MVP Nocioni leads Real Madrid to Euroleague championship

For the first time since 2010, the Euroleague title is headed to Spain. For the first time since 1995, it's doing so in the possession of Real Madrid.

Real Madrid won the 2014-15 Euroleague Championship on Sunday, dominating Olympiacos 78-59 and shaking a stretch of hard luck that saw them lose in the finals in each of the last two seasons. It also continues an incredibly successful season that saw them win the Copa del Rey de Baloncesto in February and has them in a strong position entering the Spanish Liga ACB playoffs later this month.

"This team played hard every time, and a third year in a row we were in a final. And the third time was lucky for us," former NBA first-round pick Rudy Fernandez said after his team's victory. "We played great, amazing defense, and tonight we beat a great team."

Former NBA player Andres Nocioni led the way for Madrid, earning Euroleague Final Four MVP honors after scoring 12 points with seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal in the championship game.

He was flanked by notable names like Fernandez, Gustavo Ayon, Sergio Llull and Sergio Rodriguez, helping combat a 17-point night from Olympiacos guard Matt Lojeski with a balanced two-way effort.

Real Madrid went 8-2 to win their Euroleague regular season group, then topped their Top-16 group with an 11-3 record before beating Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahce Ulker in the elimination rounds. Their previous Euroleague title also came against Olympiacos.