Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv added one of the best players in the Israeli League to its lineup by signing Gur Lavy to a multi-year deal

Maccabi lands Israeli League’s Most Improved Player, Gur Lavy

[Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/tel/) added one of the best players in the Israeli League to its lineup by signing Gur Lavy to a three-year deal. 

Lavy (1.98 meters, 24 years old) come off a breakout season with Hapoel Gilboa Galil, where he averaged 15.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steal per game. He ranked eighth in the league in PIR (19.0) and fifth in defensive rebounding (5.4 per game).

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">ברוך הבא למכבי, גור לביא!<br><br>כל הפרטים &gt; <a href="https://t.co/bi9Gy6iJQN">https://t.co/bi9Gy6iJQN</a> <a href="https://t.co/GOs0GgwMhJ">pic.twitter.com/GOs0GgwMhJ</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1938189084687503808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Lavy was chosen as the Israeli League's Most Improved Player, the league's Best Israeli Player and to the all-league team. 

A product of the Maccabi Zikhron Yaakov youth system, Lavy began his professional career with Hapoel Haifa in the 2021-22 seasons, during which he also played on loan for Ironi Kiryat Ata. 

After three seasons with Haifa, Lavy joined Gilboa Galil last summer and made his breakthrough. Lavy is also a member of the Israeli national team.

More Maccabi News

The small forward comes off a breakout season in which he was named to the all-league team

Panathinaikos BC has made the biggest splash of the summer transfer window so far by signing TJ Shorts, who has penned a two-year deal at OAKA.

Panathinaikos signs All-EuroLeague guard TJ Shorts

[Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) has made the biggest splash of the summer transfer window so far by signing [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/), who has penned a two-year deal at OAKA.

Shorts (1.75 meters, 27 years old) took the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague by storm in his – and [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/)'s – first season in the competition, posting 19.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.0 steal and 22.8 PIR in 37 games. 

Thanks to Shorts leading the way, Paris finished eighth in the regular-season standings, then beat Real Madrid in the Play-In Showdown before falling to Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in the playoffs. 

The American-born point guard was named the EuroLeague's MVP of the Month for November and was selected to the All-EuroLeague First Team.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑻𝑱 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔 ☘️<br><br>Η ΚΑΕ Παναθηναϊκός AKTOR ανακοινώνει την απόκτηση του Τι Τζέι Σορτς ΙΙ για τα επόμενα δύο χρόνια.<br><br>_________________________________________<br><br>Panathinaikos BC AKTOR is pleased to announce the signing of TJ Shorts II on a two-year contract.… <a href="https://t.co/v26B5vzrIn">pic.twitter.com/v26B5vzrIn</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/1938160832652755320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The journey that Shorts has been on over the last few years has been like something out of a box-office movie. After starting his professional career in Latvia with Ventspils in 2019-20, the undersized guard went on to play for the Hamburg Towers and the Crailsheim Merlins, both in Germany, in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, respectively. But it was his next move that really changed the trajectory of his career.

Shorts agreed to sign for Telekom Baskets Bonn in the summer of 2022 and that allowed him to work under Tuomas Iisalo. Together, they went on to win the 2022-23 Basketball Champions League title. One year later, Shorts followed Iisalo to Paris Basketball with one goal of mind: making the EuroLeague. And they did just that by inspiring Paris to the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup crown. Although Iisalo departed Paris in the summer of 2024, Shorts continued to star – this time under Tiago Splitter – in his and the club's first season in the EuroLeague.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Merci pour tout <a href="https://twitter.com/TjShorts5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TjShorts5</a> 🐐🙏<br><br>Le club te souhaite le meilleur dans la suite de ta carrière 🖤❤️💙 <a href="https://t.co/ZMcZkf5K98">pic.twitter.com/ZMcZkf5K98</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1938158146754949508?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Having guided Paris to the EuroLeague Playoffs, something very few people expected before the season, Shorts followed that up by securing his second consecutive French League MVP trophy and the club's first French League title.

Now, Shorts will continue his journey at Panathinaikos. As he puts it himself: the marathon continues.

More Panathinaikos News

After a stunning debut campaign in the EuroLeague, the Paris star has joined the seven-time champs

Dubai Basketball has announced that Klemen Prepelic will remain at the club for at least the coming season. The length of his contract has not been disclosed.

Klemen Prepelic staying put at Dubai

Dubai Basketball has announced that [Klemen Prepelic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/klemen-prepelic/002661/) will remain at the club for at least the coming season. The length of his contract has not been disclosed.

Prepelic (1.91 meters, 32 years old) was one of Dubai's star players in the ABA League during 2024-25, posting 11.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.0 steal per game across 35 appearances. 

In its first season in the ABA League, Dubai reached the playoffs and advanced to the semifinals before falling to Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in a 2-1 series defeat.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Leadership. Fire. Heart. 🔥🫀Our captain is staying in Dubai! <a href="https://t.co/V8PKwD7C8q">pic.twitter.com/V8PKwD7C8q</a></p>&mdash; Dubai Basketball (@dubaibasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/dubaibasket/status/1938144661341683781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Prepelic has played 90 times in the EuroLeague before and his career averages stand at 8.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He made 10 appearances as a youngster for Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in 2012-13, then his next season in the competition came in 2018-19 with Real Madrid, when he played 21 times. The Slovenian international later appeared in 59 EuroLeague games for Valencia Basket in the 2020-21 and 2022-23 seasons.

More Dubai News

The captain, who starred for the team in the 2024-25 campaign, returns to the EuroLeague after two seasons away

Hapoel Tel Aviv added a force on the boards by signing veteran big man Itay Segev, who was third in the Israeli League in rebounding with 8.4 per game for Nes Ziona last season

Hapoel tabs rebounding ace Itay Segev

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv has added a force on the boards by signing veteran big man [Itay Segev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/itay-segev/004161/), who was third in the Israeli League in rebounding with 8.4 boards per game for Nes Ziona last season. He has penned a three-year deal with the club.

Segev (2.04 meters, 30 years old) also posted 7.9 points in 24 games. He previously played parts of four seasons in the EuroLeague for Maccabi Tel Aviv between 2012 and 2018.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">מועדון הכדורסל הפועל &quot;IBI&quot; תל אביב שמח להודיע על צירופו של הסנטר הישראלי איתי שגב (30, 2.04 מ&#39;), שחתם לשלוש שנים במועדון (עד תום עונת 2027/28).<br><br>בעונה החולפת רשם שגב במדי עירוני נס ציונה ממוצעים של 7.9 נקודות, 8.4 ריבאונדים, 1.8 אסיסטים, 0.9 חטיפות, 0.4 חסימות ו-53.7% לשתי… <a href="https://t.co/R1z8ezT0Mg">pic.twitter.com/R1z8ezT0Mg</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1938151009135501524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Segev has also played for Hapoel Holon, Gilboa Galil, Rishon LeZion, Ironi Nahariya and Hapoel Jerusalem in his native Israel, and for Gravelines Dunkerque in France. Among his career highlights are winning the Israeli League championship once and the Israeli State Cup four times. He has also been a regular on the Israeli national team for nearly a decade.

More Hapoel Tel Aviv News

The Israeli big man returns to the EuroLeague after seven years

Khem Birch knew what it was like to lose a EuroLeague Championship Game and made sure he made the most of his second opportunity, eight years later. 

Tribute to the Champs: Khem Birch

[Khem Birch](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/khem-birch/007182/) knew what it was like to lose a EuroLeague Championship Game and made sure he made the most of his second opportunity, eight years later. 

Back in 2017, Birch made it to the EuroLeague Championship Game with Olympiacos Piraeus, losing against [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/). He only returned to the competition this season, a campaign in which Birch played a key role for Fenerbahce, grabbing rebounds and being an effective scorer despite seeing limited playing time. 

After losing in the 2017 EuroLeague Championship Game, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul center Khem Birech made sure he finished the 2024-25 season in style.

2025 Final Four highlights: Khem Birch, Fenerbahce

Throughout the Final Four, Birch was highly effective, taking care of small details and guarding some of the most dangerous big men in the competition. In the semifinals against Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, Birch had a two-handed dunk early in the game and grabbed 4 rebounds, two of which came on the offensive end. Birch set the tone on defense as Mathias Lessort, Omer Yurtseven and Wenyen Gabriel combined for just 13 points against Fenerbahce's frontcourt. 

Birch was equally effective in the Championship Game against AS Monaco, taking over in the first half with a big block against Matthew Strazel and a tip-in. He finished the game with 6 rebounds, 3 on each end of the court. One of his offensive boards allowed Devon Hall to bury a critical three-pointer that put Fenerbahce on the right track to win the game, 64-56, with six minutes remaining. 

Birch and his teammate Dyshawn Pierre became the second and third Canadians to win the EuroLeague, following in the footsteps of Anthony Bennett, who lifted the trophy in 2017 – also with Fenerbahce.

More Fenerbahce News

It was a long time coming for the Canadian center, who finally lifted the EuroLeague trophy

Tribute to the Champs: Khem Birch 

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne has completed the signing of Zac Seljaas on a one-year deal.

LDLC ASVEL reels in Zac Seljaas

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne has completed the signing of Zac Seljaas on a one-year deal.

Seljaas (2.00 meters, 27 years old) joins the club from German side Wuerzburg. 

During the 2024-25 season, the American forward averaged 17.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steal in 10 Basketball Champions League appearances, while he posted 14.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.7 steals in 36 German League games.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Zac Seljaas, première recrue ! ✍️<br><br>Poste 4 américain (2m00, 27 ans) qui évoluait à Würzburg, Zac Seljaas rejoint les rangs de LDLC ASVEL pour la saison prochaine ! 🔥<br><br>Zac amènera son impact physique, sa polyvalence et sa capacité à scorer pour sa première expérience dans le… <a href="https://t.co/CPYmOHH7G3">pic.twitter.com/CPYmOHH7G3</a></p>&mdash; LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1937875585419645439?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Seljaas, who played alongside Elijah Bryant at BYU, made his professional debut with Slovenian team BC Prievidza in the 2020-21 season, but he only played five games. 

He then suited up for Georgian outfit BC Vera Tbilisi in the 2021-22 campaign, averaging 22.1 points and 12.0 boards per night, before joining German second division side Tuebingen in 2022-23, a season in which he posted 16.9 points per contest.

From there, he was picked up by Wuerzburg, where he has spent the last two years.

The 27-year-old is ASVEL's first signing of the summer, and he will make his EuroLeague debut once he steps onto the floor next season.

More ASVEL News

He will make his EuroLeague debut in the 2025-26 season (PHOTO: FIBA)

ASVEL reels in Zac Seljaas

Virtus Segafredo Bologna has signed veteran point guard Luca Vildoza for the 2025-26 campaign.

Virtus makes Luca Vildoza its point guard

[Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/vir/) has signed veteran point guard [Luca Vildoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/luca-vildoza/007947/) for the 2025-26 campaign.

Vildoza (29 years old, 1.91 meters), a EuroLeague champion two seasons ago with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, arrives from Olympiacos Piraeus, with which returned to the Final Four last season. He averaged 4.8 points and 2.7 assists over 17:40 minutes in a reserve role with the Reds.

Virtus will be the fifth EuroLeague stop for Vildoza, who spent four seasons with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz before playing a year each for Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, Panathinaikos and Olympiacos.

Best of Luca Vildoza: 2024-25

A native of Argentina, Vildoza began his career in his homeland with Quilmes Mar del Plata before moving to Spain with Baskonia, where he played from 2017 to 2021.

Vildoza made his EuroLeague debut with Baskonia and helped it win the 2020 Spanish League championship. He was named MVP of the finals that year, too. Vildoza then played for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA in the 2021-22 season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">𝐁𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐃𝐎 🇦🇷<br>Luca Vildoza è un nuovo giocatore dei Campioni d&#39;Italia 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/G0g3Lej4TO">pic.twitter.com/G0g3Lej4TO</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1937868841117233655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In his lone season in Belgrade, Vildoza was chosen as the EuroLeague MVP of the Month for December 2022 and ranked third in the league in steals with 1.4 per game.

Vildoza’s trophy case also includes two Greek championships and the Serbian League and Cup double from his time with Zvezda. He has won several medals with the Argentinian national team, too, including a gold medal at the 2014 South American Games and respective silver medals at the 2017 Americas Championship and the 2019 Basketball World Cup.

Vildoza enters this season ranked 46th in EuroLeague history in assists with 585, and tied for 49th with 199 steals and tied for 57th with 275 three-pointers made.

More Virtus Bologna News

The playmaker will play in Italy for the first time in his career

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz has announced the signing for French forward Clement Frisch through the 2027-28 season

Baskonia signs Clement Frisch to three-year deal

[Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/bas/?season=2024-25) has announced the signing for French forward Clement Frisch through the 2027-28 season.

Frisch (2.01 meters, 23 years old) arrives from SLUC Nancy, where he spent the past three seasons. Frisch averaged 11.7 points on 43.2% three-point shooting, 5 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 30 French League games last season.

A product of the SIG Strasbourg youth system, Frisch made his professional debut with that club and also spent time on loan Denain. He has played for France at the youth levels and was a teammate of Victor Wembanyama and Monaco's Matt Strazel on the squad that won the silver medal at the U19 Basketball World Cup in 2021.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">✍️ OFICIAL | Clément Frisch, primera pieza del nuevo Baskonia<br><br>🗞️ <a href="https://t.co/Nd5dLVBqxw">https://t.co/Nd5dLVBqxw</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OngiEtorriCl%C3%A9ment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OngiEtorriClément</a> <a href="https://t.co/ENIAn37dqE">pic.twitter.com/ENIAn37dqE</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1937857105786225020?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Baskonia news

The French forward is the club’s first addition of the offseason

Dubai Basketball announced a new deal with forward Nemanja Dangubic to keep working together next season.

Dubai keeps forward Nemanja Dangubic

Dubai Basketball announced a new deal with forward [Nemanja Dangubic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nemanja-dangubic/005942/) to keep working together next season.

Dangubic (2.04 meters, 32 years old) averaged 5.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 32 Adriatic League games last season, helping Dubai reach the semifinals. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Back for more — Nemanja Dangubić, the glue guy, is staying in Dubai 💥 <a href="https://t.co/2POBQTCY0m">pic.twitter.com/2POBQTCY0m</a></p>&mdash; Dubai Basketball (@dubaibasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/dubaibasket/status/1937814214183366796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

He started his career with Hemofarm Vrsac of his native Serbia and also played for Mega Vizure and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade before moving abroad, joining German side FC Bayern Munich. He also played for Movistar Estudiantes of Spain, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade of Serbia, as well as for Promitheas Patras and Peristeri Athens of Greece before joining Dubai.

Dangubic helped Zvezda win three consecutive Adriatic League titles, four consecutive Adriatic League crowns and a couple of Serbian Cup trophies in his four seasons with the club. Dangubic also helped Bayern win the German League in 2019. 

The forward has also been a member of the Serbian national team. Dangubic won respective silver medals at the 2011 U18 European Championship and the 2011 U19 FIBA World Cup. 

In 114 EuroLeague career games with Zvezda and Bayern, Dangubic amassed 578 points (5.1 ppg.) and 263 rebounds (2.3 rpg.). Next season, he will play in the competition for the first time since 2019.

He will feature in the EuroLeague once again after a six-season absence