Euroleague Final Four flashback: FC Barcelona takes first EL title, 2003

While many of us (ahem) were shocked that FC Barcelona did not qualify for this year’s Euroleague Final Four to be played at the Blaugrana’s venue, Barca made good in defending home court the last time the Spanish capital hosted. In 2003, Barcelona brought a veritable dream team to the tournament to chase the team’s first-ever Euroleague title, including the likes of Dejan Bodiroga, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Juan Carlos Navarro – not to mention a Hall of Fame-level coach in Svetislav Pesic. They’d face a final four composed of traditional powerhouses CSKA Moscow and Benetton Treviso plus then-Final Four debuter Montepaschi Siena. (Hard to believe this was just eight years ago, eh?) Enjoy a recap of the 2003 tournament, plus a brief reminiscence about those days from Bodiroga, below. And see you in Barcelona! The Euroleague Final Four returned to Palau Sant Jordi in 2003 in what was a much-anticipated event, especially after local favorite FC Barcelona qualified. It marked the eighth...