2018 EuroLeague Final Four

On 26 October 2016 Euroleague Basketball announced that the Final Four would be held in the Štark Arena in Belgrade. It is designed as a universal hall for sports, cultural events and other programs. It was the first time the EuroLeague Final Four was hosted in Belgrade, or in the country of Serbia. The Arena's total floor area is 48,000 square metres. For sports, it has a regular seating capacity for fans of 18,386, and also has 70 luxury boxes, which include a total of 860 seats.{{cite web|url=http://www.kombankarena.rs/en/page/61|title=Kombank Arena - Kombank Arena Profile|publisher=kombankarena.rs|access-date=4 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201034647/http://www.kombankarena.rs/en/page/61|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} The arena's cost was estimated at €70 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/sport.72.html:194970-Najskuplja-kad-je---prazna |title=Najskuplja kad je - prazna|publisher=Novosti.rs|language=sr|access-date=4 December 2016}} Štark Arena is a member of the European Arenas Association (EAA).{{cite web|url=http://www.europeanarenas.com/index.php|title=EUROPEAN ARENAS ASSOCIATION|publisher=EAA|access-date=4 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307094728/http://www.europeanarenas.com/index.php|archive-date=2016-03-07|url-status=dead}}

CSKA Moscow finished the regular season as the number one seed, after having a 24–6 record. In the quarter-finals, the team played another Russian side in Khimki. CSKA won the series 3–1 over Khimki, after a controversial 88–89 win in Game 4.[https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/664791/the-controversial-finale-of-khimki-cska/ The controversial finale of Khimki – CSKA] In the United League season, CSKA was in second place while battling for the first seed.

Fenerbahçe finished second in the regular season and defeated Kirolbet Baskonia in the quarter-finals. Fenerbahçe reached the Final Four for a fourth straight year. Head coach Željko Obradović had the opportunity to win his tenth EuroLeague title, a record for most titles by a coach.

Madrid battled injuries during the regular season, as Sergio Llull, Ognjen Kuzmić and Rudy Fernández missed most of the games. As a five-seed, the team beat Panathinaikos in a controversial quarterfinal series, 1–3. The star player for Madrid during the season was Luka Dončić, who led the league in Performance Index Rating (PIR), and was later a top-three pick in the 2018 NBA draft. Dončić's games during the Final Four were televised in the United States, by NBA TV.

In the 2017–18 ACB season, Real Madrid was the number one seed.

In the regular season, Žalgiris qualified as the sixth seed. Žalgiris won the series over favored Olympiacos, 3–1. For EuroLeague Legend Šarūnas Jasikevičius, this was his first visit to the Final Four as a head coach and also for the club since 1999. In its domestic LKL season, the club dominated as well, as it was in a secure first seed.

{{#invoke:RoundN|main|columns=2|bold_winner=high|score-boxes=1|3rdplace=yes

|RD1=Semifinals

|RD2=Championship game

|RD3=Third place game

|score-width=25

|18 May| {{flagicon|RUS}} CSKA Moscow | 83 |{{flagicon|ESP}} Real Madrid | 92

|18 May| {{flagicon|TUR}} Fenerbahçe Doğuş | 76 | {{flagicon|LTU}} Žalgiris | 67

|20 May| {{flagicon|ESP}} Real Madrid | 85 | {{flagicon|TUR}} Fenerbahçe Doğuş | 80

|20 May| {{flagicon|RUS}} CSKA Moscow | 77 | {{flagicon|LTU}} Žalgiris | 79

}}

Russian champions CSKA Moscow returned to the Final Four to make it their seventh consecutive semi-final appearance. CSKA guard Sergio Rodríguez would play the semi-final against his former club, which he won the EuroLeague title with in 2015, as well as the EuroLeague MVP award in 2014.

Real Madrid would play its fourth Final Four in five years. The match would be a re-match of the 2017 third-place game. During the regular season, both teams won their respective games at home, with this game being considered a Real Madrid home game.

{{basketballbox collapsible

| date = 18 May 2018

| time = 21:00 UTC+02:00

| report = [http://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?gamecode=257&seasoncode=E2017 Boxscore]

| teamA = CSKA Moscow {{flagicon|RUS}}

| scoreA = 83

| scoreB = 92

| teamB = {{flagicon|ESP}} Real Madrid

| Q1 = 30–20

| Q2 = 16–27

| Q3 = 10–16

| Q4 = 27–29

| points1 = De Colo 20

| rebounds1 = Hines 9

| assist1 = Rodríguez 6

| rating1 = Hines 23

| points2 = Dončić, Llull 16

| rebounds2 = Ayón 11

| assist2 = Llull 5

| rating2 = three players 18

| arena = Štark Arena

| place = Belgrade, Serbia

| attendance = 15,232

| referee = Luigi Lamonica (ITA), Robert Lottermoser (GER), Matej Boltauzer (SLO)

| class = expanded

}}

{{0}}

| style="vertical-align:top; align:left; width:33%;"|

{{Bs game header | p = yes | r = yes | a = yes | colour = white }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 11 | nat = ARG | name = Facundo Campazzo | p = 0 | r = 1 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SG | no = 7 | nat = SLO | name = Luka Dončić | p = 16 | r = 7 | a = 2 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SF | no = 44 | nat = SWE | name = Jeffery Taylor | p = 3 | r = 1 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PF | no = 9 | nat = ESP | name = Felipe Reyes | p = 5 | r = 2 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 14 | nat = MEX | name = Gustavo Ayón | p = 12 | r = 11 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game mid | p = yes | r = yes | a = yes }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SG | no = 1 | nat = FRA | name = Fabien Causeur | p = 6 | r = 2 | a = 3 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PF | no = 3 | nat = SLO | name = Anthony Randolph | p = 2 | r = 2 | a = 2 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SF | no = 5 | nat = ESP | name = Rudy Fernández | dab = basketball | p = 6 | r = 2 | a = 2 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SG | no = 20 | nat = AZE | name = Jaycee Carroll | p = 9 | r = 2 | a = 3 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 22 | nat = CPV | name = Edy Tavares | p = 5 | r = 0 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 23 | nat = ESP | name = Sergio Llull | p = 16 | r = 0 | a = 5 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PF | no = 33 | nat = USA | name = Trey Thompkins | p = 12 | r = 6 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game coach | nat = ESP | name = Pablo Laso }}

|}

Defending champions Fenerbahçe Doğuş returned to the Final Four to make it their third straight appearance. Led by head coach Željko Obradović, the all-time record holder for most EuroLeague championships won by a head coach, it defeated Kirolbet Baskonia 1–3 in the quarter-finals, to clinch a semi-final spot.

Žalgiris Kaunas qualified for its first Final Four in 20 years, as the last time the team participated was in 1999, where it claimed the championship as well. The club beat Olympiacos 3–1 in the play-offs, despite not having home court advantage.

{{basketballbox collapsible

| date = 18 May 2018

| time = 18:00 UTC+02:00

| report = [http://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?gamecode=258&seasoncode=E2017 Boxscore]

| teamA = Fenerbahçe Doğuş {{flagicon|TUR}}

| scoreA = 76

| scoreB = 67

| teamB = {{flagicon|LTU}} Žalgiris Kaunas

| Q1 = 19–13

| Q2 = 20–20

| Q3 = 15–17

| Q4 = 22–17

| points1 = Muhammed 19

| rebounds1 = Düverioğlu 5

| assist1 = Melli 6

| rating1 = Muhammed 18

| points2 = Pangos 16

| rebounds2 = Davies 11

| assist2 = Micić, Pangos 4

| rating2 = Davies 21

| arena = Štark Arena

| place = Belgrade, Serbia

| attendance = 16,967

| referee = Daniel Hierrezuelo (ESP), Sreten Radović (CRO), Oļegs Latiševs (LAT)

| class = expanded

}}

{{0}}

| style="vertical-align:top; align:left; width:33%;"|

{{Bs game header | p = yes | r = yes | a = yes | colour = #006D3E }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 3 | nat = CAN | name = Kevin Pangos | p = 16 | r = 5 | a = 4 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SG | no = 92 | nat = LTU | name = Edgaras Ulanovas | p = 7 | r = 3 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SF | no = 6 | nat = FRA | name = Axel Toupane | p = 6 | r = 1 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PF | no = 13 | nat = LTU | name = Paulius Jankūnas | p = 4 | r = 4 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 0 | nat = USA | name = Brandon Davies | p = 12 | r = 11 | a = 2 }}

{{Bs game mid | p = yes | r = yes | a = yes }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 9 | nat = SLO | name = Beno Udrih | p = 2 | r = 1 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 19 | nat = LTU | name = Martynas Sajus | dnp = yes }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SG | no = 21 | nat = LTU | name = Artūras Milaknis | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SG | no = 22 | nat = SRB | name = Vasilije Micić | p = 5 | r = 1 | a = 4 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PF | no = 30 | nat = USA | name = Aaron White | dab = basketball | p = 10 | r = 6 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 44 | nat = LTU | name = Antanas Kavaliauskas | p = 5 | r = 2 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 66 | nat = LTU | name = Paulius Valinskas | dnp = yes }}

{{Bs game coach | nat = LTU | name =Šarūnas Jasikevičius }}

|}

{{basketballbox collapsible

| date = 20 May 2018

| time = 17:00 UTC+02:00

| report = [http://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?gamecode=259&seasoncode=E2017 Boxscore]

| teamA = CSKA Moscow {{flagicon|RUS}}

| scoreA = 77

| scoreB = 79

| teamB = {{flagicon|LTU}} Žalgiris Kaunas

| Q1 = 19–22

| Q2 = 16–19

| Q3 = 13–28

| Q4 = 29–10

| points1 = Kulagin, Hunter 14

| rebounds1 = Hunter 8

| assist1 = three players 3

| rating1 = Hunter 25

| points2 = Jankūnas, Micić 15

| rebounds2 = White 7

| assist2 = Pangos, Micić 4

| rating2 = Jankūnas 17

| arena = Štark Arena

| place = Belgrade

| attendance = 14,548

| referee = Daniel Hierrezuelo (ESP), Elias Koromilas (GRE), Robert Lottermoser (GER)

| class = expanded

}}

{{0}}

| style="vertical-align:top; align:left; width:33%;"|

{{Bs game header | p = yes | r = yes | a = yes | colour = #FFFFFF }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 3 | nat = CAN | name = Kevin Pangos | p = 9 | r = 1 | a = 4 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SG | no = 92 | nat = LTU | name = Edgaras Ulanovas | p = 14 | r = 1 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SF | no = 6 | nat = FRA | name = Axel Toupane | p = 6 | r = 4 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PF | no = 13 | nat = LTU | name = Paulius Jankūnas | p = 15 | r = 5 | a = 2 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 0 | nat = USA | name = Brandon Davies | p = 2 | r = 4 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game mid | p = yes | r = yes | a = yes }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 9 | nat = SLO | name = Beno Udrih | p = 2 | r = 2 | a = 2 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PF | no = 20 | nat = LTU | name = Gytis Masiulis | dnp = yes }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SG | no = 21 | nat = LTU | name = Artūras Milaknis | p = 3 | r = 3 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SG | no = 22 | nat = SRB | name = Vasilije Micić | p = 15 | r = 4 | a = 4 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PF | no = 30 | nat = USA | name = Aaron White | dab = basketball | p = 4 | r = 7 | a = 2 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 44 | nat = LTU | name = Antanas Kavaliauskas | p = 9 | r = 5 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 66 | nat = LTU | name = Paulius Valinskas | dnp = yes }}

{{Bs game coach | nat = LTU | name = Šarūnas Jasikevičius }}

|}

{{basketballbox collapsible

| date = 20 May 2018

| time = 20:00 UTC+02:00

| report = [http://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?gamecode=260&seasoncode=E2017 Boxscore]

| teamA = Real Madrid {{flagicon|ESP}}

| scoreA = 85

| scoreB = 80

| teamB = {{flagicon|TUR}} Fenerbahçe Doğuş

| Q1 = 21–17

| Q2 = 17–23

| Q3 = 25–15

| Q4 = 22–25

| points1 = Causeur 17

| rebounds1 = three players 5

| assist1 = Dončić 4

| rating1 = Causeur 21

| points2 = Melli 28

| rebounds2 = Melli 6

| assist2 = Wanamaker 5

| rating2 = Melli 27

| arena = Štark Arena

| place = Belgrade

| attendance = 16,967

| referee = Luigi Lamonica (ITA), Borys Ryzhyk (UKR), Oļegs Latiševs (LAT)

| bg = #ffffd0

| class = expanded

}}

{{0}}

| style="vertical-align:top; align:left; width:33%;"|

{{Bs game header | p = yes | r = yes | a = yes | colour = #163962}}

{{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 11 | nat = USA | name = Brad Wanamaker | p = 14 | r = 5 | a = 5 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SG | no = 23 | nat = SRB | name = Marko Gudurić | p = 0 | r = 1 | a = 2 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SF | no = 33 | nat = SRB | name = Nikola Kalinić | p = 7 | r = 3 | a = 1 |dab=basketball}}

{{Bs game player | pos = PF | no = 24 | nat = CZE | name = Jan Veselý | p = 3 | r = 5 | a = 2 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = C | no = 44 | nat = JOR | name = Ahmet Düverioğlu | p = 8 | r = 1 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game mid | p = yes | r = yes | a = yes }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PF | no = 1 | nat = USA | name = Jason Thompson |dab = basketball | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PF | no = 4 | nat = ITA | name = Nicolò Melli | p = 28 | r = 6 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SG | no = 10 | nat = TUR | name = Melih Mahmutoğlu | dnp = yes }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 16 | nat = GRE | name = Kostas Sloukas | p = 7 | r = 1 | a = 4 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SF | no = 21 | nat = USA | name = James Nunnally | p = 0 | r = 0 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = PG | no = 35 | nat = TUR | name = Ali Muhammed | p = 7 | r = 2 | a = 1 }}

{{Bs game player | pos = SF | no = 70 | nat = ITA | name = Luigi Datome | p = 6 | r = 2 | a = 0 }}

{{Bs game coach | nat = SRB | name = Željko Obradović }}

|}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.euroleague.net/ Official website]

{{Euroleague}}

{{2017–18 EuroLeague}}

{{European Basketball Season 2017–18}}

{{Portal bar|Sports|Europe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2018 Euroleague Final Four}}

Final

Category:EuroLeague Finals

Category:International sports competitions in Belgrade

Category:International basketball competitions hosted by Serbia

Category:2018 in Serbian sport

Category:2010s in Belgrade

EuroLeague Final Four

Category:Basketball competitions in Belgrade