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. ...
Nov 22, 2021•1 hr 59 min•Season 4Ep. 1
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'.
Jun 15, 2021•1 hr 32 min•Season 3Ep. 16
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!
May 30, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 15
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
May 30, 2021•55 min•Season 3Ep. 14
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
May 28, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 13
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...
May 20, 2021•52 min•Season 3Ep. 12
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...
May 04, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Season 3Ep. 11
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.
Apr 20, 2021•45 min•Season 3Ep. 10
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...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 9
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 a...
Mar 29, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Season 3Ep. 8
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 no...
Mar 15, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Season 3Ep. 7
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 g...
Mar 02, 2021•59 min•Season 3Ep. 6
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 ...
Feb 17, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Season 3Ep. 5
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 ...
Feb 02, 2021•1 hr 35 min•Season 3Ep. 4
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 teammate...
Jan 22, 2021•58 min•Season 3Ep. 3
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 Eur...
Dec 28, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 2
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 p...
Dec 14, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 1
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!
Jun 23, 2020•55 min•Season 2Ep. 18
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!
Jun 11, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 17
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...
May 27, 2020•1 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 16
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 ...
May 06, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 15
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 ...
Apr 16, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 14
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 b...
Apr 01, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 13
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...
Mar 18, 2020•50 min•Season 2Ep. 12
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 Mosc...
Mar 03, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 11
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.
Feb 25, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 10
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...
Feb 04, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 9
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 titl...
Jan 21, 2020•49 min•Season 2Ep. 8
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 sneak...
Jan 07, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 7
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 a...
Dec 27, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 6
