Buducnost is back to the BKT EuroCup for its 18th campaign in the competition.

Games to watch: Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

This is the fifth consecutive season for [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/roster/bud/?season=2024-25) in the EuroCup, and its 14th over the last 15 years. 

A four-time quarterfinalist has not won a postseason game in three years, and has not gotten past the regular season last season. The team lead by coach Andrej Zakelj intends to change that, but it has a tough task in a group with several main contenders, but also some familiar faces.

Here's a look at three Buducnost games you don't want to miss.

### Round 2: Home opener against a contender

It is always important to start a campaign on the right foot, especially on home floor. For some team that's almost an imperative, but things get even more difficult when you are welcoming [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2024-25) for your home opener.

The two teams have plenty of history and have played each other 10 times in the EuroCup over the years, including in each of the last three seasons. Of those 10 games, Buducnost has won only once, but it was in their last meeting back in February, a regular-season finale in which Coach Andrej Zakelj's team led by as many as 23 points behind a career game of Kenan Kamenjas. Buducnost fans would love to see a re-run of sorts to open the new campaign on home floor.

The towering Nikola Tanaskovic inspired a crucial success over Trento with 19 points and 8 rebounds, but to reach the playoffs Buducnost must beat faltering reigning-champ Gran Canaria, who have lost two of the last three, but holds fond memories of its last game against the hosts: a 97-70 blowout.

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-Dreamland Gran Canaria | Round 18 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

### Round 5: Welcoming Dejan Radonjic

It will be a familiar faces visiting Moraca in Round 5 when [Bahcesehir](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/roster/bah/?season=2024-25) comes to town led by head coach Dejan Radonjic. The Turkish side has put together a strong roster and does not hide an ambition to make noise in its return to the EuroCup, and one of the best ways to make noise is to win on the road in games like this one.

For Buducnost, it will already be its third home game, and second against an ambitious opponent. In addition, it will be against a coach who knows the team really well. Radonjic might have not coached Buducnost for more than a decade, but make sure he knows how the team plays and all its strengths and weaknesses. This should be a delight to watch.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pl" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKB</a> u grupi A <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> 🔵⚪️<a href="https://t.co/VMtvbEPg6v">https://t.co/VMtvbEPg6v</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HukMora%C4%8De?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HukMorače</a> <a href="https://t.co/xov4enmMhW">pic.twitter.com/xov4enmMhW</a></p>&mdash; KK Budućnost VOLI (@KKBuducnostVOLI) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKBuducnostVOLI/status/1809187108948435064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Round 15: A tough home test down the final stretch

[Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/roster/hta/?season=2024-25) enters the season as the on-paper favorite, having put together a star-studded roster that will be attacking the EuroCup crown. It is very likely also that Buducnost will be once again fighting for one of six playoff places, so welcoming a title favorite in its penultimate home regular-season game must already be circled on the calendars in Podgorica.

Buducnost plays at home only twice in the last six rounds, and this game is first of the two. Teams want to win down the final stretch of the regular season, and this game against Hapoel will be the one that tells us how ready is Buducnost, and what it will be capable of.

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica added size and muscle into the paint by signing center Udoka Azubuike, the club announced Monday. Azubuike (2.12 meters, 24 years old) has last played with the Phoenix Suns in the NBA where he has appeared in 16 games last season, and in limited action averaged 2.2 points and 2.0 rebounds.

Before his season with the Suns, the first three years of his professional career he spent between the NBA side Utah Jazz and their G-League affiliate Salt Lake City Stars. In total, over the past four seasons, Azubuike has played 85 games in the NBA, and eight in the G-League.

Prior to turning pro, Azubuike was a star at University of Kansas, where his senior season he averaged 13.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks, and was voted into the All-American Second Team. He is now set for his first season on the European continent, and make his BKT EuroCup debut.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pt" dir="ltr">Rim protector 🚫<a href="https://t.co/MmAqwO2EQb">https://t.co/MmAqwO2EQb</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hukmora%C4%8De?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hukmorače</a> <a href="https://t.co/L0KfxzNnNY">pic.twitter.com/L0KfxzNnNY</a></p>&mdash; KK Budućnost VOLI (@KKBuducnostVOLI) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKBuducnostVOLI/status/1825574839362441317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

The big man joins the team from the Montenegrin capital.

Buducnost gets rim protector in Udoka Azubuike

The Hamburg Towers have confirmed that Niklas Wimberg has broken his leg and will be out for 'several months'.

Niklas Wimberg breaks leg, will be out for 'several months'

Veolia Towers Hamburg have confirmed that new signing [Niklas Wimberg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/niklas-wimberg/005478/) is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after breaking his leg.

Wimberg signed for Hamburg this summer after spending the last two years at FC Bayern Munich, where he played 33 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Wimberg fällt mit Beinbruch aus 😩🥺<br>🔗<a href="https://t.co/9eEsV1R1hr">https://t.co/9eEsV1R1hr</a><br><br>Die neue Spielzeit hat noch gar nicht so richtig angefangen, trotzdem hat das Verletzungspech uns bereits fest im Griff. Gute Besserung, Niklas, wir wünschen eine schnelle Genesung! 🍀🙏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeoliaTowersHamburg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeoliaTowersHamburg</a> <a href="https://t.co/Mqj5aYOAzP">pic.twitter.com/Mqj5aYOAzP</a></p>&mdash; Veolia Towers Hamburg (@hamburgtowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers/status/1825524042335387688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"First of all, we wish Niklas a quick and full recovery,” said Hamburg sporting director Marvin Willoughby. “It is extremely frustrating for us that two long-term injuries \[Wimberg and Jared Grey\] have overshadowed an otherwise very positive start to the preseason.”

Hamburg’s team doctor, Dr. Helge Beckmann, revealed that Wimberg will be out for ‘several months’. The injury came during a preseason victory against Basketball Lowen Braunschweig on Monday, August 19.

More Hamburg News

U-BT Cluj-Napoca has confirmed the signing of experienced center Deshawn Stephens.

Cluj brings in Deshawn Stephens

U-BT Cluj-Napoca has confirmed the signing of [Deshawn Stephens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/de-shawn-stephens/006618/), who returns to the BKT EuroCup after nine years away.

Stephens (2.03 meters, 34 years old) last featured in the EuroCup in the 2015-16 campaign, averaging 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in a backup role for Banvit, where he made five appearances.

Last season, the American center posted 6.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game across 14 Basketball Champions League fixtures for Promitheas Patras.

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In a career that has spanned 11 years to this point, Cluj will be Stephens's 17th club. 

He has suited up for the Hamamatsu Phoenix (2013-14) and Akita Northern Happinets (2014-15, 2016-17) in Japan, Banvit (2015-16) and Bandirma Kirmizi (2015-16) in Turkiye, Chalons-Reims (2015-16) in France, the South Bay Lakers (2016-17) in the United States, Cagliari (2017-18), Fortitudo Bologna (2019-20), Scafati (2019-20) and Sassari (2022-23) in Italy, Trotamundos de Carabobo (2018) in Venezuela, Maccabi Rishon LeZion (2018-19) and Hapoel Tel Aviv (2018-19) in Israel, the Bakken Bears (2020-21) in Denmark, Igokea (2021-22) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Promitheas (2023-24) in Greece.

More Cluj News

New U-BT Cluj-Napoca signing Deshawn Stephens in action for Dinamo Sassari in the 2022-23 Italian League season.

He will play in the EuroCup for the second time next season

Trefl Sopot put an experienced point guard in its backcourt for club's return to the BKT EuroCup by signing Tarik Phillip, the club announced. 

Trefl Sopot inks veteran playmaker Tarik Phillip

Trefl Sopot put an experienced point guard in its backcourt for club's return to the BKT EuroCup by signing [Tarik Phillip](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tarik-phillip/009649/), the club announced. Phillip (1.90 meters, 31 years old) has spent the past two years with the London Lions, which he helped reach EuroCup semifinals last season.

During that London's run, Phillip started in 17 of his 20 appearances, averaging 9.0 points, 4.2 assists 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals. That was his third season in the EuroCup, after making his competition debut with Tofas Bursa in 2019-20, and played with Umana Reyer Venice in the first part of the 2021-22 season.

Phillip was also forced to miss the entire 2022-23 EuroCup campaign after suffering a knee injury in the preseason.

Phillip played college basketball in the United States with Independence Community College and West Virginia University, with his professional career beginning with Szolnoki Olajbanyasz of Hungary in the 2017-18. In addition to London, Tofas and Reyer, he has also played for CB Clavijo and San Pablo Burgos of Spain, Memphis of the G League and Hapoel Jerusalem of Israel. Phillip has also been a member of the Great Britain national team.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pl" dir="ltr">Tarik Phillip nowym zawodnikiem Trefla Sopot! ✅ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/plkpl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#plkpl</a> <br><br>W ostatnim sezonie Tarik był najlepszym podającym i przechwytującym London Lions, z którymi zdobył tytuł mistrzów Wielkiej Brytanii i puchar kraju oraz dotarł aż do półfinału EuroCup 🏀👏 <a href="https://t.co/avghl3ywDc">pic.twitter.com/avghl3ywDc</a></p>&mdash; MISTRZ POLSKI 2024 🏆 (@treflsopot) <a href="https://twitter.com/treflsopot/status/1824727977172595132?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

This will be Phillip's fourth different EuroCup club.

Entering its second consecutive season in the competition, Aris Midea Thessaloniki will be looking to improve on the last season's result when the team reached the postseason, but bowed out in the eighthfinals on the road against Prometey Slobozhanske.

Games to watch: Aris Midea Thessaloniki

[Aris](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-thessaloniki/roster/ari/?season=2024-25) has a revamped roster, but has two main pieces still in place – head coach Ioannis Kastritis and team top scorer Vassilis Toliopoulos. That alone make Aris a team with high aspirations, but to reach its goals, Aris will have a tough task in Group B.

Here is our choice of what feel like team's games you don't want to miss:

### Round 2: Toliopoulos faces his favorite opponent

Last season Aris guard Toliopoulos had his best scoring game when [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/?season=2024-25) visited Thessaloniki, netting 22 points in a 68-66 victory. He also scored 20 points and dished a season-high 9 assists in Ankara, in a 10-point win. And guess who arrives to Thessaloniki for Aris's home opener. It will be telling to see in first game in front of its home fans how confident is Toliopoulos, one of EuroCup's top scorers last season. If he will performer, Aris can do a lot of damage.

Vassilis Toliopoulos of Aris Midea Thessaloniki averaged 14.4 points per game in the regular season.

Vassilis Toliopoulos regular-season highlights

### Round 7: Valencia comes to town

It is always a special EuroCup night when a four-time competition champion comes to town, and that will be the case for Aris in Round 7. Welcoming [Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/roster/pam/?season=2024-25), a perennial EuroCup contender which is back to the competition in three years, will be the biggest test of the season for Aris. By early November, when this game will be taking place, both team will be rolling and it will give Aris all the answers where it is when it comes to faring with the best of them. With the fans behind them, it will be a fun Wednesday evening in Thessaloniki.

### Round 15: Big late-season test

Aris will have a luxury to play three of its last four regular season game on home floor, and the first of those fixtures will be against last season's runner-up [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/jl-bourg-en-bresse/roster/bou/?season=2024-25). Last season Bourg won both of their head-to-head games, including blowing past Aris in Thessaloniki 68-76. Apart from this looking like a potential high-stake game, make sure that Aris players, the likes of Toliopoulos, Lefteris Bochoridis, who missed that game, or coach Ioannis Kastritis, will have that in mind when they welcome Bourg again.

Aris’s league-best defense wasn’t enough when the teams last met, as Bourg squeezed out a 72-65 victory, in which the versatile Zaccharie Risacher scored 16. The hosts long for more heroics from Roberto Gallinat, who's fresh from producing a buzzer-bearing game-winner against Buducnost.

Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse | Round 16 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

Turk Telekom Ankara added to its roster a talented young guard Melih Tunca, who arrives on loan from a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague side Anadolu Efes Istanbul, both clubs announced Wednesday.

Turk Telekom gets Melih Tunca on loan from Efes

Turk Telekom Ankara added to its roster a talented guard [Melih Tunca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/melih-tunca/012415/), who arrives on loan from a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague side Anadolu Efes Istanbul, both clubs announced Wednesday. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Melih Emre Tunca <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AnkaraBasketbolu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AnkaraBasketbolu</a> arenasında!🔥<br><br>Geçtiğimiz sezon Anadolu Efes forması giyen Melih Emre Tunca, yeni sezonda kiralık olarak takımımıza güç katacak. Ailemize hoş geldin Melih Emre Tunca 👏✍ <a href="https://t.co/bfjXqbNI5R">pic.twitter.com/bfjXqbNI5R</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1823710362493182159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Tunca (1.95 meters, 18 years old) made three EuroLeague appearances last season, making his debut in Round 2 in a home game against Real Madrid. That opportunity was given to him by head coach Erdem Can, who is now on Turk Telekom's bench.

He played in 25 Turkish League games last season, posting 3.2 points, and he was the top scorer of the U19 Turkish championship, where he posted 27.9 points on average.

Tunca has been a regular member of all Turkish national teams in youth categories, and has won a bronze medal at the U19 World Cup in 2023. He is now set to make his BKT EuroCup debut.

The young guard moves to the Turkish capital

Umana Reyer Venice is entering its seventh season in the BKT EuroCup, which makes it somewhat of a veteran club in the competition nowadays.

Games to Watch: Umana Reyer Venice

[Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/roster/vnc/?season=2024-25) is entering its seventh season in the BKT EuroCup, which makes it somewhat of a veteran club in the competition nowadays.

Its first experience came in the 2015-16 campaign and Reyer has been in each of the last six EuroCup editions – it is one of just six teams to have done so. The Italian club has advanced from the regular season on three occasions, but Reyer missed the EuroCup Playoffs last season.

Here are some key dates for Reyer in its quest to return to the postseason.

### Round 2: A well-known trip

Reyer visits [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/roster/lju/?season=2024-25) on October 1. It will be the seventh showdown between Reyer and Cedevita, and the first time that the Italian side has played against the same opponent that many times in European competition. Last season, Reyer beat Cedevita twice, rallying from a double-digit deficit in the final six minutes to grab a 95-87 home victory, before notching a 93-104 road win. Cedevita is coming off a very underwhelming season and this is its first home game of the season, so Reyer will be eager to spoil the party in the Slovenian capital.

Two of the league's lowest-scoring teams search for a boost at the expense of the other as Reyer take on Cedevita. Amadou Sow has grabbed multiple offensive boards in every game this season and he battles with the powerful Amadeo Tessitori, who has averaged 13.8 points for the Italian side thus far.

Umana Reyer Venice-Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana | Round 6 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

### Round 13: The return of the king

In what should be a highly anticipated game, four-time EuroCup champion [Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/roster/pam/?season=2024-25) visits Venice for the first time in over three years. It will be Valencia's third time heading to La Serenissima. In 2015, Valencia edged Reyer 58-62 at Palasport Taliercio in regular-season action. Both teams met again in Venice in 2021 and Valencia prevailed again, 67-81. Valencia is undefeated against Reyer, so the hosts should see that Round 13 game on January 2, 2025, as an opportunity to cause a shock. It would not only be a chance to finally beat Valencia, but it would see Reyer start 2025 with a notable win ahead of the final stretch of the regular season.

Watch the Game Highlights from Umana Reyer Venice vs. VALENCIA BASKET, 12/07/2021

Umana Reyer Venice vs. Valencia Basket highlights - 2021-22

### Round 17: Some pending issues

Reyer and [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/?season=2024-25) are expected to be playoff contenders this season, and their Round 17 game on January 29 in the Turkish capital could prove pivotal. It is also an opportunity for a couple of Reyer players to prove their value against one of their former teams. Tyler Ennis played for Turk Telekom for two seasons, leaving the team twice and seeing limited playing time (4.2 ppg., 1.0 apg.) in the 2021-22 EuroCup. Kyle Wiltjer also featured for Turk Telekom for two years, playing a leading role. Both Ennis and Wiltjer know what to expect in what could be a very important game.

The Italian side hopes to bounce back after missing the 2024 playoffs

Valencia Basket point guard Chris Jones has undergone surgery on a finger injury that will keep him out for the start of the 2024-25 EuroCup season.

Chris Jones undergoes surgery on finger injury

Valencia Basket will be without star point guard [Chris Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chris-jones/010568/) at the beginning of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season after the American underwent surgery on a fractured finger on his right hand.

As Valencia confirmed in a statement on Tuesday, 'Jones will miss the entire preseason and the early part of the 2024-25 season. His evolution will mark the moment when he will be able to join practices with the rest of his teammates.'

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🏥7⃣ ¡Mucho ánimo, Chris!<br><br>Cas 👉 Chris Jones, intervenido con éxito en su mano derecha<a href="https://t.co/EqYCvyAXkn">https://t.co/EqYCvyAXkn</a><br><br>Val 👉 Chris Jones, intervingut amb èxit a la seua mà dreta<a href="https://t.co/G06VcGCzqL">https://t.co/G06VcGCzqL</a><br><br>Eng 👉 <a href="https://t.co/R3WEzk2Fe2">https://t.co/R3WEzk2Fe2</a> <a href="https://t.co/5YGi47mrur">pic.twitter.com/5YGi47mrur</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1823413105923174583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jones is heading into his third season as a Valencia player, having signed for the club in the summer of 2022. He averaged 13.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 28 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games in 2022-23, before posting 12.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 33 EuroLeague appearances last season.

The 31-year-old will play in the EuroCup for the first time in his career in 2024-25. He has spent the last four years in the EuroLeague, suiting up for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in 2020-21 and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in 2021-22 prior to joining Valencia.

Once he returns to action, it is expected that Jones will have a leading role in [new head coach Pedro Martinez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/valencia-brings-back-pedro-martinez-as-head-coach/)'s system as Valencia looks to win the EuroCup and return to the EuroLeague, where the Spanish side has played for the last two years.

More Valencia News

Chris Jones in action for Valencia Basket in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

He will not be available during preseason and the early part of the 2024-25 campaign