Photo: Aleksandar Dimitrijević / alo.rs

Dejan Bodiroga reflected on FC Barcelona Bàsquet winning the 2003 EuroLeague championship, describing the pressure surrounding the club’s long-awaited breakthrough.

Speaking in Final Four Stories by Stoiximan, Bodiroga explained that Barcelona had reached multiple Final Fours before finally winning the title.

“Barcelona went to many Final Fours,” he told Eurohoops. “They got to the Final Four but had never won.”

After winning the EuroLeague with Panathinaikos B.C. in 2002, Bodiroga said joining Barcelona gave him a new challenge and motivation.

“For them to have organization 2003 in Barcelona and coming after so many Final Fours, of course, was big pressure, but also, for me, let’s say, was one additional motivation or new goal.”

Barcelona defeated PBC CSKA Moscow in the semifinals and later beat Benetton Treviso in the final, where Bodiroga scored 20 points and earned Final Four MVP honors.

“I think that first it was that I compete also with myself and I always try to win again,” Bodiroga said.

The victory completed a historic triple crown season for Barcelona, something Bodiroga still considers one of the biggest achievements of his career.