Fantasy Challenge guru Javier Gancedo shares his recommendations for this week

Javier Gancedo's fantasy tips for the start of the playoffs

Welcome to the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs! The best eight teams in the competition are set to fight for Final Four glory in four outstanding best-of-five series. The EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge continues until a champion is crowned in Abu Dhabi. There are unlimited trades, too, and I have some recommendations for all price ranges. Let's see them!

 

### DyShawn Pierre, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (5.8 credits)

A cheaper option to round out your roster. [DyShawn Pierre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dyshawn-pierre/010560/) has played well against Paris this season, getting 6 points and 5 rebounds for a PIR of 11 in Paris and 7 points and 4 rebounds for a PIR of 11 in Istanbul. Pierre is a great pick-and-roll defender and his experience should allow him to see good playing time in the playoffs. Go for him! 

 

### Dan Oturu, Anadolu Efes Istanbul (10.8 credits)

Looking back, [Dan Oturu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dan-oturu/012788/) played two very good games against Panathinaikos in regular season action and should be an important factor in the series. Efes enters the playoffs on an eight-game winning streak. Oturu struck twice against the Greens, getting 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting for a PIR of 21 in Istanbul and posting 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting for a PIR of 17 in their meeting in Athens.

Mario Hezonja, Kendrick Nunn, Daniel Theis, DyShawn Pierre and Dan Oturu are featured in this week's article.

EuroLeague Fantasy tips: Playoffs Games 1-2

### Daniel Theis, AS Monaco (13.2 credits)

Barca has done well against Monaco this season, winning both regular season games. [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) was not present in either of those games and he could be a difference-maker in the series. In eight games with Monaco, Theis has averaged 13.8 points on solid shooting (62.2% 2FG, 41.7% 3FG) and 6.1 rebounds for a PIR of 17.0. His toughness and experience gave Monaco exactly what it needed.

### Mario Hezonja, Real Madrid (13.4 credits)

[Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) does not need extra motivation before a playoff series, but the fact that Real plays Olympiacos should give him a boost. Real lost against the Reds twice this season but Hezonja posted solid numbers, averaging 16.0 points and a PIR of 16.0. He played a critical role in the Play-In Showdown final game against FC Bayern Munich with 19 points and 7 rebounds for a PIR of 24. A solid choice!

### Kendrick Nunn, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (19.6 credits)

[Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) was crowned the [2024-25 EuroLeague MVP](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/202425-turkish-airlines-euroleague-mvp-kendrick-nunn-panathinaikos-aktor-athens/) after a fantastic regular season in which he averaged a league-best 21.1 points plus 3.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists for a PIR of 20.3. Last season, he brought out his best in the playoffs against Maccabi, averaging 19.2 points on 51.6% three-pointers for a PIR of 16.6. Nunn should be your superstar of choice this week.

Olympiacos Piraeus v Real Madrid (2025-04-23T18:30:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v FC Barcelona (2025-04-23T17:00:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-04-22T18:30:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Paris Basketball (2025-04-22T17:45:00.000Z)

Referees named for the 2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs

Euroleague Basketball has released the list of 28 referees who are eligible to officiate during the postseason phases of the 2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

The EuroLeague Playoffs will begin on Tuesday, April 22 and continue through Wednesday, May 7, should any necessary Game 5s be played. The EuroLeague Final Four will be played on the weekend of May 23-25 in Abu Dhabi.

Daniel Hierrezuelo, Euroleague Basketball Officiating Director, selected the referees based on their performance throughout the 34-game regular season, as well as their experience and consistency at the highest level of European basketball.

The 28 officials represent 17 different countries and combine for over 400 seasons of experience in Euroleague Basketball competitions.

See the full list of selected referees below:

After a standout campaign marked by scoring brilliance, leadership, and clutch performances, Kendrick Nunn of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens has been named the 2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP

2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP: Kendrick Nunn, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

After a standout campaign marked by scoring brilliance, leadership, and clutch performances, [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens has been named the 2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP. The award, voted on by EuroLeague team captains and head coaches, accredited media, and fans, recognizes the player who had the most outstanding performance over the course of the regular season – and this year, that player was Nunn.

Nunn’s name appeared on more ballots than any other player with the votes of EuroLeague head coaches and team captains each accounting for 35 percent of the tally, media making of 20% of the vote and the fans' choices the final 10%. [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) of Olympiacos Piraeus placed second in the voting followed by [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) of Paris Basketball.

In his second season with Panathinaikos, Nunn led the EuroLeague in scoring at 21.1 points per game, becoming a constant offensive force and the winner of the [Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kendrick-nunn-is-the-2024-25-alphonso-ford-top-scorer-trophy-winner/). He also topped the charts in three-pointers made with 3.1 per contest and chipped in 4.1 assists and 1.0 steal while appearing in 33 of 34 regular-season games. Nunn’s explosiveness, creativity off the dribble, and smooth perimeter shooting helped Panathinaikos finish the regular season with a 22–12 record and secure home-court advantage in the playoffs.

He stepped up in particular over the second half of the season after the Greens lost All-EuroLeague center [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) to a broken leg. After averaging 20.2 points and 3.6 assists for a PIR of 18.9 through Round 17, Nunn upped his production to 21.9 points and 5.1 dimes for a PIR of 21.6 the rest of the way.

Nunn’s season was filled with memorable performances. He scored at least 30 points on four occasions, including [a career-best 39-point eruption](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kendrick-nunn-enjoyed-record-night-at-oaka/) in Round 16 against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. He drilled 4 or more three-pointers in 12 different games and was named MVP of the Round three times, as well as [EuroLeague MVP of the Month for February](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kendrick-nunn-shines-as-euroleagues-mvp-for-february/). His consistent ability to take over games in critical moments made him a nightmare for opposing defenses and a fan favorite in Athens.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Nunn better it is, official” 🏆😁<a href="https://twitter.com/nunnbetter_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nunnbetter_</a> took care of business with the official post. <br><br>MVP, MVP, MVP 🗣️ <a href="https://t.co/eQg0Fp0OrL">pic.twitter.com/eQg0Fp0OrL</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1914277850380722365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Beyond the numbers, Nunn displayed poise and confidence befitting an MVP. Whether leading fast breaks, orchestrating the offense, or sinking tough shots with the game on the line, he proved to be a dynamic and dependable leader for Panathinaikos throughout the season. His impact was felt in more than just the stat sheet; it was in the energy he brought to the floor, the pressure he put on opposing defenses, and the belief he instilled in his teammates.

An [All-EuroLeague First Team](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/euroleague-basketball-names-the-202425-all-euroleague-first-team/) selection in both of his seasons in the competition, Nunn joins an elite list of EuroLeague MVPs. He is the first Panathinaikos player to earn the honor since Dimitris Diamantidis in 2010–11 and becomes the third American player to win the award following [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/2023-24-turkish-airlines-euroleague-mvp-mike-james-as-monaco/) of AS Monaco in 2023–24 and the only two-time EuroLeague MVP, Anthony Parker (2004-05, 2005-06) of Maccabi Tel Aviv.

More on Kendrick Nunn

2024-25 EuroLeague Award winners

Kendrick Nunn captures the EuroLeague’s highest individual honor after a sensational second season with the Greens

The quarterfinals of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague have arrived with no shortage of intrigue.  What can we learn about the action to come from how these teams fared against one another in the regular season?

Stats review: A look ahead at the Playoffs

The quarterfinals of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague have arrived with no shortage of intrigue.  What can we learn about the action to come from how these teams fared against one another in the regular season?

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Paris Basketball

Facing off twice in the month of March due to a scheduling quirk as their first matchup was postponed from December, Fenerbahce beat Paris twice, but only by a total of 5 points.  Not unlike their two losses to Real Madrid — the team that it beat on the road in the Play-In Showdown to get here, Paris established a rhythm offensively in both of those games but could not quite close the deal.  It remains a unique team to defend, playing as much pick-and-roll as any team in EuroLeague history and scored steadily out of ball screens and one-on-one situations against a Fenerbahce team that rose in the standings by virtue of its offensive prowess as it found mixed results guarding on the ball for much of the season. 

As prolific as Paris has been in pick-and-rolls this season offensively, its ability to slow down Fenerbahce in the two-man game and stay out of rotation will likely play a key role in this series as well. Marko Guduric and Errick McCollum combined to score 43 points in Fenerbahce’s win in late March, which saw it erase a 13-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to secure a 1-point win.  Fenerbahce generated 25.5 points per game with passes out of pick-and-rolls in their two games against Paris — well above its 14.9 season average. No EuroLeague defense takes away the three as effectively as Fenerbahce, and, when it is breaking down defenses consistently on the other end, its 41% shooting from beyond the arc in catch-and-shoot situations tips the math of games in a way that has been very difficult for opposing teams to overcome all season.   

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul

No quarterfinal pairing had more uneven regular season encounters than Panathinaikos and Efes. The defending champions lost by 26 in Istanbul back in Round 15 in their worst offensive performance of the season playing without Kendrick Nunn, but had their fourth-most efficient showing in a 15-point win with Nunn scoring 36 in Round 26. 

These are also the EuroLeague's two hottest teams.  While Panathinaikos won 8 of 10 to position itself for home-court advantage in the quarterfinals, Efes has won eight straight with its last loss coming in that game in OAKA Altion in early February.  Both Panathinaikos and Efes have scored 1.13 points per possession over those respective stretches. In a year where efficiency has reached an all-time high and Panathinaikos led the league by scoring 1.07 points per possession on the season overall, these two teams have taken their game to a different level in recent weeks.

Who can stay hot among Elijah Bryant, Shane Larkin, Kendrick Nunn and Kostas Sloukas will be something to monitor as both defenses face daunting challenges.

### AS Monaco vs. FC Barcelona

Barcelona beat Monaco twice this season as its opportunistic three-point shooting and efforts off the ball defensively allowed it to establish early leads that it never relinquished. Barcelona was one of five teams to allow fewer than 1.00 points per possession this season, but so was Monaco as both teams held their own defensively on the year.

What kind of rhythm Monaco can find is a point of interest as it never really got on track in either of its games against Barcelona. It scored only 20 points in spot-up situations in those contests — roughly half of its average for the season. Neither Elie Okobo nor Jordan Loyd got much going, scoring only 0.76 points per possession — well below the 1.08 points per possession standard they set the rest of the year as their shot-making is a very important part of this offense. Monaco was very potent in ball screens this season and played one-on-one as much as any team in recent EuroLeague history, so how their guards bounce back in the postseason from some of their lower moments earlier in the year is certainly a plotline to follow in this series. The addition of Daniel Theis will certainly help Monaco's cause.

### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Real Madrid

Olympiacos beat Madrid by 10 in both of their matchups this season, but have not faced them since they snapped their six-game winning streak in mid-January. Finishing the season winning seven of eight, Madrid has been playing its best basketball of the season recently, but has some things to prove against Olympiacos, which picked them apart in pick-and-rolls during their previous encounters. Olympiacos generated 41 points per game playing out of ball screens in their wins with both Evan Fournier and Thomas Walkup playing especially well. 

On the other end, the Reds held Madrid to just 26.5 points created per game out of pic- and-rolls — some 10 points below its season average.  While Madrid was quite effective in the open floor in those losses, *Los Blancos* struggled to score in the half-court — something they have done very consistently throughout their rise into the playoff picture. Scoring 1.03 points per possession in the half court over its last eight games after averaging only 0.96 points per possession prior to that point, Madrid has done a noticeably better job getting Walter Tavares and Usman Garuba involved inside and taking some pressure off its inconsistent three-point shooting. How well that growth offensively translates will be key against an Olympiacos team led by Sasha Vezenkov that has been extremely tough to beat in Piraeus. 

Sportradar breaks down the exciting showdowns in the quarterfinals

Stats review: A look ahead at the playoffs

EuroLeague top photos of the week

Look back at all the action from Play-In by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from the Play-In Showdown 

Old foes will reunite in the EuroLeague Playoffs as Real Madrid, having advanced past FC Bayern Basketball in the play-in, will take on Olympiacos BC.

Real Madrid ready to resume historic rivalry with Olympiacos

[Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) failed to feast from their first bite at the playoffs cherry by [losing at home to Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/paris-stuns-real-madrid-in-play-in-73-81-to-set-up-playoff-date-with-fenerbahce/) on Tuesday, but Chus Mateo’s men made sure they savored their second chance [by dominating FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-crushes-bayern-93-71-to-complete-playoff-picture/) in Friday’s all-or-nothing play-in showdown.

The Spanish giant started fast by scoring on the first possession as [Gabriel Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/gabriel-deck/009005/) hit a three-ball, and it soon raced into a double-digit lead with a 12-0 run featuring 4 and 5 points respectively from offensive leaders [Facundo Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) and [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/). And that was that. Real didn’t look troubled from that moment onwards, with Bayern never getting any closer than 10 points down as the home team controlled the tempo and rhythm throughout to grab a 93-71 victory that was every bit as comfortable as the scoreline suggests.

Accurate shooting from long range played a major part, especially in the first quarter when Real made 7 of its 8 attempts from three-point range, with seven different players on target. And although that pace couldn’t be maintained, the Spanish team recorded more than solid shooting percentages by going 18 of 30 from two-point range (60%) and 15 of 28 from beyond the arc (53.6%), in addition to dishing 24 assists.

And so Real advances as the eighth and final playoff qualifier to face regular-season standings leader [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) in a true classic of European basketball.

Real and the Reds have matched up in three title games in the last 12 years, most recently two years ago when [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/)’s buzzer-beater gave *Los Blancos* the crown in the most dramatic fashion possible. There was also a semifinal in Berlin last season, also won by the Spanish team, 87-76, after a 20-point performance from [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/).

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐆𝐔𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐒🍿<a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Olympiacos_BC</a>🆚<a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> <a href="https://t.co/HjgsCr8YAv">pic.twitter.com/HjgsCr8YAv</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1913328941076558059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

But Olympiacos enjoyed a clean sweep in this regular season with [a 79-69 home victory in Round 6](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-beats-real-madrid-79-69-in-rivalry-series-clash/) followed by [an emphatic 86-96 triumph in Madrid in Round 22](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-dominates-real-in-statement-making-win-86-96/), as 25 points from [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) led five Olympiacos players with double-digit scoring.

All told there have been 42 meetings between the teams this century (Real has 23 wins, Olympiacos 19), the sixth-most repeated matchup in competition history – which would rise to third place if the upcoming series goes the distance to five games.

And it’s clear that despite becoming the last team to qualify for the playoffs, and giving up home-court advantage to the team that led the regular season standings, Real will have absolutely no fear of failure as they head to Greece.

Real Madrid forward Mario Hezonja spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat FC Bayern Munich in the second round of the Play-In Showdown.

Mario Hezonja: 'We can do great things'

“Now the most important time of the season starts for us,” said Hezonja, who led his team’s scoring against Bayern on Friday with 19 points.

“We know that we didn’t play beautiful basketball during the year. We tried to find a lot of rhythm with different rotations, and it’s been hard for the staff and the players. But when we get out with the best players and the leaders of the team, everything falls into place and it’s easier to play. Now the most important part is starting.”

Although the turnaround for Real between the play-in and playoffs is just four days, with a Spanish league game in-between, Hezonja has no concerns whatsoever about his team’s preparedness to face Olympiacos.

“We’re absolutely ready,” he insisted. “If somebody’s not ready I don’t know what to tell you! It’s the most important time, a lot of players have been through this type of moment, and that helps us a lot. We need to have everybody on the same page if we want to win EuroLeague this year.”

Winning the EuroLeague looked like a distant prospect for Real during much of the regular season. But now it’s time for the playoffs, and the 11-time champion is on the trophy trail once again.

Game News

The Spanish team restored its confidence with an emphatic win over Bayern on Friday

Real Madrid v FC Bayern Munich (2025-04-18T18:45:00.000Z)

Having enjoyed a starring role in guiding his team to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, Paris Basketball star TJ Shorts has been secured Play-In MVP honors.

Play-In MVP: TJ Shorts, Paris Basketball

Having enjoyed a starring role in guiding his team to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, Paris Basketball star [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) has been secured Play-In MVP honors.

Shorts’s 27 PIR was the highest of any winning player across the three Play-In Showdown games, with Paris beating Real Madrid 73-81 on the road in the first round on Tuesday. The All-EuroLeague First Team guard finished with 23 points on 7-of-12 two-pointers, 1-of-5 threes, and 6-of-7 free throws, 9 assists and 9 fouls drawn, while he had a +10 in the plus/minus column, the second highest of any Paris player. This is Shorts’s fifth MVP award this season, which is tied for first with Olympiacos Piraeus forward Sasha Vezenkov. 

The highest PIR during the Play-In Showdown belonged to [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/), but it came in Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade’s 97-93 first-round defeat at FC Bayern Munich in overtime. Petrusev posted a 32 PIR after amassing a career-high 30 points on 12-of-14 twos, 1-of-3 threes, and 3-of-7 free throws, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 8 fouls drawn.

During that Bayern win over Crvena Zvezda, [Devin Booker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devin-booker/007056/) had 21 points on 3-of-9 two-point attempts, 2-of-3 triples, and 9-of-10 free throws, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 8 fouls drawn en route to a 25 PIR.

Tied with a 24 PIR and rounding out the list of top performers in the Play-In Showdown are Crvena Zvezda’s [Nikola Kalinic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-kalinic/004866/) and Real Madrid’s [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/). 

Kalinic recorded a season-high 20 points on 6-of-9 twos, 2-of-3 threes, and 2-of-4 free throws, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 3 fouls drawn in the Serbian side’s defeat in Munich, while Hezonja led the way in *Los Blancos’* second-round win over Bayern with 19 points on 5-of-5 two-pointers, 2-of-4 triples, and 3-of-3 free throws, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 foul drawn.

 

### Individual highs: TJ Shorts, Paris, 9 assists

Petrusev scored 30 points for Crvena Zvezda, more than anyone else in the two rounds of the Play-In Showdown. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens star [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) is the league’s leading scorer with 21.1 points per game. 

TJ Shorts dished 9 assists in Paris’s play-in win over Real Madrid, the highest number of dimes made by a player in the Play-In Showdown. Shorts also leads the league in assists with 7.5 helpers per night.

Real Madrid’s [Gabriel Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/gabriel-deck/009005/) and Bayern’s [Vladimir Lucic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vladimir-lucic/001288/) both pulled down 8 rebounds during their teams’ first-round games, the most of any player. Real Madrid’s [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) grabs a league-high 6.9 rebounds per contest.

Lucic and Crvena Zvezda’s [Codi Miller-McIntyre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/codi-miller-mcintyre/009048/) made 3 steals each in their teams’ first-round matchup, the most in the Play-In Showdown. Bayern’s [Nick Weiler-Babb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-weiler-babb/010391/), whose team was eliminated in the second round on Friday night, averaged a league-best 1.5 steals per game.

Paris duo [Kevarrius Hayes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevarrius-hayes/010390/) and [Leon Kratzer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/leon-kratzer/004512/) blocked 2 shots apiece in their team’s first-round triumph, with the two centers being the only players in the Play-In Showdown to block more than 1 shot. AS Monaco’s [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) posts 1.4 blocks per night, the best average in the EuroLeague.

No players recorded a double-double in the Play-In Showdown.

The first-year guard has now tied Sasha Vezenkov for the most MVP of the Round awards this season

AS Monaco has secured services of one its core pieces during the past four seasons, signing a three-year extension with forward Alpha Diallo, the club announced Saturday. 

Monaco pens Alpha Diallo to long-term extension

AS Monaco has secured services of one its core pieces during the past four seasons by signing a three-year extension with forward [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/), the club announced Saturday. 

Diallo (2.01 meters, 27 years old) is averaging 10.6 points on 40.2% three-point shooting, along with 4.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals, this season for a Monaco side that is getting ready for its best-of-five playoff series against FC Barcelona.

Alpha Diallo's top plays of the 2024-25 regular season

"I’ve been here since the beginning of the EuroLeague adventure almost four years ago, and it’s incredible to see how far I’ve come", Diallo said for club's website. "Monaco is truly like my second home now. The club, the fans, the city - I’m fulfilled and happy in this environment. At this point, it’s more than just basketball. There’s a real connection, and extending my contract was a no-brainer."

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">🔒 Alpha Diallo prolonge à Monaco ! 🇲🇨<br><br>🦾 Homme fort de la Roca Team depuis quatre ans et le début de l&#39;aventure Euroleague, Alpha Diallo sera monégasque les trois prochaines saisons ✍️<br><br>🗣 Communiqué et interview à retrouver sur notre site 📝<br>👉<a href="https://t.co/OeP81rqDvy">https://t.co/OeP81rqDvy</a>… <a href="https://t.co/LjZEBku4C0">pic.twitter.com/LjZEBku4C0</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1913503151216296223?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Diallo has started in 77 of his 141 appearances over the last four seasons with Monaco, and in each of those the team has reached the EuroLeague Playoffs. He is considered one of the EuroLeague's premier defenders, and he finished third in the voting for this season's Best Defender Trophy. In his four seasons, he has 172 steals, second-most over that four-year span behind only Thomas Walkup.

Before joining Monaco in the summer of 2021, Diallo spent four years playing college basketball at Providence College, then started his professional career with Lavrio of Greece in 2020.

More Monaco News

One of the EuroLeague's best defensive players is staying with Monaco

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 36th winner in this season's EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge! Ioannis Kontopoulos beat everyone else in the second round of the Play-In Showdown with his team, which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 174.50.

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Play-In Showdown second round winner

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 36th winner in this season's [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Ioannis Kontopoulos beat everyone else in the second round of the Play-In Showdown with his team 'ΘΡΥΛΟΣΟΥΠΕΡ', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 174.50.

Ioannis had the following starting lineup: Mario Hezonja of Real Madrid as team captain, then Facundo Campazzo, Alberto Abalde, Dzanan Musa and Walter Tavares, all of Real Madrid. His sixth man was FC Bayern Munich's Shabazz Napier. The rest of the bench consisted of Bayern quartet Andreas Obst, Nick Weiler-Babb, Vladimir Lucic and Johannes Voigtmann. His team's head coach was Real Madrid play-caller Chus Mateo.

The prize for finishing first in Round 36 is a free VIP Euroleague TV subscription for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, Ioannis!

Marko Djukic and his team 'Kughat' remains the leader of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/) overall standings with 6,174.79 points.

Trades are now open for the first round of the EuroLeague Playoffs, and there are an unlimited number of trades.

The first playoff game tips off on Tuesday, April 22 at 19:45 CEST as Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul hosts Paris Basketball, marking the next round's deadline.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become our next round winner!

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge offers weekly prizes to the top team manager. 