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NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo said the EuroLeague Final Four should be staged in Athens every year after watching Olympiacos beat Real Madrid to win the 2026 EuroLeague title in front of a packed T-Center.
The Milwaukee Bucks forward, one of the biggest Greek names in world basketball, was among the high-profile figures at the EuroLeague Final Four, the season-ending tournament that brings together Europe’s top four clubs to decide the continental champion.
Speaking to EuroLeague cameras after the final, Antetokounmpo said the atmosphere in Athens stood out even when compared with other major basketball events he had attended.
“The atmosphere is unbelievable and, in my opinion, the Final Four should be held in Athens every year,” Giannis said.
Olympiacos’ victory over Real Madrid was played in front of thousands of home supporters, who filled the arena with the club’s red colors throughout the weekend.
The setting added another layer to a final already carrying major weight for European basketball, as Olympiacos lifted the 2026 EuroLeague trophy on home soil.
Antetokounmpo said he had attended several Final Four events before, but the scene created by Olympiacos fans made this edition different.
“I’ve been to many Final Fours, I’ve seen quite a few, but I’ve never experienced anything like this before,” he added.
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Antetokounmpo went further by saying the EuroLeague should seriously look into bringing the Final Four back to Athens permanently.
“EuroLeague should seriously consider bringing the Final Four here to Athens every single year. This is the most impressive atmosphere I’ve ever been part of,” Antetokounmpo concluded.
His remarks came after a weekend in which the Athens crowd became one of the main talking points of the tournament, alongside Olympiacos’ title-winning performance against Real Madrid.
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