By Kostas Paraskevopoulos/ info@eurohoops.net
The Final Four of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague is heading to Abu Dhabi for the first time in league history.
On Friday, Panathinaikos Aktor against Fenerbahce Beko at 17:00 CET and Olympiacos against AS Monaco at 20:00 CET shape the schedule of the Semifinals.
Eurohoops made sure to note all great individual Final Four records in the modern history of the league, since 2002.
Points – Trajan Langdon
We start with scoring, where Trajan Langdon has held the record since 2010, when CSKA ranked third with a narrow win, 90-88, over Partizan in Paris.
The American guard was unstoppable in this third-place game, scoring 32 points (12/14 FT, 4/6 2PTS, 4/8 3PTS) and remains at the top of the list.
He is followed by Nando De Colo and Shane Larkin. The French guard had 30 points in CSKA’s 88-81 semifinal victory over Lokomotiv Kuban. The American guard also scored 30 points in Anadolu Efes‘ 92-73 semifinal win over Fenerbahce in 2019.
Rebounds – Walter Tavares / Maceo Baston / David Andersen
As for rebounds, three players share first place. The most recent example is Real Madrid center, Walter Tavares, collecting 15 total rebounds (11 defensive – 4 offensive) in 2023 in Kaunas, in a win, 78-66, against FC Barcelona (78-66) in the Semifinals.
The first to grab 15 rebounds (10 defensive – 5 offensive) was David Andersen in 2005 in the third-place game of the Final Four in Moscow, in CSKA‘s loss, 94-91, to Panathinaikos. Maceo Baston had 15 rebounds (10 defensive – 5 offensive) in 2006, as Maccabi fell to CSKA, 73-69, in the Final in Prague.
In defensive rebounds, Shaun Stonerook pulled down 13 in 2011 for Siena in a Semifinals loss to Panathinaikos, 77-69. In offensive rebounds, Anthony Randolph had eight in 2016 for Lokomotiv Kuban in a Semifinals loss to CSKA, 88-81. Tavares grabbed eight offensive rebounds in 2022 for Madrid in a loss, 58-57, to Efes in the Belgrade Final.
Assists – Facundo Campazzo
Facundo Campazzo is the Final Four record-holder in assists. The Argentine point guard dished out 15 dimes in 2019, helping Madrid beat Fenerbahce, 94-75, in the third-place affair.
Nick Calathes is second behind 13 assists in 2022, in Barca’s win, 84-74, versus Olympiacos in the third-place game. Entering the top three with 12 assists in 2008, Terrell McIntyre lifted Siena over Baskonia, 97-93, in the third-place game.
Steals – Aaron Jackson
The record for the most steals in a single Final Four contest belongs to Aaron Jackson since 2015. The American guard of CSKA recorded seven as his side fell, 70-68, to Olympiacos in the Semifinals in Madrid.
The next closest is Chuck Eidson with six steals in the 2011 Semifinals, when Maccabi defeated Madrid, 82-63.
Blocks – Maceo Baston
Resurfacing following the rebounds list, Maceo Baston also tops the blocks list, but without company. He registered six blocks in the 2006 Final Four as Maccabi Elite prevailed, 85-70, over Tau Ceramica in the Semifinals.
Two players sit in second place, with five rejections apiece. Gregor Fucka in Barcelona’s losing effort, 84-75, against CSKA in the 2008 Semifinals, and Ekpe Udoh in Fener’s 80-64 victory versus Olympiacos in the 2017 Final in Istanbul.