By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The moment any team qualifies for them, the playoffs take center stage. Many players of the eight remaining EuroLeague clubs learned the principal value of the playoffs the hard way, while others carrying a lucky charm almost always manage to progress to the Final Four. Eurohoops looks back at the players with the most postseason experience by choosing one from each team in the 2019 playoffs.
Felipe Reyes:Previous playoffs experience: 2001, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Stats: 8.3 ppg., 6.2 rpg., 0.9 apg., 9.4 PIR
If you are searching for a super source of EuroLeague playoffs experience, Felipe Reyes is your man. His 40 playoff appearances to date are the most in the modern era of Europe’s premier competition. His 729 minutes on the court during playoff games rank him sixth on the all-time list.
Reyes was on the wrong side of his first four playoffs series, but found success in six of his last seven attempts, every time with Real Madrid since 2011. He recorded his best showing in 2009, with 17.0 points and 19 PIR per game despite the elimination by Olympiacos.
At 38 years old last season, the Spanish big man came through for injury-plagued Madrid in its best-of-five series versus Panathinaikos. He averaged 18.3 PIR in the team’s three wins, which produced a Final Four berth and, ultimately, Reyes’ s second EuroLeague title. He and Madrid team will face the Greens in this season’s playoffs, as well.