Kerem Konan knows he will make mistakes on the court, but he is also aware that there are ways to make up amends in order to retain his minutes. The 20-year-old appreciates the trust he has earned from Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul head coach Dusan Alimpijevic. And it has pushed him forward in his development. 

Kerem Konan: 'Coach Alimpijevic makes me feel free on the court'

[Kerem Konan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kerem-konan/011379/) knows he will make mistakes on the court, but he is also aware that there are ways to make up amends in order to retain his minutes. The 20-year-old appreciates the trust he has earned from [Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-fibabanka-istanbul/bes/) head coach [Dusan Alimpijevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-fibabanka-istanbul/bes/alimpijevic-dusan/). And it has pushed him forward in his development. 

Konan has averaged 2.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.7 assists in just over 12 minutes per game for Besiktas in 18 EuroCup games, with the Turkish side making the BKT EuroCup Playoffs and setting up an eighthfinals matchup with Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana.

This is Konan’s second season in the EuroCup after he tallied 3.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.7 rebounds in 13 minutes per game last season. He had some of his best numbers in the three-game semifinal loss to Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse with 3.7 points and 5.3 rebounds.   

“Playing in the EuroCup semifinals at the age of 19 was very exciting and enjoyable," he told David Hein. "We played basketball in incredible atmospheres. Bourg was a good team and playing \[Game 3\] in France was really not easy, it was a difficult away game. We lost the game. I was very upset but at the same time I had gained experience and I was happy for that. 

“Yes, I wanted to win the cup, but it didn't happen, that's why I always look ahead. I focus on my future and I want to work harder to win things.”

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Konan really took a major step forward last season. In the second half of the EuroCup Regular Season, he played at least 14 minutes in six of eight games, compared to none in the first half of the regular season. And he averaged 22 minutes in the semifinals.

The Denizli native recalled a message he received from Alimpijevic before the season. 

“He said to me there are five big players and you are the last one to play. But you are training very well and if you continue like this you will start playing," Konan recalled. "I always worked hard and I got that time from him and he started to trust me. He always told me to be energetic and I was always trying to do whatever I could."

He had his best two games last season against Veolia Towers Hamburg, picking up 10 points in Round 6 and then scoring 14 points in Round 15. 

All that was a matter of belief from the coach, Konan said.

“It is really important in basketball that the coach trusts you, and I think the coaches who make you feel this are very special. You feel free on the court and you are not afraid. And this is how you gain confidence.”

Konan has long been one of Türkiye’s top young talents. He has played for the country’s youth national teams starting in 2021 and he helped Türkiye take second place at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2022. The next summer Konan averaged 6.1 points at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023, where Türkiye beat United States in the game for third place. That was the first time that a Turkish national team – regardless of age – has ever beaten the United States. 

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Konan left Denizl for Bandirma in 2019 at age 16 for the famed youth program at Banvit. 

“It was one of the best years of my life. I still miss it so much. I had so many memories and friends," Konan remembered. "There were so many talented players, but everyone was fighting each other and improving themselves."

After just one season, the club folded and Besiktas bought most of Banvit’s top talents, bringing in Konan, Alperen Sengun, Sehmus Hazer, Furkan Haltali, Sadik Emir and Eray Akyuz among others. 

“I was very sad when Banvit closed. It was a really great place. Yes, I moved to Besiktas with many of my friends, but this was our experience. When we came here, of course, there was no atmosphere like Banvit, but it was not bad.”

Konan played for Besiktas’s U19 team in 2020-21 but had a front row seat in watching Sengun dominate for Besiktas’s pro team to the tune of 18.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks. That earned him the Turkish League MVP award and ended up helping him get drafted to the NBA with the Houston Rockets. 

“He was incredibly impressive, but he was very talented and admired for what he did. At that age he was fighting on the court and he was very confident. This was very obvious and I saw these things in him,” Konan said. 

“We don't talk much. Of course I watch and follow him. He still does incredible things. As a Turk, it's very nice that he is doing these things and it inspires me a lot.”

And now, thanks to the confidence from coach Dusan Alimpijevic, Konan is making inroads in inspiring other youngsters across the country. 

More Besiktas News

The Besiktas talent has earned his coach’s trust and is paying him back with his performances

Look back at all the action in Round 18 of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from Round 18

Look back at all the action from Round 18 of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

A huge performance in a do-or-die game for his team allowed Tyler Ennis of Umana Reyer Venice to earn Round 18 MVP honors with a PIR of 32.

Round 18 MVP: Tyler Ennis, Umana Reyer Venice

A huge performance in a do-or-die game for his team allowed [Tyler Ennis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-ennis/008858/) of [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) to earn Round 18 MVP honors with a PIR of 32.

Ennis led Reyer to a 91-77 home victory over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys in a must-win showdown as his team reached the playoffs. He finished the game with 19 points on 3-of-6 two-pointers, 2-of-3 three-pointers and 7-of-7 free throws, adding 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 7 fouls drawn to amass a PIR of 32, the highest in Round 18. This is the first time that Ennis has been the MVP of the Round.

Jared Harper of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem amassed a PIR of 29 in his team's 76-66 home victory over Turk Telekom Ankara. Harper led Jerusalem with 21 points on 2-of-7 two-pointers, 2-of-4 three-pointers and 11-of-12 free throws, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 8 fouls drawn. Johnathan Motley of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, Mfiondu Kabengele of Reyer, Maksim Salash of Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse and De'Shawn Stephens of U-BT Cluj-Napoca, each with a PIR of 27, complete the top individual performances in Round 18. Motley posted 24 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal in Hapoel’s 90-97 win at ratiopharm Ulm; Kabengele finished with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in Reyer’s victory; Salash amassed 18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in Bourg’s 100-98 loss at Valencia Basket; and Stephens recorded 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks as Cluj beat Aris Midea Thessaloniki 74-89.

### Individual highs: Nick Johnson, Trefl, 13 rebounds

Johnathan Motley of Hapoel was this round's top scorer with 24 points. Jared Harper of Jerusalem leads the EuroCup with 22.7 points per game.

Nick Johnson of Trefl Sopot led all rebounders by pulling down 13 in Round 18. Mfiondu Kabengele of Reyer is the competition's best rebounder with 9.5 boards per night.

Zavier Simpson of U-BT Cluj-Napoca was the only player to reach double digits in assists, dishing 10. Simpson is also first overall with 7.5 assists per night. 

Three players collected 4 steals apiece in Round 18: Nico Brussino of Dreamland Gran Canaria, Joel Ayayi of Bourg, and Myles Cale of Dolomiti Energia Trento. Andrew Albicy, also of Gran Canaria, leads the competition with 2.2 steals per night.

Yoan Makoundou of Turk Telekom Ankara had 4 blocks, more than anyone else. His teammate Kyle Alexander is the EuroCup's best shot blocker with 2.1 blocks per game.

Nick Johnson (11 points, 13 rebounds), Zavier Simpson (13 points, 10 assists) and Veolia Towers Hamburg’s Kur Kuath (10 points, 10 rebounds) each had a double-double in Round 18.

He played an integral role in guiding his team to the EuroCup Playoffs

Umana Reyer Venice v 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2025-02-04T19:00:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket came back from a 14-point deficit to pull out a 100-98 win over the visiting Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse in the last game of the BKT EuroCup regular season. Valencia finished the regular season with a 16-2 record, and will have home-court advantage in all playoff rounds, while this loss eliminated Bourg, which finished with a 9-9 record in Group B.

Valencia rallies to clinch 1st place, eliminate Bourg

Valencia Basket came back from a 14-point deficit to pull out a 100-98 win over visiting Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse in the last game of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season. Valencia finished with a 16-2 record and will have home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, while this loss eliminated Bourg, which finished with a 9-9 record in Group B.

When the game tipped off, Bourg knew it needed to win to make the playoffs, and was firing on all cylinders in the first half. Valencia caught up in the third quarter, but Bourg spent most of the second half with a slim lead before Valencia pulled out a victory that ended Bourg’s season. 

Chris Jones led six Valencia scorers in double figures with 17 points, Xavi Lopez-Arostegui had 15, Nate Sestina netted 14 points. Nate Reuvers and Brancou Badio scored 12 apiece, while Stefan Jovic collected 10 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds. For Bourg, Maksim Salash led the way with 18 points, Joel Ayayi and Jordan Usher each scored 15, Jean-Marc Pansa added 12, Xavier Castaneda 11, while Hugo Benitez had 10 points and 8 assists.

Game Videos

Sestina nailed a three-pointer, but the visitors forced 5 turnovers and scored the next 15 points behind Salash, Usher and Ayayi to open a 5-17 lead. Even though Josep Puerto nailed a triple, the visitors kept the lead in double figures. Sestina and Badio revived Valencia with a triple apiece to help make it 18-27 after 10 minutes.

Badio and Lopez-Arostegui got the Valencia offense going in the second quarter, but Brandon Paul hit back-to-back threes to restore a double-digit margin, 25-37. The teams traded baskets and Valencia youngster Jorge Carot scored twice to get the margin into single digits. Salash, Kevin Kokila and Ayayi quickly restored a 37-50 margin. However, before the end of the half, Badio and Sestina each made threes while Lopez-Arostegui had a three-point play to get the deficit within 50-54 at halftime.

Game News

Three-pointers from Jones and Jovic gave Valencia a 60-58 lead early in the third, but Bourg replied with a 2-12 run which featured five different scorers, and was sparked by a step-back corner triple from Ayayi. Sestina ended the run, but Bourg kept the margin safe through Benitez and Salash, before jones and Semi Ojeleye scored in the final minute to make it 72-76 going into fourth quarter.

Badio and Jovic scored the first 6 points of the fourth quarter to put Valencia up again. After Brandon Jefferson and Ojeleye traded three-pointers, Jones had a three-point play. Usher and Ayayi each nailed a triple to make it 84-87. Jovic answered right back with a three-pointer, but Pansa and Usher restored Bourg's slim lead twice more. Ayayi’s driving layup made it 92-93, but that was Bourg’s last lead with 1:40 to go. Lopez-Arostegui scored the next 4 points, before Valencia’s defense preserved the lead.

Valencia reached the 100-point mark for the 11th time this season

Valencia Basket v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2025-02-05T19:30:00.000Z)

Twenty teams started the season dreaming of EuroCup glory and now only 12 remain

The 2025 BKT EuroCup Playoffs bracket is official!

The playoff picture was finalized with the last five teams crashing the party on Wednesday, the final night of the regular season. Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius, Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul and U-BT Cluj-Napoca all won to secure their spots while Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, which lost, and Umana Reyer Venice, which won on Tuesday, advanced thanks to other results.

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv and Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem both won to secure second place in Groups A and B, respectively, thus joining Bahcesehir College Istanbul and Valencia Basket with eighthfinals byes and home-court advantage in the single-game quarterfinals.

The eighthfinals matchups will feature Dreamlife Gran Canaria against Umana Reyer Venice,

Turk Telekom Ankara against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana against Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul, and Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius against U-BT Cluj-Napoca.

The single-game EuroCup Eighthfinals will be played on Tuesday, March 4, and Wednesday, March 5, and the quarterfinals will take place the following week.

The 2025 BKT EuroCup Playoffs bracket is official

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius beat Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 91-82 to qualify for the BKT EuroCup Playoffs for the first time behind a career game from Matas Jogela

Matas Jogela's career-night put Wolves on the right track

[Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/wolves-vilnius/roster/wol/?season=2024-25) captured [a 91-82 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/wolves-beat-buducnost-to-clinch-playoff-berth-91-82/) over [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/roster/bud/?season=2024-25) to qualify for the BKT EuroCup Playoffs for the first time behind a career game from [Matas Jogela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matas-jogela/006853/). It was the game of the season for both teams, as only the winner had a guaranteed ticket into the next round.

Jogela entered this game averaging 5.7 points and 4.1 rebounds for a PIR of 7.4, shooting rather poorly from beyond the arc. He had buried 12 of 37 three-point shots (32.4% 3FG). Jogela had shown progress lately, boosting his numbers to 12.5 points on 6-of-9 three-point shooting and 5.0 rebounds for a PIR of 16.0 in the last two games.

Matas Jogela hit six three-pointers to lead Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius past Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

Jogela ties club record in important victory

On Wednesday, Jogela made history for Wolves in a first half for the ages in which he was truly unstoppable. Once [Andrija Slavkovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrija-slavkovic/006566/) scored 5 seconds after the tip-off, Jogela buried his first three-pointer, igniting a 10-0 run that put the Wolves ahead 10-2. Jogela struck twice more from beyond the arc in the first quarter, singlehandedly helping his team get a 26-25 edge after 10 minutes.

He was far from done, however. Jogela remained on fire throughout the first half, making 6 of 7 three-pointers, tying a club record that previously belonged to current teammate [Andrew Andrews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-andrews/011248/), and [Rasheed Sulaimon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/rasheed-sulaimon/011150/), currently playing for Buducnost. [Jeffery Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jeffery-taylor/006546/) added 3 shots from downtown to give Wolves a 54-41 lead at halftime.

Jogela cooled off after scoring the second half's opening basket. He was scoreless for the remainder of the game and that was when the Wolves made the difference with outstanding defense. Buducnost went on to score just 3 points in the next 6 minutes, as [Marek Blazevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marek-blazevic/008186/) and [Anthony Cowan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/anthony-cowan-jr/012003/) helped the hosts break the game open, 68-44. Buducnost only got within single digits in the final seconds of the game.

Jogela set career highs of 20 points and a PIR of 22. Five other Wolves teammates scored in double digits. Wolves dished 20 assists, twice as many as Buducnost. Despite making just 2 of 10 three-pointers (20%) in the second half, the Wolves still finished the game on 12-of-26 shooting from beyond the arc (46.2%). Buducnost only made 7 of 28 from downtown (25%).

After the game, Jogela highlighted his club's great achievement.

"This is very important for this club because we are going to the playoffs for the first time. It was the most important game of the season. We won this game and are happy," Jogela said. "I just tried to be aggressive and play aggressive with and without the ball. My teammates passed me the ball when I had open shots."

The 27-year-old forward drilled 6 first-half triples to spark his team

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2025-02-05T17:00:00.000Z)

Joventut Badalona finished its BKT EuroCup season on a high note with a 69-56 victory at home over Group A winner Bahcesehir College Istanbul

Joventut finishes season on high note, beats Bahcesehir 69-56

Joventut Badalona finished its BKT EuroCup season on a high note with a 69-56 victory at home over Group A winner Bahcesehir College Istanbul. Joventut decided the game with a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter for a 7-11 record.

Sam Dekker collected 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, Artem Pustovyi had 12 points and Kassius Robertson finished with 10 points for the Spanish side, which already had been eliminated weeks ago. Bahcesehir had nothing riding on the game - though there was a mathematical chance it could overtake Valencia Basket as the overall number one seed - and finished the regular season with a 14-4 record after having won five of the last six games. Tai Odiase paced Bahcesehir with 13 points and Furkan Korkmaz had 10 points.

Bahcesehir opened the game’s scoring but then went 4 minutes without a point and Devon Dotson had 4 points for an 8-2 lead. The visitors followed with the next 8 points and led 15-16. Joventut finished the first quarter with an 8-3 run to lead 23-19.

The momentum continued and Joventut was ahead 28-19 as Bahcesehir needed nearly 3 minutes to finally score in the second quarter. Korkmaz tallied 7 points in a 0-11 answer to move ahead 28-30. There were five lead changes the rest of the first half, which finished with the hosts leading 35-34.

The guests’ scoring struggles continued, not getting on the board in the first 4 minutes of the second half and Robertson drained 2 three-pointers in an 11-0 start to the third quarter. The cushion grew to 51-36 on a Yannick Kraag triple. Bahcesehir held Joventut scoreless for the final 4 minutes of the quarter though and it was 51-45 after 30 minutes.

A Furkan Haltali free throw made it 51-46 to start the final frame and then Bahcesehir’s offense sputtered again for 5 minutes and a 14-0 run had Joventut up 65-46. The visitors could not get closer than 13 points the rest of the way.

Bahcesehir already had first place in Group A locked up 

Joventut Badalona v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-02-05T19:30:00.000Z)

The trio of Yam Madar, Johnathan Motley and Marcus Foster combined for 23 of Hapoel's final 27 points in a 90-97 victory at ratiopharm Ulm for its sixth win in the last seven games to finish second in Group A and clinch a spot in the BKT EuroCup quarterfinals

Experience helped down the stretch as Hapoel rallied into quarters

[Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/roster/hta/?season=2024-25)’s big game experience on its roster shined through when it was needed most as the Israeli side fought back from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to lock up a spot in the BKT EuroCup quarterfinals.

The trio of [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yam-madar/011052/), [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/) and [Marcus Foster](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marcus-foster/010386/) combined for 23 of Hapoel's final 27 points in [a 90-97 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-rallies-to-beat-ulm-90-97-and-lock-up-ticket-to-quarterfinals/) at [ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/roster/ulm/?season=2024-25) for its sixth win in the last seven games and a 12-6 record in Group A.

“For this game, especially the second half and the final quarter, the stats don’t matter much. It’s the heart and the belief. We talked about more heart in the halftime. We realized we needed to play better. And we defended great,” Hapoel head coach Dimitris Itoudis said. “That was a tough game to go through and that will help our character for sure.”

Hapoel vets Marcus Foster, Yam Madar and Johnathan Motley led late charge in Ulm

Hapoel's vets led late charge in Ulm

Hapoel trailed 80-70 with 8 minutes to go when Madar scored 9 points, Motley 8 points and Foster knocked down a pair of three-pointers in a 10-27 close to the game.

“They are a hard team. They play fast. They play physical. They deny everything They hit the boards. It’s always tough when you play against anybody with a good coach. We’re just glad we came out here and got the win and do what we were supposed to do,” said Motley, who led the way with 24 points.

Madar finished with 18 points including the dagger three-pointer to make it 90-95 with 37 seconds left. And Foster also had 18 points.

All three of those players have the advantage of falling back on EuroLeague experience. Madar has appeared in 73 EuroLeague games - including 4 this season with FC Bayern Munich before coming to Hapoel. Motley got into 72 EuroLeague games the last two seasons with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. And Foster played 20 games with Panathinaikos Athens in 2020-21.

“We have a lot of guys with experience. We have a great EuroLeague coach. So that definitely helped us in the end,” added Motley, referring to Itoudis, who won two EuroLeague titles among his more than eight seasons in the league. “We were down but we weren’t really phased. We knew we had to take those ups and downs and pull through in the end.”

That is how experience in important games can help you.

Madar, Motley, Foster combine for 23 of final 27 points for Tel Aviv 

ratiopharm Ulm v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2025-02-05T18:00:00.000Z)

In a result that few saw coming, Veolia Towers Hamburg ended up coasting to an 80-62 win over playoff-bound Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in Round 18.

Hamburg ends its season on a high with 80-62 win over Cedevita Olimpija

In a result that few saw coming, Veolia Towers Hamburg ended up coasting to an 80-62 win over playoff-bound Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in Round 18.

Jaizec Lottie (17 points), Johnathan Stove (13) and Kur Kuath (10) combined for half of Hamburg’s points, with Cedevita not only trailing at the end of all four quarters but being outscored in each of them, too. The visitors’ leading scorers on the night were Aleksej Nikolic with 14 points, Gregor Glas with 12, and Brynton Lemar with 11.

Despite Joan Beringer scoring the first basket of the game, a Cedevita drought followed as Hamburg opened a 10-2 lead. Nikolic ended the visitors' four-minute wait for points with a pair of free throws, but Hamburg got contributions from Stove, Lottie and Kuath to remain comfortable at 18-8. A strong finish to the quarter, capped by back-to-back threes by Glas, made it 20-18 after 10 minutes.

It was a similar story in the second period as Jordan Barnett and Leif Moeller both struck from deep to give Hamburg a 26-20 advantage, before Kuath netted twice inside to boost the lead to 30-23. Cedevita responded and got within three points at 36-33, but Lottie netted a couple of baskets inside the final couple of minutes to ensure Hamburg held a 41-36 lead at halftime. 

A couple of triples by Nikolic either side of a Lemar free throws saw Cedevita take the lead at 41-43 in the early stages of the third, then DJ Stewart gave his team a 41-45 edge. Stove came to the rescue for Hamburg by converting a pair of free throws and hitting a three to push his team 48-47 ahead. Six points by Fabian Giessmann kept Hamburg in control at 62-50, and Brae Ivey's three-pointer with 10 seconds to go in the third made it 64-52 entering the fourth.

It took over two minutes for the first points of the final frame, but Moeller got them to put Hamburg 66-52 ahead. Cedevita never got within single digits the rest of the way as Hamburg ended up romping to an 80-62 victory.

The Slovenian came into the game knowing it had already qualified for the EuroCup Playoffs

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2025-02-05T18:30:00.000Z)