Panathinaikos Athens found the star guard it was looking for in Luca Vildoza, who signed a multi-year deal with the club. Vildoza, who was chosen as the EuroLeague MVP of the Month for December 2022, is coming off a strong season with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade.

Panathinaikos signs playmaker Luca Vildoza

Panathinaikos Athens has found the star guard it was looking for in [Luca Vildoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/luca-vildoza/007947/), who has signed a three-year deal with the club. Vildoza (27 years old, 1.91 meters) is coming off a strong season with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, where he averaged 12.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals over 29 games in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague last season. Vildoza, who was chosen as the EuroLeague MVP of the Month for December 2022, ranked third in the league in steals.

A native of Argentina, Vildoza began his career in his homeland with Quilmes Mar del Plata before moving to Spain with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, where he played from 2017 to 2021. Vildoza made his EureoLeague debut with Baskonia and helped it win the 2020 Spanish League championship. He was named MVP of the finals that year, too. Vildoza then played for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA in the 2021-22 season and returned to Europe with Zvezda last season.

Luca Vildoza | December MVP | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Vildoza led Zvezda to the Serbian League and Cup double last season, while the team also reached the finals of the ABA League. His trophy case also includes several medals with the Argentinian national team, including a gold medal at the 2014 South American Games and respective silver medals at the 2017 Americas Championship and the 2019 Basketball World Cup.

Ironically, Vildoza had one of his best-ever games against his new coach, Ergin Ataman; during his time at Baskonia, he scored 23 points and had a career-best PIR of 34 against Ataman’s Anadolu Efes Istanbul on March 29, 2019. Vildoza has already entered the top 100 in his career in both assists (63rd, 454) and steals (75th, 158) and as he enters the prime of his career, he is in place to continue climbing the all-time charts, now in a green uniform.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let’s welcome Luca to our green family! 🙌☘<br><br>Read More 👉 <a href="https://t.co/FuxGqxq9dn">https://t.co/FuxGqxq9dn</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobc</a> <a href="https://t.co/aESqK5qmei">pic.twitter.com/aESqK5qmei</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1673326566540029954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Olimpia Milano has announced the renewal of Shavon Shields's contract until the end of the 2025-26 season. Shields (29 years old, 2.01 meters), a two-time All-EuroLeague Second Team selection, has been a key player for Milan since joining the club three years ago, but this season he was able to play in just 10 EuroLeague games last season due to injury. 

Shavon Shields commits his future to Olimpia Milano

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan has announced the renewal of [Shavon Shields](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shavon-shields/007831/)'s contract through the end of the 2025-26 season. Shields (29 years old, 2.01 meters) has been a key player for Milan since joining the club three years ago, but this season he was able to play in just 10 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season due to injury, missing Rounds 5 through 26. Nevertheless, the two-time All-EuroLeague Second Team selection – both of which came with Milan, in 2021 and 2022 – posted impressive averages of 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and an 8.4 PIR. Now, Milan fans can continue to enjoy Shields's play for a further two years.

The best plays of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan forward Shavon Shields in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Shavon Shields's best plays in 2022-23

Shields has 129 games of experience in the EuroLeague, with 99 coming as a starter, and his overall averages stand at 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and an 11.5 PIR. After spending four years at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, he began his professional career with Skyliners Frankfurt of Germany in the 2016-17 campaign, impressing in both the German League and the Basketball Champions League. Those performances earned him a move to Italian side Dolomiti Energia Trento, where he played in the 7DAYS EuroCup and averaged 11.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals and an 11.1 PIR. Then came the opportunity he had been waiting for: a shot in the EuroLeague.

 

The small forward made his EuroLeague debut with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the 2018-19 season, and he remained there for a further season before joining Milan in the summer of 2020. Curiously, he averaged the same number of points – 9.8 – in both of his years at Baskonia.

 

In Shields's first year at Milan, the club reached the Final Four but ultimately came up short against FC Barcelona in the semifinals due to a last-second game-winner by Cory Higgins. For him personally, though, it was his best season yet in the EuroLeague, as he averaged 13.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals across 36 games. The following year, Shields and Milan fell to eventual champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul in the playoffs, but he was once again impressive with averages of 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals. Last season, however, the Italian team failed to make the playoffs at all in what was an injury-hit campaign for the 29-year-old. Heading into next season, Shields and Milan will be hoping to respond in a positive fashion after what was largely a campaign to forget.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shavon Shields fino al 2026: &quot;Un onore ricevere questa fiducia, un orgoglio vestire questa maglia&quot; ➡ <a href="https://t.co/J1eM0oU1Ht">https://t.co/J1eM0oU1Ht</a><br><br>Shavon Shields 2026: &quot;Grateful for the chance to wear this jersey into the future&quot; ➡ <a href="https://t.co/BB9N3dE8sN">https://t.co/BB9N3dE8sN</a><br><br>⚪🔴<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/insieme?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#insieme</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Shields2026?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Shields2026</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/shields3uno?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shields3uno</a> <a href="https://t.co/xFktTraZCH">pic.twitter.com/xFktTraZCH</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1673314076636659714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Shavon Shields in action for EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Shavon Shields commits his future to Milan

Years down the road, when talking about the 2022-23 season and Real Madrid's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague championship, the performances and impact of Walter Tavares will for sure be remembered the most. It is not that hard to argue that Real Madrid would not have won its 11th EuroLeague title, and maybe not have even reached the Final Four, without Tavares.

Tribute to the champs: Walter Tavares

Years down the road, when talking about the 2022-23 season and Real Madrid's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague championship, the performances and impact of [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) will for sure be remembered the most. It is not that hard to argue that Real Madrid would not have won its 11th EuroLeague title, and maybe not have even reached the Final Four, without Tavares.

Voted to the All-EuroLeague First Team and as the EuroLeague Best Defender, Tavares first trashed the competition's single-season record for blocks during the regular season and then proceeded to have one of the most dominant and memorable stretches of games in the playoffs and at the Final Four, leading Los Blancos to the throne as the Final Four MVP.

Walter Tavares dominated in Real Madrid's last five games

TRIBUTE TO THE CHAMPS

With Real down 0-2 in the best-of-five playoff series against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, Tavares had a monster Game 3 at Stark Arena in the Serbian capital, amassing 26 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks for a PIR 41. He had a PIR of 30 in Game 4 and then collected 12 points plus 7 rebounds and 2 steals in the deciding Game 5 as Real became the first team in competition history to reach the Final Four after trailing 0-2 in its playoff series. 

At the Final Four in Kaunas, Tavares dominated in the semis against FC Barcelona with 20 points, tying a Final Four single-game record with 15 rebounds, and blocking 4 shots for a 39 PIR. Then he posted another double-double in the championship game with 13 points and 10 rebounds to beat Olympiacos Piraeus.

After averaging 10.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks for an average PIR of 16.2 in the regular season, Tavares played more than 32 minutes per game and posted 17.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and an average PIR of 29.2 in the last five games of the season, all do-or-dies for Real Madrid. He also stopped at 88 blocked shots during the campaign. All told, an effort worth admiring for a man who is now a deserving two-time EuroLeague champion.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul added size and energy to its roster by signing power forward Derek Willis to a one-plus-one-year deal. Willis (28 years old, 2.06 meters) arrives from Umana Reyer Venezia. Next season will see him play in the EuroLeague for the first time in his career.

Anadolu Efes brings in power forward Derek Willis

Anadolu Efes Istanbul added size and energy to its roster by signing power forward [Derek Willis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/derek-willis/009664/) to a one-plus-one-year deal. Willis (28 years old, 2.06 meters) arrives from Umana Reyer Venice, where he averaged 12.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and a PIR of 15.0 in 19 games in last season's 7DAYS EuroCup. He ranked sixth in three-point shooting (47.5%) and fourth in free-throw accuracy (90.7%). Willis averaged 9.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 34 Italian League games with Reyer. Next season will see him play in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the first time in his career.

Derek Willis ranks fifth all-time in three-point shooting in the 7DAYS EuroCup, burying 60 of 125 attempts (48.0%). Here are some of his best three-pointers with Umana Reyer Venice in the 2022-23 season.

Derek Willis: elite three-point shooter

Willis started his career with the Grand Rapids Gold of the G League, and he also played for Goettingen and ratiopharm Ulm of Germany, Brindisi of Italy and Joventut Badalona of Spain before joining Reyer last season. In 45 EuroCup career games with Ulm, Joventut and Reyer, Willis has averaged 11.0 points and 5.3 rebounds, ranking fifth all-time in three-point shooting (48.0%). Before that, Willis helped the University of Kentucky reach the NCAA Tournament Final Four in 2015. He has also been a member of the USA national team. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Kadromuzu güçlendirmeye devam ediyoruz! <a href="https://twitter.com/derekxwillis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@derekxwillis</a> ile 1+1 sezonluk sözleşme imzaladık. ✍️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Welcome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Welcome</a> Derek <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HouseOfBlue?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HouseOfBlue</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/vtcyIyxyTC">pic.twitter.com/vtcyIyxyTC</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1672967922938007552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

New Anadolu Efes Istanbul signing Derek Willis during a game for Umana Reyer Venice in the 7DAYS EuroCup last season.

Efes brings in power forward Derek Willis

Anadolu Efes Istanbul has confirmed the signing of Erkan Yilmaz on a two-year contract. Yilmaz (25 years old, 1.92 meters) was a key member of the Turk Telekom Ankara side that reached the EuroCup Final last season. He will make his EuroLeague debut next season.

Erkan Yilmaz reunites with Erdem Can at Anadolu Efes

Anadolu Efes Istanbul has confirmed the signing of [Erkan Yilmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/erkan-yilmaz/006372/) on a two-year contract. Yilmaz (25 years old, 1.92 meters) was a key member of the Turk Telekom Ankara side that reached the 7DAYS EuroCup Final last season, and for that reason head coach Erdem Can wanted to bring the forward with him to Efes. In a do-it-all role of the bench, Yilmaz posted averages of 6.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals and a 9.6 PIR across all 22 of Turk Telekom's EuroCup games in the 2022-23 campaign. He will make his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut next season.

The best plays of Erkan Yilmaz with Turk Telekom Ankara in the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup season.

Erkan Yilmaz's best plays in 2022-23

Yilmaz enjoyed his best season to date under Coach Can at Turk Telekom last season, as he set career highs for points, rebounds, assists and steals in both the EuroCup and the Turkish League. The 25-year-old has spent his entire career playing in his native Turkey, having made his professional debut with Antalyaspor in 2013 before going on to play for Turkish First Division team Banvit in the 2015-16 campaign, which is when he got his first taste of EuroCup basketball. He alternated between the first and second divisions over the next few years, playing for Bandirma Kirmizi, Yesilgiresun Belediye and Yeni Mamak. Since 2019, though, Yilmaz has been a first division player, as he suited up for Bandirma in 2019-20 and then he stayed at Bahcesehir for two years, playing in the EuroCup in the first of his two seasons there (2020-21). Last summer, he joined Turk Telekom and became a EuroCup runner-up, and now he's followed head coach Erdem Can and center Tyrique Jones to Istanbul by signing for Efes.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Ailemize yeni bir üye daha! <a href="https://twitter.com/erkanyilmaaz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@erkanyilmaaz</a> ile 2 yıllık sözleşme imzaladık. ✍️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ho%C5%9FGeldin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HoşGeldin</a> Erkan <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HouseOfBlue?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HouseOfBlue</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/gSYxqO8fLX">pic.twitter.com/gSYxqO8fLX</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1672907565255086080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Erkan Yilmaz, the latest signing at Anadolu Efes Istanbul, in action for Turk Telekom Ankara in the 7DAYS EuroCup last season.

Erkan Yilmaz reunites with Erdem Can at Efes

Anadolu Efes Istanbul has made former EuroCup champion Dogus Ozdemiroglu its newest signing, inking the experienced combo guard to a two-year contract on Saturday. Ozdemiroglu (1.91 meters, 27 years old) arrives from the team he grew up with Darussafaka, and played for most of the last decade, including two seasons each in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the EuroCup between 2015 and 2020. He and Darussafaka became EuroCup champions together in 2018. 

Efes adds speedy Dogus Ozdemiroglu to backcourt

Anadolu Efes Istanbul has made former EuroCup champion [Dogus Ozdemiroglu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dogus-ozdemiroglu/006640/) its newest signing, inking the experienced combo guard to a two-year contract on Saturday. Ozdemiroglu (1.91 meters, 27 years old) arrives from the team he grew up with Darussafaka, and played for most of the last decade, including two seasons each in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the EuroCup between 2015 and 2020. He and Darussafaka became EuroCup champions together in 2018. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Milli oyuncu <a href="https://twitter.com/dozdemiroglu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dozdemiroglu</a> ile 2 yıllık sözleşme imzaladık! ✍️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ho%C5%9FGeldin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HoşGeldin</a> Doğuş <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HouseOfBlue?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HouseOfBlue</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/WlmZvHxSbj">pic.twitter.com/WlmZvHxSbj</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1672639603348590594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Ozdemiroglu's numbers in each competition, about 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in under 12 minutes per game, do not speak to his effect as a live-wire defensive ace whose speed and hustle often changed games for Darussafaka. In his last EuroLeague season, 2018-19, he ranked second with 3.0 steals per 40 minutes, and the next year in the EuroCup was third in the same category at 3.3 on average. Since then, with more time on court, Ozdemiroglu has become an all-around threat for Darussafaka, averaging 14.5 points, 6.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds a 2.3 steals last season in the Turkish League. 

Anadolu Efes Istanbul has completed the signing of Tyrique Jones. The center, who earned 2022-23 All-EuroCup Second Team honors and was named as the 2022-23 Turkish League MVP, now gets the chance to bring his energetic play and highlight-reel dunks to the EuroLeague with Efes.

Anadolu Efes lands Turkish League MVP Tyrique Jones

Anadolu Efes Istanbul has completed the signing of [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) on a two-year contract. Jones (26 years old, 2.06 meters) shined in the 7DAYS EuroCup with Turk Telekom Ankara last season, averaging 12.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.2 steals and a 19.0 PIR as his team [finished as the runner-up](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2223-final-report-grancanaria-turktelekom/). The center, who earned 2022-23 All-EuroCup Second Team honors and was named as the 2022-23 Turkish League MVP, now gets the chance to bring his energetic play and highlight-reel dunks to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with Efes.

Tyrique Jones | Best Plays | 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup

Coming off his debut season in the EuroCup with Turk Telekom, Jones seems ready for the step up to the EuroLeague. The American began his professional career just three years ago with Korean side Wonju DB Promy, with which he signed a short-term deal, before going on to join Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel. Jones made a good impact with Hapoel, averaging 13.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks in 16 Israeli League games, and that caught the eye of Italian outfit Victoria Libertas Pesaro. Despite moving to a new country and a new league, no acclimatization time was needed, as Jones posted averages of 13.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 33 Italian League fixtures. Then came Jones's breakout campaign with Turk Telekom, in which he dominated from the 5 position all season long, both domestically and in Europe.

Now comes his biggest test to date, as the 26-year-old prepares to come up against the best centers on the continent on a week-by-week basis. But, judging by how he has handled his professional career so far, it would be no surprise to see Jones take everything in his stride once again. Jones has the chance to once again work under Erdem Can, who was in charge of Turk Telekom last season, and they will be hoping to help Efes – the back-to-back EuroLeague champion in 2021 and 2022 – return to the top table of European basketball once again, having missed the playoffs in the 2022-23 season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Başarılı pivot Tyrique Jones ile 2 yıllık sözleşme imzaladık! ✍️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Welcome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Welcome</a> T-Jones <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HouseOfBlue?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HouseOfBlue</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/xcTh6qGXqj">pic.twitter.com/xcTh6qGXqj</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1672545099723440128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

New Anadolu Efes Istanbul signing Tyrique Jones during a Turk Telekom Ankara game in the 7DAYS EuroCup last season.

Efes lands Turkish League MVP Tyrique Jones

Olympiacos Piraeus has announced the return of big man Nikola Milutinov. Milutinov (28 years old, 2.13 meters) has been one of the most prominent centers in the EuroLeague over the last few years, having shined with CSKA Moscow over the last three seasons. Milutinov previously played for Olympiacos between 2015 and 2020.

Olympiacos welcomes back Nikola Milutinov

Olympiacos Piraeus has announced the return of big man [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/), who has signed a deal with the Reds until the end of the 2024-25 campaign. Milutinov (28 years old, 2.13 meters) has been one of the most prominent centers in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague over the last few years, having shined with CSKA Moscow since 2020. Last season, the Serbia international averaged 14.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists with CSKA in the VTB United League. Milutinov last played in the EuroLeague in the 2021-22 campaign, when he averaged 7.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and a 13.6 PIR in 16 appearances.

The best plays of new Olympiacos Piraeus signing Nikola Milutinov between the 2017-18 season and the 2021-22 campaign.

Nikola Milutinov's top plays since 2017-18

This will be Milutinov's second stint at Olympiacos, where he previously played for five seasons between 2015 and 2020, during which time he emerged as one of the top big men in Europe. He made his EuroLeague debut with Partizan Belgrade in 2012 and, after two seasons there, he moved to Piraeus. In the summer of 2020, Milutinov joined CSKA and he remained in Moscow until the end of his contract, even though Russian teams were removed from the competition midway through the 2021-22 season.

Milutinov is heading into his 10th EuroLeague season. So far in his EuroLeague career, he has scored a total of 1,497 points, grabbed 1,106 rebounds and dished 177 assists in 200 games. Milutinov is ranked ninth all-time with 509 offensive rebounds, too. He was also named the MVP of the Month in December 2020 and has earned weekly MVP honors on six occasions.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="el" dir="ltr">✍🏽 Η ΚΑΕ Ολυμπιακός ανακοινώνει την απόκτηση του Νίκολα Μιλουτίνοφ.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a><a href="https://t.co/xwXyNNPLD4">https://t.co/xwXyNNPLD4</a></p>&mdash; OLYMPIACOS BC (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1672545211442970625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Nikola Milutinov during his first spell at Olympiacos Piraeus.

Olimpia Milano is the Italian League champion for the second year in a row – and the 30th time in its history – after defeating Virtus Segafredo Bologna 4-3 in their best-of-seven series. At a sold-out Mediolanum Forum, Milan won 67-55 in Game 7, leading to jubilant scenes inside the arena. 

Olimpia Milano beats Virtus Bologna in Game 7 to retain its Italian League crown

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan is the Italian League champion for the second year in a row – and the 30th time in its history – after defeating Virtus Segafredo Bologna 4-3 in their best-of-seven series. At a sold-out Mediolanum Forum, Milan won 67-55 in Game 7, leading to jubilant scenes inside the arena. It proved to be more of an old-school series, with all seven games being won by the home team. Luckily for Milan, having secured the No. 1 seed in the regular season, it was able to host the pivotal Game 7 at Mediolanum Forum.

Gigi Datome put in an MVP performance for Milan on the night, as he turned back the clock to score a game-high 16 points. Billy Baron was Milan's second-highest scorer with 11 points, nine of which came in the fourth quarter, while Shavon Shields also reached double figures for points with 10. Toko Shengelia was Virtus's leading scorer in the loss, as he had 13 points. Milos Teodosic ended the game with 10 points, too.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">⭐⭐⭐<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/insieme?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#insieme</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThirdStarTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThirdStarTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForzaOlimpia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForzaOlimpia</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1672338064813998080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Milan got off to a great start in Game 7, closing the first quarter with a 21-9 lead thanks to 10 points from Datome. While Virtus was able to outscore Milan in the second quarter, 17-20, the hosts led 38-29 at the break. Of Milan's 38 points at halftime, Datome (13), Kyle Hines (8) and Shields (7) had 28 between them. For Virtus, Shengelia was the team's highest scorer in the first half with 8 points, while Jordan Mickey had 6 and Daniel Hackett had 5.

When the teams returned for the second half, it was clear that tiredness was starting to become more of a factor, particularly given that this was Game 7 and they had already gone to battle six previous times in the last two weeks. Milan won a low-scoring third quarter 10-5 to extend its lead further, 48-34, but a valiant response from Virtus in the fourth threatened to turn the game on its head.

When Milos Teodosic scored a three-pointer to cut the deficit to eight points, 55-47, with 4:06 remaining, a late Virtus comeback seemed possible. But, a three-pointer by Billy Baron and then another by Datome soon after calmed any nerves inside Mediolanum Forum, 61-47. Shengelia went 2-for-2 from the line to keep Virtus's faint chances alive, but six straight points by Baron – a triple and 3 made free throws – put Milan well on its way towards the win, 67-49. Virtus scored the last six points of the game to make it a slightly more respectable final score of 67-55, but Milan was able to let time expire on the final possession as it started its celebrations early.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">L&#39;<a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OlimpiaMI1936</a> vince le <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LBAFinals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LBAFinals</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UnipolSai_CRP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UnipolSai_CRP</a> e conquista la terza stella della sua storia 🌟🌟🌟<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TuttoUnAltroSport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TuttoUnAltroSport</a> <a href="https://t.co/wK75hdn1S5">pic.twitter.com/wK75hdn1S5</a></p>&mdash; Lega Basket Serie A (@LegaBasketA) <a href="https://twitter.com/LegaBasketA/status/1672340459648163841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The EA7 Emporio Armani Milan players celebrate winning the Italian League title.