The dean of European basketball coaches, Dusan Ivkovic, came to CSKA on a mission three seasons ago. His challenge was nothing more nor less than to make one of Europe's historic clubs, and with it all of Russian basketball, rise again to the top of the sport. Most people would consider that mission to be complete after Ivkovic and CSKA have reached three Final Fours in a row. This season, they outdid themselves and any previous European basketball team by posting a remarkable overall record of 53-1 in the Euroleague and the Russian League. The last step of their incredible season comes on Friday, when the Final Four begins in their own city, Moscow. With a clear view of history, Ivkovic says in this Euroleague.net Final Four interview that for him, the last challenge of them all, to give CSKA its first continental title since 1971, is the most exciting. "It would mean a lot for such a big, traditional team like CSKA, led by my good friend Mr. Gomelsky, who has worked so hard, to see Russian basketball return to the same position where he had put it as a coach," Ivkovic told Euroleague.net. "I think everyone needs to see that. It will be good for European and for world basketball. It is our job, mine and the general job of CSKA, to make that happen. We are all trying our best." more

Since he arrived to the Euroleague just five seasons ago, Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Pini Gershon has marched straight toward the history books. From 2000 to 2005, with a two-year retirement in the middle, the colorful Gershon has taken each of his four Maccabi teams to a Final Four. Just as impressive, each so far has reached the title game, where he and Maccabi have won twice, the 2001 Suproleague trophy and the 2004 Euroleague crown. Last season's triumph was highlighted by 11 records set in the title game, including the most points scored and biggest margin of victory ever in a final. After the trophy was raised to the Tel Aviv crowd, Gershon was next, tossed in the air by the Maccabi players he had molded into immensely entertaining champs. A year later, Gershon again stands at the doorstep of history. With victory in Moscow, he would be the sixth coach to win three European titles, just the third to do so in the Final Four era. One thing is sure from this Euroleague.net Final Four interview: Gershon will have plenty of fun trying. "I believe that people love to watch high-speed basketball, attractive basketball with high scores, and of course you have to win the games," Gershon told Euroleague.net. "But it's not easy to lose when you score 96 points and up." more

At just 45 years old, he can be considered not only the most successful European coach ever, but one of the best of all times, anywhere that the sport of basketball is played. To say that Zeljko Obradovic of Panathinaikos has won five Euroleague titles, more than any other head coach in history, and has done so with four different teams, is to quantify his achievements with numbers. To watch him coach a game, however, is to see a master working at his art. Look no further than his last title, in 2002, when Panathinaikos beat two favored teams that had split the European titles of the previous season, Maccabi and Kinder Bologna, despite trailing against the latter on its home court by 14 points in the title game. When the ball goes up for the opening tipoff, as he says in this Euroleague.net Final Four interview, Obradovic is like a sixth player on the floor for his team. "I have always thought that our sport is one in which a coach can influence a game while it is being played more than coaches in any other sport," Obradovic told Euroleague.net. "I am always very happy if I know my team has done as much as it can possibly do. Then I am content, win or lose." more

Although he is making his debut on the bench at a Final Four, Dusko Ivanovic of Tau Ceramica is also the only coach who can claim to be undefeated in the event. That's because Ivanovic made it first as a player, when he was a veteran leader of the historic Jugoplastika Split, the last club to win consecutive Euroleague titles. No one should forget, either, that Ivanovic thrives on big games. After he became a head coach, his teams won the first seven trophies they played for - not to mention a few since then. All of which is to say that even though he is a first-timer on the sidelines at a Final Four, Ivanovic is no beginner. "I believe that any team who plays at the Final Four can beat any of the other rivals by playing well," Ivanovic told Euroleague.net in an interview. "There aren't many teams that are always on top. I think the results confirm Tau as a great team in Europe. It is not only a question of having good players, but you have to have a great organization that lets you work hard and well to maintain a consistent level." more