By George Adamopoulos / gadamopoulos@eurohoops.net
Sasha Vezenkov dismissed the idea that Fenerbahce Beko’s top-rated defense acts as a personal foil ahead of the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad, pointing to his dominant regular-season production.
“This season, in our two games, I’ve averaged 24 points,” the Olympiacos superstar told Eurohoops, clarifying how his offensive approach has evolved under different coaching systems. “They had a different coach three years ago who played a different defense. Saras plays something else. You can see his tactics and how he thinks about the opposing guards. In these games, it’s not about individual showings, but what you do as a team, how you fight, how you approach the game, and stay together in difficult moments. A semifinal will have ups and downs. So, we know how prepared Fener always is. We will be too and from there, whatever happens.”
When asked if there is room for tactical surprises and whether the Reds possess their most complete roster ever, the Most Valuable Player of the 2025-26 Regular Season remained grounded.
“We have a full roster, but other teams also have full rosters,” explained the 30-year-old power forward. “They have experience. Also, we will face the European champions, who always have a plan for everything, in every detail. So there will definitely be surprises in some minor possessions where you can get four to six points, and that’s the most important thing.”
Reflecting on his individual accolades, he admitted that while a second MVP award was in the back of his mind, the actual moment was rewarding. “You always believe it after this kind of season, but when it happens, it is even sweeter,” he shared with Eurohoops.
Vezenkov expressed a desire to appreciate these milestones amid a grueling schedule, furthering, “I have learned to live every moment, to enjoy it, because in the routine and in the rhythm of everyday life, I think the most important thing is that we have forgotten to enjoy the beautiful moments.”
Nevertheless, he is focused on securing the EuroLeague trophy, drawing comparisons to former NBA star Tim Duncan for his quiet leadership style. Vezenkov attributes his longevity and performance to constant adjustments rather than a single technical overhaul.
“I’m trying to improve some things that I notice through the game,” he told Eurohoops. “It’s not something specific. Through the operation of the team, and how I should perfect them. OK, now I’m 31 years old, so every summer is even harder. And the improvement has shown that no matter how much you work, you always improve.”
Addressing midseason acquisitions Monte Morris and Cory Joseph, Vezenkov indicated that their extensive postseason backgrounds mean they require very little initiation.
“We haven’t talked to tell you the truth because I think they’re professionals enough to know what they’re getting into,” he stated. “They’ve played in the NBA playoffs. Cory has a ring. I think everyone brings their experience and fits it into what they need from the team and what the team needs from them. So I think everyone is now mentally ready for what’s coming.”
The Bulgarian international also talked about the stress of pursuing a championship after falling short in previous Final Four appearances, highlighting the importance of emotional stability under pressure.
“Every year is different,” he underlined. “You’ve grown by a year, you have different performances, you have different and more experience.”
To stay grounded, he avoids altering his routine heading to the Final Four. “If you put extra pressure on yourself or do other things than what you normally do, you will also change your nervous system. So there’s no point. You do the same thing and go play a knockout game.”
Vezenkov pointed to roster depth and the grueling nature of the schedule as critical factors separating this season’s preparation from past campaigns.
“Last year, we had some minor injuries. This year, practices are harder, more competitive, and more players,” he said. “We are a team with 18 players. So I think everyone is good. We prepare, work, and just do our job.”
The logistical curiosity of playing at the Telekom Center Athens, rather than their usual home court, does not distract him.
“It’s different in the sense that we will not travel. We’ll check into a hotel, but it’ll be a little different. We’ll practice at OAKA. But until then, we have to focus on the basketball part,” he mentioned.
Similarly, the absence of the typical home-team dynamic from the season-ending tournament does not change his narrow objective.
“With the home team absent, it will certainly have a different dynamic with the fans, but I think we should only be focused on Fener, because if we don’t get past Fener, there will be no Sunday,” he said. “I think that’s all we care about, and who the opponent would be on Sunday is not that important.”
Vezenkov also detailed the team’s dramatic midseason turnaround during the Regular Season.
“We were definitely a bit confused until December. We hadn’t shown 100%. Last year was a busy year. We won the league championship, but in the 100 years of the club, what everyone wanted was the European title, and they had invested a lot of dreams and aspirations,” he admitted.
“The fans wanted us to start this season strongly from the beginning,” he added. “We didn’t manage to do it. We had some bad games, but then we talked, considered everything, worked even harder, two or three new players came in who helped us to give something different, and I think that after that everything went as it should.”
When evaluating the psychology of a team during a long season, Vezenkov noted that building chemistry is much smoother when results are going your way.
“I think from wins,” he replied when asked whether trust is built during highs or lows. “Victories give you peace of mind. They give you space to work. Yes, you have to see your mistakes, but they give you the right atmosphere to work and put in the right things.”
Finally, he touched upon navigating the intense expectations of the Greek basketball environment, where fans can be notoriously impatient after a loss.
“Certainly, the murmur and in Greece every defeat is experienced differently,” he confessed. “It’s just that this year I think the fans learned as well as we that with the frequency of the games, you can’t be dwelling on a loss and continue even after a win, and summarize at the end.”