On Tuesday afternoon Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade made official a contrat extension with big man Joel Bolomboy until the summer of 2026.

Joel Bolomboy, Crvena Zvezda together until 2026

On Tuesday afternoon Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade made official a contrat extension with big man [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) until the summer of 2026.

Bolomboy arrived in Belgrade last summer and this is his first season with Zvezda. He is a solid starter with the team and in 22 appearances this season he averages 10.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals. His best game of the season was in Istanbul against Fenerbahce Beko. In that game, Bolomboy scored 24 points, and pulled 6 rebounds to lead his team to a 76-85 road win.

Bolomboy is currently in his sixth Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season. He made his debut in 2018, as he played three straight seasons with CSKA Moscow, winning the title in that first campaign at the 2019 Final Four in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. In the summer of 2022 he moved to Greece, as he joined Olympiacos Piraeus, with which he reached the championship game, eventually falling to Real Madrid.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Contract extension | Joel Bolomboy 2026! 🔴⚪️<br><br>Američki centar Džoel Bolomboj produžio je ugovor sa Crvenom zvezdom i ostaje u Beogradu i crveno-belom dresu još dve sezone! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CrvenoBelaPorodica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CrvenoBelaPorodica</a> <a href="https://t.co/87OjDWfA5h">pic.twitter.com/87OjDWfA5h</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1752272405882343779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bolomboy, Zvezda together until 2026

The deadline for closing all Turkish Airlines EuroLeague rosters for the rest of the season is coming on Wednesday, February 7, but already five players stand out from among those who signed since the start of the season.

The EuroLeague’s top five mid-season roster additions

No coach likes to have to make mid-season roster changes. However, in some cases, those players have made history, as happened in 2012 when Acie Law and Joey Dorsey signed with Olympiacos and then won the EuroLeague trophy in the unforgettable Istanbul championship game against CSKA Moscow.

Players are signed every year after the season starts. Some have an immediate impact.

[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1620716/the-euroleagues-top-five-mid-season-roster-additions/)

Fantasy Challenge Podcast: Tinkering with our teams

The double-round week is back! We will escort January out and welcome February in with 18 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games, which make for a tumultuous time in the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home). Fortunately, Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs are back with another edition of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast to discuss the most topics.

The return to the courts of Nikola Mirotic, injuries at Zalgiris Kaunas and Olympiacos Piraeus’s new signing Moses Wright are among the topics addressed in this week’s episode. Listen now for some insight before you construct your teams ahead of Round 24 (and Round 25)!

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2024-01-31T19:15:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2024-01-31T18:00:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2024-01-31T18:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-01-30T19:30:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-01-30T19:00:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v ALBA Berlin (2024-01-30T19:15:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-01-30T19:00:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Valencia Basket (2024-01-30T19:00:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2024-01-31T19:30:00.000Z)

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2024-02-02T19:30:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-02-02T19:30:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v FC Barcelona (2024-02-02T19:00:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-02-02T18:00:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2024-02-02T17:30:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2024-02-01T19:45:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-02-01T19:30:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-02-01T19:30:00.000Z)

ALBA Berlin v Valencia Basket (2024-02-01T19:00:00.000Z)

Some serious midrange shooters boosting offensive efficiency shows that point-scoring is not all three-pointers and dunks.

EuroLeague Stats review: Midrange marksmen

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv guard [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) was named Turkish Airlines EuroLeague's Round 23 MVP after scoring 22 points in his team's victory over Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall. More than half of his points, 12 in all, came on midrange jump shots as Baldwin repeatedly attacked the paint and rose up sharply to score over retreating defenders. 

The relevance of midrange scoring has dipped over time as many of teams who attempted a higher proportion of their jump shots inside the arc a decade ago have been forced to respond to hyper-efficient offenses built on three-point marksmanship. Regardless, there's still a place for midrange play in the modern EuroLeague, whether it's a high-percentage shot for a particularly skilled one-on-one player, a solution to score over a bigger defender, or the look left open against drop coverage of pick-and-rolls. There's still value to be found the midrange area – even for some of the competition's most efficient teams.

Hust as Baldwin did in Round 23, shooting guard [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade has been proving as much over the last two seasons. The table above lists the 10 most prolific midrange scorers in the EuroLeague this season along with their field goal percentage on midrange attempts. Partizan ranks second behind only Real Madrid in overall offensive efficiency despite attempting a considerable volume of shots in the midrange area. Punter's effectiveness around the lane plays a key role in that, but the lone player who has shot a better percentage than he has on the list above, teammate [PJ Dozier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/perry-dozier-jr/012742/), is a major factor as well. 

[Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) does much of his scoring elsewhere, but the EuroLeague's most dangerous offensive weapon is prolific from the midrange, as well. His ability to take what defenders give him by attacking the rim and keep defenders guessing when he operates inside the arc are part of what make him so dangerous. 

Baldwin and his teammate [Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/) are aggressive in midrange spots, and while they'll have some big games like Baldwin did last week, the value of those attempts runs a little deeper for Maccabi. The pressure that duo puts on the mid-paint one-on-one is an obvious factor in the team's league-leading offensive rebound percentage. Baldwin's speed frequently allows him to draw the attention of help defenders and Brown's size allows him to shoot over smaller guards in short-range spots. When defenders react to their paint touches, it hurts the opposing team's ability to box out effectively.

Though the midrange has become something of a lost art at this point, largely reserved for pick-and-roll point guards who dominate the list above, there is some room for big men to contribute from that distance as well. Specifically, big men who can catch in the middle of the lane in short-roll situations and toss in floaters can make defenses think twice about how they are pre-rotating to defend those shots. [Josh Nebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/josh-nebo/011199/) and [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/) have been particularly effective with those shots – even if their makes tend to elicit a defensive response that then leads to openings elsewhere.

While midrange shots are often maligned as being inefficient, they still have a role in modern EuroLeague offenses though the meaning differs from team to team. That fact this season's two most efficient teams, Real Madrid and Partizan, sit on the compete opposite extremes of the midrange spectrum hammers that point home.

Stats review: Midrange marksmen

The night of January 5, 2024 will be always remembered in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague will always be remembered because it was the night in which the longest game, up to that point, was played.

Dzanan Musa, Real Madrid: 'It was really special'

It all happened in Madrid, Spain, in one of the most magical nights of the year for the kids living in that country, since it is the night during which the Three Wise Men visit all homes at night and deliver gifts. But this time, one of the most dramatic gifts would be delivered a few hours earlier, when Real Madrid and Anadolu Efes Istanbul faced off in [an instant classic that ended after four overtimes with a 130-126 win for the hosts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-anadolu-efes-istanbul/E2023/170/).

"Before the game there was something special in the air," Real Madrid player Dzanan Musa recalls. "Efes had just lost five games in a row, and we had to come up with all the energy that we had."

Musa would end the game with 40 points and 8 assists.

Despite a bad start to the game, Los Blancos managed to get back in the game and in the final back and forth it was all up to the last play, in which two free throws by Musa tied it at 81-81. After the first extra session, Mario Hezonja had the winning shot in his hands, but the ball would not go in.

"It's not possible that we are going to another overtime," Musa remembers.

It was Hezonja again who, five minutes later, would deliver a reverse layup that would be forcing the third overtime, 102-102.

"It's basketball." Hezonja assures. "It's beautiful."

At this point, history was already being written because never a EuroLeague game had needed to go to the third extra session to be solved. But little did everyone know, that Real and Efes were far from done.

"When fans start encouraging us, everything gets different." coach Chus Mateo says. "It's somewhat like magic."

After five more minutes, the score was 111-111 and Efes hotshot Shane Larkin drove to the basket to solve the deal but, again, the ball would have none of that.

Finally, after grinding a little bit extra in all the plays, Real managed to come out on top, 130-126.

"I was exhausted," Musa remembers. "I had plans for dinner, but I had to cancel it all because it was like, already 12 o'clock!"

"Both teams fought like lions." Mateo concludes.

Real Madrid v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2024-01-05T19:45:00.000Z)

Struggling FC Bayern Munich (9-14) will look to push closer to the top ten with a visit from Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (12-11), which dropped out of the playoff places after scoring a season-low 62 points in a home loss to Valencia last week. 

Bayern, Baskonia aim to reboot after losses

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/fc-bayern-munich-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/E2023/209/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs24-game-facts-mun-bas/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs24-game-notes-mun-bas/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs24-prequotes-mun-bas/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-24/)

Bayern took a 68-76 victory when the teams met in Vitoria in October, helped by 14 points from [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/) and a defense that held Baskonia sharpshooter [Markus Howard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/markus-howard/011948/) to 4 points. Howard also had a difficult game last week, making just 3 of his 14 field goal attempts, so he’ll be looking to get back to get back on track in Round 24, having averaged 18.6 points per game this season. Three of the league’s top five rebounders meet in the paint as [Serge Ibaka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/serge-ibaka/003583/) (6.8 rebounds per game) confronts [Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/) (7.3 rpg) and [Tadas Sedekerskis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tadas-sedekerskis/007230/) (7.2 rpg).

[Bayern Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/statistics/mun/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Baskonia Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/statistics/bas/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Serge Ibaka vs. Tadas Sedekerskis: Two of the top board men in the league will be fighting over every miss on Tuesday.

FC Bayern Munich celebrated a valuable 68-76 win at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz thanks to an industrious and workmanlike performance, making light of Serge Ibaka's absence. 

Last Game: 2023-24, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. FC Bayern Munich - Round 3

Boosted by last week’s impressive victory over Bayern, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (5-18) will look to keep on moving in the right direction with a tough visit from playoff-chasing Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (14-9). 

ASVEL plots a new upset when Fenerbahce comes to town

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne-fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/E2023/210/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs24-game-facts-asv-ulk/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs24-game-facts-asv-ulk/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs24-prequotes-asv-ulk/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-24/)

Strong rebounding was key for ASVEL in its triumph last week with [Youssoupha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/youssoupha-fall/006568/) grabbing 13 boards and [Mbaye Ndiaye](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mbaye-ndiaye/012731/) 11, and they will look to prevent Fener big man [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/johnathan-motley/011157/) from repeating his dominant performance – 23 points and 11 rebounds – in last week’s win over Virtus. Both teams were under the command of different coaches when they met in Round 4, as Fenerbahce defeated ASVEL 101-86 behind 18 points from [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/scottie-wilbekin/006661/) and 9 assists from [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/). The Turkish team has the third-best three-point conversion rate in the league, 38.1%, while ASVEL ranks last in that category (33.2%).

[ASVEL Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/statistics/asv/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Fenerbahce Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/statistics/ulk/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Paris Lee vs. Nick Calathes: These two ballhandlers will be directing the floor show often on Tuesday.

Fenerbahce rallied from 18 points down to defeat ASVEL 101-86 to improve to 3-1 with a double-round sweep. Scottie Wilbekin paced five Fenerbahce scorers in double figures with 18 points.

Last Game: 2023-24, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne - Round 4

Inconsistent Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (9-14) will hope for home comforts as it welcomes a Valencia Basket team (12-11) chasing a third consecutive victory. 

Zvezda looks to gain ground on visiting Valencia

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade-valencia-basket/E2023/208/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs24-game-facts-red-val/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs24-game-notes-red-val/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs24-prequotes-red-val/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-24/)

Zvezda will look for recent signing [Javonte Smart](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/javonte-smart/012801/) to continue his strong start after scoring 11 and 14 points in his first two games, while Valencia’s new backcourt arrival [Kevin Pangos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kevin-pangos/006433/) has been slower to settle with an average of just 1.7 points over his three appearances. December’s meeting between the teams was an exciting back-and-forth affair eventually taken by Valencia, 85-81, powered by 21 points from [Brandon Davies](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/brandon-davies/007870/), who was also instrumental in last week’s win at Baskonia. The task of containing him will fall to [Luka Mitrovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/luka-mitrovic/002553/) and [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/), with the former looking to bounce back after recording 0 points or rebounds in last week’s loss at ALBA.

[Zvezda Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/statistics/red/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Valencia Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/valencia-basket/statistics/pam/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Luka Mitrovic vs. Semi Ojeleye: Two bangers who like to dominate the boards will test each other on Tuesday.

Valencia find themselves listed as the the lowest scorers in the competition with just 73.9 ppg, while also laboured with the worst two-point conversion rate. They welcome a Zvezda outfit boosted by an excellent success over Efes, when Yago Dos Santos underlined his growing status in a season high display.

Last Game: 2023-24, Valencia Basket vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade - Round 12

Olympiacos Piraeus (12-11) will attempt to strengthen its position in the playoff chances with a visit from an increasingly dangerous ALBA Berlin (5-18), which has won two of its last three games.

Olympiacos welcomes unpredictable ALBA to Piraeus

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/olympiacos-piraeus-alba-berlin/E2023/211/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs24-game-facts-oly-ber/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs24-game-notes-oly-ber/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs24-prequotes-oly-ber/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-24/)

The German team suffered a heavy defeat, 67-94, when the teams met in Round 17, with the Reds inspired by 23 points from [Alec Peters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alec-peters/008829/) on 9-of-11 field goal shooting plus 9 assists from [Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/). ALBA’s victory last week over Zvezda came via a season-high 19 points from [Matt Thomas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/matt-thomas/008967/), while [Yanni Wetzell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/yanni-wetzell/011934/) also maintained his good form with 11 points and 9 rebounds. Olympiacos has lost three of its last four games, all on the road, and needs to keep Peace and Friendship Stadium a fortress after winning its last three in Piraeus.

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

Thomas Walkup vs. Sterling Brown: The battle on the perimeter will feature this pair of key contributors.

The Reds cast aside their recent issues to gain a win at ASVEL, powered by a near-record 8 blocks by Moustapha Fall and the impressive Shaquielle McKissic. They journey to ALBA, who want another strong Matt Thomas performance, who made 3 of 5 three-point attempts during a defeat to Fenerbahce.