Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 11 of the BKT EuroCup, and who might be missing in action.

Round 11: Pregame quotes and injury reports

## Wednesday, December 11

### Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Aris Midea Thessaloniki (17:30 CET)

**Ioannis Kastritis, Aris Midea Thessaloniki head coach**

"We play against Turk Telekom, a solid and tough team that knows what they want on the floor in both ends. For us it is one more challenging game and unfortunately once again we have to deal with many absences. We need to be ready mentally and physically and play smart in order to be competitive."

**Georgios Fillios, Aris Midea Thessaloniki guard**

"First of all, I want to express my satisfaction for rejoining Aris. I will give by best to help the team fulfil its goals. We have a very difficult game ahead of us. Our opponent is a very good team, with great quality. We have significant absences to handle, but we will give our best to be competitive and get the win that we need to keep our hopes alive for the qualification in the next round."

### Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (17:30 CET)

**Alessandro Magro, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius head coach**

"It's very challenging for us to meet such a good team. They changed a bit with regard the first game. They appointed an amazing coach like Dimitris Itoudis, they signed new players because the expectations for them to compete are high. We want to be able to try to embrace the challenge and try to show which kind of potential we can have even against a team like Hapoel Tel Aviv."

**Garrison Brooks, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius center**

"It's a very big game for us, a huge opportunity to keep climbing the EuroCup getting better. I think this would be a very physical game, a very detailed game. There's no comedown, it’s all in a very small thing – our scout reports and the way we prepare for that."

**Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach**

"We’re playing against a very athletic and energetic team that generates a lot of points through their athleticism, desire, and aggressiveness. They play very good and organized basketball, including in their transition game. We’re at a stage where we’re trying to implement and apply new things while still needing to deliver results. Unfortunately, we’re dealing with Pat Beverley’s injury, but we are motivated and focused enough to fight."

**Oz Blayzer, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv forward**

"We are facing Wolves after some challenging days, but we are determined to push forward and maintain the positive momentum in the EuroCup. Everyone knows exactly what they need to do, and we will fight to come back with a win."

### U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (18:00 CET)

**Mihai Silvasan, U-BT Cluj-Napoca head coach**

"We will play against a really strong team. This is the third season in a row when we face them. Still, we have not won against them, but we want to make this possible on Wednesday. We want a victory and we will fight for it. We had some tough days, with two losses in a row and some injuries. Our team is motivated and we hope to have Adam Mokoka in our roster. The competition is tough and every game matters!"

**Mareks Mejeris, U-BT Cluj-Napoca forward**

"This game is important for us from the standing point of view. JL Bourg is an athletic team and we did not do such a great job against them when we met them. Now I am looking forward to the match, to get rehabilitation. We want to protect our home court and we are hungry for some wins!"

**Frederic Fauthoux, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse head coach**

"Cluj is a good team and is performing well at home. This second return game will be difficult, but the objective is to play with ambition to stay in the race."

**Maksim Salash, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse forward**

"It will be a very important game for both teams to fight for the top spots in our group. We expect a tough game, they play good at home."

### Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (19:00 CET)

\--

### Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs. 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (19:30 CET)

**Yonatan Alon, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem head coach**

"We’re playing against a team whose quality is not yet reflected in the EuroCup standings — a team with many tools and talent. We want to continue playing our style of basketball and establish ourselves at the top of the group. Our goal is to show toughness from the first moment, control the game’s pace, and return home with a victory. Unfortunately, this will be another game played in front of empty stands and we’re eagerly looking forward to playing in front of our fans again."

**Gabriel Chachashvili, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem center**

"It’s very important for us to get back on the winning track in the EuroCup and continue solidifying our position at the top of the group. We anticipate a tough game against a quality opponent and our goal is to come back home with a victory that will lift the spirits of our fans watching from afar."

### Umana Reyer Venice vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (20:00 CET)

**Neven Spahija, Umana Reyer Venice head coach**

"We managed to win the last EuroCup games even with short rotations and we want to keep it that way. Ljubljana is a very strong team; they’ve been playing great basketball lately, scoring a lot of points. They play at a very high pace and score a lot in the paint. They don’t rely much on three-pointers, which makes them similar to us. It will be a very tough game, but we can win with the help of our fans. We want to keep imposing our defense and play the best basketball we can. Getting some players back would help us a lot."

**Tyler Ennis,** **Umana Reyer Venice guard**

"We want to win. We are working to eliminate the ups and downs and improve our consistency. We’ll grow game by game, improving our chemistry and confidence. Once we have our injured players back, stay united, and continue working like this, we’ll be even better."

**Zvezdan Mitrović, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana head coach**

"At the start of the competition, Venezia was considered one of the favorites for the top spots. They faced injury challenges during the season, but those are resolved, and they have strengthened their squad. This home game is crucial for them in their playoff pursuit, as they are very close to those positions. Their team is top-tier and well-composed. For us, there are no easy games right now. We will face an athletic and strong team with well-covered positions. They won their last two away games, proving their improvement. Despite Venezia’s recent domestic league loss, this will be a tough match. We’ll need to counter their athletic play, stop their offensive rebounds, and stay focused. We expect a challenging and intense game."

**DeVante Jones, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana guard**

"This will undoubtedly be a tough and tight match. We defeated Venezia in Stožice last time, so they will be motivated. Some of their players have returned from injuries, and they’ve added reinforcements. They will play with intensity and energy, and we must respond. After the international break, we’re in a good rhythm, playing with intensity. Although we started poorly in our last game, we finished strong. Having our coach back at full strength helps a lot. We’re all focused, and our defensive game has improved, which we need to build on."

### Joventut Badalona vs. ratiopharm Ulm (20:30 CET)

\--

### Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (21:00 CET

\--

## Tuesday, December 10

### Trefl Sopot vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (19:00 CET)

**Andrea Pecchia, Dolomiti Energia Trento guard**

"We are definitely facing a very difficult game, playing away is always complicated. Sopot is a team that gave us a hard time in the first leg and has changed many players. We will have to be good to be ready, we come from a good win in Scafati, we are charged up and we want to take some satisfaction also in Europe to keep dreaming about the playoffs."

### Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Valencia Basket (19:30 CET)

**Benka Barloschky, Veolia Towers Hamburg head coach**

"Valencia is very, very good in all statistical categories. Individually, they are definitely the deepest team in our group. And, in my opinion, they also have one of the best coaches in Europe. In every game so far, the team has managed to go on a run at some point, usually in the second half, and leave their opponents behind. And then it's incredibly difficult for any opponent to come back due to their individual quality. The question is whether we can be focused enough throughout the game to produce high-quality shots, not lose the ball too often and stop their transition offense. If we play our best basketball, we're good enough to beat Valencia."

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2024-12-11T20:00:00.000Z)

Joventut Badalona v ratiopharm Ulm (2024-12-11T19:30:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2024-12-11T19:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2024-12-11T18:30:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2024-12-11T17:00:00.000Z)

Turk Telekom Ankara v Aris Midea Thessaloniki (2024-12-11T16:30:00.000Z)

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Valencia Basket (2024-12-10T18:30:00.000Z)

Trefl Sopot v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2024-12-10T18:00:00.000Z)

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2024-12-11T16:30:00.000Z)

Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2024-12-11T18:00:00.000Z)

Chris Jones’s return from injury and the addition of Amida Brimah make Valencia Basket even tougher to beat.

Chris Jones, Amida Brimah give Valencia even more weapons 

[Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/pam/) was already cruising in the BKT EuroCup, but two of the stars of its 10th win of the season were late additions in what many could see as the rich getting richer.

Valencia used a big third quarter to pull away to [a 78-86 victory at Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/valencia-remains-perfect-with-a-78-86-win-at-hamburg/) for a perfect 10-0 record – thanks to strong showings by [Chris Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/chris-jones/010568/) and [Amida Brimah](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/amida-brimah/012075/).

Jones collected 12 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists while Brimah tallied 3 points, 4 rebounds and 4 blocks, with the duo giving head coach Pedro Martinez even more weapons to work with over the past four rounds.

Chris Jones stood out for Valencia in Hamburg

Jones was a star for Valencia in the last two seasons in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, but the 31-year-old star missed the first seven games of this year after undergoing surgery on a finger on his right hand.

As if Valencia didn’t have enough ways to beat teams already, Jones has shined with his all-around game in his first season in the EuroCup. In his second game of the season, Jones tallied 8 points and 7 assists and then he poured in 20 points in [Valencia’s win over Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/valencia-holds-off-jerusalem-to-stay-perfect-96-83/).

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">POV: Celebras con los jugadores después de ganar el partido 🧡 <a href="https://t.co/BDHbgzU225">pic.twitter.com/BDHbgzU225</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1866585614620991713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Brimah meanwhile was playing his third game since joining Valencia during the national team break. He picked up 10 points in his opening contest [against Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/valencia-overpowers-bourg-96-107/) and then chipped in 4 points and 8 rebounds in the win over Jerusalem.

The 30-year-old Ghana big man arrived from BAXI Manresa, where he was on a short-term deal. He had averaged 3.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in eight Spanish League games this season.

Amida Brimah left his mark on defense in Hamburg

This is Brimah’s second season in the EuroCup after averaging 4.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks for Bourg in 2022-23. He was [fifth in the competition](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=U2022&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=blocksFavour) in blocks that season. And Brimah’s addition gives Valencia a real shot-blocking presence as [Nate Reuvers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nathan-reuvers/012738/), now out with a broken finger, had been the team’s only real threat to opponents attacking Valencia’s basket.

Besides his rim protection, Brimah also has a winner’s pedigree. He claimed the Belgian League and Cup double with Oostende in 2022 and lifted the G League trophy with the Austin Spurs in 2018. He also helped the University of Connecticut win the NCAA Tournament in 2014.

Jones and Brimah are two more reasons that Valencia is a main contender to win the EuroCup crown when it’s all said and done.

Game News

Chris Jones’s return from injury and the addition of Amida Brimah make Valencia even tougher to beat

Valencia Basket can be happy about a road victory at Hamburg Towers to stay undefeated in the BKT EuroCup and in the end, a barrage of three-pointers in the third quarter was enough to get the win.

Valencia’s third-quarter three-point barrage was enough to fend off Hamburg 

[Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/roster/pam/?season=2024-25) can be happy about getting another road victory to stay undefeated in the BKT EuroCup and in the end, a barrage of three-pointers in the third quarter was enough to get the win.

Valencia finished the third quarter on a 2-21 run en route to a [78-86 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/valencia-remains-perfect-with-a-78-86-win-at-hamburg/) at [Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/veolia-hamburg-towers/roster/ham/?season=2024-25) and the game-changing moment came thanks to the Spanish side’s excellent long-range shooting in that third frame. 

Valencia had been used to blowing out opponents all season but the lead was only 51-53 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter.  That is when Coach Pedro Martinez's outside shooters took over. 

Valencia made 5 threes in key third-quarter run

[Semi Ojeleye](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/semi-ojeleye/011982/) started with a three-pointer and was followed by a triple from [Brancou Badio](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/brancou-badio/007527/), two long balls from [Josep Puerto](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/josep-puerto/006643/) and another three from Badio - all coming in a span of 4:14 minutes. And the 51-53 close game was then 53-74 after 30 minutes. 

“We stuck to our basics. We ran, we went more aggressively to the rebounds and we scored more threes. That was the main reason. We played according to our identity,” said Puerto, who finished with 17 points - a new career high. 

Hamburg had to know Valencia would eventually get hot from the outside. The Spanish side ranked first in index rating, scoring and assists and was third in three-point percentage at 38.8%. And Hamburg’s defense was the second-worst from beyond the perimeter, giving up 38.8% on three-pointers. 

Game Videos

Valencia actually shot just 33.3% for the game, but that surge felt like a mountain too steep to climb for the home side.

Hamburg tried to make things close in the fourth quarter as it made Valencia pay for not staying as sharp as it needed. But the deficit had been too large.

“When you win so many games, it’s easy to lose the focus. We lost the focus, especially in the fourth quarter, but we won so we are happy,” said Puerto.

Valencia made 5 three-pointers in 5 minutes to open a big gap 

Dolomiti Energia Trento shared the ball well against Trefl Sopot, recorded a season-high 21 assists and got some great open looks that allowed them to better their three-point percentage. 

Smooth ball circulation, improved shooting keep Trento’s playoff hopes alive

Coming into Tuesday’s clash against [Trefl Sopot](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/trefl-sopot/roster/tso/?season=2024-25), [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/roster/trn/?season=2024-25) had won just three of its 10 games this season. What those three victories had in common was that they were all achieved on home soil, as Trento hadn’t managed to win any of its four road clashes until its trip to Poland for the [BKT EuroCup Round 11 clash](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/trento-beats-trefl-70-82-for-first-road-win/) at Ergo Arena.

To come out victorious from the game against Trefl, Trento was aware that it needed to improve both its ball circulation and scoring percentages. Heading into the duel, Trento averaged just 13.5 assists, the second-lowest mark in the league, and shot with a league-low 28.2% from beyond the arc.

But this time Trento shared the ball well, recorded a season-high 21 assists and got some great open looks that allowed them to better their three-point percentage.

Trento made 12 three-pointers at Sopot

“We played well,” head coach [Paolo Galbiati](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/trn/galbiati-paolo/?season=U2024) said after the game. “We shared the ball a lot. I think we shot very well on three-pointers. A lot of them were good-quality \[triples\].”

The Italian side ended the duel with a solid 37.5% shooting from beyond the arc, having scored 12 triples, which is both a season-high in threes made and tied for sixth-most in the club’s history. The player who stood out by firing on all cylinders from deep was [Jordan Ford](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jordan-ford/013270/), who went 4-for-6 from deep to finish the duel with a game-high 19 points.

“When you get it going from downtown it’s a nice feeling,” Ford said after the game. “My teammates did a good job of finding me, we all shared the ball and everybody got a chance to get some three shots.”

Having registered its first road win in 2024-25, Trento has kept its playoff hopes alive by improving its record to 4-7 with seven games to go. 

“\[Getting the first road win is\] something we’ve been harboring on, something we’ve wanted to accomplish,” Ford added. “We just want to build off of it from here and try to get as many wins on the road as we can.”

Next up comes a trip to Montenegro, where Trento will face Buducnost VOLI Podgorica in a tough Round 12 encounter. Should the Italians replicate this ball circulation and maintain a solid percentage from behind the rainbow, they could manage to record two straight wins for the first time this season.

The Italian side recorded season-highs in assists and triples made

Valencia was challenged more than it expected but grabbed another victory, beating Veolia Towers Hamburg 78-86 on the road to remain undefeated in Group B. 

Valencia remains perfect with a 78-86 win at Hamburg 

Valencia was challenged more than it expected but grabbed another victory, beating Veolia Towers Hamburg 78-86 on the road to remain undefeated in Group B. Valencia laid the foundation for the win with a 2-21 surge in the third quarter to improve to 10-0.

Josep Puerto hit 4 three-pointers in scoring a career-high 17 points to lead the Spanish side while Chris Jones had 12 points and 4 rebounds, Semi Ojeleye scored 12 points and Amida Brimah chipped in 4 rebounds and 4 blocks. Hamburg saw its modest two-game home winning streak snapped to fall to 2-9 at the bottom of the group. Recent addition Johnathan Stove was Hamburg’s leading scorer with 17 points and Kur Kuath added 12 points and 12 rebounds. 

Puerto converted a three-point play and buried a triple for an early 2-8 lead for the visitors. A long ball from Brancou Badio and a Jones score had Valencia up 7-16. Hamburg temporarily got the deficit to 4 points and Benedikt Tuduric had three baskets, but Valencia was ahead 18-27 after 10 minutes.

Jean Montero opened the second quarter with four-point play for the first double-digit lead at 18-31. Triples from Ojeleye and Nate Sestina both had Valencia up by 13 points but Jaizec Lottie netted 5 straight points as Hamburg fought to 39-45. Valencia responded with the next 6 points and led 42-52 at the break.

Hamburg had the better start to the second half and held the number one offense in the competition without a basket for 3 minutes. Kuath had 6 points as the hosts got within just 51-53. Valencia was not impressed and blew the game open with a 2-21 run to finish the third quarter thanks to hitting 5 three-pointers for a 53-74 advantage. 

Just like the third quarter, Hamburg was strong out of the gates in the final frame with Jordan Barnett scoring 6 points in a 10-3 spurt to pull within 63-77. After two Valencia scores, Hamburg had 6 more straight points and the deficit was just 69-81 with 4 minutes to go. The hosts continued to make it interesting with a 9-0 run and it was 78-86 with only 51 seconds left. At the other end, Barnett blocked Jean Montero but missed the layup to lose any hope.  

First-placed Valencia fights it way past the pesky Towers

Dolomiti Energia Trento celebrated its first road win this season by defeating Trefl Sopot 70-82 in Round 11 at Ergo Arena on Tuesday night. 

Trento beats Trefl, 70-82, for first road win

Dolomiti Energia Trento celebrated its first road win this season by defeating Trefl Sopot 70-82 in Round 11 at Ergo Arena on Tuesday night. The visitors led by double digits for large parts of the game and outscored Trefl in each of the first three quarters. With this victory, Trento improved its record to 4-7, keeping its playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, Trefl has yet to register a win, having lost all its 11 games thus far.

Jordan Ford led all scorers with 19 points in a winning effort. Eigirdas Zukauskas scored 12 points, with Myles Cale and Anthony Lamb netting 11 each. Marcus Weathers paced Trefl with a double-double of 14 points and 12 assists. Jaroslaw Zyskowski recorded 13 points and Geoffrey Groselle added 12.

Trefl started strong, with Aaron Best and Zyskowski each netting from deep for a 6-0 lead. Cale and Ford responded with a triple apiece before Lamb scored inside to put Trento ahead, 8-9. Weathers replied with a three-point play, but 4 points from Saliou Niang and a midrange jumper by Ford put the visitors back in front, 11-15. Ford’s second triple of the night was followed by dunks from Zukauskas and Jordan Bayehe for a 16-22 lead after 10 minutes.

Lamb opened the second quarter with back-to-back triples to extend Trento’s lead to double figures, 18-28. Bayehe and Weathers traded baskets inside before a four-point play by Ford made it 23-34 for the Italian side. Toto Forray opened his account with a three-pointer, but 5 points from Zyskowski brought Trefl within 28-37. Jakub Schenk took over with 5 points of his own, including a step-back triple, to reduce the gap to 35-39. Ford took his tally to 15 first-half points with his fourth triple of the game for a 35-42 cushion at halftime.

Groselle kicked off the second half with back-to-back buckets, but Bayehe scored inside and Cale added 6 points to his tally for a 41-50 lead. A triple from Weathers was followed by a layup from Quinn Ellis and a three-pointer by Zukauskas to make it 44-57. Zyskowski netted a midrange jumper on the other end, but 4 more points by Ellis allowed Trent to take a 48-61 advantage into the closing quarter.

Groselle netted twice inside, but 4 points by Ford and a triple from Lamb extended Trento’s lead to 52-68. Groselle and Cale traded baskets in the paint, before Zyskowski and Zukauskas exchanged triples, with Trento maintaining a 16-point cushion midway through the fourth quarter. Best and Nahiem Alleyne nailed a triple apiece, but it wasn’t enough to inspire a potential Trefl comeback, with Niang completing a three-point play to make it 63-78 and practically finish it off with just over 2 minutes remaining.

The Italian side never trailed after the first quarter

After beginning the 2024-25 EuroCup season with five losses over the first seven games, Reyer Venezia seems to be picking up the pace right when it matters.

Reyer Venezia gearing up and climbing the ranks at the right moment

After beginning the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup Regular Season with five losses over the first seven games, [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) seems to be picking up the pace right when it matters.

Reyer has won its last three games against Turk Telekom Ankara at home and 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys and Aris Midea Thessaloniki on the road to now balance their record at 5-5, build momentum and gain considerable optimism and positivity in the decisive second half of the group stage, which is now in full swing.

While the streak began before the national team break, this interval was quite beneficial to the team as it is now performing as a tighter and more cohesive unit on the floor.

"We’ve had a couple of practices together after the FIBA window, and I think we worked well,” Reyer star big man [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/) said just before his squad’s successful trip to Lithuania. “I found my teammates in great shape; they’ve been working hard these past days while I was with the Canadian national team.”

“After this break for the FIBA window, we are fresher, even though some players were busy with their national teams,” commented Reyer coach Neven Spahija. “We’re getting [Tyler Ennis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-ennis/008858/) back, and that means a lot to us."

Read more [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/1755113/reyer-venice-gearing-up-and-climbing-the-ranks-at-the-right-moment/).

The Italian side is in seventh spot in Group B, just on the verge of the playoff spots

Reyer Venice gearing up and climbing the ranks at the right moment

Javier Gancedo chatted with Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse forward Jordan Usher for this week's EuroCup interview. 

Jordan Usher: 'You will see more from me'

Only 26 years of age, [Jordan Usher](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jordan-usher/013265/) of [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/) has seen a thing or two in basketball already. This season is his first in the BKT EuroCup and after a somewhat slow start, he has come around recently to average 16.3 points on 47.0% three-point shooting for a PIR of 17.5 over his last four games. After playing college basketball for two different schools, where he would play alongside future EuroCup and EuroLeague players, Usher began his professional career in Turkiye with Besiktas Istanbul and last season teamed with the eventual No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft, Alex Sarr, on the Perth Wildcats in Australia. After those experiences, he has big goals for Bourg.

"I want us to win the EuroCup championship or at least make the finals," Usher told Javier Gancedo of the official EuroCup website. He also explained his recent superb form by saying: "I'm gelling with the team, being able to get to my spots, and they know when I need the ball and how I can help the defense."

**Hello, Jordan. First of all, congratulations on beating Hamburg last week. How important was this win now that you are getting closer to the end of the regular season?**

"Thanks. This was a huge win. We need to have a really good December. We need to have a good month. We need to have a good win coming up here against Cluj and it was good to beat them that second time and just give us some more cushion in the EuroCup standings. We didn't come out with enough fire and they came out hot and gunning. \[Head coach\] Freddy \[Fauthoux\] got into us and pretty much told us what we needed to hear, and we came out and played with more energy."

"We need to have a good month. We need to have a good win coming up here against Cluj."

**This is your first EuroCup season. What are your thoughts on the competition, the opponents and the traveling?** 

"Oh, man, I love it. I love playing as many games as I can and I've got a lot of friends from my childhood or even my college days that play on opposing teams. So it's been fun to see them and play against a bunch of good competition and see some nice places at the same time."

**Speaking of nice places, you are playing in Bourg-en-Bresse. The club made it to the EuroCup Finals and the city is fully devoted to basketball. How is life in Bourg? How much do they like basketball?**

"It's a quaint little town. But like you said, they really get behind us and love their team. And I like that: it's a small town, but they are centered around basketball. If you see our young team players, they are in the gym damn near as much as us, just working out. And I think that's the best, having people with similar work ethics. When you can just be in the gym all day, that's good."

**Your former college teammate Jonah Mathews plays for Besiktas in the other group. Two of your former college teammates, Chimezie Metu and Moses Wright, are in the EuroLeague.** 

"I talk to all those guys all the time still. It is just nice. Hopefully, I can play against Jonah. Moses is out for now, but hopefully, Chimezie keeps having a good season. Jared Harper is from the same city as me. I played against him in high school and watched my college when he was at Auburn. I have a teammate that I played with and we are about to play this week, Orelik on Cluj. It is kind of endless. I can kind of list off a bunch of names here, but there's a bunch."

Best of Jordan Usher, Rounds 1-10

**You have been playing much better in the last month, posting better numbers. Did you need some sort of adjustment to a new club and competition?** 

"I think it was just kind of how Freddy could use me the best and how he can see the best on the court. And now that he's kind of honed in on that, I feel like we are both kind of gelling together and I'm gelling with the team, being able to get to my spots, and they know when I need the ball and how I can help the defense. Big differences."

**You played in Australia last season, in Perth, far away from everywhere, basically. How was the experience?** 

"Yes, it was amazing. It is a bit of a different league, but it was really fun. I got to be with my guy Alex Sarr a lot of the time during the year. Bryce Cotton is a legendary player over there, so we had a fun time. It's a lot warmer because it's summertime in Australia, but it was a good season and it was fun. As for the travel, every flight was more than four hours but it was fun. When it's 90 degrees outside \[32.2 Celsius\] and you are at the beach, it's all good." 

**You have faced all the opponents in your group. Did anybody stand out?** 

"Every team has their moments. Every team has their good players. Obviously, Valencia has just been a powerhouse so far this year, and we hope that we can get them back later in the year. But I have been happy with us as a team evolving throughout the year as well."

"Hugo Benitez is a kind of a guy that you look forward to when he comes in the game, and you kind of feel secure at this point."

**I wanted to ask you about Hugo Benitez, a great player with tremendous upside. How is it to play with him?** 

"He is great. He is really good at running our team. He is kind of like a coach on the court, him and our coach have a really good relationship, and he is a kind of a guy that you look forward to when he comes in the game, and you kind of feel secure at this point. He runs the offense well. He plays defense. He does his part. Whether he scores 10 points or 0 points, we get good production from him."

**Like you said, you will play Cluj next week and will play in front of 10,000 fans. How much are you looking forward to that?** 

"I'm really excited. One, to see Orelik again, but also to go over there and get a win. We have been a pretty good team on the road occasionally so yes, we are excited to go in there and try to get one. They really turned it around. We learned that we need to slow down Zavier Simpson the best that we can and just play team basketball. They are a good team that scores a lot. We just need to get out there and get a win."

**What would make it a good season for Bourg and for you, personally?** 

"I just want us to get pretty much the same as last year, except for a different result. I want us to win the EuroCup championship or at least make the finals and just keep chipping away, and hopefully, everyone benefits from that. Personally, I want to keep improving my game throughout the year. I think I'm a player that continues to progress throughout the year. I'd rather be that way than a guy that starts hot and fizzles out. I think you will see more from me and I will continue to get better."

The latest from JL Bourg

Javier Gancedo chatted with Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse forward Jordan Usher for this week's EuroCup interview

Javier Gancedo reveals which players, both newly on his radar and longtime aces, he thinks you should consider for the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge.

Fantasy tips, Round 11: newcomers and longtime keepers

Here comes Round 11 in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge and the competition is getting closer and closer to its most exciting stages. The same could be said about the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge, as the game is offering a lot of opportunities for managers. There are a lot of players with great potential in the upcoming weeks. Here are five of my top recommendations ahead of this round. 

[Mfiondu Kabengele, Umana Reyer Venice (15.2 credits) ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/)

Not only Kabengele is the leading rebounder in the 2024-25 EuroCup, but he is also contributing in many aspects of the game. Kabengele has averaged 16.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists for a PIR of 25.0 over his last three games - and has three straight double-doubles and six on the season. If you need a consistent star, you won't get any better than him. 

[Devin Robinson, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (14.6 credits) ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devin-robinson/012042/)

Robinson has been a human highlight reel, igniting Cedevita fans with his huge dunks and blocked shots. He has been playing great lately, too, as Robinson has averaged 17.7 points on 20-of-29 two-point shooting and 2.7 steals for a PIR of 22.7. He had season-highs of 25 points and a PIR of 28 against Cluj last week. Buy him now! 

Mfiondu Kabengele, Devin Robinson, Jaizec Lottie, Sharife Cooper and Hugo Benitez are featured in this week's article.

EuroCup Fantasy tips: Round 11

[Jaizec Lottie, Veolia Towers Hamburg (9.1 credits) ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaizec-lottie/013309/)

A hidden gem in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge, Lottie has been delivering all season (12.1 ppg.) and is playing some of his best basketball right now. In Round 10 against Bourg, Lottie had 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals for a PIR of 20. At less than 10.0 credits, Lottie could be your X-factor in Round 11. 

[Hugo Benitez, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (8.4 credits) ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/hugo-benitez/010449/)

I have always liked Benitez because of his insane assist-to-turnover ratio (3.07). He's also been scoring a lot lately, which makes him even more interesting. Benitez had 11 points against Valencia and 17 against Hamburg. In his last two games, his PIR average has been 19.0 and it looks like Benitez is just getting started. 

[Sharife Cooper, Aris Midea Thessaloniki (12.1 credits) ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sharife-cooper/013500/)

Vassilis Toliopoulos is injured, which is terrible news for Aris. Cooper has stepped up in his absence, averaging 17.0 points on 75.0% two-point shooting and 4.0 assists for a PIR of 15.0. He will be Aris's main point guard for the foreseeable future, so expect him to improve on those numbers in the short run. 