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    Dimitris Itoudis: Yam Madar is a hero – hard work behind closed doors brings trophies

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    By on Eurocup, EuroLeague, Interviews, NBA, News
    Dimitris Itoudis
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    Fresh off winning the EuroCup title, Hapoel Tel Aviv head coach Dimitris Itoudis gave an exclusive interview to Basketball Sphere.

    Dimitris Itoudis’ basketball journey, which began back in 1990 in Zagreb, has spanned more than three decades — a path rich with experience, achievements, and undeniable influence. In the United States, they call it “legacy,” but for this part of the world, the word “heritage” fits even better.

    That heritage has long placed Itoudis among Europe’s all-time coaching greats. Yet, after lifting the EuroCup trophy with Hapoel Tel Aviv — a team he took over mid-season, one that had never made a significant impact in European competitions — his story has gained a remarkable new chapter.

    Basketball Sphere caught up with Itoudis the day after Hapoel was honored at an official reception by the President of Israel, celebrating their historic EuroCup title and qualification for the EuroLeague. Still, as in life — and especially in sports — the past quickly gives way to the demands of the present. Itoudis knows the hard work is just beginning:

    “Everything went phenomenally well! The President of Israel welcomed us, and afterwards, we had a private celebration with the players and their families at Yam Madar’s house. But there’s no time to rest — we’re already turning our focus to the Israeli League games and preparing for the playoffs,” Dimitris Itoudis told Basketball Sphere.

    Basketball Sphere: After bringing the EuroCup trophy into Hapoel’s trophy room, you didn’t just make club history — you also cemented your place in coaching history across Europe. Only three other coaches before you have won both the EuroLeague and the EuroCup titles: Dusan “Duda” Ivkovic, David Blatt, and Ergin Ataman.

    Dimitris Itoudis:
    “I didn’t know that right away — Javier Gancedo from Euroleague Basketball told me after we won the EuroCup title. It’s an incredible honor to be mentioned alongside three such distinguished colleagues, especially Dusan Duda Ivkovic. Everyone knows the relationship I had with him, so it’s a particular honor and pleasure to now be part of that company.”

    Basketball Sphere: This feels like the perfect moment to go back in time and dig a little deeper. After 13 successful years at Panathinaikos working alongside Zeljko Obradovic, you took the next big step in your career by becoming the head coach of Banvit. What we’re curious about is whether you had earlier opportunities to take on a head coaching role, and why you chose not to make that move sooner?

    Dimitris Itoudis:
    “There were actually three very serious offers. One of them, which became public at the time, was from Baskonia, in Vitoria. We held talks in 2007 about me taking over the team, but I decided to turn it down — and I was proud to have even received such an offer. There were two other clubs as well, both elite EuroLeague teams, but I prefer not to name them. I had serious offers to become a head coach, but I chose to stay at Panathinaikos. I had given my word that I would stay, and we had major challenges ahead of us.

    I knew I had the knowledge and ability to be a head coach, but I was also aware that I had an exceptional and serious role thanks to Zeljko Obradovic. That doesn’t mean I didn’t want to eventually work independently. I was fully satisfied, I was creative, and I don’t regret staying at that time. We went on to win many titles afterward. Zeljko and I agreed in 2012 to take a break, and that’s when the offer from Banvit came along.

    I spoke with my family and with Zeljko. One year away was more than enough, and at that time, it still wasn’t clear whether he would move to Fenerbahce or not. Zeljko and I had an outstanding collaboration; I learned a great deal from him. We worked together for 13 years, became godfathers to each other’s children, and remained friends — and that is more important than anything else.

    When I accepted the offer from Banvit, I informed Zeljko. Everything that happened afterward is history. I am grateful to Banvit for giving me that opportunity. The original offer was for three years, but during the season, just two months into working with Banvit, my agent received three more offers from EuroLeague teams.”

    Basketball Sphere: Every trophy carries its own special significance, and in sports, we often hear that famous saying — that coaches, like musicians or parents, can’t pick a favorite concert or child. When we look back at your time with CSKA Moscow, it’s impossible not to remember Viktor Khryapa’s buzzer-beater to force overtime in the EuroLeague Final against Fenerbahce — and against your close friend, Zeljko Obradovic.

    You went on to win your first EuroLeague title, were named Coach of the Year, and now, several years later, experienced something similar when Marcus Foster hit an incredibly tough shot in the EuroCup final. If you could draw some parallels between those moments, which shot would you say was more important? Or should we return to the old saying — every winning shot, every concert, every child — it’s impossible to choose just one?

    Dimitris Itoudis:
    “Every game-winner has its own importance, but some of them have definitely become part of history. I’m happy that Viktor Khryapa made that shot to tie the game and send it to overtime. It was a very difficult shot — just as Marcus Foster hit a very tough shot in the EuroCup final.

    But there were also crucial defensive moments, like when Ramunas Siskauskas missed a free throw back in 2009 in Berlin against Panathinaikos, which helped us win the title. Every game-winning moment is special to me, but if I had to highlight something, I would agree with you — those shots by Khryapa and Foster truly stand out.”

    Basketball Sphere: When an elite coach leads his team to six EuroLeague Final Fours, wins two titles, and then takes over a EuroCup team midseason, many people might see it as a step backward in terms of career moves.

    At the same time, you didn’t just do something new — we could even draw a parallel with the philosophy of Dusan “Duda” Ivkovic. Recently, in an interview, Vassilis Spanoulis mentioned that the first piece of advice he received from coach Ivkovic was to never take over a team midseason — though he admitted he couldn’t refuse the Monaco offer. If we look back just a few months, you made a similar decision by joining Hapoel Tel Aviv:

    Dimitris Itoudis:
    “I wouldn’t agree that signing with Hapoel Tel Aviv was a step back or a move to a lower level. It is the second competition under Euroleague Basketball’s organization, but that doesn’t mean it’s a step backward. It’s actually harder and more challenging to coach a team without much experience and to build something from scratch. My decision was very difficult, especially since I had never taken over a team midseason before. For me, it was a step forward — a big, positive challenge.

    I had offers from EuroLeague teams, which I turned down because I didn’t want to take a team just for the remainder of the season. Then the president of Hapoel Tel Aviv, Ofer Yannay, convinced me with his vision, his ideas, and his motivation. I stated then that it would be an honor to lead a club that had never competed in the EuroLeague but had ambition, financial stability, and the desire to grow, to take a leap forward toward EuroLeague basketball.

    My mindset and goal were clear — to bring the team into the elite competition. Thank God, we managed to do it right away in the first season, although I didn’t necessarily expect it. We gave everything we had. The players made a lot of sacrifices, they committed themselves to listening and working hard, and there’s no secret formula — just a lot of work. We pushed our own limits, but that’s how it is when you compete.”

    Basketball Sphere: There are different types of coaches and players — some will hide their emotions after winning a trophy or suffering a tough loss, staying completely calm. After winning the EuroCup, you clearly celebrated and showed great joy together with your players. How difficult is it, in moments like that, to stay cold and composed — yet at the same time, it’s only human to show emotions, especially when reaching the end of such a journey?

    In the world of sports, we’ve often heard that winning a trophy feels like lifting a huge burden off your shoulders, because everyone knows how hard the process is just to get the opportunity to fight for a title:

    Dimitris Itoudis:
    “I worked alongside Zeljko Obradovic, later I coached on my own and worked with other coaches — we won many trophies. However, every time, the challenge feels like it’s your first trophy, because you never know if it might be your last. That’s why we play — for the chance to win a trophy.

    I still have a huge fire inside me. I love and respect basketball. I dream of basketball becoming even more attractive, being played all over the world in packed arenas. I’m proud to be part of the history of Hapoel Tel Aviv, and also to remain part of EuroLeague basketball alongside the players, coaches, and fans.”

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    Basketball Sphere: A slightly unusual question, but while you talk about basketball and anything related to your profession, the emotion in every sentence is undeniable. What does basketball mean to you?

    Dimitris Itoudis:
    “Basketball and coaching are not just sports. It’s something that requires a lot of interaction and a lot of decision-making, especially when you are a player. The essence is how to translate coaching theory onto the court and turn it into practice.

    Basketball is a part of socialization and culture. It’s about cooperation. Many people contribute — some a little less, some a little more — to achieving success. That’s why I love my job and collaboration with players, coaches, medical staff, and even journalists.

    Basketball constantly makes you better — as a coach, as a father, and as a friend. You have the opportunity to work with different people, characters, religions, cultures, and in different countries — that is a privilege. These 5,000 contacts I have in my phone, that is my biggest trophy. Even when you journalists call me for an interview, whether you work on TV, radio, or online, our biggest success is the daily work we put in.

    That is the real trophy — because you can see that in some way you are improving basketball as a game. I don’t seek to be in the newspapers every day, but all of us involved in sports are awarded trophies in front of full arenas because we worked hard behind closed doors. The things you don’t see — the extra practices, the video analyses, all the little things — are what lead to the trophy being raised in public. The work done behind closed doors brings the trophy.”

    Basketball Sphere: We are aware that very few coaches like to speak individually about their players, but we cannot avoid mentioning the act of Yam Madar, who decided to play injured — and not only did he play, but he also delivered phenomenal performances in the EuroCup Finals:

    Dimitris Itoudis:
    “A hero, a true hero! I don’t use that word lightly, I don’t like to label anyone a hero — but he is a real hero! He made himself available for the team and for the coach, despite having a serious injury. He said there was no way he wouldn’t play. And not only did he play, but he was outstanding.

    He was a major factor on both ends of the floor. He loves basketball and enjoys every moment on the court. When I see players like that, who truly love what they do and put in extra effort beyond the regular practices, that’s my motivation to wake up at seven in the morning and be in the gym with them. That’s a huge thing, and that’s the trophy I was talking about.”

    Basketball Sphere: Recently, we’ve been hearing a lot about the future of the EuroLeague, whether it’s about expansion, the introduction of conferences, or other details. What we would like to ask you is whether a potential model where the two last teams in the standings at the end of the regular season lose their right to participate the following year, and instead, the two best teams from the EuroCup take their place, would be viable.

    This is something we haven’t seen or read about anywhere, and it could potentially further interest the audience. The introduction of the play-in has brought uncertainty, leading to 13 or 14 teams competing for a playoff spot up until the last two or three rounds of the regular season. On the other hand, for several years now, we’ve been seeing three, four, or sometimes even five teams mathematically eliminated from playoff contention early in the season, making their games lose competitive meaning:

    Dimitris Itoudis:
    “I listened carefully to what you said, and I think this is something that can be discussed. Professional basketball at the EuroLeague and NBA level has led to serious investments, where everyone wants to know the clear profit or loss. Three-year or five-year plans are a facilitating circumstance to clearly understand who wants to do what. In sporting terms, the EuroCup could give two of the best teams, and two from the EuroLeague could drop out. This is something that can be discussed.

    The model I have in mind is for the EuroLeague to expand. We are at a point where we are mature enough to expand the competition to 20, 22, or 24 teams in the coming years. To play more games without losing the competitive interest of domestic championships. I have ideas and arguments that I could bring to the table as the president of the EuroLeague Coaches Association and as an active coach with rich experience.”

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    Basketball Sphere: Speaking of the EuroLeague, we can’t fail to mention one name — Mike James. You’ve had the chance to work with him, and everyone knows how temperamental he can be as a player, but also how he changed teams frequently before arriving at Monaco. It seems like he has finally found his “safe haven” and is thriving as the leader of that team. It would be interesting to hear from you firsthand how it is to work with such an individual:

    Dimitris Itoudis:
    “Mike James is an extraordinary player. He has basketball in his fingers and an incredible feel for the game. We have an excellent relationship, and the fact that he didn’t succeed in one place for a long period doesn’t have to mean anything. If you don’t succeed in one place, you go to another, and you find your way. Such situations help you become more mature and make wiser decisions. I’m not saying this just about him, but in general about the world of sports.

    Mike James has earned everything he has, and I’m glad I had the chance to work with him. I’ve learned some things from him, and he’s learned from me. It’s mutual. Some environments help you feel like you belong there, to that family, and when you feel that way, you give your all.

    I’ve had the privilege of working with great players. I told Dejan Bodiroga that when he handed over the trophy and medals to my team. Imagine how many trophies we won together when he was a player, and now we get to this point — imagine the cycles life creates.”

    Basketball Sphere: We’ll continue this basketball conversation by diving a little deeper into events across the ocean — the NBA. You are a coach who grew up with colleagues, players, and everyone from the Balkans, and you’re aware of the character and talent in these regions. However, what Nikola Jokić is showing is a whole different dimension. It would be interesting to hear a word from you about such a player:

    Dimitris Itoudis:
    “Nikola Jokic has introduced a new culture and dimension to the game of centers who can be playmakers on the court. I’m glad we played against him, even though we lost that game in Belgrade after two overtimes when I was coaching the Greek national team. He and Giannis Antetokounmpo put on an impressive performance. Nikola Jokic hit a tough turnaround shot from the corner. Another important shot, even though it didn’t go our way, but it was extraordinary.

    Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic have left a huge impact in the NBA, and that’s confirmation that Europe produces a lot of talent and great players. We can learn how to combine knowledge and experience from both the NBA and EuroLeague. There are serious people ready to invest finances and knowledge to help expand the EuroLeague, ensuring stability and growth in the years to come.”

    Basketball Sphere: At the beginning of the conversation, we talked about your relationship with Zeljko Obradovic, then we covered topics about Hapoel Tel Aviv and some individuals, but now let’s return to the coaching profession. You’ve had the opportunity to visit NBA camps as a coach, and as you said, you have five thousand basketball contacts in your phone, but Darko Rajakovic is someone we’d like to hear a bit more about.

    He became the first coach of an NBA team, and shortly after him, Tuomas Iisalo did the same. Does this seem like a big step forward in the hiring of European coaches in the best league in the world? There are only 30 positions in the world for this role, so it’s a huge achievement for anyone’s career to be one of those 30:

    Dimitris Itoudis:
    “I am extremely happy that Darko Rajakovic is there. He is my great friend. Tuomas Iisalo and I don’t personally know each other, but I wish him all the best. The man deserves everything he has achieved so far, and I respect him greatly. Igor Kokoskov and a few other European coaches are there as well. I’ve had the opportunity to work four or five Summer Leagues with the Detroit Pistons.

    To return to Darko again. He’s a great professional, and he views himself as a gladiator in the arena before each game, preparing like that for every match. I spent 12 phenomenal days with him. They have great chemistry and atmosphere. He’s shown not only with the Toronto Raptors but also with other teams where he has left a significant mark with his knowledge. I’m happy to know his family and the entire coaching staff. I have many friends there, and we talk and chat… I’m extremely happy and content with where I am right now, but we never know what tomorrow brings.

    Darko Rajakovic has invested a lot of himself into all of this, spending many years in the United States, becoming almost American. I’m happy that we can meet every summer, listen to music. I’m even happier that Darko and his family know my friend Konstantinos Argyros, so we sing his songs, have some raki, enjoy ourselves, and eat well…”

    Basketball Sphere: Greek, Turkish, or Serbian cuisine? What’s your favorite?

    “Greek! You gave me three options, and I chose Greek, that’s it…” said Dimitris Itoudis with a smile.

    Basketball Sphere: At the end of the conversation, here’s a really tough question… So many trophies won, so many important games, and historically significant ones on the European continent. However, every coach has those specific players, as the profession likes to say, “the player every coach would want on their team.” Given the plethora of phenomenal players, is there perhaps one specific player in your career?

    Dimitris Itoudis:
    “Thank you especially for this question. Even one of your colleagues pointed out to me that out of the 25 players who have marked the 21st century in the EuroLeague, I’ve coached 12 or 13. That’s also a huge trophy, and many of them have the potential to become coaches.

    I’m glad I had the opportunity and still have the opportunity to work with intellectuals and people who love basketball.”, concluded Dimitris Itoudis at the end of the interview for Basketball Sphere.

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