Aris BC has parted ways with head coach Ioannis Kastritis, the club confirmed on Monday.

Aris parts ways with coach Ioannis Kastritis

[Aris Midea Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-midea-thessaloniki/ari/) has parted ways with head coach Ioannis Kastritis, the club confirmed on Monday.

Sixteen games into the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season, Aris sits bottom of Group B with a 3-13 record – the second-worst mark of any team in the competition.

Last season, Kastritis’s Aris returned to the EuroCup after a seven-season absence and posted a 9-9 in the regular season, good for fifth in Group B and a place in the playoffs. However, Aris lost in the eighthfinals to Prometey Slobozhanske.

Overall, Kastritis went 12-23 in 35 EuroCup with Aris.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="el" dir="ltr">‼️ Λύση συνεργασίας με τον Γιάννη Καστρίτη<br><br>👉 <a href="https://t.co/JuZlsDpt97">https://t.co/JuZlsDpt97</a> <a href="https://t.co/GTWjZnnVeD">pic.twitter.com/GTWjZnnVeD</a></p>&mdash; ARIS B.C. (@ARISBCgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ARISBCgr/status/1883858828007284948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“The 43-year-old coach has given his services to ARIS Midea for three and a half consecutive seasons and his contribution has been truly great,” Aris said in a statement confirmed Kastritis’s departure.

“In the first two years, with the smallest budgets in the Greek League, the team made very good progress, while last year they returned to the top four of the league and in their return to the BKT EuroCup, not only stood decently against major European powers, but also qualified for the playoffs.

“In a meeting held today (27/01) at the club’s offices, it was decided to terminate the cooperation with the Tripolitsian coach. We thank Ioannis Kastritis from the bottom of our hearts for everything he has offered, and he will always be a part of the history of ARIS Midea. We wish him all the best in the rest of his career.”

More Aris News

The Greek side has struggled in this year’s EuroCup campaign

With just two rounds remaining in the regular season, playoff places and seeded status could be decided in Round 17 of the BKT EuroCup. Here's your guide to Tuesday and Wednesday's action.

Round 17 at a glance: Will the playoff floodgates open this week?

With just two rounds remaining in the regular season, playoff places and seeded status could be decided in Round 17 of the BKT EuroCup. Here's your guide to Tuesday and Wednesday's action.

## Tuesday, January 28, 2025

### Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. ratiopharm Ulm (17:00 CET)

Group A winner Bahcesehir (13-3) will look to gear up for the playoffs against an Ulm team (9-7) fighting to stay in the all-important top six. The German team has dipped in form at the worst time, losing three straight games, including last week’s potentially costly home defeat to Buducnost. Bahcesehir is coming off an 84-77 loss against Hapoel, but could be forgiven for taking its foot off the gas with first place already secured. The all-action [Sehmus Hazer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sehmus-hazer/011201/) was key when the teams last met, combining 20 points with 5 assists and 4 steals to propel a 72-80 Bahcesehir road win. Ulm, which would clinch a playoff berth with a win, desperately needs to improve its defense this week, having allowed at least 83 points in six consecutive games.

### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Valencia Basket (18:30 CET)

Second-placed Cedevita (10-6) will look for a vital home win to retain that position with a visit from group winner Valencia (14-2). Facing the competition’s most prolific offense, the Slovenian team needs to tighten up after allowing 20 assists in last week’s loss at Bourg. Cedevita guard [DJ Stewart](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dj-stewart/012700/) is one of the best ball thieves in the EuroCup, snaring 3 steals last week, and that pressure will be crucial to disrupt the rhythm of Valencia orchestrators [Stefan Jovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/stefan-jovic/004863/) and [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jean-montero/010042/), who combined for 16 assists in last week’s thumping of Aris. The Spanish team’s offensive potential was on full display when the teams met in Round 8, winning 109-80 with seven different double-digit scorers, so Cedevita knows how tough its task is.

Round 17 Head-to-Head: Jones vs. Jones

### Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (20:00 CET)

Wolves (8-8) will try to force their way into the top six with a trip to face already-eliminated Trento (6-10). The Lithuanian team gave its playoff hopes a massive boost with last week’s dominant victory over Gran Canaria, when big man [Marek Blazevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marek-blazevic/008186/) was unstoppable as he netted 27 points alongside 6 rebounds. Trento also won big last time out, putting 100 points on the board against Joventut, and Blazevic faces a good battle against rising star [Saliou Niang](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/saliou-niang/012687/), who's averaged a PIR of 16.3 over the last three games and looks better every week. Wolves won 88-83 when the teams met in Round 8 and another win would only boost its chances of playoff progression.

Round 17 Head-to-Head: Mawugbe vs Blazevic

## Wednesday, January 29, 2025

### Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Umana Reyer Venice (17:30 CET)

Two of the five teams tied for third place in an incredibly competitive Group B go head to head, with Turk Telekom (9-7) welcoming Reyer (9-7). The hosts need a 9-point victory to also claim the potentially decisive head-to-head advantage, with Reyer winning 75-67 in Round 8’s first-ever meeting between the teams behind 10 points and 15 rebounds from dynamic big man [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/). So Turk Telekom will need another strong game from its own in-form center [Yoan Makoundou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yoan-makoundou/011935/), who's averaged 15.0 points over the last three games. The presence of Kabengele helps make Reyer the third-best rebounding team in the competition (37.2 boards per game), so Turk Telekom will have to fight hard to gain extra scoring opportunities for an offense that has misfired in the last three games, averaging just 78.7 points.

Round 17 Head-to-Head: Alexander vs. Kabengele

### Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Trefl Sopot (18:00 CET)

Hapoel (10-6) will look to stay in Group A's second place by taking a home win against the competition's worst team, Trefl (1-13). The Israeli team has won four of its last five, last week downing group winner Bahcesehir thanks to 19 points and an impressive 7 assists from big man [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/). Another win would guarantee Hapoel at a minimum home-court advantage in the eighthfinals and a win coupled with a Gran Canaria loss would wrap up second place for Coach Itoudis's side. Considering the stakes and the talent gap between the teams, a Trefl win would be a massive surprise, but playmaker [Jakub Schenk](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jakub-schenk/013298/) showed he is capable of exploiting any defensive weaknesses by combining 15 points with 9 assists in last week’s loss at Besiktas. Hapoel powered to a 64-93 road win when the teams met in Round 8 behind 21 points from [Marcus Foster](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marcus-foster/010386/), and will expect similar dominance this week.

### 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (18:00 CET)

Eliminated Lietkabelis (4-12) will look to upset the playoff dreams of a Cluj team (9-7) still fighting to claim second place in Group B. The Romanian champion gained its third win in four with a solid victory over Turk Telekom last week as [DJ Seeley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dennis-seeley/004862/) continued his outstanding form by sinking 8-of-9 three-pointers in his 31 points. Cluj also boasts the competition’s top-ranked distributor [Zavier Simpson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zavier-simpson/013302/) (7.2 assists per night), so there’s clearly a big defensive challenge for a Lietkabelis team that has lost four in a row, most recently against lowly Hamburg. New signing [Djordje Gagic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/djordje-gagic/profile/004229/) did excel in that game with 27 points and the center will need to be at his best again.

### Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (19:00 CET)

A battle to avoid finishing with Group B's wooden spoon will take place between Aris (3-13) and Hamburg (4-12). The teams head into the game in contrasting spirits, with Aris showing arguably the worst form in competition history after losing by 41 points in two consecutive games. Avoiding another defeat will not be straightforward against a Hamburg team that last week climbed off the foot of the standings by overcoming Lietkabelis 84-77 on the back of 22 points from [Johnathan Stove](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-stove/013503/), who has scored in double digits in all seven games for the team. Hamburg also won easily when the teams last met, 93-69, so it can mathematically avoid last place by prevailing in Greece on Wednesday.

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Joventut Badalona (19:00 CET)

Buducnost (8-8) will be determined to stay in the top six - and keep its top-four hopes alive - by defeating already-eliminated Joventut (6-10). The Montenegrin team is on a hot streak after winning four of its last five games, and will look to exploit a Joventut defense that allowed 100 points in last week’s loss against Trento. Buducnost will be confident after taking the Round 8 meeting between the teams 78-72, courtesy of 28 points from [Devon Dotson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devon-durrell-dotson/013285/). Buducnost will hope [Rasheed Sulaimon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/rasheed-sulaimon/011150/) stays hot after netting multiple triples in four of the last five games.

### Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (19:30 CET)

It's third against fourth with everything to play for between two teams that could finish anywhere between second and seventh, with Bourg (9-7) hosting Hapoel Jerusalem (9-7). The hosts will be confident after gaining a strong win over Cedevita last week, when big man [Maksim Salash](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/maksim-salash/004525/) delivered his best performance of the season with 22 points and 7 rebounds. He faces a good battle with [Gabriel Chachasvili](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/gabriel-chachashvili/013279/), whose double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds helped secure an 86-77 victory for Jerusalem when the teams met in Round 8. The visitor’s quest for a key road win will also be led by guard [Khadeen Carrington](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/khadeen-carrington/008912/), who has scored at least 15 points in the last five games.

Round 17 Head-to-Head: Castaneda vs. Harper

### Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (21:00 CET)

Gran Canaria (10-6) will look to keep its top-two hopes alive by taking on another team still fighting for an eighthfinals bye, Besiktas (9-7). The Turkish team, which has lost four straight on the road, needs to win by 3 points or more to claim the potential head-to-head tiebreak advantage after Gran Canaria triumphed 74-76 in Istanbul in November. [Caleb Homesley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/caleb-homesley/011251/) was key to that victory with 17 points and he will want to stay hot after netting 20 in last week’s loss to Wolves. Besiktas has won two games in a row and has [Jonah Mathews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jonah-mathews/011936/) in top form with 27 and 21 points in those triumphs. A Besiktas victory will see it formally clinch a ticket to the playoffs. 

Round 17 Head-to-Head: Homesley vs. Allman

The penultimate round of the regular season is going to be full of drama

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (2025-01-29T20:00:00.000Z)

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (2025-01-29T18:30:00.000Z)

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2025-01-29T18:00:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Joventut Badalona (2025-01-29T18:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Trefl Sopot (2025-01-29T17:00:00.000Z)

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2025-01-29T17:00:00.000Z)

Turk Telekom Ankara v Umana Reyer Venice (2025-01-29T16:30:00.000Z)

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (2025-01-28T19:00:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Valencia Basket (2025-01-28T17:30:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v ratiopharm Ulm (2025-01-28T16:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Tel Aviv BC leads all teams as the most dangerous offensive team in the BKT EuroCup following the mid-season addition of Yam Madar

Stats review: Yam Madar has taken Hapoel's offensive efficiency to the next level

With only two rounds remaining in the BKT EuroCup Regular Season, the pressure is mounting as only four teams have secured their bid for the postseason. While the top seeds in both groups are decided, there is not a lot of certainty beyond that point — especially in Group B where the second postseason bye and every seed still remain up for grabs.

In Round 16, [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/roster/hta/?season=2024-25) secured what could be [a pivotal win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-knocks-off-bahcesehir-84-77/) in Group A when it defeated first-place [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/roster/bah/?season=2024-25) to move into a tie for second place, where it holds a tiebreaker over [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2024-25).  After starting the year 4-3, the club has put itself in poll position for an automatic berth in the quarterfinals.

Hapoel’s turnaround can be traced to its rise as one of the EuroCup’s most efficient offensive teams.  As the table above suggests, it joins this season’s group leaders a tier above the rest of the field on that end of the floor. While it has a legitimate chance to finish the regular season atop this list, the 1.11 points per possession Hapoel has scored over its last nine games leads all teams as it has been the most dangerous offensive team in the EuroCup following the mid-season addition of [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yam-madar/011052/).

That efficiency was the difference in the win over Bahcesehir as it shot 56.8% inside the arc and 47.4% from deep to overcome a deficit in the possession battle. With the team's ball handlers scoring more than 10 points per 100 possessions more than the next most effective team in pick-and-rolls, Hapoel's guards have helped their season take a sharp turn that will be fascinating to follow in the coming weeks.

Yam Madar highlights, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, Rounds 10-16, 2024-25 EuroCup

Yam Madar is making things happen for Hapoel

Despite Hapoel’s recent run, there has been no denying [Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/roster/pam/?season=2024-25)’s complete dominance on the offensive end for long stretches this season.  Exceeding 100 points in 10 games so far, it has the most impressive combination of pace and efficiency of any team this decade. Attempting 84 more three-pointers than any other team while leading the EuroCup in three-point accuracy, Valencia remains an incredibly daunting matchup despite a pair of losses following an 11-0 start.

Bahcesehir has been nearly as efficient while taking the opposite approach. Playing at the EuroCup’s slowest pace, the Turkish club has seldom looked to operate quickly outside of obvious fastbreak situations.  Generating over half of its possessions in the half court out of pick-and-rolls while leading all teams in pick-and-roll efficiency, Bahcesehir has played to its strengths steadily all year.

[U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/roster/clu/?season=2024-25) and [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/roster/bud/?season=2024-25), like Hapoel, have both turned their seasons around after lackluster starts, but both teams find themselves in precarious spots heading into the regular season’s final games. Currently holding the last playoff seed in Group A, Buducnost has been one of the tougher teams to guard thanks to its ability to beat defenses in the midrange.  The matchup with [Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/wolves-vilnius/roster/wol/?season=2024-25) in Round 18 could be a win-or-go-home situation depending on how things shake out this week.

Cluj is one of five teams with a 9-7 record in Group B.  It does not lean heavily on one-on-one play, but its efficiency when attacking matchups has been a factor in its success on the offensive end. As the only one of the five teams fighting for four postseason spots who will not face one of the other four in the final two weeks, it will be interesting to see how the Romanian champion positions itself down the stretch.

Since the mid-season arrival of Madar, Hapoel has been the most dangerous offensive team in the EuroCup

Dreamland Gran Canaria announced on Sunday that it has acquired playmaker Ziga Samar from ALBA Berlin for the remainder of the season

Gran Canaria loans Ziga Samar from ALBA Berlin

Dreamland Gran Canaria announced on Sunday that it has acquired playmaker [Ziga Samar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ziga-samar/profile/007550/) for the remainder of the season. Samar (1.97 meters, 24 years old) arrives on loan from ALBA Berlin for which he averaged 4.1 points and 2.9 assists over 14 appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this season. He is 10th in the EuroLeague this season in per-minute assists with a prorated average of 8.4 over 40 minutes. Gran Canaria made the move following the news that [Carlos Alocen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/gran-canaria-alocen-out-for-the-season/) was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

Samar returns to Spain, where he has spent most of his professional career. The tall point guard began his career with the Olimpija Ljubljana youth system in his native Slovenia and was just 16 years when he signed with Real Madrid. Samar also played professionally for Baloncesto Zambrano and Fuenlabrada, He joined ALBA in 2022 on a long-term deal and was loaned to Veolia Towers Hamburg in that first season, during which he also played in the EuroCup. Samar is also a member of the Slovenian national team.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🖊 Žiga Samar refuerza al Dreamland Gran Canaria hasta final de temporada.<br><br>▪ El base esloveno, formado en el Real Madrid, llega en calidad de cedido por el Alba Berlín hasta el término del presente curso.<br><br>➡  <a href="https://t.co/K2TKJrCmEA">https://t.co/K2TKJrCmEA</a> <a href="https://t.co/bBsIhYkj3T">pic.twitter.com/bBsIhYkj3T</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1883583491797102968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The playmaker will reinforce the Granca backcourt for the remainder of the season

Every basketball player works on his shot. They spend hours upon hours on their dribbling. And of course their physical well-being cannot be avoided in a game as demanding as basketball. But Dolomiti Energia Trento forward Anthony Lamb believes players must not forget about their mental health.

Anthony Lamb: 'Take care of your mental health'

Every basketball player works on his shot. They spend hours upon hours on their dribbling. And of course their physical well-being cannot be avoided in a game as demanding as basketball. But [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/trn/) forward [Anthony Lamb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/anthony-lamb/013272/) believes players must not forget about their mental health.

Lamb’s mental strength has made him a major contributor for Trento in his first season in the BKT EuroCup and Europe.

“Mental health is a process, and it's something that you have to focus on probably every day or as much as you can during the week. It's not that you have to focus on it every moment of the day, but you have to understand that there are ups and downs,” said Lamb, who is averaging 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists through 16 games for Trento.

"Just like your physical health, if you don't take care of your mental health, it will decline. So make sure you have somebody to talk to, make sure you have people around you that can support you and that you’re learning how to manage your own cycles and your own emotions, thoughts and the way you interact with the world. Those things go a long way with making sure that you not only can be happy and healthy, but you're getting stronger mentally.”

The top plays of Dolomiti Energia Trento forward Anthony Lamb through the first 16 rounds of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season.

Anthony Lamb's best plays this season

Lamb is convinced that the more you work on your mental health, the better you will cope with problems.

“Just like you can get strong in the weight room, getting strong mentally helps you handle adversity, helps you to handle stress. It helps you to build different disciplines that go into maintaining your mental health, but also making life a lot better and a lot more enjoyable,” he said.

Lamb insists people need to actively get their mental rips in – just like putting up shots during practice.

“Ask questions to people that can help you and find somebody that can help you grow stronger mentally, just like you would find a weight room coach to help you grow stronger in the weight room,” he noted.

Lamb says basketball is a good way for him to de-stress because it’s fun for him. It’s the daily grind off the court –  regular life, bills, making sure family is okay –  that causes him to stress, just like everyone else.

“I've had ups and downs mentally. And my times where I haven't focused on it or haven't put the time in to take care of my own mental health, those are usually the times where I'm the most stressed out or have the most anxiety. When I'm doing my work beforehand and preparing myself for the challenges that I face, that's usually when I'm at my best,” he stated.

“Things like that can weigh down on you if you don't take care of yourself first. So when you're aiming to take care of yourself first and making sure everything else comes second, it lets you prepare for each of those things as they come and not get overwhelmed by them if they all start to stack up on you.”

Mental health problems have become more normalized over the past few years. But Lamb said there are still many, many people who don’t talk about it. And therefore he urges people to ask their friends and loved ones about how they are doing.

“Check in on them to make sure that they are doing all right and are doing okay. And if something seems out of order or they seem like they're acting different in any way and you can notice that change, be willing and have enough courage to go up to them and ask them questions about what's going on with their own life, especially if you care about them,” Lamb said.

“The people around you are the only ones that can really know outside of yourself if you're doing okay or if you're looking like you're acting how you normally do or if something seems like it could be bothering you or stressing you out. And the people who are the strongest have the best ability to hide those times when they're feeling really down. So being willing to ask those questions and put yourself out there for the people around you to make sure that they're doing okay.”

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Lamb has learned the importance of strong mental health over the past few years. He found himself in a dark spot in December 2018 during his third season in college at the University of Vermont. Things were so bad and he didn’t feel like he had a support system around him that he considered committing suicide – contemplating jumping off a bridge late at night in Washington, D.C.

Lamb fought off those dark thoughts and returned to the hotel where his team was staying during a tournament in the D.C. area – many of his teammates and team staff not even knowing he had slipped out.

Lamb has worked his way up to big heights in the game since then.

He ended up playing 94 games in the NBA over three seasons, even getting a chance to play alongside veteran greats like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green on the Golden State Warriors in 2022-23.

“Learning from Steph, Clay, and Draymond at a younger age, it was cool to see how they prepared for the season and what they did at that point in their career to stay healthy, to manage the pressure of what the Warriors are and how much everybody shows them support but also how everybody wants to beat them, especially because they were coming off the championship year,” he said.

“So it was cool to see how professionals and Hall of Famers handled themselves in order to remain at the top and continue to play for such a long time. Those guys had 10 plus more years of experience than me. And to learn how they prepared every day definitely helped me a lot in my career.”

Lamb would eventually land with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian NBL last season and was named to the All-NBL First Team. That came even though he missed the final month of the season after going down with a torn Achilles tendon in early February 2024.

“Missing the end of the year with the Breakers was definitely really hard. I'd fought the whole year and everybody on my team was fighting injuries, but not being able to finish out the season. It sucked, honestly,” he said.

That taught Lamb the important lesson that he has to take care of his body on his own.

“It's really important that you're willing to spend money and invest in yourself and in your own body in order to get yourself in the shape that you need to be because the teams pay you, but it's your responsibility to be ready to play at all times in that process,” he said.

Lamb really does understand the importance of taking care of your body… and your mind.

More Trento News

The Trento forward believes a player’s mind is just as important as his body and game

Look back at all the action in Round 16 of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from Round 16

Look back at all the action from Round 16 of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

He had an ACL injury, the second in his career


Gran Canaria: Alocen, out for the season 

Dreamland Gran Canaria playmaker Carlos Alocen is set to miss the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL in his right knee. Alocen (1.94 meters, 24 years old) got injury early in the second quarter of his team's BKT EuroCup game against Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius. Alocen had a similar injury in his left knee back in 2020, playing for Real Madrid, which had him sidelined for the best part of two years: it took him 651 days to return to a basketball court. Alocen averaged 5.5 points and 3.1 assists in 16 EuroCup games this season.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">📝 Carlos Alocén sufre una rotura del ligamento cruzado.<br><br>▪ El jugador cayó lesionado de su rodilla derecha en el partido del miércoles. Fuerza, Carlos. Volverás mejor, volverás más fuerte.<br><br>¡Estamos contigo! ➡ <a href="https://t.co/b2J8RzJoOH">https://t.co/b2J8RzJoOH</a> <a href="https://t.co/LOVWseJJMx">pic.twitter.com/LOVWseJJMx</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1882730361505095950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Gran Canaria: Alocen out for the season 

Umana Reyer Venice remained in the fight to qualify for the playoffs from Group B with a narrow 76-75 home win over Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem in Round 16 of the BKT EuroCup on Wednesday night.

A (missed) shot that changed this EuroCup season

[Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/roster/vnc/?season=2024-25) remained in the fight to qualify for the playoffs from Group B with [a narrow 76-75 home win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/mfiondu-kabengele-lifts-reyer-past-jerusalem-76-75/) over [Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-jerusalem/roster/jer/?season=2024-25) in Round 16 on Wednesday night.

After Reyer's win and other Round 16 results, there are now five teams with 9-7 records in Group B: [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/?season=2024-25), [U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/roster/clu/?season=2024-25), [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/jl-bourg-en-bresse/roster/bou/?season=2024-25), Reyer and Jerusalem. Reyer faces a critical battle against Turk Telekom next week, as it has the tie-break disadvantage against all of its other direct opponents, being 0-2 against Cluj and 1-1 with negative point differentials against everybody else with a 9-7 record. Reyer claimed [a 75-67 home win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/gritty-reyer-grinds-out-a-lifeline-win-over-turk-telekom-75-67/) in Round 8 against Turk Telekom, so it arguably could be the biggest game of the season for Coach Neven Spahija's team.

Added to its big tie-break advantage over Reyer (1-1, + 27), Jerusalem is in a good situation against Cluj (1-1, +4) but still has to play on the road at Bourg and at home against Turk Telekom. On the flip side, Jerusalem beat these two teams earlier this season. Only one thing is certain in this mathematical nightmare: 11 wins will get you into the playoffs from Group B, meaning the aforementioned quintet all have their destinies in their own hands. 

Reyer vs. Jerusalem: final seconds

The game between Reyer and Jerusalem came down to the final seconds and re-shaped the playoff fight in Group B. Jerusalem called timeout with 22.8 seconds left and Reyer leading 76-75. The visitors put the ball in [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/)'s hands, and this season's EuroCup top scorer attacked the rim, trying to get a game-winning layup. Harper's block was blocked by [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/) off the glass, right into [Khadeem Carrington](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/khadeen-carrington/008912/)'s hands.

Carrington had a terrific game until that point, slashing to the rim for easy points and making many mid-range shots. After a quick bounce, Carrington had a better look but [Tyler Ennis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-ennis/008858/) had time to contest the shot, which hit the rim almost at the buzzer. If Harper or Carrington had scored, Reyer would have been 8-8 and with most tie-breaks lost, while Jerusalem would have gone up to 10-6 and into the next round.

Game Videos

Jerusalem finished the game with 20 offensive rebounds, reaching that mark for the third time this season. It took 15 more field goal attempts than its opponent and 7 more free throw attempts, too. The visitors made only 24 of 50 two-pointers (48%) and 4 of 24 shots from beyond the arc (16.7%). Reyer's better percentages (63.2% 2FG, 26.3% 3FG) paid off down the stretch.

"Amazing! We made a lot of mistakes in the end, which I'm a little sad about, but we'll look at the film and get better about it," Kabengele said after the game. "Guys stay together, we were resilient and got stops, and that's all that matters. Sometimes in the game, things will come your way. It's all about who you are so I think we showed who we are in the end."

And now, almost anything can happen in the next two weeks, with one notable exception. One of those 9-7 teams will be going home. 

Game News

If Khadeem Carrington had converted a layup for Jerusalem in the dying seconds on Wednesday, the Group B playoff picture would look a lot different

Umana Reyer Venice v Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (2025-01-22T19:45:00.000Z)

A dominant individual performance in a winning effort allowed DJ Seeley of U-BT Cluj-Napoca to earn Round 16 MVP honors with a PIR of 33, the highest of any player in this round and a new personal-best mark.

Round 16 MVP: DJ Seeley, U-BT Cluj-Napoca

A dominant individual performance in a winning effort allowed [DJ Seeley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dennis-seeley/004862/) of [U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/) to earn Round 16 MVP honors with a PIR of 33, the highest of any player in this round and a new personal-best mark.

Seeley led Cluj to a crucial 94-81 home victory over Turk Telekom Ankara. He finished the game with a career-high 31 points on 3-of-5 two-pointers, 8-of-9 three-pointers and 1-of-1 free throws, while he also had 1 assist, 1 steal and 5 fouls drawn for a PIR of 33. This is the second time that Seeley has secured MVP of the Round honors, having previously done so with Dreanland Gran Canaria in Game 2 of the 2016 semifinals. He is the fourth Cluj player to earn his honor, after Karel Guzman, Emanuel Cate and Zavier Simpson.

[Marek Blazevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marek-blazevic/008186/) of Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius had a PIR of 32 in his team's 88-76 home win over Gran Canaria. Blazevic had 27 points on 7-of-12 two-pointers and 13-of-13 free throws, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 8 fouls drawn. 

His teammate [Andrew Andrews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-andrews/011248/) amassed a PIR of 31 in that same game. He had 25 points on 3-of-3 two-pointers, 3-of-8 three-pointers and 10 of 10 free throws, adding 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 6 fouls drawn. It is the first time in EuroCup history that two teammates have made 10 free throws apiece in a game without a single miss. 

[Djordje Gagic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dorde-gagic/004229/) of 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys had a PIR of 30 and Cluj’s [Zavier Simpson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zavier-simpson/013302/) amassed a PIR of 29 to complete the top individual performances in Round 16. Gagic posted 27 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block, while Simpson amassed 21 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists and 2 steals.

### Individual highs: Darious Moten, Trefl, 5 blocks

DJ Seeley of Cluj led all scorers in Round 16 with 31 points. [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem is the competition's top scorer with 22.3 points per game.

[Kur Kuath](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kur-kuath/013313/) of Veolia Towers Hamburg pulled down 11 rebounds, more than anyone in Round 16. [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/) ranks first overall with 9.3 boards per night.

Zavier Simpson of Cluj and [Anthony Cowan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/anthony-cowan-jr/012003/) of Wolves were the only players to reach double digits in assists with 10 apiece. Simpson is also the overall leader with 7.2 assists per game. 

[Berk Ugurlu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/berk-ugurlu/003783/) of Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul collected 4 steals in this round. [Andrew Albicy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-albicy/003425/) of Dreamland Gran Canaria ranks first overall with 2.1 per night.

[Darious Moten](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/darious-moten/013516/) of Trefl Sopot had 5 blocks in Round 16. [Kyle Alexander](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-alexander/011973/) of Turk Telekom leads the 2024-25 EuroCup in blocks with 2.3 per game.

Simpson (21 points, 10 assists) and Kuath (14 points, 11 rebounds) were the only players to register a double-double in this round.

This is the second time he has earned MVP of the Round honors in his career