Kyle Hines became during Game 5 the top American player in EuroLeague history for career points. He bypassed Marcus Brown and strengthened his position as a legendary player, as he was already the first American ever for games played in the competition, over 300. The Final Four conquered yesterday will be his ninth in a row, with the third different team, Milan after Olympiacos and CSKA. But to get it, he not only had to play a great game (seven rebounds, 12 points) in Game 5, but he also had to provide the defensive play of the year, maybe not the only one, but the most significant for sure. With that play, he protected Olimpia’s lead and the ensuing qualification.

When Bayern came within two points after a sudden, never-seen-before comeback, Wade Baldwin attacked the paint to get to his favorite spot. At that moment, Kyle Hines stepped in the middle, jumped, got his hands on the ball, and never let it go. So, the two players went back down together, and the referees called a jump ball. Here was the last chance for Bayern, but Hines – despite being notoriously “undersized” – is still more or less 10 centimeters taller than Baldwin and he is also a player with an excellent lift. The tip-off had no history. Hines directed the basketball towards Shavon Shields, the great hero of the game, and with that touch he practically closed the game. And the series.