EuroLeague or not, the London Lions season is already one for the books / News - Basketnews.com

Gabe Olaseni and Petar Bozic break down how the London Lions keep pushing the boundaries in UK basketball and explain their own roles in the process. The British player and the Serbian coach dissect their different backgrounds and reflect on the club's readiness for the top level.

Credit: IPA/SIPA Credit IPA/SIPA

If theLondon Lionshave been able to make the EuroCup quarter-finals for the very first time,Gabe OlaseniandPetar Bozicrichly deserve a great deal of credit for it.

London Lions / Schedule

London Lions Turk Telekom Ankara100-77 U-BT Cluj-Napoca London LionsWed17:00

In fact, last Wednesday, when the British clubhosted Turk Telekom Ankaraat the Copper Box Arena in a Round of 16 matchup, London welcomed its first-ever EuroCup playoff showdown.

And if last year's flagship team of the BBL came off the first stage with a modest 8-10 record, this year's 13-6 overall mark makes the Lions one of the favorites to go all the way.

But, please, don't tell Bozic.

"We just try to build what started last year," the Serbian tactician somewhat reservedly toldBasketNewssome weeks ago when his team was still fighting for one of the top spots in the EuroCup group stage.

"We all have big expectations and want to put ourselves in a good position. We're still the same team as at the beginning of the season and have the same approach to every game.

We're competitive, but at the end of the day, we just try to give our maximum. Whatever the outcome after that, we'll be happy. We want to give our best and see if that's enough. We're pretty much aware of the strengths of this team."

The Lions made history in 2022-23, becoming the first British team to ever progress to the knockout stages of the EuroCup.

Last season was London's first-ever in the EuroCup, and the team, led by Ryan Schmidt, showed that it didn't lack ambition. Sam Dekker stood out as the team's leading figure, earning himself All-EuroCup Second Team honors.

This season has seen several other players, like Jordan Taylor, Conor Morgan, and Matt Morgan, step up. But no one has leveled up his game more than London born-and-raised Gabe Olaseni, whose dominant play in the paint has been a huge difference-maker for the Lions.

Olaseni, 32, is averaging career-highs of 15.9 points, 2.4 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per EuroCup contest while being reliable from the charity stripe (81.1%). He boasts considerable international experience, having spent time in Germany (Bamberg, Wurzburg), Italy (Sassari), and Turkey (Darussafaka).

But now, he's back to his hometown to help an aspiring team reach its full potential. After being abroad for several years, including his four-year college stint with Iowa (2011-15), he decided to return to London last summer.

So, what led to such a decision?

"Over the course of the previous season, my last year in Turkey, I talked to some guys, like Tarik [Phillip], Kareem [Queeley], Luke [Nelson] and Mo [Soluade]. I'd talk to them regardless of where they were, but back home, they said good things about the organization and how the British league has grown," the veteran big man reveals.

Olaseni was instantly

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