By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
The 2022 EuroLeague Final Four marks a tournament debut for Real Madrid guard Nigel Williams-Goss but is far from the first time that he’s competing in knockout games of a Top 4.
In 2017 and before he began his journey as a pro, Williams-Goss pushed the Gonzaga Bulldogs towards the NCAA national championship game for the first time in the history of the college behind a stellar run throughout the entire March Madness.
“It’s really similar with the media and everything like that,” Williams-Goss told Eurohoops. “But it’s also different because these are professional games. I’m fortunate that I managed to experience the EuroLeague Final Four and the NCAA Final Four.”
Williams-Goss made the West Regional-All Tournament Team thanks to his performances in the Sweet 16. He had 23 points and six assists in the semifinal vs. the South Carolina Gamecocks as Gonzaga celebrated their maiden participation in the Final.
Gonzaga didn’t go until the full end of the road since they got beaten by the North Carolina Tarheels in the championship game. Now, Williams-Goss wants this Final Four as a pro to have a far different outcome.
“Hopefully I can have a little bit more success in the EuroLeague Final Four,” Williams-Goss said.
Real Madrid went through major ups and downs this campaign before reaching the Final Four. An impressive first leg was followed by consecutive losses in the second part of the regular season that dropped them from the second seed in the standings.
Still, the Spanish power swept Maccabi Tel Aviv in the playoffs to come once more face to face with the EuroLeague championship.
“It’s an amazing experience,” Williams-Goss. “I think that for any European [player who competes in Europe] player, this is the pinnacle that you want to get to. It’s my first one, I’m taking it all in and I’m looking forward for tomorrow.”
As a Final Four rookie, Williams-Goss is looking up to some of the decorated veterans of his team like Sergio Llull and Rudy Fernandez for some guidance.
“As a group, it gives your team confidence having guys who have had this success in that level,” Williams-Goss said. “These are our leaders and we are always drawing from their experience.”