FC Bayern Munich has signed guard Rokas Jokubaitis away from Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv

Bayern signs Rokas Jokubaitis away from Maccabi 

[FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/roster/mun/) has signed guard [Rokas Jokubaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rokas-jokubaitis/profile/007519/) who last played with [Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/roster/tel/), announcing a three-year deal with the player on Tuesday.

Jokubaitis (1.93 meters, 24 years old) is a veteran of seven EuroLeague seasons with three different clubs and is the winner of the 2022 EuroLeague Rising Star Trophy. He comes off his finest season to date: Jokubaitis averaged 12.6 points, while making 60.2% of his two-point shots, 4.6 assists and 1.0 steal in 28 EuroLeague games for Maccabi.

Best of Rokas Jokubaitis: 2024-25

Jokubaitis came through Zalgiris Kaunas's youth academy and made 53 EuroLeague appearances for the club between 2018 and 2021. Then came a move to FC Barcelona, which he helped to back-to-back EuroLeague Final Four appearances in 2022 and 2023. His best scoring season with the *Blaugrana* came in 2021-22, his first year at the club, when he posted 7.1 points per game and was named the EuroLeague Rising Star Award winner for that season.

The feisty guard has won league championships in Lithuania and Spain and won national cups in Lithuania, Spain and Israel. He is also a regular on the Lithuanian national team.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐀𝐒 👋 <br><br>🇩🇪 Wir verpflichten Litauens EM-Point Guard Rokas Jokubaitis bis 2028. Mehr dazu ⤵️<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></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1955215893312540695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More on Rokas Jokubaitis

The Lithuanian guard comes off a break-out season

Anadolu Efes Istanbul has signed Cole Swider for the 2025-26 season, the club announced Monday. The American forward arrives after two seasons in the NBA and a standout campaign in the G League

Anadolu Efes snags sniper Cole Swider

[Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/roster/ist/) has signed Cole Swider for the 2025-26 season, the club announced Monday. The American forward arrives after parts of three seasons in the NBA and a standout campaign in the G League.

Swider (2.03 meters, 26 years old) played in the NBA for both the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors last season. He posted 7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds over eight games with the Raptors. Swider was also worth 21.1 points on 44.3% three-point shooting and 6.2 rebounds in 13 games in the G League with the South Bay Lakers.

A product of Villanova and Syracuse University, Swider began his professional career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2022-23 season. He split time the next season with the Miami Heat and their G League affiliate in Sioux Falls. Swider is expected to bring perimeter scoring and floor spacing to Efes.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">✍️ Amerikalı oyuncu Cole Swider ile 1 sezonluk sözleşme imzaladık!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Welcome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Welcome</a> Cole<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/25jaPEB9SX">pic.twitter.com/25jaPEB9SX</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1954883030373273683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Anadolu Efes news

Stretch forward arrives after strong G League season

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv announced on Sunday that is has signed swingman Braelee Albert to a three-year contract. Albert is expected to be loaned out for the 2025-26 season.

Maccabi pens long-term deal with Braelee Albert 	

[Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-rapyd-tel-aviv/roster/tel/) announced on Sunday that is has signed swingman Braelee Albert to a three-year contract. Albert is expected to be loaned out for the 2025–26 season.

Albert (1.96 meters, 24 years old) played the last two seasons laying college basketball at Loyola of New Orleans in the NAIA, where he averaged 11.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 28.4 minutes over 48 games. He started in 30 of those appearances.

Born in Los Angeles, Albert began his college career at Vanderbilt University under head coach Jerry Stackhouse. He later transferred to Tulane and then to Loyola. He first drew Maccabi's attention when he won two gold medals at the Maccabiah Games with Team Maccabi USA.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">בריילי אלברט הוחתם ויושאל בעונה הקרובה &gt;&gt; <a href="https://t.co/02vzeKxqAV">https://t.co/02vzeKxqAV</a> <a href="https://t.co/loGswxu8xn">pic.twitter.com/loGswxu8xn</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱 (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1954566206897205260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Maccabi Tel Aviv news

The swingman will likely spend the 2025-26 season on loan 

LDLC ASVEL has signed American point guard Glynn Watson Jr. for the 2025–26 season

ASVEL reloads its backcourt with French League star Glynn Watson Jr.

[LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/asv/) has signed American point guard Glynn Watson Jr. for the 2025-26 season, the club announced on Sunday.

Watson (1.83 meters, 28 years old) arrives from BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque, where he ranked fourth in scoring in the French League last season with 16.3 points per game along with 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists over 30 appearances.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲́𝗲 𝗱𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝘆𝗻𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗿 ✍️🇺🇸<br><br>Formé à l’Université de Nebraska, passé par la Grèce, la Lituanie, la Pologne et l’Allemagne avant de découvrir la Betclic Élite, le meneur américain rejoint LDLC ASVEL après une saison réussie au BCM (4e meilleur marqueur… <a href="https://t.co/Ld3WRtqfLT">pic.twitter.com/Ld3WRtqfLT</a></p>&mdash; LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1954558490799689839?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A Chicago native and former standout at the University of Nebraska, Watson has built a strong international résumé with stops in Greece (Lavrio and Kolossos Rhodes), Iceland (Thor Thorl), Lithuania (Jonavos), Poland (Trefl Sopot), and Germany (Telekom Bonn). Watson had his first taste of pan-European competition in the 2023-24 season with Bonn when he he averaged 12.7 points and 3.5 assists in 15 BCL games.

Known for his quickness, shot-making, and defensive energy, Watson adds scoring punch to ASVEL’s backcourt as the club

More ASVEL News

The American point guard heads to Villeurbanne after breakout season with Gravelines

Vote for the best All-EuroLeague First Team in history: 2013 vs. 2018

Each season, the top five players in Europe’s premier basketball competition are recognized with All-EuroLeague First Team honors. Over the past quarter century, these elite selections have showcased a who’s who of basketball legends, from rising stars to Hall of Famers and everything in between.

This summer, we're putting them all head-to-head to answer one big question: Which All-EuroLeague First Team stands above the rest?

We seeded all 24 teams into a bracket created by our panel of in-house EuroLeague experts.

Several times a week, we’ll reveal a new matchup on the official **EuroLeague Instagram account**, where you can vote for your favorite. In the first round, eight teams were eliminated and now 16 remain. Who will you vote into the quarterfinals?

Right here on the official EuroLeague website, you’ll find a quick breakdown of each matchup – and which team we think deserves the edge.

Let the debates begin. Let the voting begin. Let the best team win!

2013 vs. 2018

2013

- [Dimitris Diamantidis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dimitris-diamantidis/jko/), Panathinaikos (age 33)
- [Vassilis Spanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vassilis-spanoulis/juo/), Olympiacos (age 30)
- [Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rudy-fernandez/bmt/), Real Madrid (age 28)
- [Nenad Krstic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nenad-krstic/auo/), CSKA Moscow (age 29)
- [Ante Tomic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ante-tomic/002507/), Barcelona (age 26)

 

2018

- [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/), Panathinaikos (age 29)
- [Nando De Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nando-de-colo/002100/), CSKA Moscow (age 30)
- [Luka Doncic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/luka-doncic/005929/), Real Madrid (age 19)
- [Toko Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/), Baskonia (age 26)
- [Jan Vesely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jan-vesely/000925/), Fenerbahce (age 28)

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This drill was tailor-made for matchups like this one. Every player here is a star. Either team would be a dream to watch. But who would win? Let's have a look at their strengths and weaknesses.

Team 2013 has a slight height advantage in that it plays with two centers – Krstic and Tomic, while the two big men from 2018 are more natural power forwards. However, I would think that Shengelia and Vesely are more than adept to defend their counterparts. Both teams have three-guard lineups as well with a Panathinaikos playmaker who is an elite defender (Diamantidis in 2013 and Calathes in 2013), a dangerous scorer (Spanoulis in 2013 and De Colo in 2018) and a do-it-all guard from Madrid (Rudy in 2013 and Doncic in 2018).

The 2018 team is more athletic in the paint and has more scoring upside, which are the main reasons I lean in their direction. Spanoulis was magical in 2013, but so was Doncic in 2018. Doncic playing alongside De Colo makes for a super-efficient tandem that I don’t think 2013 could match. What do you think?

We are into the second round of our matchups as we seek to crown the greatest All-EuroLeague First Team! This time it's 2013 against 2018!

Panathinaikos Athens has signed American big man Richaun Holmes

Panathinaikos pounces on premier pivotman Richaun Holmes 

[Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-bc-athens/roster/pan/) has signed American big man Richaun Holmes on a one-year deal with an option for another season, the club announced Saturday.

Holmes (2.08 meters, 31 years old) arrives after a decade-long NBA career that included stints with the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards. He averaged 7.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists over 31 games with the Wizards last season, shooting an efficient 64.7% from the field. Holmes best NBA season came in 2020-21, when he posted 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Kings.

A second-round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Sixers, Holmes played college basketball at Bowling Green, where he earned First-Team All-Metro-Athletic Conference honors and was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2015. Holmes now makes his European debut with Panathinaikos, bringing rim protection, rebounding, and veteran poise to an already strong frontcourt.

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More Panathinaikos news

NBA veteran brings power, poise, and presence to the Greens’ frontcourt

Baskonia Vitoria-Gastiez announced Friday afternoon that it has signed Paolo Galbiati as the new head coach for the next two seasons, as the team also officially parted ways with Pablo Laso. For the Italian technician, this will be the first head coaching gig in the EuroLeague, and also first outside of his native country.

Baskonia appoints Paolo Galbiati as new coach

Baskonia Vitoria-Gastiez announced Friday afternoon that it has signed Paolo Galbiati as the new head coach for the next two seasons, as the team also officially parted ways with Pablo Laso. For the Italian technician, this will be the first head coaching gig in the EuroLeague, and also first outside of his native country.

Galbiati, 41, arrives from BKT EuroCup side Dolomiti Energia Trento, which he led the past two seasons. Trento had a 13-23 record in the EuroCup over that span, while Galbiati guided the team to a fourth-place regular-season finish in the Italian League last season.

He is now set to make his EuroLeague debut with Baskonia, replacing Coach Laso who led his hometown team to a 14-20 record in the EuroLeague last season and a playoff appearance in the Spanish League.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">📋 Paolo Galbiati, nuevo entrenador de Baskonia <br><br>🗞️ <a href="https://t.co/pDiZxzSKP3">https://t.co/pDiZxzSKP3</a><br> <br> Benvenuti alla vostra nuova casa 🤝 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OngiEtorriPaolo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OngiEtorriPaolo</a> <a href="https://t.co/oS866fZys8">pic.twitter.com/oS866fZys8</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1953823858512867754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Galbiati had a brief career as a player, and in 2007 he already started coaching youth teams, and he worked his way up until he won the U17 league title with Olimpia Milan in 2013. In 2016 he made his debut in the Italian League as an assistant coach to Luca Banchi first and Carlo Recalcati later in Turin. A couple of years later, in 2018, Galbiati led Turin to the Italian Cup trophy. He stayed in Turin the following season to assist Larry Brown and later to take the lead once more, and after that he joined Biella, where he could not finish the 2019-20 season due to COVID.

He went on to spending two seasons as head coach of Cremona in the Italian League, then a year as an assistant coach at Varese. In 2021 and 2022, Galbiati was also part of the technical staff at the Italian national team, with which took part in the Tokyo Olympics. He also led U20 Italian national team at the 2024 European Championship.

The club also announced parting ways with Pablo Laso

Hapoel Tel Aviv announced that it has extended the contract of forward Oz Blayzer through the end of the 2027-28 season

Oz Blayzer extends stay with Hapoel Tel Aviv

[Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/hapoel-ibi-tel-aviv/roster/hta/) announced that it has extended the contract of forward [Oz Blayzer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/oz-blayzer/009877/) through the end of the 2027-28 season.

Blayzer (2.00 meters, 32 years old) joined Hapoel in 2024 and appeared in 16 games in the EuroCup to help the team take the crown. He averaged 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds over 26 Israeli League games, too.

A seasoned veteran, Blayzer began his professional career with Hapoel Afula in 2011 and has since played for Bnei Herzliya, Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi Rishon LeZion, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem. His career highlights include winning the Israeli League in 2021 with Maccabi Tel Aviv and raising the Israeli Cup three times. He is a four-time Israeli League All-Star and was named Rising Star in 2014.

Best of Oz Blayzer: 2024-25

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">מועדון הכדורסל הפועל &quot;IBI&quot; תל אביב שמח לבשר על הארכת חוזהו של הפורוורד עוז בלייזר עד לסיום עונת 2027/28. <br><br>עוז העמיד ממוצעים של 5.5 נקודות, 3.0 ריבאונדים ו-39.3% לשלוש בעונה החולפת בליגת ווינר. הפורוורד היה מהשחקנים המובילים בליגה במדד הפלוס מינוס, סחיטת עבירות תוקף ואחוזים מחוץ… <a href="https://t.co/1sNiLdKONo">pic.twitter.com/1sNiLdKONo</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1953774585268363531?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More from Hapoel Tel Aviv

The veteran forward has a contract with Hapoel for three more seasons

Maccabi’s calculated gamble: Can talent trump experience?

It’s not unusual to see a EuroLeague team overhaul its roster in one summer. In fact, over the past decade, [Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-rapyd-tel-aviv/roster/tel/) has done it more than once. But this summer feels different.

Under new general manager Claudio Coldebella, five of Maccabi’s first six signings had never played in the EuroLeague. The lone exception, [Lonnie Walker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/lonnie-walker-returns-to-the-euroleague-with-maccabi/), suited up for just half a season with Zalgiris Kaunas.

It’s undeniably a gamble. But like any gamble, it comes with both risk and potential reward. Here's a breakdown of who Maccabi has brought in, the questions surrounding the new roster, and the upside that could change the equation.

### Maccabi’s 2025–26 roster

Following the recent addition of [Uros Trifunovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabi-snags-serbian-swingman-uros-trifunovic/), Maccabi now has 14 players under contract. However, it’s widely expected that one of them – Rokas Jokubaitis – will soon leave for another EuroLeague team. Meanwhile, an additional center is likely to join before training camp opens.

Assuming that scenario plays out, Maccabi would return six players from last season: guards Tamir Blatt, John DiBartolomeo and Jimmy Clark, and forwards Roman Sorkin, Jaylen Hoard and Will Rayman. Of the seven newcomers, only two have EuroLeague experience: Walker and Trifunovic. The latter logged 54 appearances for Partizan Mozzart Belgrade from 2022 to 2024.

The rest are EuroLeague rookies. That said, three – [Jeff Dowtin Jr.](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/jeff-dowtin-jr-becomes-the-latest-piece-in-the-maccabi-puzzle/), [Oshae Brissett](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabi-brings-oshae-brisset-to-the-euroleague/) and [T.J. Leaf](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabi-brings-t-j-leaf-back-to-his-roots/) – bring notable NBA résumés, while big man [Marcio Santos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabi-inks-marcio-santos-to-three-year-deal/) arrives from the BKT EuroCup. Israeli forward [Gur Lavy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabi-lands-israeli-leagues-most-improved-player-gur-lavy/), 24, remains an intriguing option with minimal experience at the top level.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">מישהו רוצה למסור לך משהו 🔊<a href="https://twitter.com/JeffD_11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JeffD_11</a> <a href="https://t.co/XgR69xbBSf">pic.twitter.com/XgR69xbBSf</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1952734941344563549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### What are the risks?

Overhauling more than half of a roster is always risky, though recent history suggests it can work. Just ask Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, who pulled it off en route to the title two seasons ago. Still, Maccabi’s approach is unique.

Chief among the concerns is the plan to give major minutes to Dowtin at point guard. Very few American point guards have entered the EuroLeague without prior international experience and immediately made a major impact. Tyus Edney was the last to truly do so.

There have been American stars, no doubt. But many followed a different path. The likes of Mike James, J.R. Holden, Terrell McIntyre and T.J. Shorts played for other clubs in Europe before reaching the EuroLeague. For Shane Larkin and Wade Baldwin, the breakout came in the second season, while Kendrick Nunn and Trajan Langdon played off ball.

Maccabi will be counting on Dowtin to buck that trend – and potentially to do it surrounded by players with little or no EuroLeague experience. Picture a lineup of Dowtin, Walker, Brissett, Leaf and Santos. The talent is there. The experience in the competition is not.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here&#39;s what <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffD_11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JeffD_11</a> brings to the table 👇 <a href="https://t.co/LXWUJQVd5R">pic.twitter.com/LXWUJQVd5R</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1952661343984644541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Calculated risks, not blind faith

To its credit, Maccabi knows what it’s doing. Dowtin brings something the team felt it lacked at point guard: size.

After an impressive debut season in Tel Aviv, Jokubaitis was in line for a new contract in June. But when the conflict with Iran led to the Israeli League canceling its playoffs – and most foreign players, including Jokubaitis, leaving the country – his stance on returning changed. Despite being under contract, he now appears headed elsewhere.

At 1.93 meters, Jokubaitis offered the length to share the court with shorter guards like Blatt and DiBartolomeo. A smaller replacement would have created a logjam. Maccabi prioritized finding a point guard who could also slide to the ‘2’. Enter Dowtin.

There’s also built-in chemistry. Dowtin spent part of last season with both Walker and Brissett on the Philadelphia 76ers. He logged 83:29 of court time alongside Walker across 10 games, including a 30-point explosion in one of his final appearances. He also shared the floor for over 42 minutes with Brissett. Those minutes matter – especially for a team light on EuroLeague experience.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">בקרוב שוב יחד, הפעם בצהוב-כחול 🤝<a href="https://twitter.com/lonniewalker_4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lonniewalker_4</a> X <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffD_11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JeffD_11</a> <br>[Gettyimages] <a href="https://t.co/vPeEHGoCaW">pic.twitter.com/vPeEHGoCaW</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1953004348876693952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### The potential payoff

Last season, Paris Basketball showed that experience isn’t everything. Despite having one of the lowest budgets in the competition, the EuroCup champs reached the EuroLeague Playoffs by leveraging speed, athleticism, and efficiency.

Could Maccabi do the same? With Oded Kattash – an offensive savant both as a player and coach – why not? The goal may not be to adapt to the EuroLeague's style, but to force the league to adapt to Maccabi’s.

Dowtin, of course, still has a learning curve. So does Walker, even after flashes of brilliance with Zalgiris. But when Walker got going last season, he was nearly unstoppable. With a full preseason under his belt, he could emerge as one of the league’s premier scorers – and make life easier for his teammates in the process.

Leaf and Brissett also bring untapped potential. Leaf, a former NBA first-round pick, has a natural connection to the team; he was born in Tel Aviv, played for Israel’s youth teams alongside Blatt, and his father Brad was once teammates with Tamir Blatt’s father, David.

This isn’t a blind leap. It’s a calculated risk. One that might just reshape what we think is possible for a EuroLeague roster.

Whether it works or not, it’s going to be fascinating to watch.

More on Maccabi 

The roster is loaded with NBA-caliber newcomers, but most lack EuroLeague reps. Will the risk pay off?