URBONUS

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas discussed the EuroLeague greats, upcoming coaching changes, and 8 additions for Top 8 teams on their first Urbonus Q&A session. Topics: Intro (00:00); Best All-Time EuroLeague American (4:20); Rytis & Donatas put their EuroLeague starting 5 (8:55); Nikola Jokic-Rudy Gobert debate (17:18); Why Olympiacos is Final 4 bound (25:20); 8 additions for Top 8...

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas discuss Fenerbahce’s playoff hopes after losing Vesely and De Colo and how the EuroLeague could handle the COVID-19 outbreak. Also, guys share six bold predictions, including Jordi Bertomeu, EuroLeague winners, and Anadolu Efes out of Final 4. Topics: New Year’s resolutions (00:00); Fenerbahce’s targets & playoff hopes (3:05); Why the ideal scenario...

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas discuss controversial actions in Barcelona, how Netflix could help the EuroLeague, why there’s such a gap between Greek powerhouses Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, and six midseason awards. Topics: Intro about Christmas gifts & weird NBA experience (00:00); Netflix idea for the EuroLeague (8:00); Referee’s mistake on Mirotic’s play  (15:57); If Canaan...

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas discuss  CSKA problems, dirty play that got Shavon Shields hurt, what was surprising about UNICS, reasons behind Fenerbahce’s winning streak, and dead wrong preseason predictions.   Topics: Weird Christmas table & Yao Ming’s shoe in Lithuania (00:00); Shields injury & if Rudy made a dirty play (14:24); Reasons behind the Fenerbahce winning streak (25...

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas discuss the EuroLeague El Clasico in Barcelona, Llull’s middle finger, furious Maccabi fans, the next Vesely’s paycheck, and crazy trade scenarios for the EuroLeague teams, which include Mike James, Shane Larkin, and Jaylen Reynolds. Topics: Breaking news & out of the box scenario for Monaco (00:00); MVP Mirotic & why Barcelona dominated Real (11:41)...

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas returns to discuss the best game of the EuroLeague season, poor officiating night and suggests some adjustments for struggling teams to improve their situation.   Topics: Advanced stats behind Donatas newborn (00:00); Exclusive Ataman reaction on referees (5:10); Unfair Ataman’s ejection and terrible calls (6:40); This is why Saras signed Sanli (17:0...

Fenerbahce BEKO Istanbul head coach Aleksandar Djordjevic joined the Urbonus podcast in Kaunas to talk about early days playmaking for Larry Bird, choosing between two NBA offers, the quite weird similar thing he shares with Sarunas Jasikevicius, the great leader he found in Fener, and what fuels Serbian basketball. Topics: Intro & playing with Larry Bird (00:00); Two NBA offers & Sabonis joke (5:...

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas discuss Mario Hezonja’s return to Athens, the most exciting things from the first Crvena Zvezda and Partizan derby game, a coaching change in Baskonia, and top EuroLeague teams facing issues. Topics: Intro, Vysniauskas comeback, Urbonas mystery (00:00): Did Hezonja deserve to be booed at OAKA (6:22); Timma, Lambo and OJ Mayo (18:07); Rivalry ghosts i...

FC Barcelona head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius joined the Urbonus podcast in Milan to talk about his philosophy of building a championship team in Barcelona, the direction in which the EuroLeague should be heading, his good old friend Zeljko Obradovic in Belgrade, and his first love Zalgiris going through a very challenging rebuild process after his era in Kaunas. Topics: Intro about what’s more imp...

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas discuss the game of the week in Milan and what was unusual behind the scenes, why CSKA are not in crisis yet, painful days in Vitoria & Kaunas, and crazy fan experiences in the top EuroLeague arenas. Topics: Intro about the unsung heroes (00:00); A game-changer in Milan (4:59); Unusual post-game scenes at Mediolanum Forum (12:29); Hines three-pointer...

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas discuss the possibility of a coaching change in Anadolu Efes and Baskonia, the roster changes in Zalgiris, and the hottest topics of the latest EuroLeague double-game week. Topics: Intro, if Ergin Ataman is on a hot seat (00:00); The pros and cons of Zalgiris signing Zoran Dragic (12:37); Can Tai Webster be the answer for Zalgiris problems (17:45); T...

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas talk about Jordi Bertomeu’s position as CEO and the most interesting Euroleague games of round 5 Topics: Intro about Rytis finally joining Twitter (00:00); Potential NBA project in Europa (3:43); Who could replace Jordi Bertomeu as Euroleague’s new CEO? (08:51); Anadolu Efes get their first win (20:09); The struggles of O.J. Mayo and other newcomers...

Sergio Scariolo talks to BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas about building a connection with Spain NT stars, Spain basketball future in the post-Gasol era, the missing piece in the bridge between NBA and Europe, why it would be a mistake to create a rivalry between him and Ettore Messina, and his expectations from a new chapter with Virtus. Topics: Intro, the reasons behind the discipline of Scariolo (00...

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas discuss the hottest topics of the first four EuroLeague rounds. Topics: Intro about the long break between Urbonus episodes (00:00); What crossing the street between Monaco and France means (1:54); Are Anadolu Efes in trouble? (9:49) Rytis does his Ergin Ataman impersonation (16:11); The best EuroLeague team after four games (18:15); Our gift for Mes...

Nikola Vujcic talks to BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas about the championship formula in the EuroLeague, debating the best modern EuroLeague team ever, a tough transition from playing to working in a front office for former basketball stars, the core of Maccabi future and changes he would like to see in Israeli basketball. Topics: The plan of surviving in Tel Aviv before the miracle happened (00:00);...

Monaco GM Oleksiy Efimov joins BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas to talk about creating a miracle in Monaco, recruiting Mike James, going through an incredible basketball journey, and building a team where one-third of residents are millionaires. Topics: Intro about meeting Alex Albon, Caroline Wozniacki, Novak Djokovic, and NBA stars in Monaco (00:00); How AS Monaco signed Mike James (5:37); The bigges...

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas make the EuroLeague regular season predictions, listing all 18 teams from the 18th to 1st seed. Topics: Intro about playing poker with Marc Gasol in Vilnius and what Drew Nicholas picture is doing in our studio (00:00); Unprecedented hype around Wembanyama (11:18); The mysterious case of Luke Sikma (16:30); Why there’s not a lot of optimism about Zal...

Kevin Punter joins BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas to talk about the roots of his scoring mentality, crucial shot in the Final 4 which could have changed a future, and his road from getting paid $5k per month to choosing between the elite clubs in Europe. Topics: Intro about comparisons with Kevin Durant and mastering his signature pull-up shot (00:00); The most challenging defender and facing Mike Ja...

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas pay their respects after the passing of legendary coach Dusan Ivkovic. When they discuss sensational Monaco move with Mike James, how Barca lost the Supercopa final, and emotional Zeljko’s return to Istanbul. Topics: Intro about Manu’s retro jerseys and Cibona in the second-hand shop (00:00); How we’ll remember Dusan Ivkovic (7:18); Great fit for Mik...

Mario Hezonja joins BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas to talk about a blessing offer going through a very tough period of his life, an enormous love story with Panathinaikos, a weird situation that forced him to leave Athens, NBA leadership examples for his new chapter in Europe, and feeling alive again. Topics: How the EuroLeague changed, and what Hezonja was missing in the NBA (00:00); Why Sarunas Jas...

We apologize for the sound in this episode, as we ran into some technical issues with Donatas' microphone during the recording & had Vasilije's microphone too close to his beard. Vasilije Micic talks to BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas about why he turned down the CSKA offer and the NBA opportunity, how he makes the most important decisions of his life, and the special qualities of this championship te...

Ergin Ataman talks to BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas about the vital thing of building championship Anadolu Efes roster, why it could make the NBA playoffs, his son making the impact on his basketball philosophy, and the biggest EuroLeague title challengers. Topics: Intro about two-time EuroLeague champion status and life as the EuroLeague champion (00:00); The biggest EuroLeague title challengers fo...

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas & Rytis Vysniauskas discuss the first preseason games of Real, Monaco, Baskonia and Zalgiris, Mike James situation, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Shabazz Napier potential. In the second part of the podcast, they named their All-Time best EuroLeague five and All-Time most underrated EuroLeague five. Topics: Intro (00:00); Unshaved Laso, Ivanovic’s baseball cap, basketball comment...

Errick McCollum talks to BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas about his unexpected journey in basketball, him and CJ McCollum playing for the same EuroLeague team, learning from the best in Europe, and setting an example for his brother and future generations. Topics: - Intro (00:00); - CJ McCollum’s favorite EuroLeague team & McCollum brothers reunion scenario in Europe (01:00); - Why it’s personal every...

The general manager of Fenerbahce Istanbul, Maurizio Gherardini, talks to BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas about the Fener’s rebuild, interesting calls before Djordjevic’s hire, Zeljko Obradovic’s decision to join Partizan, the NBA we never dreamed of in Europe, and the EuroLeague’s situation. Topics: Intro and the speech which inspires Maurizio Gherardini (00:00); The main concerns after Kokoskov’s de...