The Crossover With Joe Arlauckas

Joe Arlauckas looks back on a pulsating set of EuroLeague Final Four semi-finals, and previews the Championship game between Real Madrid and Anadolu Efes Istanbul. Joining him are David Rivers, Andrea Trinchieri and Aleksandra Radivojevic, as this season’s competition reaches its thrilling conclusion!

Joe Arlauckas sits down with one of EuroLeague's most fascinating characters, AS Monaco's Mike James. In a revealing interview, he explains how his desire to compete led him to basketball, and eventually, Europe. The pair get real about some of the notable twist and turns throughout his career, as Mike gives his side of the story. And finally, Joe challenges his EuroLeague knowledge in 'The Crossover Test.' This is an episode not to be missed!

Joe Arlauckas’ next guest on The Crossover is Olympiacos Head Coach Georgios Bartzokas! He explains how tough it was to overcome the knee injuries he suffered as a player, and how that led to him becoming a coach at young age, even whilst he was still playing. Bartzokas describes how he learnt his trade at clubs like Maroussi and Olympia Larissa, before he experienced one of the happiest moments of his life by joining Olympiacos. He recounts what his year out from basketball entailed during the 2014-15 season, and how warmly he was welcomed by the Lokomotiv Kuban fans when he made his return to coaching. Bartzokas also takes us through what he calls the toughest season of his career at Barcelona, and the joy he’s getting during his second stint at Olympiacos. Plus, how will he perform when he sits The Crossover Test?

Partizan Belgrade’s Kevin Punter joins Joe Arlauckas on the latest episode of The Crossover! He describes what it was like growing up in the Bronx, and when he decided it was best to make a move to Europe to further his basketball career. Punter details what it’s like adapting to different clubs, and how incredible it was to win consecutive Champions League titles with AEK Athens and Virtus Bologna. He takes us through the joy of reaching the EuroLeague Final Four in 2021, and the hurt of ultimately not securing the title, plus his excitement of starting a new project with Partizan. Also, can Punter keep pace with this season’s top performers when he sits The Crossover Test?

Guerschon Yabusele drops by The Crossover to have a chat with Joe Arlauckas! He details his passion for boxing as a youngster and how he still does training drills regularly to help him out on the basketball court. Guerschon explains that whilst it was a big thrill to be selected so high up in the NBA draft in 2016, his time America was tricky at times, and didn’t quite work out how he thought. He describes how joining ASVEL was an exciting chance to play in the EuroLeague, and set the foundations for a move to Real Madrid where he's just earned a three-year contract extension. Plus, how will he perform when he sits The Crossover Test?

Joe Arlauckas chats to Olimpia Milano's Nicolo Melli on the latest episode of The Crossover! He explains how an initial passion for beach volleyball as a child transformed into basketball, and how he grew stronger mentally during an injury ravaged three years at his first club Reggiana from the age of 16. Nicolo looks back on his years in Bamberg and in the NBA and talks about what drew him back to Europe, particularly the opportunity to return to Milano. He outlines his hopes for the future too, including an appearance at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics - somewhere his mother competed in 1984.

UNICS Kazan’s Mario Hezonja joins Joe Arlauckas on the latest episode of The Crossover! He explains how Basketball became his passion during a childhood filled with playing sport in his hometown of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Mario details his life changing move to Barcelona as a teenager and the adjustment it took, before his five-year stint in the NBA. Mario explains why the opportunity to return to Europe with Panathinaikos was an opportunity he could never refuse, then reveals why his green dream came to an end before this season. Finally, Mario sits The Crossover Test

The Crossover with Joe Arlauckas returns for the 2021-22 season with one of the best minds in basketball! Dimitris Itoudis is the longest tenured head coach in CSKA Moscow history, collecting two EuroLeague titles so far in Russia. Joe hears how Dimitris left his humble beginnings in Greece to find his big break in basketball coaching in Zagreb. Then they chart his extraordinary partnership with Željko Obradović at Panathinaikos before his rise to one of the game's most successful head coaches. Finally, Itoudis shows his knowledge in 'The Crossover Test'

Joe Arlauckas' final guest of the season is 2020-21 EuroLeague and Final Four MVP Vasilije Micić. The Anadolu Efes guard reflects on a career defining year for him, and explains how family helped get him to this point. He gives Joe the lowdown on Efes' run to the Championship including their dramatic Semi-Final victory over CSKA. Plus, hear how he plans to celebrate with another MVP this off-season, Nikola Jokic. Lastly, he goes 'One-on-One' with Joe, and takes 'The Crossover Test'.

The experts are back to review the drama of the Final Four semi-finals, and preview the Championship game - FC Barcelona v Anadolu Efes. Javier Gancedo is joined by Piti Hurtado, Andrea Solaini, Sergey Tarakanov and Begum Unal. Hear what they think might go down on Sunday!

Joe Arlauckas is back in the hotseat to look back on two incredible Semi-Finals and look ahead to Sunday's Championship game between FC Barcelona and Anadolu Efes. Helping him out are EuroLeague legend David Rivers, former Efes Guard Sinan Guler and Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos. Plus, Joe takes us into the finalists camps, as he speaks to Barça's Álex Abrines and Krunoslav Simon of Efes

EuroLeague's Javier Gancedo takes the mic to preview the Final Four Semi-Final matchups. Joining him are Piti Hurtado, Andrea Solaini, Sergey Tarakanov and Begum Unal as they cast their eye over CSKA v Anadolu Efes and AX Armani Exchange Milan v FC Barcelona. Hear who they think the difference makers will be as they break down each team's year. Plus, get inside each camp as we hear from CSKA's Toko Shengelia, Rodrigue Beaubois of Efes, Milan's Shavon Shields and Nick Calathes of Barca

Barcelona center Brandon Davies joins Joe Arlauckas for the latest instalment of The Crossover. They chart Brandon’s remarkable early life in Utah, where basketball wasn’t always in the picture. Davies opens up about his time at BYU and his stint in the NBA, then how he was convinced to join Žalgiris in 2017. He looks back on his first Final Four appearance that same year, then his ascension to one of the EuroLeague’s most consistent performers. The pair then look at Barcelona’s run to the Final Four, and preview the Semi-Final matchup with AX Armani Exchange Milan. Finally, Joe goes ‘One on One’ with Brandon, and sets him ‘The Crossover Test’.

On the latest edition of The Crossover, Joe Arlauckas talks to one of EuroLeague's greatest big men of all time, Sofoklis Schortsanitis. Sofo talks about the beginnings of his pro career in Greece when he was still just a teenager. They reflect on his moves from Olympiacos to Maccabi Tel Aviv, then Panathanaikos and back to Maccabi Tel Aviv where he clinched the only EuroLeague title of his career. Sofo explains the challenges he went through in his career and the difficult decision to retire in 2020. Finally, he goes 'One on One' with Joe and takes 'The Crossover Test'.

It's Part 2 of a special edition of The Crossover as Fenerbaçhe's General Manager Maurizio Gherardini, AX Armani Exchange Milano's Christos Stavropoulos and Paulius Motiejunas of Žalgiris Kaunas discuss management with Joe Arlauckas. There's talk of how you replace legendary coaches, managing players coming to the end of their careers and reflections on running a team in pandemic times. Finally, the trio offer their words of wisdom on a bright future for the EuroLeague.

In a special edition of The Crossover, Joe Arlauckas sits down with three of the best minds in basketball management - Fenerbaçhe's General Manager Maurizio Gherardini, AX Armani Exchange Milano's Christos Stavropoulos and Paulius Motiejunas of Žalgiris Kaunas. In this fascinating discussion, the three divulge their paths to the business side of basketball, project building at their clubs and the day to day life of a GM. Make sure you don't miss Part 2 as well where the trio discuss dealing with players and coaches, plus, their reflections on an extraordinary year in EuroLeague basketball...coming soon!

Joe Arlauckus welcomes Norris Cole to The Crossover. The ASVEL Point Guard always seemed destined for a great career, but it wasn’t always clear it would be basketball, especially growing up in a family that emphasised academics. An excellent student and athlete, Cole eventually found his path through Cleveland State University to the Miami Heat and two NBA Championship rings. He discusses his time playing with LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, then his move to Europe where he’s come to learn more about the game in a short space of time. Finally, Norris goes ‘One-On-One’ with Joe and tries his hand at the ‘The Crossover Test’

Zenit St Petersburg guard Kevin Pangos is Joe Arlauckas’ next guest on The Crossover. Growing up in Canada idolising Steve Nash, even copying his relentless practice habits, Pangos ventured south of the border to enjoy a successful college career at Gonzaga. After graduation, the 28 year old jetted across the Atlantic, first to Gran Canaria before joining Zalgiris Kaunas in 2016. Kevin reflects on his time in Lithuania playing for Šaras Jasikevičius, then his subsequent steps to Barcelona and now, Zenit. Finally, he goes ‘One-on-One’ with Joe, and takes ‘The Crossover Test’.

This week on The Crossover, Joe Arlauckus welcomes Fenerbahçe head coach, Igor Kokoškov. While the Serbian is one of the most experienced European coaches in the game, he is a relative newcomer to the EuroLeague. Igor charts his remarkable journey from a devastating accident that ended his playing career, to becoming the first European head coach in the NBA, and now to Turkey. Kokoškov discusses replacing his friend Željko Obradović and making a push for the Final Four with Fener. Lastly, Igor goes ‘One-on-One’ with Joe, and sits ’The Crossover Test’

This week, Joe Arlauckas is joined on The Crossover by Olympiacos’ Kostas Papanikolaou. Long identified as a big talent, Kostas has developed into one of the most consistent players in the EuroLeague. But as Joe finds out, it took a while for him to even find basketball. From there, the pair look at Papanikolaou's first stint with Olympiacos, reflecting on a career defining performance in one of EuroLeague’s greatest ever finals. Kostas explains his surprise move to Barcelona, then his years in the NBA. Then, it’s his return to the Olympiacos, and where he thinks they’re headed. Plus Kostas shares why his work with One Team is so important to him. Finally Joe gets to know Kostas a little better in a round of ‘One-on-One’, before setting him ‘The Crossover Test’