By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
One month separated from the conclusion of the 2019-20 Basketball Champions League season in Athens, AEK started 2020-21 with an offensive showing reminiscing BCL runs of the past, including the 2017-18 campaign resulting in capturing the title. The Queen is 3-2 in Champions League openers after beating Hapoel Holon Wednesday.
Fearless scorer
The Israeli outlet fully prepared to pull off an upset in Athens failed to hold on in crunch time suffering the finishing blow via a Keith Langford three. The 37-year-old American guard, Kansas alumni, and two-time recipient of the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy award enjoyed one of those nights of making shots of all kinds from the opening bucket to the clutch three. He eventually matched his personal-high in the Champions League with 30 points.
“It’s really simple. You must not be willing to miss it. I think A lot of people take those possessions and are afraid to miss, and that’s why they are not that aggressive,” he mentioned during the post-game press conference commenting on his latest effective performance down the stretch, “I don’t have any fear of missing and I’m not afraid to lose. Most of the time, when you take the risk you win. When you’re not afraid you can accomplish a lot.”
Producing 25+ points
Langford, certainly no stranger to clutch shots, went 12/18, including 3/6 threes opposite to Holon, scoring over 25 points in a single BCL game for the sixth time. His six 25+ showings since joining the Greek outlet and the beginning of the last season stand out in comparison to the rest of the players in that stretch.
| OPPONENT | POINTS |
| EBPLO (2019-20/GD1) | 27 |
| Hapoel Jerusalem (2019-20/GD2) | 27 |
| San Pablo Burgos (2019-20/GD5) | 30 |
| Bandirma (2019-20/GD11) | 27 |
| Bonn (2019-20/R16 G2) | 25 |
| Hapoel Holon (2020-21/GD3) | 30 |
Looking into his previous top offensive performances, the relentlessly productive AEK star introduced himself to the Basketball Champions League in a similar fashion. After pouring 27 points versus EB Pau-Lacq-Orthez in the 2019-20 opener, he added 27 more in an away loss to Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem. Three more +25 outings followed prior to the hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The conclusion of the 2019-20 BCL season following a lengthy delay fell short of what Langford and AEK were hoping for. Hereda San Pablo Burgos executed other plans on finishing the Final Eight in Athens. However, Langford staying with the team based in Athens immediately boosts aspirations for a second BCL title.
Reaching the 100-point mark
The Greek club, among the teams participating in the inaugural Champions League season and remaining part of FIBA’s premier continental competition up to the current fifth season, comes with a total of 76 BCL matches. Those contests feature four showings with at least 100 points.
| OPPONENT | POINTS |
| Venezia (2017-18/GD2) | 103 |
| Monaco (2017-18/FINAL) | 100 |
| EBPLO (2019-20/GD1) | 102 |
| Hapoel Holon (2020-21/GD3) | 100 |
Two of the previous 100-point outings popped out early as well, in the first game of the 2019-20 and in the second of the 2017-18 run. The lone exception marked the championship game of the 2018 Final Four delivering the high-point for AEK in the Basketball Champions League.
The opening signs
As mentioned, AEK is 3-2 in Champions League openers. The mixed results in those games, all held in Athens, were combined with equally mixed outcomes. However, the current adjusted format reducing the Regular Season contests from 14 to six brings additional significance to the “W” over Holon in terms of advancing to the next round.
“We only have six games to put ourselves in a position to get back in another Final Four,” noted Langford signaling his side’s approach to the opener and the remaining group stage challenges featuring the return game versus Hapoel Holon, and two encounters opposite to Tsmoki-Minsk and Cholet.
| SEASON | OPENER | FINISH |
| 2016-17 | WIN | ROUND OF 16 |
| 2017-18 | LOSS | CHAMPION |
| 2018-19 | LOSS | QUARTERFINAL |
| 2019-20 | WIN | FINAL |
| 2020-21 | WIN | ? |
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League