This season will be the seventh in a row for Dolomiti Energia Trento in the EuroCup and for it, the club will present a much different look. Coach Paolo Galbiati is now in charge and half of his charges are new to the competition. Moreover, most of the roster is in its early-to-mid 20s. Let's get to know the players who will try to at a minimum get Trento past the regular season for the first time since 2021. 

2023 Roster Rundown: Dolomiti Energia Trento

This season will be the seventh in a row for [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/roster/trn/?season=2023-24) in the EuroCup and for it, the club will present a much different look. Coach [Paolo Galbiati](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/trento-announces-paolo-galbiati-as-new-coach/) is now in charge and half of his charges are new to the competition. Moreover, most of the roster is in its early-to-mid 20s. Let's get to know the players who will try to at a minimum get Trento past the regular season for the first time since 2021. 

### BACKCOURT

The excitement begins in the backcourt where both [Kamar Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/trento-gets-guard-kamar-baldwin/) and [Prentiss Hubb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/trento-completes-roster-with-prentiss-hubb/) are combo-guards making their EuroCup debuts. Though Baldwin may be the more accomplished scorer and Hubb has averaged more assists in his career, both can function as either playmakers or scorers and they also both have a knack for collecting steals. Quinn Ellis, 20, steps up to the top league in Italy for the first time after breaking out as an all-tournament selection at the adidas EuroCamp in June. He could assume a key role as a natural point guard off the bench. At the other end of the experience spectrum is 37-year-old [Toto Forray](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/trento-forray-agree-on-new-deal/), who heads into his eighth EuroCup campaign and will serve as a stabilizing force next to all the new faces.  

[Myles Stephens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/trento-tabs-versatile-swingman-myles-stephens/) is an athletic and hardworking small forward, who despite standing 1.96 meters was fifth in the German League in blocked shots last season. His willingness to do whatever the team needs to win will make everyone with Trento better. [Davide Alviti](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/trento-signs-davide-alviti-for-2-seasons/) joined Trento after playing two seasons with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, during which he only appeared in 11 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games, but gained valuable experience that he hopes to unleash in his first EuroCup season since 2014-15. [Luca Conti](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/luca-conti/profile/007828/), 22, played a bigger role in the rotation last season and should add some scoring punch off the bench.  

Photo: facebook.com/AquilaBasketTN

### FRONTCOURT

After starting in 15 EuroCup games last season and then playing a big role for Latvia in its impressive showing at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, [Andrejs Grazulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/trento-adds-forward-grazulis/) will be one of the team's most important frontcourt players. [Mattia Udom](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/official-trento-brings-in-mattia-udom-june-15-2022/) should share minutes at the '4' spot with Grazulis and his rebounding and outside shooting ability could both be game-changers. 

The well-traveled [Derek Cooke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/trento-adds-rebounding-ace-cooke/) will compete in the EuroCup for the first time. An accomplished rebounder, Cooke's physical game in the paint will be critical for Trento. Veteran [Paul Biligha](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/trento-adds-muscle-with-veteran-biligha/) has spent the last four seasons with Milan and his defensive prowess and experience should be of great value for the squad. The only young player in the frontcourt is 21-year-old [Maximilian Ladurner](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/maximilian-ladurner/profile/008446/), though he has already racked up 49 EuroCup appearances over four seasons in the competition. It is safe to expect to see Ladurner take on an even bigger role this season. 

### PLAYER TO WATCH

Don't sleep on Prentiss Hubb. Though he may not yet be a household name in Europe, at age 24 his best basketball is clearly in front of him. A four-year starter in college, Hubb looked like anything but a rookie in his first professional season with Riesen Ludwigsburg. He not only stuffed the stat sheet, but Hubb helped Ludwigsburg reach the German League semifinals and to a winning record in the Basketball Champions League. On any given night, he could lead the team by scoring, creating for teammates or locking down the opponents' best scorer. And if he proves capable of doing those things in the EuroCup, Trento will be a very dangerous team. 

### OUTLOOK

Coach Galbiati surely has his work cut out for him. The rosy outlook is that the young backcourt comes together and becomes a nightmare for opponents and the wily vets in the frontcourt take a step forward as Trento gets to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2016. The pessimistic outlook is that the young players take too long to gel and Trento cannot make it out of its regular season group. Where will the truth reside? Only time will tell. What is certain is that this Trento roster is flush with talent and will be exciting to watch as it tries to put it all together.

Aris inks scoring threat Roberto Gallinat

Aris Thessaloniki added another piece to its roster for the upcoming return to the BKT EuroCup by signing shooting guard Roberto Gallinat on a one-year deal, the club announced Monday. Gallinat (1.93 meters, 26 years old) split last season between Sluc Nancy in France and AS Karditsas in the Greek League. Gallinat posted 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists with Nancy, before dominating with 20.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists with Karditsas.

Gallinat helped Karditsas avoid relegation, leading the team to wins in four of the 10 games he was with the team. The club had 1-11 record when he arrived. He particularly impressed in a 78-77 overtime win against Aris, when he scored 32 points on 6-for-8 three-point shooting.

After two season playing NCAA basketball at the University of Pacific, Gallinat started his professional career with Horsens in Denmark. He moved to play one season with Eurobasket Roma in the Italian second division, and spent the second part of the 2021-22 campaign with Yalova Belediye Spor in Turkiye. Last season with Nancy was the only stop in Gallinat's pro career so far where he did not average more than 16.0 points per game. He is now set to make his EuroCup debut.

A perennial candidate to go all the way in the BKT EuroCup, Joventut Badalona faces a 2023-24 season with some big challenges as head coach Carles Duran will be charged with match the team's rhythm from last season despite having lost some key contributors. In the 2022-23 season, Joventut reached the EuroCup Semifinals, falling to eventual champion Dreamland Gran Canaria. True to its name and tradition, the Catalan team will surely give its all to go at least as far as last year, but will first have to survive a difficult Group A in the regular season under a new format that lets just six teams advance.

2023-24 Roster Rundown: Joventut Badalona

A perennial candidate to go all the way in the BKT EuroCup, [Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/roster/jov/?season=2023-24) faces a 2023-24 season with some big challenges as head coach Carles Duran will be charged with match the team's rhythm from last season despite having lost some key contributors. In the 2022-23 season, Joventut reached the EuroCup Semifinals, falling to eventual champion Dreamland Gran Canaria. True to its name and tradition, the Catalan team will surely give its all to go at least as far as last year, but will first have to survive a difficult Group A in the regular season under a new format that lets just six teams advance.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">🦾 𝙎𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙖!<a href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badalona%C3%89sFutur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>#BadalonaÉsFutur</a> <a href=https://t.co/IDYDUitcWj>pic.twitter.com/IDYDUitcWj</a></p>&mdash; Club Joventut Badalona (@Penya1930) <a href=https://twitter.com/Penya1930/status/1697179958265729429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>August 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js charset="utf-8"></script>

### BACKCOURT

Joventut's backcourt will start with a newly signed EuroCup favorite, [Andrew Andrews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/joventut-adds-scoring-ace-andrews/), at point guard. Andrews had a tremendous EuroCup debut in 2020-21 with Bursaspor, averaging 14.0 points and 4.2 assists. Andrews will be aided by veteran guards raised in the Joventut youth system like [Guillem Vives](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/guillem-vives-extends-joventut-contract-until-2026/) and [Pau Ribas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/pau-ribas-signs-contract-extension-at-joventut-until-2026/). Their experience will pair up with the energy and disposition of [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/joventut-re-signs-playmaker-feliz/), who starred for the Dominican Republic in the World Cup and will be playing his third season in Badalona. He has had a bigger role each season at Joventut, so expect even more from him in 2023-24. Young guard [Yannick Kraag](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/joventut-re-signs-swingman-kraag/) will be a backup in the guard rotation, but with four seasons' worth of EuroCup experience will be ready to play more minutes and increase his contribution.

On the wings, [Pep Busquets](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/busquets-joventut-together-until-2025/) will continue to be a mainstay at the "three" position. He's been playing more minutes with each passing season, and even started seven EuroCup games in the last one. He will be joined by [Jordi Rodriguez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jordi-rodriguez/010709/), another young talent from the Joventut youth system who made his EuroCup debut last season. The main addition at forward will be seasoned scorer [DeShaun Thomas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/joventut-badalona-adds-experienced-forward-deshaun-thomas/), a EuroLeague veteran who returns to the EuroCup for the first time since 2014. Thomas's experience at the highest level -- eight EuroLeague seasons with seven different teams -- will be a key ingredient for a Joventut team that wants to adapt to every and any situation.

Deshaun Thomas played for EA7 Emporio Armani Milan last season. It was his seventh team in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Deshaun Thomas's top plays in 2022-23

### FRONTCOURT

Moving towards the paint, [Chinanu Onuaku](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/joventut-badalona-seals-move-for-chinanu-onuaku/) starred in his EuroCup debut, averaging 10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks for a PIR of 15.1 as he helped Hapoel Tel Aviv reach the quarterfinals last season before falling precisely to Joventut. Onuaku will play alongside a tried and true European basketball legend, [Ante Tomic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/joventut-extends-star-center-tomic/), who is back in Badalona for his fourth season with the club. What's more, he'll wear his favorite number, 44, after the departure of Joel Parra to FC Barcelona. Onuaku's physicality and Tomic's know-how and court vision could be a deadly combination. Power forward [Vladimir Brodziansky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/brodziansky-joventut-together-until-2025/) returned to Badalona last season and is ready to show that, just liked during his first stint with the team, he fits well with Coach Duran's system. The frontcourt is completed by youngster [Ruben Prey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/joventut-signs-angt-star-ruben-prey-long-term/), a player who has shined in the last years at the adidas Next Generation Tournament and will now be ready to make his EuroCup debut.

### PLAYER TO WATCH

When Chinanu Onuaku played his first EuroCup game last season with Hapoel Tel Aviv in Round 5, he scored 0 points and had a PIR of -2. He had been signed that same week and arrived with 2021-22 Israeli League MVP credentials. Head coach Danny Franco stated that signing a player at that stage of the season was dangerous because it meant the team had to re-adjust, but that that the chance to sign Onuaku was just too good to pass up. It was all definitely uphill from there. Onuaku exploded in the following game with 15 points and 5 rebounds and he quickly became a key piece in a Hapoel machine that took the league by storm when not many expected it. He quickly became one of the EuroCup's shot-blocking specialists and ended up averaging 1.5 per game, tied for first place with Ismael Kamagate.

Chinanu Onuaku has picked up his first-ever MVP of the Round accolade after shining in Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv's 60-78 win at Dolomiti Energia Trento, which clinched the team's spot in the playoffs.

Chinanu Onuaku | Round 13 MVP | 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup

Onuaku's physicality played a huge role in his personal success - as well as his team's -- last season, and now he will try to bring that energy with him to Badalona to take Joventut to new heights. In his quarterfinals game against his new team last season, Onuaku was limited to 7 points, but he was huge in the paint with 10 rebounds. He will now form a fearsome duo with Ante Tomic, and if he can make it all happen as quickly as he did last season, Onuaku is set for big things with Joventut.

### OUTLOOK

Joventut Badalona's ambitions are always the highest in the EuroCup. After early elimination in 2021-22, the team performed as expected last season and made it to the semifinals, where it fell to a Gran Canaria that would go on to win the EuroCup title. Now, a new opportunity for EuroCup glory awaits. Coach Duran kept many players, but lost a couple of key pieces, Parra and shooter Kyle Guy, both of whom are EuroLeague-bound. Their absence is an obstacle that Joventut will have to overcome as soon as possible. The new additions bring plenty of points, rebounds and experience, which should be a big plus, especially early in the season when Joventut will have to fight its way through a difficult Group A. If Joventut makes its homework during the summer pay with early wins, there's no limit to what this team can achieve.

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">- 𝑫𝒆𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒎𝒃 𝒍𝒂 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂 𝒅𝒆 𝒍𝒂 𝑷𝒆𝒏𝒚𝒂 ✔️<a href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badalona%C3%89sFutur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>#BadalonaÉsFutur</a> <a href=https://t.co/IL5E6HbvkI>pic.twitter.com/IL5E6HbvkI</a></p>&mdash; Club Joventut Badalona (@Penya1930) <a href=https://twitter.com/Penya1930/status/1696538802464923796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>August 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js charset="utf-8"></script>

Latvia's Andrejs Grazulis shined bright on Sunday to lead his country to an impressive 84-104 triumph over Brazil at the Indonesia Arena in Jakarta and into the FIBA Basketball World Cup quarterfinals. The Dolomiti Energia Trento forward erupted for 24 points and 5 assists to pace the winners. 

Latvia KO's Brazil behind dominant Grazulis to reach World Cup quarters

Latvia's [Andrejs Grazulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andrejs-grazulis/005738/) shined bright on Sunday to lead his country to an impressive 84-104 triumph over Brazil at the Indonesia Arena in Jakarta and into the [FIBA Basketball World Cup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-basketball-is-at-the-heart-of-the-2023-fiba-world-cup/) quarterfinals. The [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/trn/) forward erupted for 24 points and 5 assists to pace the winners. The victory lifted Latvia to 4-1 and secured it top two finish in Group L. Latvia will face either Slovenia or Germany in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

### A breakout for Grazulis

After averaging 10.8 points and 1.3 assists for a performance index rating of 13.5 through his first four appearances in the tournament, Grazulis more than doubled that output against Brazil. Moreover, he did so with outstanding shooting numbers; Grazulis made 9 of 12 two-point shots and 2 of his 3 three-point tries. His PIR of 30 and his scoring tally were the highest in the game.  

Grazulis comes off a strong season with Trento in which he averaged 8.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 18 EuroCup games. It was his second season in the competition. Now after playing such a big role for Latvia, expectations for his second campaign with Trento will be even higher.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Reel Cam x Latvia = Top Content ❤️🎥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAWC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAWC</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinForLatvia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WinForLatvia</a> <a href="https://t.co/EQSl0XadFC">pic.twitter.com/EQSl0XadFC</a></p>&mdash; FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBAWC/status/1698294375929823604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Latvia ran away after halftime

Latvia went into halftime with a 42-45 lead before exploding for 36 third-quarter points Former Joventut Badalona prospect Arturs Zagars scored 10 of his 17 points in the first 4 minutes of that quarter and Davis Bertans netted 8 of his 14 in the frame. Grazulis contributed 6 points and 2 assists in the third.

[Rolands Smits](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rolands-smits/007109/) of Zalgiris Kaunas added 10 points for Latvia.  Brazil star [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/) of Umana Reyer Venice led his team with 20 points and [Yago Dos Santos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/yago-dos-santos/012044/) of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade contributed 14.

Yago Dos Santos stole plenty of headlines after scoring 4 clutch points in Brazil's shock 65-69 win over Canada at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, but the South American nation would not have even been in a position to win the game were it not for the play of Bruno Caboclo. The new Umana Reyer Venezia signing put in a commanding display for Brazil, which has been a regular theme throughout this entire World Cup. One thing's for sure: Reyer has a EuroCup MVP candidate on its hands.

Reyer Venezia's Bruno Caboclo dominates as Brazil causes biggest upset so far at 2023 FIBA World Cup

Yago Dos Santos stole plenty of headlines after scoring 4 clutch points in Brazil's shock 65-69 win over Canada at the [2023 FIBA World Cup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-basketball-is-at-the-heart-of-the-2023-fiba-world-cup/), but the South American nation would not have even been in a position to win the game were it not for the play of [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/). The [new Umana Reyer Venice signing](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/reyer-adds-all-eurocup-big-man-bruno-caboclo/) put in a commanding display for Brazil, which has been a regular theme throughout this entire World Cup. One thing's for sure: Reyer has a BKT EuroCup MVP candidate on its hands entering next season.

Through his four games with Brazil at the World Cup, Caboclo is close to posting a double-double, with averages of 15.5 points and 9.8 rebounds. Against Canada, the 27-year-old paired 19 points with 13 rebounds, while he also had 2 steals and 3 blocks – the definition of dominance.

### Using the EuroCup as a springboard

These performances followed a very impressive rookie campaign in the EuroCup, as Caboclo averaged 17.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and a 19.6 PIR following a mid-season move to ratiopharm Ulm. Despite only making his EuroCup debut in Round 10, the Brazilian big man quickly established himself as one of the competition's best players, leading many to think he would make the jump to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Ulm ended up crashing out of the EuroCup in the quarterfinals, losing 86-76 to eventual finalist Turk Telekom Ankara, but Caboclo impressed nonetheless with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks in the defeat. Rather than let that disappointment affect the rest of Ulm's season, Caboclo and fellow Brazil teammate Dos Santos had one goal in mind: winning the team its first-ever German League title.

A few months later, Ulm downed Telekom Baskets Bonn in the German League Finals, with Caboclo shining once again while Dos Santos earned Finals MVP honors. Yago ended up sealing a move to EuroLeague side Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade off the back of those displays, whereas Caboclo, who was named to the All-EuroCup Second Team in 2022-23, accepted an offer from Reyer to join the Italian club's ambitious project.

The top plays of new Umana Reyer Venezia signing Bruno Caboclo during the 2022-23 BKT EuroCup season.

Bruno Caboclo's 2022-23 EuroCup highlights

### Caboclo makes Reyer EuroCup title contenders

Thanks to Caboclo's presence alone, Reyer enters the 2023-24 EuroCup season as one of the favorites to win the title come the end of the campaign. The additions of Aamir Simms from Paris Basketball and ex-NBA guard Rayjon Tucker from Melbourne United have garnished Caboclo's arrival, making Reyer an even bigger threat under 2010 EuroCup champion coach Neven Spahija.

Only time will tell if Caboclo is able to dominate the EuroCup and guide Reyer to the EuroLeague for the first time in club history, but this is a player who enjoys breaking down barriers. Just ask any fan of Ulm, the new German champion.

### World Cup quarterfinals on the cards?

Similarly, few people were tipping Brazil to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup, given it is competing in a second-round group with Canada, Spain and Latvia. However, following the first set of games in the second round, with Latvia defeating Spain and Brazil beating Canada, all four teams in Group L have a record of 3-1 from their first four fixtures.

Next up for Brazil and Caboclo is a test against Latvia on Sunday, while Canada takes on Spain. All four nations know that a win will be enough to secure their spot in the last eight of the World Cup, but only two will make it. Brazil fans across the globe will be hoping that Caboclo's heroics can continue, while Reyer supporters will no doubt be impressed with what they have seen from their new star.

More Reyer Venice News

New Umana Reyer Venezia signing Bruno Caboclo dunks the ball for Brazil in its 2023 FIBA World Cup game against Canada.

Caboclo dominates as Brazil causes the biggest World Cup upset so far

After the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season proved to be one of the most competitive in the history of elite basketball, the initiatives that were generated around it by Euroleague Basketball and its partners are now being showered with award nominations within the sports business world.

Euroleague, partners share seven Sports Business Award nominations

After the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season proved to be one of the most competitive in the history of elite basketball, the initiatives that were generated around it by Euroleague Basketball and its partners are now being showered [with award nominations](https://sportsbusinessawards.co.uk/2023-finalists/) within the sports business world.

The recently announced shortlists for the [Sports Business Awards 2023](https://sportsbusinessawards.co.uk/2023-finalists/), whose winners will be revealed in November, features no fewer than seven categories featuring Euroleague Basketball and its partners.

From the season's promotional video to the Final Four broadcasts, the One Team corporate social responsibility program, technological advances in virtual reality and bodycams on referees, and the new Euroleague Basketball websites, the nominations recognize the content and community initiatives that filled last season with much more than basketball for fans.

The [Sports Business Awards](https://sportsbusinessawards.co.uk/), launched in 2017, highlight and reward achievement by those behind the scenes in the sporting industry and celebrate the vital influence of business within sport by recognizing the organizations, teams and individuals who excel in their roles.

**Best Sports-Related Commercial or Promotional Video**

[The EuroLeague Maze](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb7rPpLmZqU&t=2s) - Euroleague Basketball

**Most Successful Sports Event Broadcast**

[2023 EuroLeague Final Four](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxK1F8T-onE&t=45s) - IMG Productions

**Best Sports Community or CSR Scheme (non-football)**

[One Team project](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/) - EuroLeague Basketball

**Best Sports Marketing Initiative**

[Taking Basketball to a Global Fanbase](https://www.unrvld.com/work/euroleague-basketball) - UNRVLD and EuroLeague Basketball

**Sponsorship/Partnership of the Year**

[Taking Basketball to a Global Fanbase](https://www.unrvld.com/work/euroleague-basketball) - UNRVLD and EuroLeague Basketball

**Sports Innovation Award**

[2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four referees bodycam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynrS9fivSVA) – MindFly

**Sports Technology of the Year**

[EuroLeague TV VR](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-basketball-and-ybvr-to-stream-euroleague-games-in-vr/) - Yerba Buena VR

Set to compete in the BKT EuroCup after seven years away, Besiktas Istanbul has revamped its roster in the hope of putting together a competitive run. The club first appointed as its new head coach former EuroCup Coach of the Year, Dusan Alimpijevic, who knows a thing or two about making long runs in the competition, having guided Frutti Extra Bursaspor to the EuroCup Finals in 2022. With a squad that has a fine mixture of experience and talented youth, something that worked for him in the past, the hope is that Alimpijevic will guide Besiktas to a successful EuroCup return.

2023-24 Roster Rundown: Besiktas Istanbul

Set to compete in the BKT EuroCup after seven years away, Besiktas Istanbul has revamped its roster in the hope of putting together a competitive run. The club first appointed as its new head coach former EuroCup Coach of the Year, [Dusan Alimpijevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/besiktas-hires-former-coach-of-the-year-alimpijevic/), who knows a thing or two about making long runs in the competition, having guided Frutti Extra Bursaspor to the EuroCup Finals in 2022. With a squad that has a fine mixture of experience and talented youth, something that worked for him in the past, the hope is that Alimpijevic will guide Besiktas to a successful EuroCup return.

### BACKCOURT

Coach Alimpijevic has put the team's offense in the hands of [Derek Needham](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/besiktas-lands-point-man-derek-needham/), who arrived with the coach from Bursaspor where he was his right-hand man on the court. The two were together the past two seasons and Needham was named to the All-EuroCup First Team in 2021-22. Needham is capable of turning any offense into a highly potent one. He and [Berk Ugurlu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/besiktas-signs-playmaker-ugurlu/), the team's second-string point guard who is battle-tested himself, will have in [Jonah Mathews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/besiktas-brings-in-scorer-jonah-mathews/) and [Matt Mitchell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/besiktas-recruits-shooting-guard-matt-mitchell/) a couple of big weapons who can make Besiktas's offense a dangerous one.

Both Mathews and Mitchell arrive from France, where Mathews averaged 10.6 points in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. He can help with playmaking duties, too. Small forward Mitchell is a prolific scorer, too. In addition, swingman [Yigit Arslan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/besiktas-strengthens-with-arslan/) had his coming-out party last season, for the first time averaging double digits in points in the Turkish League, while knocking down 2.5 triples per game on 43.9% shooting. This backcourt bunch makes Besiktas's offense a dangerous one.

Derek Needham Top Plays of the 2022-23 Regular Season

2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup highlights: Derek Needham, Bursaspor

### FRONTCOURT

The main two pieces of Besiktas's front line are [Leyton Hammonds](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/besiktas-strengthens-with-leyton-hammonds-arrival/) and [Angel Delgado](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/besiktas-signs-big-man-angel-delgado/). Both are EuroCup newcomers hoping to leave their mark on the competition. Hammonds is a stretch-4 and as such will be important to help create space for the other scorers. Delgado is a center who has been a dominant rebounder wherever he played in the past, including being the top rebounder in the Spanish League in 2020-21, the third-best rebounder in the Turkish League last season, and is currently doing the same job for the Dominican Republic at the 2023 World Cup.

Forward [Egehan Arna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/egehan-arna/005348/) arrived from powerhouse Anadolu Efes Istanbul and returns to Besiktas where he played the best two seasons of his career to date. Arna is one of several familiar faces for Besiktas fans in this frontcourt. Another of those is young center Samet Yigitoglu who will be playing behind Delgado, looking to give Besiktas a rebounding boost off the bench, similar to [Berkan Durmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/berkan-durmaz-joins-besiktas/) at the power forward position and 18-year-old talent Demir Dogan. Athletic 20-year-old Kerem Konan will get his first taste of professional basketball having previously been a member of the Besiktas Youth Academy.

### PLAYER TO WATCH

Is Matt Mitchell ready to take the EuroCup by storm? Last season this small forward averaged 18.4 points per game for French side Strasbourg before a right-hand fracture in mid-December sidelined him for five months. The 24-year-old winger is in his third professional season and does not only have bunches of points in his hands on any given night, but also has a defensive toughness that makes him even more important for this team. More than anything, however, Mitchell has all the motivation in the world as he takes another step in his career while proving he can be as good as he was before the injury. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="in" dir="ltr">P O T A N I N K A R T A L L A R I  💪🏻 <a href="https://t.co/oRbRXirqVj">pic.twitter.com/oRbRXirqVj</a></p>&mdash; Beşiktaş Basketbol (@BJK_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJK_Basketbol/status/1692504466644218223?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### OUTLOOK

Besiktas has several players who can dominate at their positions, including Needham, Mitchell and Delgado, and in a long season, it will also be important for this team to see how the youngsters react and how much they can contribute. For that reason, a fast start to the season and a few victories early on could do wonders for Besiktas and buy this team time until things fall into place. And while it might be hard to gauge how far a new team with so many new players like Besiktas can go in the competition, one thing's for sure: Coach Alimpijevic will have this team battling and competing.

Veolia Towers Hamburg have reached the EuroCup elimination rounds in both of the club's two seasons in the competition and will look to at least match that feat in 2023-24. Benka Barloschky, who was promoted to head coach midway through last season, now gets a full preseason to build a team in his style. The collection of players gathered in Hamburg is largely new to the club and several did not play in a top European league last season. However, the cast of talents is sure to surprise many, just as Hamburg has done in each of its first two seasons in the EuroCup. 

2023-24 Roster Rundown: Veolia Towers Hamburg

[Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/veolia-hamburg-towers/roster/ham/?season=2023-24) have reached the BKT EuroCup elimination rounds in both of the club's two seasons in the competition and will look to at least match that feat in 2023-24. [Benka Barloschky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/coach-barloschky-agrees-to-lead-hamburg-for-two-more-years/), who was promoted to head coach midway through last season, now gets a full preseason to build a team in his style. The collection of players gathered in Hamburg is largely new to the club and several did not play in a top European league last season. However, the cast of talents is sure to surprise many, just as Hamburg has done in each of its first two seasons in the EuroCup. 

### BACKCOURT

There should be much excitement about the trio of point guards Hamburg has assembled. Only 1.73 meters tall, [Terrell Gomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/hamburg-picks-up-point-guard-terrell-gomez/) helped Saint-Quentin win the second-division championship in France last season. His combination of speed and excellent three-point shooting makes Gomez tricky to guard and fun to watch. Fellow playmaker [Mark Hughes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/hamburg-towers-make-mark-hughes-its-third-signing-of-the-summer/) played in Spain's second division last season and will step up a level, too. [Nico Brauner](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/hamburg-towers-add-guard-nico-brauner/), 28, brings experience to the position after putting up strong numbers in the German League last season with the Giessen 46ers. All three are fine three-point shooters who made at least 40% of their shots from deep last season. 

Shooting guard [Aljami Durham](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/hamburg-puts-aljami-durham-at-guard/) split his first professional campaign between the Greek and British Leagues last season and by the playoffs was pouring in 25.5 points per game for Caledonia. A product of the Hamburg youth system, [Leif Moeller](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/leif-moeller/profile/010070/) got into two EuroCup games last season and four more in domestic competition. At age 20, he will try to build on that experience. 

Swingman [Will Christmas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/hamburg-signs-swingman-will-christmas/) was one of the top performers in Germany's second division last season. A do-it-all player, Christmas is entering his third professional season and has vast potential. [VJ King](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/hamburg-brings-in-exciting-swingman-vj-king/) earned All-British Basketball League First Team honors last season in his second stop in Europe. These two small forwards have great athleticism and are sure to be difference-makers on both ends of the floor. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Fokussiert in der Saisonvorbereitung. 🏀😤<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeoliaTowersHamburg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeoliaTowersHamburg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EndlichWiederTowersBasketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EndlichWiederTowersBasketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/xXLwpwGD4S">pic.twitter.com/xXLwpwGD4S</a></p>&mdash; Veolia Towers Hamburg (@hamburgtowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers/status/1694590361312931930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### FRONTCOURT

While the backcourt players are virtually all new to the competition, Hamburg will find experience in the frontcourt. Power forwards [Lukas Meisner](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/hamburg-adds-meisner-at-forward/) and [Seth Hinrichs](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/seth-hinrichs/009663/) are both suiting up for their third season with the club. A double-digit scorer last season, Meisner made 40.4% of his threes and improved his rebounding average, too. Hinrichs, who debuted in the EuroCup in the 2019-20 campaign with ratiopharm Ulm, has made 44.4% of his threes in 43 career EuroCup games. 

Center [Aleksander Dziewa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/hamburg-bolsters-frontcourt-with-dziewa/) is new to Hamburg, but has been a force in the paint in each of the past two EuroCup seasons with Slask Wroclaw. Only 25 years of age, Dziewa should be a centerpiece of the club's halfcourt attack. [Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/hamburg-inks-big-man-wohlfarth-bottermann/) has played parts of five EuroCup seasons with four different clubs. He was among the top 20 rebounders on a per-minute basis in the competition last season and should remain a force off the bench behind Dziewa. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Wir nehmen zwar keinen Sieg mit aus dem Test bei den <a href="https://twitter.com/BBLoewenBS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBLoewenBS</a>, dafür aber einen weiteren wichtigen Entwicklungsschritt. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeoliaTowersHamburg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeoliaTowersHamburg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/easyCreditBBL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#easyCreditBBL</a><br><br>➡️ <a href="https://t.co/soqSCnkTL2">https://t.co/soqSCnkTL2</a> <a href="https://t.co/PY5qRaLYfF">pic.twitter.com/PY5qRaLYfF</a></p>&mdash; Veolia Towers Hamburg (@hamburgtowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers/status/1695850906548363448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### PLAYER TO WATCH

VJ King was as highly touted a high school star as they come. He received college scholarship offers when he was still in grade school, was the first high school freshman to start at the famed St. Vincent-St. Mary school since LeBron James, and won gold medals with Team USA at the U16 and U17 levels. After playing college basketball for Louisville, King's career veered off track, in part due to injury. He reset himself with a stop in Luxembourg at the end of the 2021-22 season and followed that by shining in the British League. If King takes another step forward with Hamburg, who knows what his ceiling will be? 

Lukas Meisner has become one of Veolia Hamburg Towers' main pillars this season.

2022-23 EuroCup highlights: Lukas Meisner, Hamburg

### OUTLOOK

There are many question marks around the Hamburg roster this season, but just as many reasons for optimism. Only one member of the backcourt played in a top league in Europe last season, but those same players showed a great mixture of speed, athleticism and shooting where they were. If those traits translate well, Hamburg will be a nightmare matchup. Coach Barloschky's men also open the season by playing two of their first seven games on the road. However, once the calendar reaches 2024, Hamburg will finish the season with four of its last five games at home. So even if it takes time for everything to come together, if Hamburg can peak at the right time, a late-season playoff run could be in the cards.  

Wolves Vilnius head into their rookie BKT EuroCup season with lots of anticipation, as the owners' highly ambitious project will now be tested in Europe's second-best basketball competition. While Wolves have only been a club for a little more than a year, having been founded in early June 2022, they have been smart with the people that they have brought into the building, which makes them one of the more intriguing sides entering the 2023-24 EuroCup campaign. Led by head coach Kestutis Kemzura, Wolves are going to be a team that's worth keeping an eye on next season.

2023-24 Roster Rundown: Wolves Vilnius

Wolves Vilnius head into their rookie BKT EuroCup season with lots of anticipation, as the owners' highly ambitious project will now be tested in Europe's second-best basketball competition. While Wolves have only been a club for a little more than a year, having been founded in early June 2022, they have been smart with the people that they have brought into the building, which makes them one of the more intriguing sides entering the 2023-24 EuroCup campaign. Led by head coach Kestutis Kemzura, Wolves are going to be a team that's worth keeping an eye on next season.

### BACKCOURT

One player who is surely set to catch the attention of many EuroCup fans is new signing [Rasheed Sulaimon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/wolves-put-rasheed-sulaimon-in-the-backcourt/), who joined Wolves this summer after averaging 18.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists for Konyaspor in the Turkish League last season. Sulaimon's scoring exploits from the shooting guard position will be key for Wolves, and he has EuroCup experience, too, having posted 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 18 games for Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse in the 2021-22 season. Veteran combo guard [Adas Juskevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/adas-juskevicius/profile/lct/) still has something left in the tank, having averaged 10.7 points for Wolves in the Lithuanian League last season, and he will be a key presence for the team during its EuroCup adventure. [Kristupas Zemaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kristupas-zemaitis/005516/), who has been a Lithuania international, and compatriot [Arnas Berucka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/arnas-berucka/profile/006154/) round out the team's backcourt options.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Enjoying the last days of summer ☀ <a href="https://t.co/CQ4dCweyCw">pic.twitter.com/CQ4dCweyCw</a></p>&mdash; BC WOLVES (@wolves_bc) <a href="https://twitter.com/wolves_bc/status/1694677191294959842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### FRONTCOURT

Wolves made quite the splash when they announced the signing of Jeffery Taylor midway through last season, but he will now return to the Euroleague Basketball umbrella by playing in next season's EuroCup, a competition he has never featured in before. The 2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion with Real Madrid averaged 11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals for Wolves in 14 Lithuanian League games in 2022-23, and his elite-level experience will prove vital for Wolves in the EuroCup. Another forward who is set to make his EuroCup debut next season is Lithuanian international Eigirdas Zukauskas, who posted 11.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists for Wolves in domestic league action last season. Both he and Taylor will be expected to regularly perform for Wolves. A potential sleeper that Wolves signed this summer is [Tre'Shawn Thurman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/wolves-pick-up-forward-treshawn-thurman/), who has arrived from Belgian side Oostende. He posted 15.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals in nine Basketball Champions League games for Oostende in 2022-23. Should he score at a similar level in the EuroCup, it should spell good news for Wolves. [Vitalijus Kozys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vitalijus-kozys/006907/) and new addition [Christian Mekowulu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/wolves-sign-athletic-forward-christian-mekowulu/) are Wolves' other options at the forward positions. 

Then, at center, experienced big man [Djordje Gagic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/wolves-bolster-paint-with-djordje-gagic/) returns to the EuroCup after previously playing in the competition with Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys. The 32-year-old has regularly impressed in the EuroCup and he will be tasked with protecting Wolves' paint, as well as offering a threat on the other end of the floor. [Regimantas Miniotas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/regimantas-miniotas/profile/004645/), who averaged 7.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 30 Lithuanian League games for Wolves last season, is able to play at both the 4 and the 5 positions.

### PLAYER TO WATCH

There are a few options here, but [Jeffery Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/bc-wolves-lock-up-jeffery-taylor-for-2-more-years/) will have the biggest spotlight on him and will be expected to impress for Wolves on a night-by-night basis. The 34-year-old Swede played a total of 202 EuroLeague games for Real Madrid during his seven years in the Spanish capital, during which time the team reached the Final Four on four occasions and lifted Europe's crown once. Taylor typically had to accept more of a bench role for Real, but he is now a guaranteed starter and a key player for Wolves. Entering the new EuroCup campaign, Taylor will not only have to impress on the court but he'll have to act as the team's leader in tough moments, which should make himself even more popular than he already is in Lithuania's capital city.

### OUTLOOK

Entering a new competition and shining right away is always going to be a tricky task, but both Paris Basketball and the London Lions showed last year that reaching the playoffs can be done. Perhaps unfortunately for Wolves, however, the change to the EuroCup format has made qualifying for the postseason more difficult, with only six teams advancing to the playoffs. Wolves, playing in a tough-looking Group A, are not expected to make it to the playoffs, but with an experienced tactician in [Coach Kemzura](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/wolves-keep-coach-kemzura/) and several players who have been around the block, anything is possible. One thing's for sure, Wolves should be a lot of fun to watch in the 2023-24 EuroCup season. 