Fenerbahce guard Nando De Colo arrived at the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four with perspective that only a veteran of 10 Final Four appearances can bring. Speaking Thursday in Athens, the 38-year-old reflected on his final professional season and the opportunity to compete for another title before retirement.
De Colo confirmed earlier this season that 2025-26 would be the last year of his career, making this weekend’s Final Four at Telekom Center Athens one of the final chapters for one of Europe’s most accomplished guards. Fenerbahce will face Olympiacos in Friday’s semifinal after finishing fourth in the regular season with a 24-14 record and defeating Zalgiris 3-1 in the playoffs.
“For sure, for sure,” De Colo said when asked whether reaching another Final Four made his “last dance” more special. “As I say, it’s going to be my last season.”
The French veteran explained that joining Fenerbahce during the season was part of a shared decision with his family and one driven by competitive goals. “When I had this opportunity to join Fenerbahce, it was a great opportunity for me,” De Colo said. “We had big goals to reach with Fenerbahce and this was a big motivation for me.”
That experience has become one of the biggest talking points entering the Final Four. Fenerbahce head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius pointed to De Colo’s 10 Final Four appearances as a major advantage for the Turkish club in high-pressure moments.
Fenerbahce’s season has been built largely on defense after significant roster turnover following last year’s title run. Jasikevicius noted that his team relied heavily on defensive structure early in the season while the offense developed chemistry and continuity.
The matchup against Olympiacos presents another difficult challenge. Olympiacos finished first in the regular season at 26-12 and swept Monaco in the quarterfinals with an average winning margin of nearly 25 points across the series. The Greek club also enters the weekend having reached five consecutive Final Fours.
Even with his résumé, De Colo kept the focus on enjoying the moment while maintaining the same professionalism that defined his career. “I still am the professional player I was all my career,” he said. “This is how I’m going to enjoy this Final Four and make sure we do the job the right way.”
The former EuroLeague MVP and two-time champion also addressed late-game decision-making during a lighter moment of the press conference. Asked whether he would take the final shot in a championship game or pass to a teammate, De Colo emphasized trust and reading the floor rather than forcing heroics.
“To be a clutch player you need to find the right decision,” De Colo said. “It depends who is in the best situation to make the shot at the end. You want the team to win.”
