Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv beefed up its backcourt by signing combo-guard Joe Thomasson for the remainder of the season

Maccabi tabs combo-guard Joe Thomasson

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv beefed up its backcourt by signing combo-guard [Joe Thomasson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/joe-thomasson/012095/) for the remainder of the season. Thomasson (1.93 meters, 30 years old) arrives from Granada, where he averaged 14.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists for a PIR of 13.6 in 20 Spanish League games this season. He returns to Israel after a successful stint with Hapoel Gilboa Galil during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🆕 <a href="https://t.co/IaAAjcKSn9">pic.twitter.com/IaAAjcKSn9</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​🇮🇱​🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1755225929310241279?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Thomasson played in the EuroCup last season for Promitheas Patras of Greece and posted 14.1 points, 2.7 assists and 2.6 assists in 10 games to help the club reach the quarterfinals. He has also played for Dynamo Bucharest in Romania, Polpharma Starogard Gdansk, Start Lublin and Stelmet Zielona Gora in Poland; BAXI Manresa in Spain, and Zenit St. Petersburg in Russia.

Joe Thomasson's EuroCup highlights

Thomasson will make his EuroLeague debut with the Israeli champs.

The Italian tactician is loving his time at Zalgirio Arena.

Andrea Trinchieri, Zalgiris: 'These unbelievable fans can push you'

When Andrea Trinchieri landed in Lithuania to become the new head coach for Zalgiris Kaunas at the tail end of 2023, he knew he was in for a wild ride.

Zalgiris is a basketball institution, both at a national and continental level, and that in itself brings with it a certain amount of pressure. As if that was not enough, the gruesome schedule the team had ahead was another hurdle he would have to overcome early in his tenure.

"Five road games in 12 days," Trinchieri remembers. "It's like putting your head in a washing machine and have the cotton program."

Since Trinchieri's arrival, Zalgiris has played eight games in the EuroLeague and has managed to win five of them, including the last two against powerhouse clubs like Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Anadolu Efes Istanbul. Trinchieri's reputation of being able to turn teams around quickly proved, again, to be true and it's also no coincidence that these last two victories were at Zalgirio Arena.

"You cannot imagine what kind of responsibility it is to have this kind of fan base," Trinchieri admits. "These unbelievable fans can push you. It's insane. Instead of having one block, you are going to have three blocks. Instead of having three offensive rebounds, you will get nine... and change the game."

Trinchieri's career in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague has brought him to coach teams like FC Bayern Munich, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Brose Bamberg. His style, methods and demeanor are one-of-a-kind, but there's no doubt that he functions based on his passion for the game, and his main objective is always to make his team perform at its maximum possible level.

"It's a process. You try, you succeed, then you fail, then you try again," Trinchieri explains. "You just need to know what you are doing and to not lose confidence if something is not working the first time."

Zalgiris is currently 14th in the standings, but if the Trinchieri effect does not stop here, expect the Lithuanian champs to be in the fight for, at least, the play-in positions.

When Andrea Trinchieri landed in Lithuania to become the new head coach for Zalgiris Kaunas at the tail end of 2023, he knew he was in for a wild ride.
 
Zalgiris is a basketball institution, both at a national and continental level, and that in itself brings with it a certain amount of pressure. As if that was not enough, the gruesome schedule the team had ahead was another hurdle he would have to overcome early in his tenure.

The Baskonia big man joins forces with Joe Arlauckas to discuss Moneke’s career and learn about the self-confidence that led him to where he is today.

Chima Moneke joins The Crossover

[Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/)’s career has been anything but linear. Several times he has been knocked back just as he thought he was about to break through. And this season he has finally reached new heights as one of the top performers in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.

With all the attention surrounding Baskonia and Moneke, one might have thought he would be a tough guest for Joe Arlauckas to book, but the truth is that Moneke is a long-time fan of The Crossover! 

\[1:00\] “It means a lot because I’ve been watching and listening to your show for years and it feels… It makes me feel like I’ve been doing something right that I’m here. So I appreciate that,” Moneke tells Arlauckas in the opening segment.

Quickly they dive into Moneke’s backstory. Born in Nigeria and raised in Australia as the child of diplomats, Moneke at one point did not see either of his parents for nearly a decade as he chased his basketball dream.

He faced rejection at the youth level in Australia, had trouble finding a college in America and was cut from his first professional team in the second league in France. But none of those blows were enough to cause Moneke to doubt himself.

\[15:20\] “There were times where I questioned myself. It just didn’t seem realistic to other people. I think a lot of my life has been unrealistic to a lot of other people but for some reason, I kept believing… I kept persevering and eventually I got to where I always knew I would get to,” he explains.

Moneke credits his Nigerian roots for some of that confidence, explaining that those from his country are known for their stubbornness, smarts and passion for what they believe in.

\[17:25\] “When I set my mind to something, I don’t really care how it happens. I just know that that’s what I ultimately want to do. And all the times where I questioned myself as a player, it didn’t change the fact that I didn’t have a Plan B. I had a Plan A the whole time, Moneke adds “I think if I had a Plan B, whenever it got hard, like the times when schools weren’t responding to my emails, I would’ve been like, ‘okay, maybe they are right. Let me go to Plan B.’ Nah. I never had that.”

And so Moneke persevered. Two strong seasons in France led to an opportunity in Spain with Manresa, where Moneke really made a name for himself and earned all-league honors in both the ACB and the Basketball Champions League. Then, Mike Brown, who had coached Moneke on the Nigerian national team, brought the big man with him when he was hired to coach the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.

After a spell there, Moneke was released and joined AS Monaco in the middle of last season and reached the EuroLeague Final Four. Over the summer, he came back to Spain with Baskonia and has emerged as one of the top performers in the EuroLeague this season.

\[52:00\] “I have visualized this for so long. I have told myself and other people that I am one of the best players in Europe. I will stand on that. But you just get tired of telling everyone else that. I like being told by other people now that ‘you’re one of the best players in Europe.’ It just confirms to me again that everything that I am, everything that I worked for pays off.”

All along, Moneke continues to love the game and play with a smile, whether other people like it or not. In fact, he told Arlauckas about the one time he tried to play with a scowl and how it went:

\[1:03:45\] “It happened this season. There was a lot of talk about ‘this guy, he smiles too much and he’s interacting with the fans too much and he’s never serious.’ And they said, ‘if he was blah, blah, blah. He would be better.’ And then the game against Fenerbahce at home, I was like, I’m not gonna smile at all. And I was terrible. We ended up winning, but I was horrible. I didn’t have fun. I wasn’t a good teammate because I was focused on not smiling and making sure that I didn’t have fun.

“But then my brothers called me and said you better not ever do that again. They’re in Australia waking up at 4 a.m., 6 a.m. to watch me be me. And watch me be an extension of themselves. And they know me and they could tell something was wrong. And as soon as I said, ‘yeah, man. I’ve been hearing this chatter.’ They said ‘Eff that. You better never let them get to you ever again.”

With a one-hour format of exclusive one-on-one interviews, The Crossover with Joe Arlauckas goes well beyond the playing court with each podcast to delve into the life experiences that have made his guests protagonists and legends of the EuroLeague. The Crossover debuted in 2018 and has featured such current stars as [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/mike-james-opens-up-at-the-crossover/), [Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/lorenzo-brown-hops-aboard-the-crossover/) and [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/mario-hezonja-stops-by-the-crossover/); coaching greats such as [Georgios Bartzokas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/hear-from-coach-bartzokas-on-the-crossover/), [Dimitris Itoudis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/the-crossover-opens-its-season-with-dimitris-itoudis/), and Zeljko Obradovic, and legends like Theo Papaloukas, Nikola Vujcic and [Mike Batiste](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-legend-mike-batiste-visits-the-crossover/), among others. Moneke is the fourth guest this season after [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/season-6-of-the-crossover-opens-with-nigel-hayes-davis/), [Kemba Walker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/kemba-walker-visits-the-crossover/) and [James Nunnally](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/james-nunnally-opens-up-at-the-crossover/).

The Crossover with Joe Arlauckas is available on [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rYpAbSLlCc), [iTunes](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-crossover-with-joe-arlauckas/id1440034922), [Audioboom](https://audioboom.com/channel/the-crossover-with-joe-arlauckas), [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/6T1SYvGSpzyrYZpG9z2wjR), [Deezer](https://www.deezer.com/fr/show/65962), [RadioPublic](https://radiopublic.com/the-crossover-with-joe-arlauckas-6NkdjJ), [Google Podcasts](https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hdWRpb2Jvb20uY29tL2NoYW5uZWxzLzQ4ODM3OTkucnNz?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahcKEwiYzr_b78XtAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ), [TuneIn](https://tunein.com/podcasts/Sports--Recreation-Podcasts/The-Crossover-with-Joe-Arlauckas-p1174586/), [Stitcher](https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-crossover-with-joe-arlauckas), [CastBox](https://castbox.fm/channel/The-Crossover-with-Joe-Arlauckas-id1467328?country=gb), [iVoox](https://www.ivoox.com/podcast-the-crossover-with-joe-arlauckas_sq_f1629856_1.html) and other platforms.

New Efes (10-15) coach Tomislav Mijatovic will look to start his reign with another win against 10th-placed Maccabi (13-12). 

Preview: Anadolu Efes S.K. vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C.

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/anadolu-efes-istanbul-maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/E2023/227/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-game-facts-ist-tel/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-game-notes-ist-tel/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-prequotes-ist-tel/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-26/)

The Turkish team will hope to build on last week's success against Milan, once again led by [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) with 19 points. Maccabi has struggled on the road, especially defensively, with five straight losses allowing at least 88 points. Efes will target a win of 10 points or more after suffering a 95-86 loss at Maccabi in December, with [Bonzie Colson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bonzie-colson/009783/) producing one of his many excellent performances by pairing 19 points with 7 rebounds. That game also featured 21 points from [Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/), whose backcourt battle alongside [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) with Larkin and [Darius Thompson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/darius-thompson/011078/) will be worth the admission price alone.

[Efes Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/statistics/ist/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Maccabi Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/statistics/tel/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Shane Larkin vs. Wade Baldwin: Two star guards come head-to-head in Riga, Latvia.

In a meeting of direct rivals on the edge of the playoffs places, Maccabi faces Efes in a bid to break their respective part of a five-way tie for sixth place. Both teams have performed better offensively than defensively, with the Turks ranked 15th for allowing 86.4 ppg and the hosts 17th at 87.6 ppg.

Last game: Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | Round 14 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Reinvigorated Efes hosts faltering Maccabi in Latvia

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-02-08T17:30:00.000Z)

Ninth-placed Saski Baskonia (13-12) will look to protect its position in the playoff zone with a visit from lowly LDLC ASVEL (5-20).

Preview: Saski Baskonia vs. LDLC ASVEL

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz-ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/E2023/230/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-game-facts-bas-asv/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-game-notes-bas-asv/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-prequotes-bas-asv/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-26/)

Baskonia took an 81-88 win in France earlier this season thanks to its usual leaders: a personal best 35 points from [Markus Howard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/markus-howard/011948/) and 19 points plus 13 rebounds from [Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/), which was enough to overcome 22 points from ASVEL sharpshooter [Mike Scott](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-scott/012729/). Baskonia has been inconsistent in recent weeks and will view this as a must-win game against a visiting team that suffers from the worst three-point shooting percentage in the league (33.0%).

[Baskonia Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/statistics/bas/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [ASVEL Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/statistics/asv/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Codi Miller-McIntyre vs. Paris Lee: Two of the most impressive point guards in the EuroLeague this season meet at Buesa Arena.

Two teams with confidence restored under the guidance of new coaches meet in France as ASVEL welcome red-hot Baskonia. The hosts have won two out of three under Gianmarco Pozzecco and similarly, Dusko Ivanovic's Baskonia made it three gains in a row via a majestic 94-71 victory over Barcelona.

Last game: LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 9 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Ninth-placed Baskonia (13-12) will look to protect its position in the playoff zone with a visit from lowly ASVEL (5-20).

Baskonia needs to be wary against tricky ASVEL

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2024-02-08T19:30:00.000Z)

After a pair of road defeats last week, KK Partizan (13-12) will hope for home comforts with a visit from FC Bayern Basketball (10-15). 

Preview: KK Partizan vs. FC Bayern Basketball

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade-fc-bayern-munich/E2023/229/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-game-facts-par-mun/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-game-notes-par-mun/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-prequotes-par-mun/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-26/)

[Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) will look to maintain his magnificent form after scoring 28 and 22 points in last week's losses in Monaco and Bologna, while Bayern has [Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/) in great shape with double-digit scoring in six consecutive games. He also netted 17 points when Bayern beat Partizan 94-85 in November, supplemented by 21 points from backcourt teammate [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/). Bayern won its last road game, 65-82 at ALBA, and needs a similarly strong defensive performance to take a vital victory on Thursday.

[Partizan Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/statistics/par/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Bayern Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/statistics/mun/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Aleksa Avramovic vs. Carsen Edwards: Two key guards for their teams face off in Round 26.

It's a meeting of coaching masters as Pablo Laso welcomes Zeljko Obradovic with Bayern, eager to end a four-game losing slide, takes on a Partizan team boosted by a thrilling win over Fenerbahce. Is this to be determined by the tacticians or will the skills on show prove to be the ultimate difference?

Last game: FC Bayern Munich-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade | Round 8 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

After a pair of road defeats last week, Partizan (13-12) will hope for home comforts with a visit from Bayern (10-15). 

Partizan eager to respond as Bayern comes to Stark Arena

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v FC Bayern Munich (2024-02-08T19:30:00.000Z)

It's eighth versus seventh in a crucial clash as Valencia Basket (13-12) welcomes Olympiacos B.C. (14-11). 

Preview: Valencia Basket vs. Olympiacos B.C. 

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/valencia-basket-olympiacos-piraeus/E2023/228/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-game-facts-val-oly/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-game-notes-val-oly/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-prequotes-val-oly/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-26/)

The Spanish team has won three of its last four, showing its defensive excellence by holding opponents to 66, 62 and 72 points in that trio of wins. Valencia produced a similar display to win 56-63 in Piraeus two months ago, so the Reds will hope [Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/) will again lead the offense with the same effectiveness that saw him pair 16 points with 8 assists in last week's victory at Bayern. He also has the task of slowing down Valencia playmaker [Chris Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chris-jones/010568/), who had 14 points plus 8 helpers to send his team to victory at ALBA last time out.

[Valencia Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/valencia-basket/statistics/pam/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Olympiacos Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/statistics/oly/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Brandon Davies vs. Alec Peters: An exciting battle awaits between two big men who can stretch the floor.

Thomas Walkup has stepped up as the Reds' talisman, scoring at least 14 points in four games and also dishing 7 assists versus Bayern. He and his team move on to Valencia, who've enjoyed a return to winning-ways with Semi Ojeleye, who scored 17 and 16 respectively aganst Zvezda and ASVEL.

Last game: Olympiacos Piraeus-Valencia Basket | Round 14 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

It's eighth versus seventh in a crucial clash as Valencia (13-12) welcomes Olympiacos (14-11). 

Playoff-chasing Valencia, Olympiacos meet at La Fonteta

Valencia Basket v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-02-08T19:30:00.000Z)

Reigning champion Real Madrid Baloncesto (22-3) will look to seal playoff qualification by overcoming an Olimpia Milano team (10-15) desperate to push closer to the top 10.

Preview: Olimpia Milano vs. Real Madrid Baloncesto

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/ea7-emporio-armani-milan-real-madrid/E2023/226/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-game-facts-mil-mad/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-game-notes-mil-mad/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs26-prequotes-mil-mad/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-26/)

Fit-again [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/) will try to punish his former club in what promises to be a bruising head-to-head battle with [Guerschon Yabusele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/guerschon-yabusele/010357/). Real had no trouble in claiming a comfortable win, 88-71, when the teams met in Round 4, led by 19 points on 5 three-pointers from [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/). The Italian team has slipped down the standings by winning just one of its last five games and has lost four straight on the road, while Real is the only team in the competition with a perfect home record.

[Milan Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/statistics/mil/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Madrid Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/statistics/mad/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Nikola Mirotic vs. Guerschon Yabusele: Two domianant players at the "four" go head-to-head in Milan.

A spectacular second-half performance saw reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champ Real Madrid stay perfect at 4-0 with an 88-71 victory over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, which dropped to 1-2.

Last game: Real Madrid-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Reigning champion Real (22-3) will look to seal playoff qualification by overcoming a Milan team (10-15) desperate to push closer to the top 10.

Milan seeks a response against an on-fire Real Madrid

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Real Madrid (2024-02-08T19:30:00.000Z)

Ricky Rubio has returned to Barça Basket and the EuroLeague after a 13-year spell in the NBA.

Ricky Rubio seals return to the EuroLeague with Barça Basket

FC Barcelona has confirmed the addition of [Ricky Rubio](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rubio-ricky/lfw/) for the remainder of the season with the point guard returning to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague after a 13-year absence. Rubio (1.92 meters, 33 years old) became a EuroLeague champion during his first spell at Barca, playing alongside the team's current head coach Roger Grimau, before going on to shine in the NBA. The playmaker returned to his native Spain last year, and particularly the region of Catalonia, after experiencing mental health struggles.

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">𝐎𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋: Ricky Rubio, inscrit a l&#39;ACB i l&#39;Eurolliga ‼<br><br>𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒂, 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒚 💙❤</p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1754925190130065690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Rubio is fondly remembered at Barcelona

After starting out at Joventut Badalona, where Rubio appeared in the Spanish League as a 14-year-old, he joined crosstown rival Barca at 18 and had a dream first campaign at Palau Blaugrana in 2009-10.

In addition to winning the Copa del Rey domestically, Rubio played a key role as Barca secured its second-ever EuroLeague crown. The Spaniard started in all 22 of the games he appeared in, averaging 6.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals.

His best performance of that campaign saw Rubio net 19 points in a closeout Game 4 of the playoffs against archrival Real Madrid, before scoring 10 in a 64-54 win over CSKA Moscow in the semifinals and 9 points in an 86-68 triumph over Olympiacos Piraeus in the championship game.

Thanks to his efforts during the campaign, Rubio was handed the EuroLeague Rising Star award. The following season, 2010-11, proved to be his last on the Old Continent, with Rubio posting 6.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals as Barca reached the EuroLeague Playoffs, where it fell to Panathinaikos Athens in a four-game series.

Thirteen years on, Rubio is back and will look to provide a big boost for Coach Grimau’s squad in the final stretch of this season. With Barcelona having fallen in the Final Four in three successive years, Grimau will hope that the addition of his ex-teammate is just what his team needed.

Top 5: Ricky Rubio, FC Barcelona

### His early EuroLeague years

Before arriving at Barcelona, Rubio had two years of experience in the EuroLeague with Joventut. He appeared in 16 games, all off the bench, in the 2006-07 campaign, posting 3.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and an incredible 3.2 steals per contest. The 2007-08 season saw him limited to just five games, in which he averaged 2.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals per night.

Rubio’s sole campaign in the BKT EuroCup was also a fruitful one, as he averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.4 steals in 16 appearances as Joventut went on to become the champion, downing Basquet Girona 54-79 in the final.

### 12 years in the NBA

After being selected with the fifth overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2009 NBA Draft, Rubio remained in Europe for two years – which is when he went to Barcelona – before heading stateside. Rubio was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first season in the league, 2011-12, following an impressive debut season in which he posted 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game.

More than half of Rubio’s 698 games in the NBA came in the jersey of the Timberwolves, with the Masnou-born guard spending the first six seasons of his career in Minnesota (2011-17). He later spent two years with the Utah Jazz (2017-19), one season with the Phoenix Suns (2019-20), a year back with Minnesota (2020-21) and the last two campaigns with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2021-23).

Ricky Rubio's Top 10 Assists in the NBA

In August, Rubio announced that he was putting a halt to his basketball career, at least temporarily, citing mental health struggles.

“I have decided to stop my professional activity to take care of my mental health,” Rubio said in a statement distributed by the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB). “I want to thank all the support I have received from the FEB to understand my decision. Today #LaFamilia makes more sense than ever. Thank you.”

### A legend for Spain

It’s difficult to write about Rubio and not discuss his feats with the Spanish national team. At just 17, he was selected to go to the 2008 Olympic Games alongside a golden generation featuring Pau Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro and Rudy Fernandez, among others, and he didn’t look out of place.

In the gold-medal game against the United States of America’s “Redeem Team”, Rubio played more minutes than anyone in a Spain jersey and held his own against the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. He did, however, come out on the losing side.

One year later, Rubio and Spain won gold at EuroBasket 2009, beating Serbia 85-63. Rubio then secured his second EuroBasket gold medal in 2011 after Spain defeated France 98-85. Later, at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, and with most of *La Roja*’s great players having retired, Rubio led his nation to gold with a 75-95 victory over Argentina as tournament MVP. Rubio also won the bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics, EuroBasket 2013 and EuroBasket 2017.

The only thing left to say is... Welcome back, Ricky!

More Barcelona News

Ricky Rubio (center) celebrates alongside Juan Carlos Navarro (left) and Roger Grimau (right) after FC Barcelona became the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion in the 2009-10 season.

The 33-year-old was a member of the Blaugrana’s EuroLeague title-winning roster in 2009-10.