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Round 9

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Joseph Girard III remembers the 2011 NCAA Tournament like it was yesterday. Brigham Young University stormed into the Sweet 16 with one of the most thrilling players in the country, Jimmer Fredette, who had captivated the United States. And Girard was one of his biggest fans. 

Joseph Girard carrying on tradition from Jimmer Fredette 

[Joseph Girard III](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/joseph-girard-iii/013856/) remembers the 2011 NCAA Tournament like it was yesterday. Brigham Young University stormed into the Sweet 16 with one of the most thrilling players in the country, [Jimmer Fredette](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jimmer-fredette/009842/), who had captivated the United States. And Girard was one of his biggest fans. 

Fifteen years later, Girard is playing for [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/) in the BKT EuroCup and carrying on the tradition of Fredette, as they are the only two players to have their numbers retired from Glen Falls High School in New York. 

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGHOD17x7v6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Joseph Girard III (@jg3____)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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Girard has had his moments in his first EuroCup season, most notably his 16-point outburst in Cedevita’s Round 3 home victory over Aris Thessaloniki Betsson. The 25-year-old is averaging 7.8 points while shooting 38.9% on three-pointers to go with 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists.  

“Obviously this is a big jump and I knew that,” Girard told David Hein when asked about his move from Nevezis Kedainiai last season in Lithuania to Cedevita in the EuroCup and Adriatic League. “No matter if it's the EuroCup or ABA League, it's always going to be a tough opponent. So each game brings something different, but it'll always be a tough game. And you have to be mentally ready each and every night.”

Girard scoring 16 points in a EuroCup game shouldn’t be a surprise given his past of putting the ball in the basket. 

Last season with Nevezis, he led the Lithuanian League in scoring with 21.0 points per game while shooting 54% on two-pointers, 41.5% on threes and 90.8% on free throws, in addition averaging to 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists, in his first professional season. 

“I was confident in what I was doing. My coaches were confident in me. My teammates were confident in me. And we had a really good team. It just didn't show up in the record,” said Girard, referring to the team’s 11-25 mark last season. 

Girard was a deadly scorer in college too, averaging at least 12.4 points in four of his five years while contributing at least 2.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game as well. And in two seasons he knocked down at least 40% of his three-pointers. 

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His scoring goes back to high school, where he averaged 48.5 points per game his senior season – winning the New York state high school championship with Glen Falls on a buzzer-beater in the final. Girard even averaged 50.0 points in his junior season. 

The 1.85-meter guard ended up being the all-time leading scorer in the state of New York, no small feat when you consider all the great players who have come from the state, including those from New York City. 

“It's huge. Just talking about it, it still doesn't really hit me yet because I'm still playing,” he said. “To have that happen and to see where all the hard work went and how it all played out, it was just magical. And I'm blessed to have that kind of record.”

Girard even being the leading scorer in his high school history is a feat considering Jimmer Fredette starred in the upstate school from 2003 to 2007 and scored more than 2,400 points. Fredette then had a successful college career at Brigham Young University before spending parts of six seasons in the NBA and ultimately finishing abroad, including the 2019-20 season with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in the EuroLeague. 

Girard was born in 2000 and was four or five years old when he was around Fredette’s high school team, because his father was the head coach of the girl’s basketball team. A young Joseph followed Jimmer’s entire career, with his biggest memory coming on March 24, 2011 – BYU facing Florida in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. 

“Third grade. I just have it vividly in my memory. The whole school shut down to watch his game. Every room had the game on their TV. Just watching it with my friends. Everybody rooting for them,” Girard said of Fredette scoring 32 points but losing to Florida in overtime, 83-74, in his last game for BYU. 

A couple of months later, Girard was at the Glen Falls Civic Center for the NBA Draft party for Fredette, who was in attendance at the draft itself down state in New York City. He said basically the whole city of Glen Falls came to the party to root for Jimmer, who was selected No. 10 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks but traded to the Sacramento Kings. 

Another big Jimmer memory for Girard was when he, most of his family and much of Glen Falls travelled down to New York to see Fredette play against the New York Knicks. 

The best plays of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana guard Joseph Girard through the first eight rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Joseph Girard's top plays this season

Girard has been lucky to still have a close relationship with Fredette over the years. 

“It was a fortunate thing. It's something that you can only dream about,” he remembered. “That's the guy who, when I was running around the gym and could barely reach the hoop, I was watching and trying to be like. And then, there's a time where I got pretty good at the game and he started helping me. So we would work out. He'd come home to Glens Falls for like two weeks, maybe a summer, and during that time he would help me out and go to the gym with me.” 

Fredette showed Girard what made him successful at college and then later what made him successful as a pro. 

Fredette retired from the game in April 2025 and Girard still has contact with him, in addition to seeing his parents, who still live in Glen Falls. 

“I still talk to Jimmer. He still reaches out. He'll slide up sometimes on Instagram, congratulating me on a big game or something. It's a great relationship. He's just a great guy overall, and it's helped me out a lot.”

Girard is also a sneaker head with a room full of shoes back home at his parents’ place. Among them are two pairs of Fredette’s shoes – neither of them having ever been worn. 

They will always be a reminder of how great Jimmer was and how he helped Girard become the next big thing from Glen Falls, New York.

More Cedevita Olimpija News

The Cedevita Olimpija guard went to the same high school as the former NBA star

Veolia Towers Hamburg has announced that forward Justin Edler-Davis is leaving the club after both sides agreed to terminate the contract

Hamburg releases forward Edler-Davis 

[Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/veolia-towers-hamburg/ham/) has announced that forward [Justin Edler-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/justin-edler-davis/013933/) is leaving the club after both sides agreed to terminate the contract. The 27-year-old American played 16 official games for Hamburg during the 2025–26 season, including 8 in the BKT EuroCup. Edler-Davis averaged 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in those EuroCup games.

“Justin was always exemplary as a person and brought great energy in practice,” said Towers sporting director Marvin Willoughby. “However, he was unable to reach the performance level and role we had envisioned. We thank him for his efforts and wish him all the best for his future.”

Edler-Davis becomes the third player to leave Hamburg within the first third of the season, joining Eric Reed and Carlos Stewart.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">📢 In beiderseitigem Einvernehmen haben wir an diesem Wochenende die Zusammenarbeit mit Forward Justin Edler-Davis beendet.<br>ℹ️ <a href="https://t.co/jRTrQT8e4X">https://t.co/jRTrQT8e4X</a><br><br>Thank you Justin, we wish you all the best for your future! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeoliaTowersHamburg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeoliaTowersHamburg</a></p>&mdash; Veolia Towers Hamburg (@hamburgtowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers/status/1994738000086061359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

The latest Hamburg news

The American forward averaged 8.5 points in the EuroCup before agreeing to leave the club

Hamburg releases forward Edler-Davis

Lietkabelis Panevezys has bolstered its frontline by signing veteran Lithuanian forward Justas Furmanavicius for the remainder of the season

Justas Furmanavicius strengthens Lietkabelis’s frontcourt depth

Lietkabelis Panevezys has bolstered its frontline by signing veteran Lithuanian forward Justas Furmanavicius for the remainder of the season. Furmanavicius (2.01 meters, 31 years old) will help fill the void left by Vytenis Lipkevicius, who could miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.

He arrives from Polish side Anwil Wloclawek, where he averaged 4.0 points per game across six Polish Basketball League appearances this season. Last season Furmanavicius played in Serbia, where he averaged 11.8 points and 3.3 rebounds over 22 Adriatic League games for Borac Cacak.

Furmanavicius last played in Lithuania during the 2023-24 campaign with Gargzdai and Jonava. He previously suited up for Lithuanian sides Siauliai, Dzukija, Pieno Zvaigzdes and Pasvalys as well as for Greece’s Kastoria. Furmanavicius is expected to make his EuroCup debut on Thursday against the London Lions.

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More news from Lietkabelis

The veteran forward brings scoring, versatility, and experience to Panevezys

Venice has provided inspiration to many in the art world over thousands of years. Given that, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one day Denzel Valentine writes a song about the Italian city. Yes, Denzel Valentine of Umana Reyer Venice – the former NBA guard who has released three full-length albums in the last five years.

Denzel Valentine living his evolution through “The Journey” and other music 

Venice has provided inspiration to many in the art world over thousands of years. Given that, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one day [Denzel Valentine](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/denzel-valentine-/013930/) writes a song about the Italian city. Yes, Denzel Valentine of [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) – the former NBA guard who has released three full-length albums in the last five years.

Valentine released his latest single “Like McGrady” on September 25 of this year, a year which also saw him bring out the “Plead the 5th” single in late July, the seven-track album “Part-Time” in mid-May and even the 12-track album “The Journey” in late January. 

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRM-jIZDXX5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Denzel Valentine (@denzelvalentine)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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The album cover for “The Journey” features Valentine in a collage of photos over the years, including wearing jerseys of the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA, the NBA G League’s Windy City Bulls and Maine Celtics, Michigan State Spartans from college, as well as his high school J.W. Sexton and Italian club Trieste from last season. 

“I like to separate music and basketball, but also at the same time intertwine them,” Valentine told David Hein. “So, because I'm a realist and don’t like to lie and exaggerate stuff. ‘The Journey’ is just about my life experiences, what I've experienced to this point. And I just wanted to share that through music with everybody who wants to choose to listen to it. 

“Also, I feel like I've gotten better as well. So I just had fun with it. I just made some songs, just kind of went in the studio and did my thing and it came out. It was a great turnout.”

“The Journey” was recorded in the summer of 2024 in Chicago with his producer and engineer Kylann Griffin, with whom he has worked since 2017.

The “Part-Time” cover, meanwhile, features two pictures of Valentine in a Trieste uniform. And that was actually recorded last season in Italy. Jayce Johnson, his teammate from last season, is listed as co-writer for all seven songs. 

“Jayce actually came up with the name,” said Valentine. “We were trying to figure out a name for the project, and he was like, ‘Part-Time,’ because literally that’s what we are. We’re basketball players, but you have a life outside of it, so we’re part-time artists. So that’s why we named it ‘Part-Time.’”

He said Johnson would always be singing in the locker room and was pretty good. 

“I’m like, ‘Bro, I've got to get you in the studio.’ We went in there our first time in February, maybe. And the first song on the album is called ‘Loose’. That was his first time ever doing a song, and he was so good from day one. I said you’re a natural. And that’s how we hit it off,” Valentine remembered. 

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJwK_0msKut/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Denzel Valentine (@denzelvalentine)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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Valentine has three albums, two EPs and 15 singles listed on Spotify.

The other album, “517: Made Me”, includes 11 songs and references the 517 area code in the United States, designated for the area around his home city of Lansing, Michigan. And the EPs are the four-track “It’s Bout Time” from June 2024 and the November 2022 release “Life Is What You Make It” with five songs from November 2022. 

Valentine said his favorite songs are “Wreck” from “The Journey”, “Come Vibe” from “It’s Bout Time”, and “On Sight” from “517 : Made Me”.

The song that probably means the most to him, he said, is “Blackout” from “The Journey”. 

“I’ve listened to that song multiple times and shed tears to it. It’s about my journey, how I grew up, and the struggles I’ve dealt with. It’s about all the hard work and sacrifice my parents made to get me here,” he said.

Valentine started off with straight rap music but then did some R&B and the pop music. Then the influence of Johnson showed he could do some alternative, borderline rock songs.

Even though basketball is his true love, Valentine said music provides an important release as a hobby. 

“I feel like I am able to express my true feelings when I’m in the studio, and it kind of releases a dopamine,” he admitted. “I feel mentally better. It’s crazy. I always feel so much better after I go in the studio. And then the songs, they last a lifetime.”

Valentines listens to his songs and that gives him a great vibe, too. 

“It reminds you of a great time that you had and how you were feeling at the time. It kind of motivates you to succeed and keep going,” he said. “It also gives me confidence too, because I’m like,  ‘Dang, I actually made that.’ It’s kind of mixed emotions with it, but it’s all positive.”

Valentine is currently helping Reyer in the fight to make the BKT EuroCup Playoffs, with holding a 4-4 record in the national team break. And the 32-year-old is playing a strong role, averaging 7.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and a team-high 4.9 assists while shooting 34.1% on three-pointers. 

That comes after a very solid campaign last year in Trieste, his first full season in Europe. 

“I was playing for something, playing for the pride of a city, playing for the pride of the league, trying to get a championship. It felt really good to improve and reinvent myself in year nine. And I wanted to take that energy into this year and have another great year,” he said. 

He now wants to leave a footprint in Europe.

“I feel like the new challenge is to show Europe and the world who Denzel Valentine is and what I can bring to an organization and a team. And that's winning, good vibes, and just the joy of basketball. And I think I have a platform to do that now with the opportunity that this team has given me,” he said.

And the added bonus of making music on top. 

When asked if Venice has inspired him, he answered: “Oh, definitely. Music videos are coming: water taxis, gondolas, all that. I’ve got some stuff planned, for sure.”

The top plays of Umana Reyer Venice guard Denzel Valentine through the first eight rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Denzel Valentine's best plays this season

More Reyer News

Reyer’s former NBA guard has released three full-length albums since 2020

Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) member clubs met on Thursday, November 27, to evaluate the current situation in Israel. The meeting followed the announcement issued on October 21, which identified December 1 as a tentative date for the potential restart of games in the country.



EuroCup and EuroLeague games to resume in Israel on December 9 and 11 respectively

Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) member clubs met on Thursday, November 27, to evaluate the current situation in Israel. The meeting followed the [announcement issued on October 21,](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fid.euroleague.net%2Fpublicapi%2Fv1%2Fcommunication%2Flink%2F1E21D7EE-61AB-B107-62D6-FC91E15139FB%2Ff41644bbdea3475f584b4c1d945a863caf01a6c8a2d15aef20fe71a46cb63af3_3809&data=05%7C02%7Cgeoff.gillingham%40euroleague.net%7C09ddf34a637a4f2b89c508de2dd268f8%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638998578884123369%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Cx4ju9D1D%2F%2FWP4aZ%2Bv24Q85YtUrFgz5jsNEr1gIbKqk%3D&reserved=0) which identified December 1 as a tentative date for the potential restart of games in the country.

During the meeting, clubs received a detailed briefing on last week’s official Euroleague Basketball (EB) delegation visit to Israel, which included a comprehensive on-site inspection of current conditions and the safety measures and conditions to be implemented, as well as formal meetings with multiple governmental bodies. The clubs also reviewed the most recent discussions conducted by EB with local and international authorities, visiting teams, and all relevant organizations, including ELPA, EHCB, and UEBO, who have been actively involved and informed throughout the monitoring phase.

After careful deliberation, Euroleague Basketball has determined to activate the return plan and resume the competition in Israel beginning with Round 10 of the EuroCup and Round 15 of the EuroLeague. The first game in Israel, since October 2023, is scheduled for December 9, when Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem will host Veolia Towers Hamburg in the EuroCup. The EuroLeague will return on December 11 with the matchup between Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne while Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv will make its home debut on December 16 against Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade.

Euroleague Basketball will continue to closely monitor developments and maintain constant communication with local and international authorities, visiting teams, and all relevant organizations to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved. In this regard, the return plan presented by the EB management commits to full cooperation and alignment with national government recommendations or restrictions with regards to the travel of their domestic teams to Israel.

Every competitor wants a career full of titles. Cassius Winston is no different, and he hopes to finally get a league crown in Europe with Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem – especially now that the team can play the BKT EuroCup at home. 

Cassius Winston wants to finish job with Jerusalem, now with home fans 

Every competitor wants a career full of titles. [Cassius Winston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/cassius-winston/011940/) is no different, and he hopes to finally get a league crown in Europe with [Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-midtown-jerusalem/jer/) – especially now that the team can play the BKT EuroCup at home. 

Jerusalem has found its groove in the EuroCup with a five-game winning streak going into the national team break. And Winston has been a big part of the Israeli side racing out to a 6-2 mark, good for a three-way tie atop Group A. 

“We like our position. It’s a long season, but I feel like we're getting better as a team and hitting a pretty good stride right now. So it's just about being consistent and just keeping at it,” Winston told David Hein. “There is still got a lot more season to go, but I like our chances.”

The 27-year-old point guard has shined in his first season in the EuroCup, averaging 15.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists. And it shouldn’t be a surprise that the 1.85-meter guard is playing well. 

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After a stellar college career which included winning a Big Ten Conference championship with Michigan State University, Winston spent the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons trying to make the NBA, playing predominantly in the G League. 

He left the United States for Europe and made his continental debut in the EuroLeague with FC Bayern Munich in 2022-23, where he averaged 11.0 points and 3.4 assists. Winston moved onto Tofas Bursa in Turkiye the following season and spent the 2024-25 campaign in Italy playing for Reggio Emilia. 

Winston played internationally the last two seasons in the Basketball Champions League – both times losing in the quarterfinals of the playoffs to a Spanish club. 

This off-season he was attracted to the move to Israel and Jerusalem. 

“It was just a great opportunity, a legendary club. I knew they were trying to do some really special things. And I just wanted to be a part of that; I wanted to be a part of something that can be that major,” he said. “I definitely wanted to come and play with all this talent and just see where I could impact the game and help the team out.”

Jerusalem would love to get to the EuroLeague, and Winston wouldn’t mind being there again, too. Each season since leaving Bayern, he has been able to measure himself against two EuroLeague teams in his domestic leagues: Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in Turkiye, and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and Virtus Bologna in Italy. 

“It's always the goal to play at the highest level possible and go there and contribute, and show that you can compete at that level, too. So, it's a great opportunity and a great situation to help this team and help myself in the process,” he said. 

When asked how motivated he feels to get back to the EuroLeague, Winston answered: “It's up there. I just want to play at the highest level and whatever is best for me. I know the EuroLeague is filled with really good players and really good competition. So if I get an opportunity, I would love to challenge myself against the best, always.”

Through his time in Europe, this season with Jerusalem is the first opportunity for Winston to play with someone for a second time. Winston and [Austin Wiley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/austin-wiley/013278/) played together at Tofas and really provided a strong point guard-big man combo. 

“We had a really good year in Tofas – just our chemistry and how we played together. And it carried over into this year, just reading each other, knowing each other's spots, just going out there playing with somebody that dominant. It always helps make the game easier on us as guards,” Winston said.

The top plays of Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem guard Cassius Winston through the first eight rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Cassius Winston's best plays this season

Wiley had joined Jerusalem after that year at Tofas while Winston went to Italy. And Winston said he talked to Wiley about a move to Israel.

“I talked to him just to see how things were, how he liked the coaches and the game and the play style. And he loved it. He told me I would enjoy it and that I would do well here, so it was nothing but good things to say.”

While things have gone well with Wiley and the rest of the team, one thing Winston hasn’t experienced yet is the home crowd for a Jerusalem game in the EuroCup. Games in the EuroCup have not been played in Israel since October 2023, but that will change on December 9 when Jerusalem hosts Veolia Towers Hamburg. 

"Oh, man. It's super exciting. I've seen how the fans get here for our \[Israeli League\] home games, so I know they're going to show up for those games too, and it's going to be cool to add that environment to the EuroCup games,” he said. 

“It's kind of hard going out there and playing in empty gyms with no fans. So to have that extra support, an extra teammate with us, it's going to be a huge lift for us.”

Jerusalem has already shown it can challenge for the EuroCup title, but Winston believes EuroCup games at home in Israel will make a major difference. 

“I think it changes the whole dynamic. You don’t have to travel. You can be at home, prepare for the games on a more normal normal schedule. I can only imagine how much this will help us as a team from top to bottom,” he said. 

Winston captured a Big Ten regular season crown and Big Ten Tournament title with Michigan State. And he helped Bayern win the German Cup and Jerusalem secure the 2025 Israeli Super Cup. But there is still that elusive league crown on the European continent, as well as a possible EuroCup championship, to fight for. And that push will become stronger now that Jerusalem's home fans are back at EuroCup games. 

More Hapoel Jerusalem News

The guard is still looking for his first league title in Europe

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If you want to succeed in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge, you need to find the hot players at the right prices. Here are five to consider this week.

Round 11 fantasy tips: Uncovering value

The secret to success in the [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) is maximizing value. That means getting points from your cheapest players, picking up others when they are hot and getting the superstars that you can afford. As we head into Round 11, there are players who fit those criteria available. Before you finalize your team, consider these options.  

[Kamar Baldwin, Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kamar-baldwin/012597/) (11.0 credits) – It looks like Kamar Baldwin has found his groove. The combo-guard, who in playing his first EuroCup season, missed a pair of games early in the season and only posted a PIR of double figures once in his first five appearances. Since then, however, Baldwin has averaged 14.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.0 steals for a PIR of 19.7 over his last three games. He is now the go-to guy in the Trento backcourt. 

[Sam Dekker, London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/) (15.1 credits) – This is a calculated risk. When healthy, Dekker is a dominant fantasy – and real life – force. Since his return from injury, Dekker has played limited minutes (12:44 per game) and as a result, his fantasy price has dropped by 0.7 credits. He played nearly double that in the British League on Friday and was in uniform for 14 more minutes in domestic action on Sunday. This week London plays Hamburg, which has allowed the most points in the EuroCup this season (96.9 ppg.). This may be the time to invest in Dekker. 

EuroCup Round 11 Fantasy tips

[L.J. Figueroa, ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/lj-figueroa/012603/) (11.8 credits) – Here are three encouraging facts about LJ Figueroa. He is coming off his best game (20 points, 23 PIR). His previous best game came against this week’s opponent, Dreamland Gran Canaria, in Round 2 (19 points, 20 PIR). His last three games have been his best three-game stretch of the season with averages of 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals, PIR 17.3. Is it Figueroa time? 

[Marvin Jones, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/marvin-jones/010248/) (9.4 credits) – Marvin Jones’s role in the Buducnost offense has grown in recent weeks. He has averaged 18.5 points and 4.0 rebounds for a PIR of 22.5 over his last two appearances. Jones has taken at least 10 shots in both of those games after not attempting more than 7 in any previous game this season. Jones struggled against this week’s opponent, Turk Telekom Ankara, in Round 2 with a PIR of -2, however, this is a home game and Jones, Buducnost and Turk Telekom are in different places today than they were in early October. 

[Jovan Kljajic, Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jovan-kljajic/007560/) (4.6 credits) – One of the best cheap options in the game is Jovan Kljajic, who has continued to offer very good production for his price in recent weeks. Since Round 8, he has averaged 7.7 points and a PIR of 8.3. The outside shots have not been falling; Kljajic is shooting just 17.4% from downtown. Imagine what might happen if he heats up? Plus, Kljajic plays on Tuesday this week, so there is little risk. 

Sportradar's Matt Kamalsky breaks down how Bourg and Hapoel lead the pack in a season defined by contrasting styles and tight margins

Stats review: Bourg, Hapoel Jerusalem, and the EuroCup Efficiency Race

[Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/roster/lju/) notched its fourth straight win to claim the top point differential in the BKT EuroCup through the first half of the season and ascend to the top of Group A. [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/), in contrast, has held steady atop Group B with only a single loss, but heads into the second half with only the third-best point differential in its group. Things are complicated throughout the EuroCup landscape with plenty of teams still having a chance to make some real headway before the calendar turns to 2026.

The graph above plots every team in the EuroCup in terms of how far above or below average they have performed in offensive and defensive efficiency. The teams with the two best efficiency differentials are pretty apparent on first glance as [Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/hapoel-jerusalem/roster/jer/) and Bourg have been the class of the league on paper early on. While both teams have built impressive resumes on opposite ends of the floor, neither has shown the two-way dominance that characterized some of the more easily predictable title runs of the EuroCup’s last decade.   

That duo is also an intriguing litmus test for how sustainable great offense and defense can be over the second run through Group play. It will be fascinating to see which team can maintain its near-record offensive and defensive efficiency. 

While Group A has more parity than Group B at the moment, Group B features three other teams that have played at an above-average level on both ends of the floor through the early part of the season. [Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-gain-istanbul/bes/), [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/), and [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/roster/bud/) all have some key markers of success, with Turk Telekom thriving on the road, Besiktas remaining undefeated at home, and Buducnost having a favorable schedule the rest of the way.  Even with Bourg on a record pace defensively, its efficiency differential sits only marginally ahead of the strong cluster of quality teams chasing it.

In Group A, the fiercest competition at the end of the year may wind up being closer to the cut line, but the quality of the teams around that line seems like they’ll have an impact on the top of the standings as well. [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/)’s recent losses align with that theory as it started the year 6-1 before falling to a pair of teams outside of the top six in back-to-back weeks. There are very few easy wins in Group A and that presents a real challenge for the teams angling for a bye to the quarterfinals when the postseason rolls around.

The second half of the regular season has a chance to be a roller coaster ride, and while Cedevita is the hottest team in the league right now, a team that gets hot towards the end of the season may have a chance to make a run.

 

Stats review: Bourg, Jerusalem, and the EuroCup efficiency race

EuroCup Round 9: Top 10 plays

Check out the best plays of Round 9 and see who made the best of them

A dominant individual performance in a big home win allowed [Ante Zizic](http://euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-zizic/004554/) of Besiktas GAIN Istanbul to earn Round 9 MVP honors with a PIR of 36.

Zizic led Besiktas to a 101-83 home victory over Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens with a career-high 18 points on 6-of-8 two-pointers and 6-of-9 free throws, 13 rebounds, 2 steals and 9 fouls drawn for a personal-best PIR of 36. Zizic earned MVP of the Round honors for the first time in his career, becoming the fifth Besiktas player to do so after Kaya Peker, Preston Shumpert, Mire Chatman (twice) and Angel Delgado, the last player to secure this individual award in the 2023-24 season.

Mitch Creek of U-BT Cluj-Napoca had a PIR of 35 in his team's 88-98 road win over Aris Thessaloniki Betsson. He had 27 points on 8-of-9 two-pointers, 1-of-4 three-pointers and 8-of-10 free throws, adding 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 7 fouls drawn.

Tarik Phillip of the London Lions reached a PIR of 32 in his team's 61-74 road victory over Lietkabelis Panevezys. Phillip finished the game with 15 points on 3-of-6 two-pointers, 1-of-4 three-pointers and 6-of-6 free throws, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 8 fouls drawn.

Both Gach of Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse, with a PIR of 30, and Giorgos Tsalmpouris of Panionios, who reached a PIR of 29, complete the top individual performances in Round 9. Gach posted 22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 fouls drawn in Bourg’s 88-73 win over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, while Tsalmpouris had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 fouls drawn as Panionios lost to Besiktas.

### Individual highs: Balsa Koprivica, Besiktas, 6 blocks

Mitch Creek of Cluj was this round's top scorer with 27 points. His teammate Fatts Russell is the competition's top scorer with 22.0 points per game.

Ante Zizic of Besiktas led all rebounders by pulling down 13 in Round 9. Zacharie Perrin of Veolia Towers Hamburg ranks first overall with 8.2 rebounds per night.

Hugo Benitez of BAXI Manresa was the only player to reach double digits in assists in Round 9, dishing 10. Arnas Velicka of Neptunas Klaipeda ranks first in assists with 8.0 per night.

As many as nine players collected 3 steals apiece in this round: Fatts Russell of Cluj, Jonah Mathews of Besiktas, Juwan Morgan of Buducnost, Michael Devoe of Turk Telekom Ankara, Cassius Winston of Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem, Kadre Gray of Slask Wroclaw, Miha Cerkvenik of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Malachi Flynn of Bahcesehir College Istanbul, and Jordan Parks of Umana Reyer Venice. Dogus Ozdemiroglu of Turk Telekom remains atop the steals' standings with 2.7 per game.

Balsa Koprivica of Besiktas had 6 blocks, the most of any player. It is a new season high and the most since Kyle Alexander of Turk Telekom also had 6 blocks in a 74-80 road victory against Cedevita Olimpija on December 18, 2024. Koprivica is also first overall with 1.8 blocks per night.

Tarik Phillip (15 points, 12 rebounds), Ante Zizic (18 points, 13 rebounds), Hugo Benitez (17 points, 10 assists) and his Manresa teammate Alex Reyes (13 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded a double-double in this round.

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FEATURED NEWS

Cassius Winston wants to finish job with Jerusalem, now with home fans

Top 10 photos from Round 9

Joseph Girard carrying on tradition from Jimmer Fredette

Hamburg releases forward Edler-Davis

Justas Furmanavicius strengthens Lietkabelis’s frontcourt depth

Denzel Valentine living his evolution through “The Journey” and other music

EuroCup and EuroLeague games to resume in Israel on December 9 and 11 respectively