The last dance for Efes? Ataman jokes about the call from the NBA / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: EuroLeague Basketball via GettyImages Credit EuroLeague Basketball via GettyImages

Will we witness The Last Dance for Anadolu Efes in the upcoming EuroLeague final? Ergin Ataman and Vasilije Micic discussed the future of the Istanbul powerhouse with BasketNews.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul / Schedule

Olympiakos Piraeus Anadolu Efes Istanbul74-77 Real Madrid Anadolu Efes IstanbulSat17:00

Efes made the EuroLeague final for the third consecutive year, placing this group of Ergin Ataman players into one of the best European teams of all-time conversation.

But with many players aging and playing on expiring contracts, Saturday's title battle might mark the last EuroLeague game for this dynasty.

"The last dance for us is every year. We always talk about that," Micic smiled in an interview with BasketNews. "Even last summer, after the Turkish league final against Fenerbahce, we talked similarly."

"But in the end, we somehow stuck together with some small changes," he continued. "It's really not time to talk about that. Because maybe all of us believe that we will be together next year too."

Vasilije Micic has an NBA out clause in his contract that runs through 2024.

Shane Larkin, Bryant Dunston, Adrien Moerman, Krunoslav Simon (leaving), James Anderson, Chris Singleton, and Tibor Pleiss are on expiring deals.

In the playoffs series against AX Armani Exchange Milan, Ataman logged the oldest starting five in modern EuroLeague history.

"Definitely, we're an older team, some changes probably will happen, but I'm not so sure what kind of changes. What I'm really sure of is that now everyone is focused on this upcoming game," Micic spoke of Saturday's final against Real Madrid.

Ergin Ataman laughed, hearing the question if that's the last dance for his Anadolu Efes team.

The reigning EuroLeague champion is under contract with Efes for the next season.

"Who knows?" Ataman answered, all smiling.

"I don't know if I will be... Okay, I have one more year contract. But I don't know if I will be in Efes next year. Maybe somebody calls me from the NBA?" he smiled widely and left.

Ataman already joked about an NBA opportunity after the semifinal victory in front of San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.

"Maybe after three consecutive final appearances, he thinks that let's take one European coach to the NBA and help me go to the NBA," Ataman laughed.

Putting jokes aside, there's a high chance that after long years of playing together, this team will see major changes.

Let's enjoy this group one more time.

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