You know very well and it is assumed that your story is one of the most fascinating stories in the years of the Final Four. It is the theme of this season's Final Four and for that the most questions revolve around it. It is certain that both of you want to win the title. Do you imagine your feelings when you finally win it? In the sense that in the opposite bench your "brother" will be sad? Will that limit the joy and celebration of your success?
OBRADOVIC: Yes, it makes sense to be asked all those relevant questions. This game is really strange because we are in different teams for the first time, but this is our profession, this is our life. I am very happy that Dimitris reached the Final Four, but it is obvious that we both want to win. It is a final! Certainly in my mind there is always the thought of Dimitris if we finally win or lose. It makes sense, but the moments of celebration for winning such an important title will not change. You work hard for it an entire season and want to live it, enjoy it, even if you have your friend in your mind.
ITOUDIS: I have nothing to add to what Zeljko said. It is a special match. It would be easier if the opponent was not a friend? Definitely yes. But on the other hand there is great joy because Zeljko created this group and managed to bring it, back to back, to the Final Four, this year reaching the final. But we will both do everything to win. Once the ball leaves the hands of the referee on the jump ball of the match I will only think about how to help my players and he will be thinking the same. As Zeljko said, you wait so long for this moment and it is only logical to celebrate with all your strength, together with your colleagues, your players, club's people, your family, winning the title. There will be no bad feelings or impressions if the other one celebrates.
All these unforgettable years you have lived incredible events, unforgettable moments. What is the best time in your common path? Which is what you remember most vividly, that comes first in your memory?
OBRADOVIC: We have many things to remember during these 13 years of our lives. Countless moments. For example, one thing I remember is that in the trainings he was driving me crazy. But we had a very good relationship. I trust him and want him next to me. We were more than colleagues. But one thing we often mention and remember because it was really unique was the wonderful feast we did at the wedding of Dimitris and Maria. It was a marriage that had many traditional customs, lots of music and revelry. Within all this, I tore Dimitris shirt because he said that's how they do weddings at their region. Unbelievable!
ITOUDIS: It was the moment that I mentioned at the press conference, in 2002, when we won the title in Bologna. We were about 15 minutes in the locker rooms, back in the showers. We said a lot there and I suppose that we started building the relationship of trust that we had all these years.
There is much talk about how the game is being played right now and whether changing. It is believed that it will be dominated by teams that have players with tremendous athletic skills and ability in three point shots. Do you think the qualification of your teams against opponents with those characteristics is an answer to that?
ITOUDIS: It is not exactly just like that. The teams we faced are not classic examples of opposition to our players' style. Fenerbahce and also us have players with athletic skills. I would agree if you said that these teams have players who take more initiatives, play more with isolation (generally one on one). But at the end of the day what counts is whether you get from your players the best they have to give. I would be stupid if I did not use the quality of Nando (De Colo), Milos (Teodosic), Viktor (Khryapa) and the other players, not to mention them all. But I will criticize any coaching philosophy, nor would say that our style is right. Each coach makes his choices and they are fully respected. I will just defend my own style basketball.
OBRADOVIC: We have our own way we think about basketball. That makes sense and it is also reasonable for every coach to have his own ideas, so depending on the quality of his players to play the basketball he wants. If you watch our last time at Panathinaikos, in season 2011-12, you will find similarities to how CSKA Moscow was playing back then and now, but Dimitris added more. As I edited and added many things in Fenerbahce. So basketball is evolving and I think both of us are people who like to learn things about basketball. But it all depends on the quality of players you have in your hands. You can't perform the same every time. Besides, CSKA Moscow and Fenerbahce are not playing the same basketball this year with what they played at the previous.
I know your views on traditions, streakσ and records, but I want to ask you for some things that are impressive. Zeljko has 8/9 victories at finals and Dimitris has a record of 4-1 against him as coach of Banvit and CSKA Moscow. Which of these two statistics is more important?
ITOUDIS: For me it makes no difference at all. The numbers and statistics from the past do not matter. But certainly what you said, that Zeljko has 8/9 victories at finals, means a lot about his ability and value, he deserves it along with those who worked with him. About my 4-1, it is known that the teams are playing, the players are happy after victories, but when the game starts they have no value or influence in its progress. Each game is different, different teams, different story. When you live with the statistics, you live in the past and I would not do so.
OBRADOVIC: No, they are not important to me. Nothing from the past is related to Sunday's final, nothing at all.
You saιd both that you are constantly learning things. Even from your players. I am sure that during those 13 years Zeljko learned something from Dimitris and Dimitris also learned a lot from Zeljko. So what did you learn from each other?
OBRADOVIC: We were working together and sharing everything about basketball. I think that we should not be learning only from the assistant coach or the head coach. You learn from anyone and that can occur at any time and moment. I have said many times that my players have taught me many things about basketball. Dimitris was coming sometimes with some ideas on what to do with some players. Many times they had no idea why we they had to do something, which was the actual plan. It was very common to speak in order to find what is good for our team.
ITOUDIS: First of all I disagree with the way you put the main point about teaching and learning. But I will say that Zeljko was so open minded and he felt that I was a fellow who could be trusted and he knew that I would never say anything against him. Many times we were at the same room for hours, arguing about what we should do in terms related to the team and basketball, but when we were coming out there was a common line and we were defending together to the end. This is what I learned from Zeljko. To have an open mind, always listening and learning from others. Whether the other is Andreas (Pistiolis) either Milos (Teodosic) or Nando (De Colo), because in the end they are the ones who have to do in the court what we have decided.
You have reached the final fair and square, but there are some people who believe that the great budgets you had to manage helped you do so. That they are among the biggest in Europe and this is one of the most decisive factors. What is your comment about this, what would you answer if someone was here and told you this?
OBRADOVIC: What can we say; Maybe we have to apologize to some people because we are in this position. You know how many coaches would love to be in my place? It is reasonable to say some things if you are jealous! It is known that in the world we live there are people who like to find for everybody something bad to say. I have no problem about anything they say. I do not care about their opinion. They are unimportant to me! I know how I started my career. I was coaching the youngest team in european basketball history and with this team I won the Euroleague. I also had many teams which were not the favorites or teams with normal budgets, as in the case of Panathinaikos, which sometimes were high and others not. Or in the case of Fenerbahce, I honestly do not know how much money they had spent in previous years, but did they achieve something? So that's life. The people the right to say anything but I do not care about their opinion. I am only interested in the opinion of those who I love and respect. That's enough for me.
ITOUDIS: I will say this: someone gave us this work we have, to each one of us. We did not go to their office with a gun which we put on their heads and asked them to hire us. Some people gave us this jobs and we are grateful. As Zeljko said, I know that many of those who rely on budgets would like to be in our position, but I honestly do not care about what they say. I have a quiet conscience, I am committed to my job every day and give my best to achieve our goal. I never will never make fun or try to steal at my job. Because if I make fun, I will make fun of myself. About money, yes, budgets can helps but they do not guarantee success. The atmosphere created by the players, the coaching staff and officials, the organization and the fans are the most important and decisive aspects.
In life there is always luck. Even people who do not believe in it rely on it sometimes. Did it play an important role to your careers until now?
OBRADOVIC: You must deserve the luck to have it by your side. This is the first. The second thing is to have the luck to have all your players healthy. This is luck for me. All others are for common people's talks. People like to discuss for the last shot, the last possession, the last decision. But ou mentioned something about statistics before, if you analyze statistically the last shot at the end of the game, the result you will end up is 50-50. Sometimes your player will fail, sometimes he will succeed. Is this luck? Some people call it luck, but Dimitris and I have another opinion. We do not think it is about luck. Luck is a part of the game but as I said you have to deserve it to have it.
ITOUDIS: I think you have to chase your luck. You must identify and chase it. To hunt it with your job, to hunt it with your ideas, to hunt it prepared to get it. I will add something about myself. That what I have achieved so far in my life, I deserved it. Nothing was given to me. The same Zeljko. We may have different lifes, but we won everything fairly. In relation to how many years I am doing this job, I can say that I feel like a veteran, because Zeljko gave me the freedom to create and become profitable. And that was something that I won. Nothing was given to me. Nobody came where I was sitting to tell me "take this gift and go ahead".
OBRADOVIC: One of your friends, a journalist showed a statistic to me. He said to me that Sunday's match is the 500th european game of my career. Well, about than 500 games that I have played the people remember Djordjevic's shot and they say "Obradovic is lucky". You know how many games my teams have lost in the final minute? Nobody remembers these games. But I remember them very well. One by one.
Which will be the most important aspects of the finals, the things which will decide game's final result?
OBRADOVIC: CSKA Moscow are a specific team. They play with Hines as center and I can say that everything starts from the defense and then they try to find miss-matches. They play very well in transition and rely heavily on the creation of the guards. De Colo is the leading scorer with 20 points per game and the MVP. Milos Teodosic showed on Friday that he does not care to score any more. He had six assists. He understands everything on the court. He is a very good player. The final is important in terms of one by one, but we should not forget that the game is played five against five. Not only about Nando, or Milos. Corey for example has many explosions in his game. It's an excellent team and therefore are in the final. Everything is important. We need to have balance in our attack, not let them run and score easy points. If we do this, everything will be easier.
ITOUDIS: We will face Fenerbahce for the first time this season but we know their style. We expect a tough final. Fenerbahce is a team that have it all. They have play high, play low... We have to adapt to the needs of the final. If we do so, we will be on track.
Zeljko, did ever pass through your mind as an idea that you will face Dimitris in the final of Euroleague and did you Dimitris, when you were Obradovic's assistant at Panathinaikos, ever crossed your mind, like a dream, that you will play your first final as head coach against Zeljko?
OBRADOVIC: During the pre-season, we discussed about it. Just kidding obviously. But last year we were at the Final-Four, if you remember. Of course each one of us was thinking that he will reach the final. We played at the game for 3rd place and this year we made a step forward. But we have no time to think such things. Believe me, we are so committed to our work and this work is so demanding that leaves us no time for such thoughts.
ITOUDIS: Honestly never, ever in my life I had not done such a dream. First of all I did not expect that we would stay with Panathinaikos for 13 years. After 13 years honestly I never thought thatt we will ever leave Panathinaikos. But they occurred both. I have no objection to this, they are all in life. The important thing is that we are healthy, our families are healthy and they accept us with respect and appreciation to the teams in which we are working. Personally I owe a lot to Panathinaikos, which gave me the opportunity to work on this level for 13 years. I had never time to think, even to dream that we would be working separately one day and it never crossed my mind that it would play a final against Zeljko's team.
How do you feel by knowing that back to Greece the fans of Panathinaikos, the majority of them at least, will feel tomorrow night a small or great joy because one of you will win the title?
OBRADOVIC: This is not a question for us, you should ask them.
ITOUDIS: Undoubtedly the support we had from the fans over all those years in Panathinaikos was stunning. So was the relationship created between us. The expectations we had were the same, Zeljko wanted Fenerbahce to face Panathinaikos, I would like to face Panathinaikos with CSKA Moscow. What else can I say? Only about the memories we have. They are the best.
OBRADOVIC: The best of the best (memories).
ITOUDIS: You can't describe all those years with words, it is very emotional. And if we start speaking about our emotions towards Panathinaikos, maybe we will start crying and this is not the time for that.
I know that the issue of Panathinaikos has no place in this discussion we do with the occasion of the final, but I have to ask because of the many questions, messages and comments we receive about that in order to ask you, why in your opinion Panathinaikos is not in the Final-Four?
OBRADOVIC: This is not a question for me either.
ITOUDIS: I agree that this is not a question for us, their staff knows the reasons of that.
Last question, why you are not here with Panathinaikos? Why you left the club? Why did you Zeljko leave and after that, why did you not stay Dimitris?
OBRADOVIC: This is a long story my friend, everybody knows how the situation was in 2012. We discussed it, came out with our final decision and you all know what happened afterwards. Speaking about it four years later has no meaning.
ITOUDIS: I have nothing to add about it. The only thing I want to say is that Panathinaikos is a great club and they will continue to be in the future. That is all.
OBRADOVIC: As Dimitris said earlier, my feelings about Panathinaikos will never change. Never! Never in my life. Panathinaikos will be the club of my heart no matter where I live or work. Those 13 years were probably the best of my life. But I have to carry on. We have great experiences, I am happy for being the head coach of Fenerbahce but my feelings about Panathinaikos will always be unique.
ITOUDIS: The same for me. As I said, they are all feelings. Many and deep. You can't describe them with words.
