The Crossover With Joe Arlauckas

In the latest episode of The Crossover, Joe Arlauckus gets to know one of the EuroLeague’s top head coaches, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Ioannis Sfairopoulos. A player turned coach since the age of 21, the Greek worked his way up - from his hometown of Thessaloniki, via assistant jobs with PAOK and CSKA Moscow, to four successful seasons as Head Coach of Olympiacos. Sfairopoulos headed to Tel Aviv in 2018 where he has since transformed the fortunes of the club. In the podcast, Joe and Ioannis chart this amazing career, discussing all the 53-year old learnt on the way. He recalls the disappointment of two EuroLeague finals defeats with Olympiacos before divulging how he has rebuilt Maccabi. Finally, Sfairopoulos takes Joe on 'One-on-One' and sits ‘The Crossover Test'

Joe Arlauckas welcomes CSKA Moscow Assistant Coach Darryl Middleton to the first episode of The Crossover in 2021. They chart Darryl’s journey from playing Basketball in the parks of New York to Europe, and a staggering 25 year professional playing career. The duo reminisce about their head-to-head battles on the court back in the day, where Joe even gets called out for welching on a bet! Darryl explains his relentless work ethic, one he passed on to a young Marc Gasol when the two were teammates. We hear how Darryl got his coaching opportunity at CSKA - only after he’d worked as a chef in his own restaurant. Finally, Middleton goes ‘One on One’ with Joe, before testing his knowledge in ‘The Crossover Test’. 

In episode 2 of the new series, Joe Arlauckas is joined by MVP for October, Zalgiris Kaunas superstar Marius Grigonis.  They chat about Marius moving to Spain as a young player to learn the game and the hardship of being away from his friends and family.  Joe and Marius take you through his journey back home and the big time of EuroLeague at his home club Zalgiris Kaunas.  Marius talks about winning the MVP award and how much it cost him to take his team mates out for dinner!  Joe then tests his EuroLeague knowledge in the ‘Crossover Test and also gets to know more about the Lithuanian in the ‘The One on One’…

Series three of The Crossover is back!  Joe Arlauckas is back too and his first guest of the new series is the current FC Bayern Munich head coach Andrea Trinchieri.  The passionate Italian tells his story and how his journey into coaching began – from disappointing his parents for not going to Harvard, to taking his first job as head coach in the third tier of Italian basketball, before finally achieving his dream and making it to the top flight in the EuroLeague.  He tells us about his coaching philosophy, those who influenced him along the way and shares a funny story when EuroLeague legend, Kyle Hines parked his car in a river!  Plus, the two new quick fire sections – ‘The One on One’ and ‘The Crossover Test’

Mike Batiste joins Joe Arlauckas to continue his remarkable story of life at Panathinaikos. The LA born star compares his first EuroLeague title win to falling in love, explains how the Greeks treated him like a rock star and why he isn’t closing the door on a coaching future at Panathinaikos. Plus he reveals why he would never break a Željko Obradović curfew!

From Long Beach to the EuroLeague. In the first of a two-part special, Orlando Magic Asst. Coach Mike Batiste tells us his incredible story of how he survived Californian gang culture to become a multiple EuroLeague Champion with Panathinaikos. He reveals how basketball changed his life, which coach he thinks is the greatest of all time, and why the Greek derby was so special!  

In one of Joe’s special interviews to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Luigi ‘Gigi’ Datome is the latest to join The Crossover as they delve deep into the charismatic Italian’s fabulous career.  They discuss his return to Europe from the NBA as he was ‘starving’ for basketball and playing in front of the big stage once again.  Joe and ‘Gigi’ talk about Fenerbahce’s EuroLeague victory on home soil in 2017, as well as the bet he had with teammates to cut his hair if they were to lift the trophy. They also discuss his life off court, that includes his generous charity work, his love of the arts and his guitar playing skills in front of a huge audience! 

In the latest episode of The Crossover, presented by Endesa, Joe Arlauckas is joined by Zalgiris Kaunas star guard, KC Rivers.  They chat about life in lockdown, how his passion for basketball began growing up in North Carolina, influenced by his uncle and former NBA player, Byron Dinkins, and his respect and fear for his grandmother!  He discusses playing for multiple teams throughout his career, including the highs and the lows, as well as some of the toughest opponents he has come across. Plus he chats about some of the fantastic derbies he has played in whilst playing for Real Madrid against Barcelona and for Panathinaikos versus Olympiacos.

Xavi Pascual is the latest to join Joe Arlauckas on The Crossover, with this episode presented by Endesa. In one of Joe’s special interviews to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Pascual talks about the 2009-10 season, which saw his FC Barcelona side become European champions at the Final Four in Paris. He discusses his coaching development and unexpected elevation to the Barcelona hot seat, just hours before an important game. Pascual also chats about the development of Barca great Juan Carlos Navarro, about moving to coach Panathinaikos and his first Athens derby, the EuroLeague games he would love to play again and about the start of his tenure at Zenit St Petersburg.

The Anadolu Efes Istanbul coach talks to Joe Arlauckas about his life and achievements. Ergin Ataman has won a host of titles at the helm of many different teams in Turkey and Italy, including Galatasaray, Besiktas, Montepaschi Siena and during three spells with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague leaders. He discusses the pros and cons of criticising players in public, why there aren’t more of his countrymen coaching at the top of European basketball and how he took Anadolu Efes Istanbul from the bottom of EuroLeague to last season’s Championship Game after recruiting the likes of Shane Larkin, Vasilije Micic, Tibor Pleiss and James Anderson.

Not many people have three EuroLeague titles and fewer have won the competition with both Panathinaikos and Olympiacos, so there is plenty for Stratos Perperoglou to talk about on The Crossover with Joe Arlauckas. The Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade small forward explains why his family fell out over his teenage move to the Greek capital, responds to being called “the ultimate team player” and remembers his excitement at joining Zeljko Obradovic’s intense Panathinaikos side. Perperoglou discusses his controversial switch to Olympiacos and his first Athens derbies with both clubs. He also chats about his potentially career-ending blood clot, his strong Christian faith and making the move out of Greece, before picking a patriotic All-Decade EuroLeague team.

EuroLeague winner Tyrese Rice chats to Joe Arlauckas about delivering eye-catching performances at the very biggest moments. His basketball career has run parallel to the life of his son, who was born just as he was getting started in college. In another special episode to mark twenty seasons of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, the American talks about building a relationship at Maccabi Tel Aviv with coach David Blatt and about dominating the Final Four in 2014, when Maccabi upset both CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid to win the title. Rice was the Top Scorer and MVP in Milan. He also speaks his “crazy” first derby for Panathinaikos against Olympiacos, when he netted 41 points in their EuroLeague win last December. Find out why Tyrese Rice has moved between ten clubs in ten years and whose name he has tattooed on his arm.

Toko talks to Joe Arlauckas about growing up in Georgia without electricity, his tireless work ethic and his part in that infamous fight during a Basque derby. Before picking his EuroLeague All-Decade team, Baskonia’s power forward discusses his dream NBA draft, subsequent US disappointments and how he was influenced by Kevin Garnett while at the Brooklyn Nets.

The legendary point guard joins Joe Arlauckas to discuss his life and career, including four EuroLeague-winning seasons and his transition to coaching at Zalgiris Kaunas. ‘Saras’ Jasikevicius talks about the sacrifice that his mum made when she fell pregnant with him and about growing up both inside then outside the Soviet Union. There is also chat about his time in America and spell in the NBA, his Final Four nerves and the highlights of the Lithuanian star’s time playing for Barcelona, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Panathinaikos, as well as Zalgiris. Plus, Jasikevicius gives us memories of Vassilis "Billy" Spanoulis, playing under Zeljko Obradovic and being shouted at by Arvydas Sabonis.

Four-time EuroLeague-winning coach Ettore Messina joins Joe Arlauckas to chat about his life in basketball. The Italian is now back on the continent leading AX Armani Exchange Milan, after enjoying a stint in the NBA assisting Gregg Popovich at the San Antonio Spurs. In another special episode to mark twenty seasons of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, the Italian talks about his successful time with Bologna and about bringing European glory back to CSKA Moscow after 35 years. But amid those titles were defeats that still hurt today, having to cope with his young son’s hospitalisation during CSKA’s 2006 triumph and regrets about his teenage decision to become a coach.

The incredible transformation of a Cape Verdean kid into Sergeant Swat! The life and career of Walter ‘Edy’ Tavares is the raw material for Joe Arlauckas on the latest episode of The Crossover, and the Real Madrid centre’s story leaves Joe almost speechless. Tavares had close to zero interest in basketball when a holidaymaker recommended him to Gran Canaria because of his height. After sleeping through his original try out, Tavares then earns his passage into the professional ranks wearing sneakers three and a half sizes too small. It is the start of his journey to the NBA, to winning EuroLeague and to becoming the league’s Best Defender.

One of the few men to have claimed back-to-back EuroLeague titles joins Joe Arlauckas to chat about his life and career so far. In another special episode to mark twenty seasons of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Georgios Printezis talks about his Olympiacos team’s iconic victory over CSKA Moscow in the 2012 Championship Game, coach Ivkovic’s half time masterclass in motivation and his own correct premonition that he’d score the final basket to clinch their astonishing comeback win. Printezis also remembers what it felt like to be champions again twelve months later, discusses his relationship with ‘Billy’ Spanoulis, talks about his loyalty to Olympiacos and picks an All-Decade EuroLeague team.

Two-time EuroLeague winner Cory Higgins talks to Joe Arlauckas about his life and career, including the feeling that he continues to be “overlooked and underrated.” In another special episode to mark twenty seasons of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, the American analyses those recent triumphs with CSKA Moscow and chats about some Final Four pain in-between. With his father and brother working in the NBA, the Barcelona star discusses getting into ‘the family business’ and a childhood surrounded by Hall of Famers, including his godfather Michael Jordan. Higgins also talks about the quiet confidence in his own ability that helped him become a major player and about his basketball journey so far; around America and then to Russia, Turkey and now Spain.

CSKA Moscow’s Daniel Hackett joins Joe Arlauckas for a chat about his life and career. In the summer of 2018, Dimitris Itoudis was looking to sign a player with a very specific profile. The Italy international fitted the bill perfectly and became a EuroLeague winner at the end of his first season in the Russian capital, impressing in the Championship game. Hackett discusses his first Final Four and also looks back on his time with Olympiacos, the crazy atmosphere of games against Panathinaikos and watching Spanoulis v Diamantidis from close quarters. His time in Greece ended with serious injury, depression and Olympiacos not renewing his contract, but after a great year at Brose Bamberg, he received a phone call that made him cry...

Joe Arlauckas speaks to shooting guard Jaycee Carroll about his life and career, in another special episode to mark twenty seasons of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. The American talks about the key moments in Real Madrid’s two recent EuroLeague-winning campaigns and discusses the reasons why his club fell short in others. We also hear about Carroll’s faith, family and freakish ability to nail three pointers.