. After a 27-3 W-L tally to comfortably top the standings of the Regular Season and secure homecourt advantage throughout the postseason, Fener will face Onvo Buyukcekmece or Turk Telekom in the Quarterfinals.