Slask Wroclaw started the new BKT EuroCup season with a solid 95-85 win over Neptunas Klaipeda at Centennial Hall. After a one-season absence from the EuroCup, team effort brought the victory to Slask in Round 1.

Slask starts EuroCup season with victory over Neptunas, 95-85

Slask Wroclaw started the new BKT EuroCup season with a solid 95-85 win over Neptunas Klaipeda at Centennial Hall. After a one-season absence from the EuroCup, team effort brought the victory to Slask in Round 1.

Jakub Niziol posted 15 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners, which gave him a 26 PIR, while Kadre Gray added 21 points and 3 assists. Noah Kirkwood also contributed 14 points and 6 assists. Neptunas was paced by Arnas Velicka, who recorded a double-double of 16 points and 10 assists. James Karnik added 14 points and 6 rebounds, and Donatas Tarolis chipped in with 13 points and 5 boards.

Game Videos

The opening quarter began with Neptunas taking the first possession, but Gray scored the first points at the line. Tarolis added the first three-pointer to make it 9-4. Slask responded as Niziol’s block led to Kirkwood’s basket, and soon after Jared Colman’s block set up Dejon Davis in transition, sparking a 7-0 run for a 19-11 edge. Kirkwood’s drives kept Slask in control, and the hosts closed the first quarter ahead, 28-21.

After a two-minute scoring drought to start the second quarter, Zane Waterman hit a triple to spark Neptunas, and Richard Lomasz added another for a 29-28 lead. Slask answered with Stefan Dordevic inside and a three-point play from Kirkwood before Waterman tied it at 34-34. Velicka then stole the ball and scored for a 39-37 edge. A close quarter ended with Neptunas holding a narrow 47-45 advantage.

Game News

The third quarter opened with Gray scoring for Slask, but Velicka answered from deep. Velicka became the key figure of the quarter, directing plays and keeping Neptunas in rhythm. Karnik’s alley-oop gave Neptunas a 50-49 lead, but Slask responded with three-pointers from Niziol and Issuf Sanon to move in front, 58-55. In a back-and-forth finish, Slask held a slim 70-69 edge.

Velicka assisted Karnik for a layup to start the fourth period, but both teams tightened their defense, keeping the scoring low in the first five minutes. With 2:44 remaining, Niziol converted his own rebound into a layup, pushing Slask’s lead into double digits for the first time. Neptunas kept fighting, but Slask controlled the final stretch and sealed the win with Gray’s three-pointer.

Jakub Niziol starred on the night for the Polish side

Slask Wroclaw v Neptunas Klaipeda (2025-09-30T17:00:00.000Z)

ratiopharm Ulm recorded the first win of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup campaign after beating Turk Telekom Ankara 93-96 at Ankara Spor Salonu in the season’s curtain raiser.

Ulm stuns Turk Telekom on the road, 93-96

ratiopharm Ulm recorded the first win of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup campaign after beating Turk Telekom Ankara 93-96 at Ankara Spor Salonu in the season’s curtain raiser.

The German side were led all night long by Mark Smith, who starred on his EuroCup debut with 23 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. Tobias Jensen came up clutch for Ulm down the stretch with 3 timely three-pointers in the fourth quarter en route to 18 points, while Nelson Weidemann had 12 points, Christian Sengfelder netted 11, and Chris Ledlum paired 10 points with 8 boards.

Turk Telekom’s top scorer was Jordan Usher with 24 points, followed by Jaleen Smith with 17, Kyle Allman with 14, Kris Bankston with 12, and Berkan Durmaz with 10.

There was little to separate the two teams in the early going, but Mark Smith and Weidemann ensured Ulm was in a good situation at 8-12. There was the inevitable fightback by Turk Telekom, aided by the entrance of Jaleen Smith and Allman, and the hosts looked ready to take control of the game at 20-16. Yet, Ulm kept fighting – getting scores through Ledlum and Sengfelder – to ensure it was 23-20 after 10 minutes.

It soon became the Mark Smith show for Ulm, with the guard scoring 15 points in the second quarter alone to give the visitors a 39-48 edge at halftime. He netted 10 of those in the first six and a half minutes as Ulm went up by eight, 30-38, and center Malik Osborne gave his team its biggest lead to that point at 31-40 shortly after. Despite the best efforts of Usher, Bankston and Durmaz, who pulled it within 38-42 inside the final minute of the half, a combined six points by Ledlum and Smith made it a nine-point ballgame at the interval.

The first double-digit lead of the game arrived a few minutes into the third quarter as Schoormann and Mark Smith joined forces to put Ulm 45-55 ahead. An 8-0 Turk Telekom run had coach Ty Harrelson pulling his hair out, 53-55, and it seemed the momentum had truly swung when Usher stepped up to give the hosts a 64-61 advantage. However, Mark Smith calmed things down for Ulm once more, and Sengfelder showed what he can do with 7 points late in the period to give his team a 65-70 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Early in the final period, it was the turn of Jensen and Schoormann to display their talent as Ulm went back up by double digits, 68-78. Jaleen Smith and Allman found their rhythm once more, though, and made things nervy for Ulm at 79-83. That’s when Jensen started his heroics, knocking the down the first of three fourth-quarter triples to ensure Ulm remained ahead, the last of which coming with 33 seconds left, 85-92. Schoormann and Ledlum then helped wrap it up from the line as Ulm grabbed a 93-96 victory.

Turk Telekom Ankara 93-96 ratiopharm Ulm | Round 1 highlights

Coach Harrelson’s men started the season in the best way possible

Turk Telekom Ankara v ratiopharm Ulm (2025-09-30T16:00:00.000Z)

The Euroleague.net journalists have explained who they think will win the EuroCup and why.

Predicting the 2025-26 EuroCup champion

Ahead of opening night in the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season, the [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net) journalists – Geoff Gillingham, Javier Gancedo, Frankie Sachs and Igor Petrinovic – have taken the bold step of predicting which team will be lifting the EuroCup trophy in late April.

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv achieved that honor last season, as did Paris Basketball before the season before that, but who will go all the way this season?

### Bahcesehir goes all the way

***Javier Gancedo***

This is a highly ambitious project, and the club has been consistently signing top-tier talent over the past three seasons. Bahcesehir has added [Trevion Williams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/trevion-williams/012604/), who was unstoppable during the 2023–24 EuroCup campaign with ratiopharm Ulm, and [Balsa Koprivica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/balsa-koprivica/011050/), who consistently proved his worth whenever given significant minutes with Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade. 

The team also brought in sharpshooter [Caleb Homesley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/caleb-homesley/011251/), whose clutch performances propelled Gran Canaria to the EuroCup Finals last season, knocking Bahcesehir out in the process, alongside [Matt Mitchell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matthew-mitchell/012622/) and [Hunter Hale](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/hunter-hale/013909/). 

Crucially, Bahcesehir retained its core group, led by [Mateusz Ponitka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mateusz-ponitka/004172/), [Kenan Sipahi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kenan-sipahi/005275/), and [Tyler Cavanaugh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-cavanaugh/009601/). 

This roster has it all: EuroCup experience, athleticism, scoring power, and talent across every position. I'm picking Bahcesehir as my favorite to win it all this EuroCup season.

<center>
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### It’s Cluj’s time

***Igor Petrinovic***

I know that it might not be the most obvious pick, but I really like what U-BT Cluj-Napoca did this offseason to make itself better. Quarterfinalists in each of the last two seasons, Cluj might have lost some important pieces but I love who they picked up. 

In the backcourt, there is the scoring threat of [Fatts Russell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/daron-russell/013943/), who I think is ready to drop 40 points each game, and on the wings it is [Mitch Creek](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mitchell-creek/013927/) who can keep dropping the buckets. Then, they added tremendous experience with [Jeffery Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jeffery-taylor/006546/), and maybe got themselves a couple of gems under the rims with [Nathan Mensah](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nathan-mensah/013514/) and [Dusan Miletic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dusan-miletic/009896/). 

All of them playing under Cluj’s long-tenured coach Mihai Silvasan, who is a great coaching mind. I think it could be a special season for Cluj… a EuroCup-winning season!

<center>
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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPLmlqOjG6e/?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 U-BT Cluj-Napoca (@ubancatransilvania)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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### Besiktas has everything it needs

***Geoff Gillingham***

I’ll tell you what, I am so impressed with the work done by Besiktas GM Nedim Yücel year in, year out. He’s consistently built very competitive rosters since Besiktas’s return to the EuroCup in 2023-24, but he might have outdone himself this summer.

In addition to retaining [Jonah Mathews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jonah-mathews/011936/) – a possible MVP candidate if things go well – Yücel brought in proven EuroCup talent in All-EuroCup Second Team selection [Anthony Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/anthony-brown/009025/), [Devon Dotson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devon-dotson/013285/), and [Brynton Lemar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/brynton-lemar/013261/). If the three-pronged guard lineup of Mathews, Dotson and Lemar is enough to make the mouth salivate, wait until you see Besiktas’s big man options. 

Center [Ante Zizic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-zizic/004554/) has spent six seasons in the EuroLeague and three in the NBA, but he’ll get his first taste of the EuroCup this coming season, while the player backing him up is none other than [Ismael Kamagate](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ismael-kamagate/011926/), who really stood out for Paris in the 2022-23 EuroCup campaign. 

You know when you look at a roster and you see talented player after talented player? That’s how I feel with Besiktas. The Turkish side has the best coach in the EuroCup in Dusan Alimpijevic, too. Mark these words: Besiktas will be the 2025-26 EuroCup champion.

<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPMXZ_uDDpD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPMXZ_uDDpD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; 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### Hapoel Jerusalem has the championship blueprint

***Frankie Sachs***

Jerusalem finished second in its regular-season group last season before slipping up in the quarterfinals and had the EuroCup MVP. That MVP, [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/), is back along with five more core players. 

The team added more scoring, more defense and more depth and as a result, is a lot more dangerous. With Harper, [Khadeen Carrington](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/khadeen-carrington/008912/) and [Cassius Winston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/cassius-winston/011940/), Jerusalem has unparalleled backcourt scoring. 

Anthony Lamb is another serious offensive weapon, while [Austin Wiley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/austin-wiley/013278/), [Dmytro Skapintsev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dmytro-skapintsev/013905/) and [Yovel Zoosman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yovel-zoosman/006625/) can anchor a tough defense. 

Sounds like a blueprint for a championship team to me!

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The Euroleague.net journalists have explained who they think will win the EuroCup and why

Lietkabelis Panevezys v Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (2025-10-01T16:00:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-10-01T16:00:00.000Z)

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (2025-09-30T17:30:00.000Z)

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 1 of the 2025-26 EuroCup season, and who might be missing in action.

Round 1: Pregame quotes and injury reports

## Tuesday, September 30

### Turk Telekom Ankara vs. ratiopharm Ulm (18:00 CEST)

\--

### Slask Wroclaw vs. Neptunas Klaipeda (19:00 CEST)

\--

### Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (19:30 CEST)

**Benka Barloschky, Hamburg head coach** 

"For the game, I'm expecting my team to respond again. We've had two defeats recently. We're going through an important phase that can take us forward – and will take us forward if we put the defeats into perspective and take the right steps. Of course, we're facing a strong opponent in Jerusalem, who are clearly among the favorites to win the EuroCup. They have a lot of continuity in their team and, surprisingly, they've also managed to keep their MVP – I would have thought he would move to the EuroLeague. Every position is very strongly covered by two players. I'm very excited to see how we'll fare against this great opponent."

**JP Tokoto, Hamburg forward**

"I'm really looking forward to the start of the EuroCup, especially with this group. It will be a huge challenge; Jerusalem is a very good team. I saw their last games against Maccabi, and they looked really strong. It will be a tough test, but we won't shy away from it. Over the last two years, the team has gotten better and better. You can see that they are very well coached and play with a lot of discipline. And they also have players who can bring a high level of play to the court. We have to perform at our best, otherwise Jerusalem will punish every little mistake."

**Zsombor Maronka, Hamburg forward**

"I'm really excited that the EuroCup is starting again. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to play too many games last season, so it's all the more wonderful that I'm back now. I think it will be a very physical game. They have a lot of experienced players on their team. It will be important for us to find our energy very quickly and take them out of their comfort zone. If we can do that, we'll have a lot of fun."

### Umana Reyer Venice vs. Aris Thessaloniki Betsson (20:00 CEST)

**Neven Spahija, Reyer head coach**

"We're happy that the season is finally starting officially. We're happy to be able to make our debut in front of our home crowd, which is always a great advantage for us. The team is well-prepared and focused; we've worked very well over the last few weeks. We are facing a talented team in Aris, even though they have seven new players. We have analyzed their preseason and we are convinced that their results don't reflect their real quality: they are a dangerous team, but we are ready. Our goal is to continue on the path we started in the preseason. We definitely need to be better and more consistent on defense, but we can continue to improve in all aspects of the game."

**RJ Cole, Reyer guard**

"To beat Aris, we'll have to communicate well, especially on defense. The most important thing will be getting defensive stops and taking pride and confidence from our defense to fuel our offense. I know a couple of their players, like Enoch, who played with me. They are a good team, and we'll have to do a great job to beat them. Our home crowd will help us, I'm sure of it!"

**Bogdan Karaicic, Aris head coach**

"After a long and hard preseason, we start our official obligations in Italy. Reyer Venezia is a very strong opponent, with high ambitions in this season’s BKT EuroCup. We faced injury problems in our preparation and we won’t have Arnoldas Kulboka in this game, but we are determined to give our soul in Venezia, to start the season in a positive way. To accomplish that, we have to be consistent, intense and have energy in the defensive part, so that we have a good offensive game."

**Stelios Poulianitis, Aris guard**

"It’s the first official game of the season and we are excited about it. We have to face a very good team, that strengthened its roster with quality players. From our side, we have to be focused and determined for 40 minutes and follow the coaching staff’s plan, to get the result we want. We know we will have our fans’ support and we want to give our 100% to satisfy them."

***All of Reyer's players are available.*** 

## Wednesday, October 1

### Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (18:00 CEST)

\--

### U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (18:00 CEST)

**Mihai Silvasan, Cluj head coach**

"We are looking forward to the official start of the season. We will face a very strong team, one of the favorites to win the EuroCup this year, but playing at home in front of our fans gives us confidence. We believe we have the quality to challenge them and fight for the win."

**Patrick Richard, Cluj guard**

"We are excited to begin a new EuroCup season, with the goal of improving every year. Starting at home against a strong Turkish team, we want to open with a victory in front of our fans. With many new players, we are ready to grow together week by week and build momentum."

### Panionios Athens vs. NINERS Chemnitz (18:30 CEST)

**Luka Pavicevic, Panionios Athens head coach**

"After six weeks of meeting each other, the new team of Panionios BC is starting the 2025-2026 BKT EuroCup season against Chemnitz. This game brings excitement to us, as a team, on many different levels. Chemnitz is a team with established culture and it is a very difficult first opponent, but we are looking forward to accepting this challenge! Together with our fans, we are happy to compete in Europe again, in this competition and at this level."

**Nikos Gkikas, Panionios Athens guard**

"We are very pleased because an exciting season in the BKT EuroCup is about to begin. A very strong competition with quality, historic teams and intense rivalry! It is a challenge for all of us. This year, Panionios BC celebrates 50 years since its first participation in a European competition, returning after an absence of eight years. It is very important for us to take part in this new beginning. Niners Chemnitz are a very good team, with recent successes and a coach who has been working with them for a decade, instilling principles and philosophy. We respect them, and we look forward to seeing the arena filled with fans so that they can help us start the BKT EuroCup with a victory."

### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. BAXI Manresa (18:30 CEST)

**Zvezdan Mitrovic, Cedevita Olimpija head coach**

"One of the most attractive teams of last season’s Spanish league is coming to us. They are the fastest team in the league, executing the most fast breaks per game. Most of their plays are built out of transition, which is a big challenge for us. Their system requires players who enjoy playing fast basketball – and they have found them. We analyzed some of their preseason games, and they were outstanding in the Catalan Cup. For us, this will be a very demanding game, especially because of the high tempo that Manresa maintains for the full 40 minutes. Defensively, we will need to respond firmly, particularly on the center line, since they have several big men who like to run. They use all 12 players in their rotation. Our guys are working very well, but none of the newcomers have experience playing at the EuroCup level."

**Aleksej Nikolic, Cedevita Olimpija guard**

"This is a classic Spanish team that likes to play fast basketball and finish their possessions as quickly as possible. Defensively, they are very aggressive and try to force the opponent into as many mistakes and turnovers as possible, which they turn into their transition game. Our task will be to slow down the tempo and play smart. I’m excited about the new season. We have quite a few fresh faces who came to Ljubljana with the goal of taking their careers to a higher level, so they are eager to prove themselves. In practices, I can see they are very diligent, hardworking, and motivated to show themselves through good performances and results. Of course, they will need some time to adapt to coach Mitrović’s way of working, so we must take it game by game and prove ourselves each time with the right approach and energy. We can’t wait to step onto the court in front of our fans. On this occasion, I invite everyone to join us in Stožice. We need you, we need your energy, so that together we can achieve as many wins as possible."

### Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (20:00 CEST)

**Fabio Bongi, Trento assistant coach**

"On Wednesday, we'll face Bourg, a physical and very aggressive team on both sides of the court. Their point guard, Darius McGhee, is a great leader and a high scorer, and they can count on big players such as Mokoka, Lindo, Gach, and Kokila. They also bring energy and players with great European experience off the bench. It will be a tough game for us, one that will teach us a lot: we need to gain experience and continue playing together to cement this group and become a solid and reliable team as quickly as possible."

**DJ Steward, Trento guard**

"We've finished the preseason and now we finally have the regular season ahead of us. I can't wait to play our first home game in front of our fans: I'm sure they'll give us a lot of energy! We'll be facing Bourg, a really strong team with great players, and I'm happy to be making our EuroCup debut this season. We're preparing well for Wednesday's game and we're ready to give it our all on the court, playing to the best of our ability to try and get our first win in front of our fans."

**Frederic Fauthoux, Bourg head coach**

“Trento is a completely rebuilt team with pace and a lot of speed in their game, they can be very dangerous. It's up to us to stay in control and master the pace of the game while remaining focused on the main thing: winning this game.”

**Darius McGhee, Bourg guard**

“We are excited about this game! There has been a ton of focus on how we can get better collectively and we are very motivated!"

## Thursday, October 2

### London Lions vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (20:30 CEST)

\--

London Lions v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2025-10-02T18:30:00.000Z)

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2025-10-01T18:00:00.000Z)

Panionios Athens v NINERS Chemnitz (2025-10-01T16:30:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v BAXI Manresa (2025-10-01T16:30:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice v Aris Thessaloniki Betsson (2025-09-30T18:00:00.000Z)

Javier Gancedo is here to inform EuroCup Fantasy Challenge managers about who they should pick this week.

Fantasy tips, Round 1: So many choices! 

It's that time of year again! The 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season, which means that the 2025-26 EuroCup Fantasy Challenge returns. 

It remains one of the toughest and most unpredictable fantasy games out there but don't worry, I am here to help. These are the five players we like ahead of the first tipoff at 18:00 CET on Tuesday. 

### Jared Harper, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (16.0 credits) 

I know, I know, it is not very original, is it? [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) was the MVP last season and it is only fair to think he will have strong numbers again. He led the 2024-25 EuroCup in scoring (22.8 ppg.), fouls drawn (7.9 per game) and PIR (27.2). Harper hit 87.4% of his free throws despite taking more than 11.0 per game. Fantastic! 

### Jamel Morris, Lietkabelis Panevezys (8.0 credits) 

Shout out to Trey Dreschler for this tip. [Jamel Morris](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jamel-morris/011931/) already played for Lietkabelis two seasons ago, averaging 15.1 points. He has been doing great in the Lithuanian League, posting 17.0 points on 47.4% three-point shooting and a PIR of 16.0 so far this season. All for just 8.0 credits. Go for him! 

### Arnas Velicka, Neptunas Klaipeda (10.7 credits) 

Fresh off a really strong performance at EuroBasket 2025, [Arnas Velicka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/arnas-velicka/006326/) is now ready to showcase his scoring skills, intensity and great energy in the EuroCup. So far, Velicka averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and a PIR of 20.5 in Lithuanian League action. These are strong numbers and Velicka should just keep going. 

### Kevin Yebo, NINERS Chemnitz (12.3 credits) 

Enough about guards, right? Let's talk about a good option at center. [Kevin Yebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kevin-yebo/013368/) should be Chemnitz's main frontcourt choice in the club's first-ever EuroCup season. In his German League debut this weekend, Yebo had 18 points on 12-of-14 free throws, 6 rebounds and a PIR of 21. A great value options under 13.0 credits. 

### Mateusz Ponitka, Bahcesehir College Istanbul (10.6 credits) 

I am going to play it safe and pick an all-around, experienced forward who can help Bahcesehir in many ways. [Mateusz Ponitka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mateusz-ponitka/004172/) is an outstanding rebounder for a player his size, has a great feel for steals, can pass the ball and score in transition when it is really needed. At 10.6 credits, Ponitka could be a big steal. 

Javier Gancedo is here to inform Fantasy Challenge managers about who they should pick this week

The new BKT EuroCup season arrives with 20 teams all across the continent taking their first ambitious steps along the road to glory! Here’s your overview of Round 1’s action.

At a glance: The EuroCup returns!

The [new BKT EuroCup season](https://euroleaguebasketball.ecal.com/) arrives with 20 teams all across the continent taking their first ambitious steps along the road to glory! Here’s your overview of Round 1’s action.

## Tuesday, September 30

### Turk Telekom Ankara vs. ratiopharm Ulm (18:00 CEST)

The new season’s opening tipoff sees Turk Telekom welcomes Ulm for a meeting of two teams loaded with potential. The hosts reached last season’s quarterfinals, while Ulm was unlucky to suffer regular-season elimination despite a creditable 9-9 record. Big man Marko Simonovic, forward Jordan Usher and versatile backcourt star Jaleen Smith are among the many new faces hoping to make an instant impression for Turk Telekom. Ulm has also significantly restocked during the summer, and will hope that Bryce Brown – a former EuroCup finalist during his time with Bourg – can immediately show his scoring skills in this season opener.

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### Slask Wroclaw vs. Neptunas Klaipeda (19:00 CEST)

Two new entrants to this season’s competition meet in Poland as Slask welcomes Neptunas. Slask could only muster a 2-16 record during its last EuroCup participation two years ago, and will aim to establish a strong early presence through a trio of big men signed in the summer: Jared Coleman-Jones, Jakub Urbaniak and Stefan Djordjevic, who led the Polish league in rebounding last season. Neptunas most recently appeared in the competition ten years ago, and head coach Gediminas Petrauskas will hope to avoid stage fright by leaning on the scoring skills of Harrison Cleary, who has prior experience at this level following his time with Hamburg.

### Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (19:30 CEST)

Two teams who know each other well meet in Germany with Hapoel travelling to Hamburg. They were also grouped together last season, with both winning one game apiece. Hapoel will continue to rely on the explosive backcourt talents of Jared Harper, the reigning EuroCup scoring leader and season MVP, while summer arrival Anthony Lamb should quickly become a significant addition to the frontcourt. Hamburg has grabbed nine new players, notably including the permanent signing of powerful forward Zsombor Maronka, whose loan stint from Joventut last season was restricted by injury to just three appearances.

### Umana Reyer Venice vs. Aris Thessaloniki Betsson (20:00 CEST)

Another rematch from last season will see Reyer seek a strong start at home against Aris. The Greek team could only win three games last time around and has to deal with the loss of key scorer Vassilis Toliopoulos, with former NBA champion Bryn Forbes expected to quickly replace him as a key offensive weapon. Another new arrival for Aris is rebounding ace Steven Enoch, whose battle with Reyer’s experienced Amedeo Tessitori should provide some highlight reel moments. The Italian team, which reached last season’s eighthfinals, will also look for leadership from guard Ky Bowman, who averaged 16 points last season in the Italian league with former club Treviso.

## Wednesday, October 1

### Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (18:00 CEST)

Wednesday’s action tips off in Lithuania with Besiktas travelling to face Lietkabelis. This will be the first meeting between the teams, who were placed in different groups last season as Lietkabelis stumbled to a 5-13 record while the Turkish team advanced as far as the eighthfinals. Forward Augustine Rubit and guard Kristian Kullamae – who returns for his second stint – headline half a dozen new signings for a Lietkabelis team aiming to compete more strongly for the playoffs. But it won’t be an easy start against Dusan Alimpijevic’s Besiktas, which has restocked with the backcourt addition of Brynton Lemar and has a new power in the paint with Ante Zizic.

### U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (18:00 CEST)

Two of last season’s title contenders go head to head for an intriguing opening week battle as Cluj welcomes Bahcesehir. The Romanian team is coming off a strong campaign which finished in the quarterfinals, while Bahcesehir went one better with a semifinals berth after winning its regular season group with a 14-4 record. They were placed in different groups last season, so this will be their first ever meeting. Cluj will look to dominate the paint through new signing Dusan Miletic, but he will face a bone-crunching challenge from Bahcesehir summer arrival Trevion Williams, who led the EuroCup in rebounding during his time with Ulm two seasons ago.

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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPEw1JOjJkr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPEw1JOjJkr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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### Panionios Athens vs. NINERS Chemnitz (18:30 CEST)

A pair of fresh faces will look for a strong start in their new EuroCup environment as Panionis welcomes Chemnitz. The Greek team is making its first appearance in the competition since 2014, while Chemnitz is an even bigger unknown quantity ahead of its EuroCup debut campaign – especially as coach Rodrigo Pastore is overseeing an almost entirely new roster. Nike Sibande looks likely to become the backcourt leader for the German team, and this week he will match up against new Panionis guard Michail Lountzis – one of the few players on either team with previous EuroCup experience.

### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. BAXI Manresa (18:30 CEST)

Two ambitious teams go head to head in search of an opening victory as Olimpija welcomes competition newcomer Manresa. The host demonstrated its potential by reaching last season’s quarterfinals, and coach Zvezdan Mitrovic has reconfigured his roster with several additions including backcourt star Joseph Girard, who led the Lithuanian league in scoring last season. Manresa is heading into its debut EuroCup campaign with plenty of confidence in its relatively young roster, including the signing of talented guard Hugo Benitez and experienced wingman Louis Olinde. Three-point scoring ace Alfonso Plummer – formerly of Ulm – will also look to make a strong impact as he returns to the competition.

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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOvs0KHgaSY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOvs0KHgaSY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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### Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (20:00 CEST)

Two teams who narrowly missed out on last season’s playoffs will battle for a winning start as Trento hosts Bourg. A string of summer signings for Trento are headlined by the emerging backcourt talents of DeVante’ Jones – formerly with Cedevita – and DJ Steward, who averaged more than 19 points in last season’s G-League and will now aim to become a breakout star during his first season in Europe. Bourg coach Frederic Fauthoux has the task of establishing chemistry within a roster containing no less than 11 new players, and will lean on the proven EuroCup experience of swingman Adam Mokoka, who averaged 11.9 points for Cluj last season.

## Thursday, October 2

### London Lions vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (20:30 CEST)

In Thursday’s only game, London returns to the EuroCup after a one-year absence with a visit from dangerous Buducnost. The Montenegrin team reached last season’s eighthfinals and has retained the majority of its roster, supported by the introduction of experienced center Jerry Boutsiele and similarly-named forward Axel Bouteille, who helped Bahcesehir reach last season’s semifinal. The English team will look to start strong by leaning on the leadership of guards Tarik Phillip and Mo Soluade, who have both returned for their second stints with London, and Shavar Reynolds will also aim for an instant impact in the backcourt after his summer arrival.

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Andy West looks ahead to the first round of the new campaign

Here is Javier Gancedo's preseason BKT EuroCup MVP rankings for the 2025-26 season, which naturally is topped by Jared Harper of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem

Top 10 BKT EuroCup MVP candidates

The 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season is upon us, so it is time to take a look at the best players in the competition. There is once again a lot of talent in the competition, whether they be newcomers or returning stars. I expect that some players will surprise fans by taking advantage of the opportunity to play at a higher level. Here is my preseason EuroCup MVP ranking, which naturally is topped by Jared Harper of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem. Harper is the competition's reigning MVP and all eyes will be on him from the opening tip!

### 10. Issuf Sanon, Slask Wroclaw

Back in the competition after a year away, [Issuf Sanon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/issuf-sanon/011947/) comes off an outstanding season in Latvia, where he used his all-around game to lead VEF Riga to a domestic triple crown, while earning himself MVP honors. If Sanon replicates the types of performances he put together last season, it will mean a big step in his career. And if that leads Slask to victories, Sanon will enter the conversation for EuroCup MVP honors.

### 9. Jonah Mathews, Besiktas GAIN Istanbul

At age 27, [Jonah Mathews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jonah-mathews/011936/) is at the prime of his career and brings significant EuroCup experience to the table. Over the past two seasons, he’s played 40 EuroCup games for Besiktas, averaging 15.1 points and 2.6 assists. His contributions were key in helping the team reach the 2024 semifinals. After last season’s early playoff exit, Mathews now finds himself surrounded by a deeper, more talented roster. Now he will look to lead them to glory and show he can be the best player in the competition.

### 8. Ky Bowman, Umana Reyer Venice

[Ky Bowman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ky-bowman/013928/) played 45 games for the Golden State Warriors as an undrafted rookie in 2019–20 and spent the last three seasons in Italy with Brindisi (2022-23) and Treviso (2023-25). Now with Reyer and coming off a 16.0 PPG season, the 28-year-old gears up for his EuroCup debut, aiming to lead the backcourt alongside another former NBAer in Denzel Valentine. A strong season will boost both his MVP chances and Reyer’s postseason possibilities.

Yogi Ferrell hits the crucial three to down Ulm! 

### 7. Jaylen Hands, Panionios Athens

Coming off a career season in scoring with 19.3 PPG in the Italian League last season, [Jaylen Hands](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaylen-hands/013914/) has the chance to turn heads in his rookie EuroCup season. He will be the go-to leader for a Panionios side competing in its first EuroCup campaign since 2013-14, which means that a strong year from Hands will put him in MVP contention in no time. Not many people are talking about Panionios, but Hands is eager to change that.

### 6. Fatts Russell, U-BT Cluj-Napoca

One of the most electrifying guards in Europe has arrived in the EuroCup. [Fatts Russell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/daron-russell/013943/) brings dynamic scoring to the competition. Much like TJ Shorts a few years ago, Russell enters his rookie EuroCup season with an impressive scoring résumé in the in the BCL. With the passionate Cluj supporters behind him, Russell – now entering his fourth year as a pro – is poised to make a serious MVP push this season.

### 5. Yogi Ferrell, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica is entering the season with big ambitions, wanting more than just reaching the postseason. The club’s main priority in the offseason was to retain point guard [Yogi Ferrell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yogi-ferrell/011281/), who will now enter his third season with the Montenegrin powerhouse. Ferrell will be running the show in Podgorica, and if Buducnost wants to meet its ambitious goals, it will need Ferrell at his best. And such a Ferrell would be one of the best players in the competition.

### 4. Jaleen Smith, Turk Telekom Ankara

Turk Telekom Ankara head coach Erdem Can knows a thing or two about the success in the EuroCup, and this season, he picked [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/) to run his team’s offense. The veteran guard can hurt opposing defenses with his long-range shooting or pick them apart with his precise passing. Last season, his first in the competition, Smith was an All-EuroCup First Team selection. Now, in the Turkish capital, he is in a position to make an even bigger impact.

### 3. Anthony Brown, Besiktas GAIN Istanbul

Besiktas made major upgrades in the off-season, and [Anthony Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/anthony-brown/009025/) stands out as one of the marquee additions. This marks his sixth EuroCup team, and he reunites with Coach Dusan Alimpijevic, whom he previously played under at Bursaspor. Brown is coming off his finest EuroCup campaign yet, finishing third in scoring and ninth in three-point accuracy despite launching nearly six attempts per game. With a career three-point percentage of 44.1%, elite shooting is his calling card. Now at the peak of his career, Brown has all the ingredients to make a run at MVP honors.

### 2. Trevion Williams, Bahcesehir College Istanbul

[Trevion Williams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/trevion-williams/012604/) returns to the EuroCup after a year away. He earned a spot on the 2023–24 All-EuroCup First Team after averaging 14.8 points, a league-best 10.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists across 18 games. His performance placed him second in PIR that season, just behind the MVP, TJ Shorts. A mobile center with exceptional court vision and versatile scoring ability, Williams is poised to be one of the EuroCup's standout stars, aiming to lead his club to the top of the podium.

### 1. Jared Harper, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem

Could [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) become the first player ever to repeat as EuroCup MVP? Last season he averaged the most points in the EuroCup in 18 years, ranked third in assists and set records for fouls drawn and free throws made. Opponents simply struggled to stop him and if Harper can repeat that level of efficiency on a team that hopes to contend for the crown, he could finish the season with another big trophy.

Javier Gancedo ranks his favorites to become the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup MVP 

Mitch Creek’s arrival in Romania for the start of this season with U-BT Cluj-Napoca says a lot about the Australian, who is an avid skydiver, huge Formula One fan and dabbling in jiu-jitsu, among many other hobbies

Skydiving, jiu-jitsu, and F1; the many interests of Cluj’s Mitch Creek

The arrival of [Mitch Creek](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mitchell-creek/013927/) in Romania for the start of this season with U-BT Cluj-Napoca says a lot about the Australian. The 33-year-old showed up at the airport with luggage that included a parachute and helmet for one of his many interests - skydiving. In fact, the BKT EuroCup rookie considers himself many things besides a professional basketball player.

Creek says he has skydived about 350 times since doing it for the first time at age 14 as a birthday present from his mother.

“There have been a lot of really amazing places I've jumped and landed: at air shows, on beaches, in people's backyards. We jumped out of hot air balloons for people’s birthdays, out of helicopters. We’ve jumped out of war planes. We've jumped out of pretty much anything and I'm not opposed to jumping off anything,” Creek said with a thick Australian accent.

But skydiving for Creek is not what many people might imagine.

“I don't do it for the adrenaline. I don't get adrenaline out of it in any way,” he explained. “You go into the day understanding that you've learned a skill or a hobby. You’ve trained yourself to be as risk-averse as possible, just like driving a car, just like using a sharp knife to cut vegetables. You have to train these skills.”

Just like some people are scared to chop onions really fast, others are trained to do so almost as second nature. And skydiving is similar to that for Creek, who sees it as a release.

“I just escape and I'm by myself. I have no worries. I have no care for anything else in the world. It's about me, myself, and no one else in the world can do or say anything in that moment that can alter my state of self-awareness, self-love and self-respect. And I think that's why it's so calming.”

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The Horsham native says the skydiving can be traced back to his life as a country kid in Victoria in southeastern Australia, taking off with his bike at 7:30 in the morning and not coming back until 17:00.

“You had this sense of freedom, and you had this sense of adventure. And that just stayed with me throughout my whole life so far,” said Creek, who moved away from home at age 16 to attend the famed Australian Institute of Sport.

“I had to mature at a much younger age, even though probably many would contemplate that I didn't mature until an older age. And maybe I'm still a kid in a lot of ways. I think the sense of adventure and curiosity never stopped.”

Creek said he balances his life as an athlete, businessman and partner and his social life and family. And that’s what makes him himself.

"All those different people are under the one person. I'm not a professional basketballer. I don't identify as a professional basketballer. I'm Mitch Creek. I'm a person. And that person has a lot of different characters because of my different personalities.”

Thanks to his ultra-curious personality, Creek gets an itch just about every six months to try something new as a hobby.

Last season while playing in Canada, he was struggling to find a place to practice boxing - one of his past urges - so he gave jiu-jitsu a try.

“It was one of the most terrifying things I've ever done. To get choked out and to be bent in places that your body's not normally meant to bend in by little tiny humans - males, females, young, old, it didn't matter who they were or what they look like - I was getting my ass kicked.”

Creek thought he was pretty capable of defending himself in terms of a confrontation. And he wanted to be able to protect his daughter, his partner and her son. But he learned otherwise quickly.

“I thought I was capable until I went into a jiu-jitsu class and I was getting submitted by a 60-year-old man who was a third of my size and weight and just basically bullied me like a child.”

Creek has already found a place in Cluj where he can continue his jiu-jitsu training.

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Creek is also a passionate motorcycle rider and has even raced some in Australia. He also likes vintage American cars and has built a couple cars. He says he is currently building a 1984 Chevrolet C10.

Speaking of cars and racing, Creek is a big fan of Formula One. And that is putting it mildly.

"I don't miss a single training, practice session or qualifying or race, and I haven't for probably the last 10 years,” he said.

And Creek has made sure people around him don’t tell him the results of anything F1.

“I've had previous teammates that have spoiled it for me and I've had to warn them very carefully,” he said. “We don't talk about Formula One until you ask the question: Hey, have you seen qualifying? Did you see practice? Have you seen the sprint race? And if the answer is no, you shut the hell up. That's the last question about it.”

If he can’t watch any session or race live, he will watch it on demand within the next 24 hours - of course, not knowing what happened.

What about his next hobby itch?

It’s art. Drawing to be more specific.

“Drawing is actually one of the things that I always liked when I was young. But I obviously got out of it as an adult a bit more and now I've kind of picked it up again,” Creek said.

Basketball is an opportunity to express myself on the court. To express myself in a way that allows others to say, damn, that guy has a lot of fun and he plays the game the right way. He's not just a basketballer. There's more to him.

All this talk about skydiving, jiu-jitsu, motorcycles, Formula One and now drawing leaves one to wonder what basketball actually means to Creek.

"It's shifted over the years,” he said. “Basketball used to be an identity because I thought that's what I wanted to be. I thought that being a famous basketballer, being successful, going out and having drinks and meeting the girls and going to cool places, that's what it was all about. It couldn't have been further from the truth.

“There are times when it's a lot of fun. It is really cool to have and be in those situations. But as I've matured over the years, my life has shifted. And for me now, basketball is an opportunity to express myself on the court. To express myself in a way that allows others to say, damn, that guy has a lot of fun and he plays the game the right way. He's not just a basketballer. There's more to him. And it makes people question the narrative of what is a basketballer, what is a professional athlete.”

Creek now wants to be an inspiration to others.

“I just want people to realize that anything is achievable. Through constant effort and intent on breaking down your goals and trying to chip away at them slowly, anything is achievable. I'm proof of that. So if I can inspire the next generation just to give it a crack and to dream outlandishly large, then believe in it at all costs. It'll be worth it.”

In the mean time, Creek will be watching the F1 in between drawing, practicing jiu-jitsu and oh, yeah, playing basketball.

Mitch Creek

More Cluj news

The Australian guard is something of a Renaissance man - and a pretty good shooter, too

London Lions ink Karolis Lukosiunas short term

London Lions announced the addition of shooting guard [Karolis Lukosiunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/karolis-lukosiunas/006158/) to the roster through November, as Ryan Mikesell recovers from surgery.

Lukosiunas (1.95 meters, 28 years old) spent last season with Juventus Utena where he averaged 4.9 points and 1.3 assist in the Lithuanian League action. In the 2023-24 season, he played in the G-League with Salt Lake City Stars before joining Zalgiris Kaunas.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">London Lions have signed Lithuanian international Karolis Lukosiunas on a short-term deal through November as Ryan Mikesell recovers from surgery.<br><br>The forward reunites with Coach Tautvydas Sabonis after their time together at Zalgiris, bringing EuroLeague, G League and… <a href="https://t.co/Ije6HEkEQZ">pic.twitter.com/Ije6HEkEQZ</a></p>&mdash; London Lions Basketball (@LondonLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions/status/1970074628694380745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Lukosiunas previously spent four seasons with Zalgiris Kaunas, between 2019 and 2023, and has appeared in 65 EuroLeague games with the Lithuanian powerhouse. In London, he reunites with Coach Tautvydas Sabonis who served as Zalgiris assistant during the time Lukosiunas played there.

He began his career in the Rytas Vilnius youth system and played for several other Lithuanian clubs before joining Zalgiris in 2019. He helped Zalgiris win three national championships and four Lithuanian Cups in his time there.

The shooting guard will play with the Lions to start the season