By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
That’s exactly the case with Sarunas Jasikevicius, 49, and Vassilis Spanoulis, 43 — two icons whose paths have intertwined for decades and now collide again in Round 15 of the 2025-26 Regular Season.
This coaching rivalry began last season when Spanoulis took charge of AS Monaco, with Jasikevicius having already spent nearly a decade on EuroLeague sidelines. Both made stunning transitions from dominant guards to elite tacticians, culminating in an unforgettable showdown in Abu Dhabi for the EuroLeague crown. Fenerbahce prevailed, giving Jasikevicius his first coaching title and his first win over Spanoulis when it mattered most.
But the story runs deeper. Their first two meetings in the 2024-25 regular season went Spanoulis’s way — convincing wins in Istanbul and Monaco, powered by Mike James’s combined 50 points. Monaco finished fourth with 21 wins, while Fenerbahce claimed second at 23. The third clash was the ultimate decider: the championship game, where Jasikevicius finally struck back.
From Teammates to Tactical Foes
Long before their coaching duel, the two shared glory as teammates. Under Zeljko Obradovic, they helped Panathinaikos lift the EuroLeague trophy in 2009. For Spanoulis, it was the first of three titles and three Final Four MVP honors, the others coming with Olympiacos.
For Jasikevicius, it marked his fourth championship after triumphs with Maccabi Tel Aviv and Barcelona.
Their camaraderie still shines through in press conferences, often with humor. “Malaka, you know what’s the worst? We don’t have the ball,” joked Jasikevicius before last season’s Final. Spanoulis fired back when asked about Obradovic: “I didn’t get any message from him,” after Saras revealed his latest chat with their former coach.
Modern Challenges, Timeless Rivalry
Today’s EuroLeague coaches juggle far more than X’s and O’s — nutrition plans, recovery schedules, and relentless travel all shape their work. Both Jasikevicius and Spanoulis have embraced these demands, proving they belong among the game’s brightest minds.
Their evolution from legendary players to master tacticians has created one of the EuroLeague’s most compelling storylines. The next chapter unfolds Friday at Salle Gaston Medecin, where old friends turned rivals will once again battle for supremacy.