Valencia Basket has reinforced its backcourt with the signing of combo guard Ike Iroegbu on a one-month contract, addressing a string of injuries at the guard position

Valencia Basket adds Ike Iroegbu on short-term deal

[Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/valencia-basket/roster/pam/) has reinforced its backcourt with the signing of combo guard Ike Iroegbu on a one-month contract, addressing [a string of injuries](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/valencia-loses-montero-badio-and-lopez-arostegui-to-injuries/) at the guard position.

Iroegbu (1.88 meters, 30 years old) remains in Spain after spending the past two seasons with Basquet Girona, where he averaged 13.8 points and 3.3 assists across 65 games. He ranked among the league’s top scorers in his debut campaign and finished the 2023–24 season as the fourth-leading scorer in the ACB with 15.3 points per game.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">Benvingut, <a href="https://twitter.com/Be_LikeIKE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Be_LikeIKE</a>! 🧡<br><br>Cas 👉 Ike Iroegbu, refuerzo temporal para Valencia Basket<a href="https://t.co/ZKqAeSWwnh">https://t.co/ZKqAeSWwnh</a><br><br>Val 👉 Ike Iroegbu, reforç temporal per a Valencia Basket<a href="https://t.co/nbHhmnEzOa">https://t.co/nbHhmnEzOa</a><br><br>Eng 👉 Ike Iroegbu, Temporary Signing for Valencia Basket<a href="https://t.co/LE0clJfDgH">https://t.co/LE0clJfDgH</a> <a href="https://t.co/bZ6DgYadw8">pic.twitter.com/bZ6DgYadw8</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1967181564716130658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A product of Washington State University, Iroegbu began his professional career in the G League before embarking on a European journey that included stops with Science City Jena and Rasta Vechta in Germany, Lietkabelis Panevezys in Lithuania, Rouen and Elan Chalon in France, Hapoel Galil Elyon in Israel, and Treviso in Italy.

Iroegbu has played on the Nigerian national team at the African Championship and the World Cup qualifiers.

More Valencia Basket news

The veteran guard gives Valencia some much needed depth after a spate of backcourt injuries

FC Barcelona center Mahomed Dabone made history by becoming the youngest player ever to appear for the club's first team in a preseason game against Basquet Girona.


Mohamed Dabone makes FC Barcelona debut 

FC Barcelona center Mahomed Dabone made history by becoming the youngest player ever to appear for the club's first team in a preseason game against Basquet Girona. 

Dabone took the court at just 13 years, 10 months, and 22 days old, stepping in during the second quarter and quickly making an impact with a powerful two-handed dunk. He finished the game with 4 points and 3 rebounds in 10 minutes of play.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">Dia d’estrena amb el primer equip 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/e7Dxrperfn">pic.twitter.com/e7Dxrperfn</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1966588610213278060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>


This milestone puts Dabone in contention to become the youngest player to ever participate in a EuroLeague game. The current record is held by Fedor Zugic, who was 13 years, 5 months, and 5 days old when he played for Buducnost VOLI Podgorica in a road loss against Zalgiris Kaunas on February 22, 2019.

Dabone is no stranger to high-level youth competition. He made his debut in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals in 2024 at the age of 12. Born in Burkina Faso, Dabone is widely regarded as a world-class prospect with the potential to break numerous records in the years to come.

More Barcelona News

The 13-year-old prospect appeared in his first game for the Blaugrana’s senior team

What was billed as a EuroBasket 2025 semifinal ‘derby’ ended up being anything but. Turkey blew past Greece with a dominant 94–68 victory, booking its place in the gold medal game, where it will face Germany, who defeated Finland 98–86 in Friday’s semifinals in Riga, Latvia.

Record-setting Ercan Osmani fuels Turkiye past Greece

What was billed as a EuroBasket 2025 semifinal ‘derby’ ended up being anything but. Turkey blew past Greece with a dominant 94–68 victory, booking its place in the gold medal game, where it will face Germany, who defeated Finland 98–86 in Friday’s semifinals in Riga, Latvia.

This marks Turkey’s first EuroBasket medal since 2001 - and notably, its first medal in a major international competition not played on home soil.

The breakout star for Turkey has been Anadolu Efes Istanbul forward Ercan Osmani, who delivered a stunning 28-point performance - the most ever scored by a Turkish player in the EuroBasket knockout stages. Osmani hit 6 of 8 three-point attempts, including a perfect 4-for-4 in the first half.

In a game that Turkey led from start to finish, Osmani set the tone early with 14 points in the first quarter, helping his team build a double-digit lead. By halftime, the margin had ballooned to 20, and Turkey never looked back.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ERCAN OSMANI IS A WALKING FIRE RIGHT NOW.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> <a href="https://t.co/6eMNvkWGMm">pic.twitter.com/6eMNvkWGMm</a></p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1966566595146154380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"I am very happy that I contributed very well for this team," a humble Osmani said. He also recorded 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and a block. His performance even surpassed his EuroLeague career high of 25 points, which he set last December in Efes’s win over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.

"Ercan is an unbelievable player,” said Shane Larkin in a postgame interview with the official EuroBasket website. Larkin, who added 14 points and 5 assists in the win, praised his longtime teammate.

“\[Osmani\]’s been on my team for a few years at Efes, and I have been saying for many years that he has a lot of quality. For him to be able to put on a performance like that on the world stage in front of all the media and everything I am extremely happy for him."

Cedi Osman, a Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens forward who was questionable for the game due to injury, played 34 minutes and scored 17 points.

Turkiye, guided by Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman, now has a chance to make history and capture its first gold medal in major competition. To do that, Ataman’s troops will need to beat Germany. Both teams will enter Sunday’s gold-medal contest with a perfect 8-0 record in the tournament.

Germany and Turkiye will play in the final of EuroBasket 2025 on Sunday (PHOTO: FIBA)

With Valencia Basket’s training camp preparations for its return to the EuroLeague in full swing, the team received some bad injury news on Jean Montero, Brancou Badio and Xavi Lopez-Arostegui.

Valencia loses Montero, Badio and Lopez-Arostegui to injuries

With Valencia Basket’s training camp preparations for its return to the EuroLeague in full swing, the team received some bad injury news.

It starts with guard [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jean-montero/010042/), All-EuroCup First Team selection and a EuroCup Rising Star winner last season, who underwent surgery at a local hospital on Thursday to repair a ligament injury in a finger on his right hand, the club announced.

The other two Valencia players suffered injuries in Wednesday’s friendly game, a 98-80 win over a fellow Spanish League side Casademont Zaragoza.

"Forward [Xabi Lopez-Arostegui](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/xabi-lopez-arostegui/005356/) sustained a laceration caused by a fracture in a finger on his left hand", the club announced in a statement. Meanwhile, in the same game, shooting guard [Brancou Badio](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/brancou-badio/007527/) "suffered a muscle injury in the back of his right thigh".

“In all three cases, the players will require several weeks of recovery, and their progress will determine when they are able to return to training”, the club announced.

With little over two weeks to go until the season tip off, Montero, Badio and Lopez-Arostegui are all in danger of missing time at the start of the EuroLeague regular season.

Each player is in danger of missing the start of the season

AS Monaco Basket fans will be watching Daniel Theis with intrigue at EuroBasket 2025, as the Germany center seems to have rediscovered his mojo at the tournament.

Daniel Theis finding his feet at EuroBasket 2025 is great news for Monaco

Last season was quite the experience for [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/), who marked his long-awaited return to Europe by joining EuroLeague force [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) in February on deal until the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

Theis – following eight and a half years in the NBA with six different franchises – made an immediate impact for coach Vassilis Spanoulis’s team and ended up helping the Monégasque outfit secure its first-ever appearance in the 2025 EuroLeague Championship Game. But by the end of the EuroLeague campaign, there was the feeling that the 33-year-old’s impact had diminished somewhat when compared to his first couple of months in the principality.

<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKKnzuQsrXy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKKnzuQsrXy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKKnzuQsrXy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Daniel Theis (@dtheis10)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

After posting 13.8 points and 6.1 rebounds across eight regular-season games as Monaco locked up the fourth seed – and home-court advantage in the playoffs – he had a strong Game 1 performance against FC Barcelona with 22 points and 5 rebounds. Things then took a turn for the worse as he averaged 6.4 points and 4.0 boards from Game 2 until the championship game, but he picked things up in the title decider with 12 points and 8 rebounds – effectively doubling his averages from the previous five games.

In the end, [Monaco found itself on the losing side in Abu Dhabi as Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul lifted its second EuroLeague championship with a 70-81 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-crowned-2025-champion-with-70-81-win-over-monaco/). Things did not get much better at home as Monaco failed to retain its French League crown with a 3-2 series defeat to Paris Basketball in the French League Finals, with Mike James not playing a single minute due to an in-house suspension. Theis and Monaco will no doubt be out for revenge in the coming season, and he has the chance to enter the new campaign in high spirits if everything goes to plan for himself and Germany.

Germany's Daniel Theis blocks Slovenia's Luka Doncic during the quarterfinals of EuroBasket 2025. (PHOTO: FIBA)

Theis is currently looking to add a EuroBasket gold medal to his résumé after helping Germany reach the semifinals with a 99-91 win over Slovenia, having already achieved a gold medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The Monaco center earned Player of the Game honors for his part in the quarterfinal victory on Wednesday night after finishing with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block, which came against Luka Doncic, in just over 26 minutes on the floor, while his EuroBasket 2025 averages stand at 11.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per night.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Daniel Theis (15 PTS, 9 REB, 1 BLK) dominates the paint for undefeated Germany 🇩🇪 as they clinch their <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> Semi-Finals spot! <a href="https://t.co/dKvbFs6oHW">pic.twitter.com/dKvbFs6oHW</a></p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1965884351062634979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Germany takes on a confident Finland side in the last four on Friday in a repeat of their group-stage meeting, a game Theis and co. won in dominant fashion, 61-91. The prize for the winner? A date with the victor from the other semifinal between Greece – led by Coach Spanoulis, no less – and Turkiye, with the final set for Sunday.

Theis and many of his Germany teammates already made history in 2023 and are keen to do so again, but for Theis personally, he seems to have rediscovered his mojo at EuroBasket 2025, which can only spell good news for Monaco next season.

More Monaco News

The German big man was pivotal in helping his nation reach the semifinals on Wednesday night (PHOTO: FIBA)

Entering his seventh season in charge of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, head coach Ettore Messina is delighted with the summer business he and general manager Christos Stavropoulos achieved.

Ettore Messina excited about Milan’s signings: ‘We have a group who can deliver’

Entering his seventh season in charge of [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/), head coach Ettore Messina is delighted with the summer business he and general manager Christos Stavropoulos achieved.

Milan enters the 2025-26 with six new faces on the roster, having brought in [Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/milan-completes-move-for-star-guard-marko-guduric/), [Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/milan-hands-playmaking-keys-to-lorenzo-brown/), [Devin Booker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/milan-books-deal-with-devin-booker/), [Bryant Dunston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/bryant-dunston-joins-milan-for-his-13th-euroleague-season/) and a pair of players who will make their EuroLeague debuts next season in [Vlatko Cancar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/milan-strengthens-with-former-nba-champ-vlatko-cancar/) and [Quinn Ellis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/milan-lands-up-and-coming-talent-quinn-ellis/).

“We identified areas where we needed to improve,” Messina told the assembled media at Milan’s training complex. “These days, everyone hopes to have a team that wants to pass the ball and defend, and above all, that shows mental toughness. We often had this quality, but we didn't always have it last year. Now we think we have a group of people who can deliver these qualities.”

One player who has really caught the eye so far in training camp is Brown, who arrives with six seasons of EuroLeague experience and a EuroBasket gold medal to his name. Overall, Coach Messina is more than happy with the guard options he has at his disposal.

“Lorenzo Brown is a player who has always given us a lot of trouble,” Messina said. “He has always put himself forward by playing very well against us, so we are happy to have him here. And a player like Quinn Ellis has a great future ahead of him. [Nico Mannion](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/niccolo-mannion/011064/) had a good summer and got off to a good start, and I'm happy to have [\[Diego\] Flaccadori](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/diego-flaccadori/005670/).

“With this abundance of options, we can think about playing Brown two out of three games, for example, considering the schedule, knowing that given his experience and charisma in the EuroLeague, he will be our starting point guard. But both Ellis and Mannion can play with him because he has the stature to do so.

“Nowadays, the point guard is not the one who carries the ball forward and calls the plays; he also has to play without the ball in his hands. The key is not to get stuck on a label. So far, Ellis has done well. We are convinced that he can have an immediate impact in the EuroLeague, and we are trying to help him succeed.”

Lorenzo Brown in action for Milan against FC Bayern Munich in preseason.

Fresh off winning the EuroLeague championship with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul last season, Milan’s move for Guduric certainly caught many by surprise, yet Messina is eager to stress the importance of rotation in order to ensure that elder statesmen on the team’s roster are primed for a strong end to the season.

“[Zach LeDay](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/zach-leday/008987/), for example, had a great season last year but suffered a physical decline after February,” he explained. “We also want to protect Marko Guduric and \[Josh\] Nebo. It's impossible to expect a small number of players to keep going for so many games without injuries. We'll try to have a team that can be as efficient as possible.”

Speaking of Nebo, Milan will be hoping that he can put the injury struggles he had last season behind him and join forces with new signing Booker to form one of the most dominant center rotations in the EuroLeague. Behind them will be another new addition in Dunston, who at 39 and with two EuroLeague championships in his back pocket will be there to impart his wisdom on the team

“Josh Nebo is an added value for us, in the sense that he will be as soon as he is back to 100 percent because right now we are managing him gradually,” Messina said. “The hope is that he won't have all the injuries and problems he had last year. But having a player like Booker behind him and also Dunston, who still has a lot of basketball to give, as well as incredible leadership in the locker room, makes us think we have our backs covered.”

Devin Booker dribbles with the ball during Milan's training camp.

One player who has caused plenty of intrigue is Cancar, having been with the Denver Nuggets for the last five years but been limited to just 148 games in that time due to injuries – an average of just under 30 games per season, well below the 82 NBA teams have to play in the regular season. But given his undoubted talent, Coach Messina felt confident to take a risk on the 28-year-old Slovenian forward.

“When I was in Treviso, Maurizio Gherardini adopted the philosophy of finding players to regenerate so that they could play at a high level for a few years,” he stated. “Cancar has enormous potential and proved it before he got injured. It seems to us that he is recovering well, and we think he can return to being the player he was. He is still young, and we want to help him because he would then be a very important player.”

Messina was also asked about his future as his contract comes to an end at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, but that is a topic he wants to put on the back burner this season.

“Right now, what my future holds, where I'll be, isn't important in the sense that I don't want it to become a distraction for the team, so it's a topic we'll come back to at the end of the season,” he said. “As a group, we weren't geniuses after winning three championships in a row, and it wasn't all bad after a season in which we fell short of the goals we had set for ourselves.

“We know we need to regain confidence and earn the support of the fans, and we will try to do that step by step. This is the toughest season for any EuroLeague team because it will be a season with so many double rounds. The clubs that have the most cohesion and manage to be united not only in good times but also in bad times will have a better chance of getting where they want to be.”

More Milan News

The Italian coach spoke to the media at the club’s training complex

The two Cinderella stories at EuroBasket 2025 came head to head on Wednesday afternoon, but in the end it was Finland which advanced to the semifinals at the expense of Georgia – thanks in large part to new Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul forward Mikael Jantunen.

Mikael Jantunen takes Finland to new EuroBasket heights

The two Cinderella stories at EuroBasket 2025 came head to head on Wednesday afternoon, but in the end it was Finland which advanced to the semifinals at the expense of Georgia – thanks in large part to new [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) forward [Mikael Jantunen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mikael-jantunen/012613/).

In a 93-79 victory, the 25-year-old finished as the Player of the Game after netting 19 points – which tied his competition-best mark – while also grabbing 5 rebounds, dishing 2 assists and making 1 steal. His importance to Finland's triumph was exemplified by his +12 in the plus-minus column.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mikael Jantunen (19 PTS, 5 REB, 3 3PM) leads Finland to a historic <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> Semi-Finals spot! <a href="https://t.co/yNxL7mQrGU">pic.twitter.com/yNxL7mQrGU</a></p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1965817050271555793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This isn't the first game in which Jantunen has had a telling impact, either. While Serbia was largely expected to waltz its way into the quarterfinals, the former Paris Basketball player was an integral part in Finland pulling off one of the biggest shocks in FIBA basketball history as it won 86-92 to set up a last-eight date with Georgia.

Another of Finland's stars, Lauri Markkanen, earned many plaudits that night, but Jantunen's heroics at this EuroBasket tournament have already given him legendary status back home.

Mikael Jantunen celebrates a basket during Finland's quarterfinal win over Georgia. (PHOTO: FIBA)

The beautiful thing is that there is at least still one more chapter to be written in Finland and Jantunen's story. Finnish basketball now finds itself in unchartered territory, but the Wolf Pack – as Finland's nickname goes – remain hungry and want more.

A semifinal against reigning world champion Germany or Luka Doncic's Slovenia awaits, so it will be far from easy. But Jantunen and his teammates wouldn't have it any other way.

More EuroBasket 2025 News

Finland is heading to its first-ever semifinal appearance at the tournament (PHOTO: FIBA)

Real Madrid has strengthened its frontcourt by inking power forward Trey Lyles, who joins after a lengthy career in the NBA.

Real Madrid adds power forward Trey Lyles

Real Madrid has strengthened its frontcourt by inking power forward Trey Lyles to a one-year deal, the club announced Wednesday.

Lyles (2.06 meters, 29 years old) arrives from the Sacramento Kings, where he posted 6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 70 NBA games last season.

In 650 NBA regular season career games, Lyles averages 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds. He also took part in 12 NBA playoff games with the Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets and Kings, averaging 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🙌 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WelcomeLyles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WelcomeLyles</a> 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/Sv1gdWAjO9">pic.twitter.com/Sv1gdWAjO9</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1965769646398951618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Born in Saskatoon, Canada, Lyles played college basketball at the University of Kentucky, reaching the 2015 NCAA Tournament Final Four, before starting his professional career with the Jazz. He has also played for the Nuggets, the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons. 

Lyles has been a member of the Canadian national team and played at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

More Real Madrid News

The 28-year-old arrives to the EuroLeague after a long NBA career 


Veteran point guard Stefan Jovic is back in the EuroLeague with a familiar club, as he rejoins FC Bayern Munich for the 2025–26 season. 

Bayern brings back backcourt boss Stefan Jovic

Veteran point guard [Stefan Jovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/stefan-jovic/004863/) is back in the EuroLeague with a familiar club, as he rejoins [FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/roster/mun/) for the 2025–26 season. The Serbian international returns to Munich after previously playing for the German powerhouse from 2017 to 2019.

Jovic (1.96 meters, 34 years old) brings a wealth of experience and playmaking to Coach Gordon Herbert’s revamped backcourt. His return comes at a crucial time for Bayern, which was forced to re-enter the point guard market following [Rokas Jokubaitis's injury](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/bayerns-rokas-jokubaitis-suffers-knee-injury/) at EuroBasket 2025.

Jovic spent the past two seasons with Valencia Basket. Last season he averaged 4.7 points, 5.1 assists and 1.2 steals in just 15 minutes per game in the EuroCup, ranking seventh in assists across the competition.

"It is no secret that we had to react to the serious injury of Rokas Jokubaitis, and that this was a very difficult undertaking so late in the summer. We are therefore even happier to have been able to bring in Stefan, an experienced and well-known playmaking point guard who, in our opinion, fits perfectly into our system. In addition, he knows Munich and the EuroLeague very well. Stefan also showed at the recent EuroBasket that he is in very good shape," said FCBB sporting director Dragan Tarlac. "We look forward to this reinforcement for the backcourt and his positive influence on our team."

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐅𝐀𝐍 👋<br><br>Stefan Jovic kehrt zu uns zurück! Alle Infos zum neuen Engagement unseres Meisterspielers von 2018 &amp; 2019 ⤵️<a href="https://twitter.com/freelanceDE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@freelancede</a> wünscht viel Erfolg im neuen Job.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeBallTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeBallTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kaderupdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kaderupdate</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1965752794381738488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A seasoned EuroLeague contributor, Jovic has played 154 games in the competition over eight seasons with Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, Bayern, Khimki Moscow Region, Panathinaikos Athens and Valencia. He holds career EuroLeague averages of 6.3 points and 4.2 assists. He enters the season ranked 37th in EuroLeague history with 654 career assists.

Jovic's previous stint with Bayern was marked by success, as he helped the club win back-to-back German League championships and the 2018 German Cup. At one time, Jovic was the EuroLeague single-game record-holder for assists with 19, which he set for Crvena Zvezda against Bayern in November 2015.

Jovic sets assists record in Crvena Zvezda win at Bayern

More FC Bayern Munich news

The veteran playmaker returns to Munich for the 2025–26 campaign