Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz has added size and athleticism by signing forward Rodions Kurucs to a three-year deal, the club announced Wednesday. 

Baskonia adds size, athleticism with Rodions Kurucs

[Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/bas/) has added size and athleticism by signing forward [Rodions Kurucs](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rodions-kurucs/005713/) to a three-year deal, the club announced Wednesday. 

Kurucs (2.06 meters, 27 years old) arrives from fellow Spanish side Murcia, where he played the last two years.

Last season, Kurucs posted 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in Spanish League action, as well as 8.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals in the Basketball Champions League. He now returns to the EuroLeague, where he made five appearances over two seasons with FC Barcelona, having made his debut in 2016-17 campaign.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">✍️ OFICIAL | Rodions Kurucs, nuevo jugador de Baskonia hasta 2028 🔵🔴<br><br>📎 <a href="https://t.co/wng9wVQsdA">https://t.co/wng9wVQsdA</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OngiEtorriRodions?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OngiEtorriRodions</a> <a href="https://t.co/kE36yA19xH">pic.twitter.com/kE36yA19xH</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1942996129525961001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Kurucs joined Barcelona as a teenager after coming through at VEF Riga in his native Latvia. Kurucs had been a standout player at youth level. He helped Barcelona win the 2016 adidas NextGen EuroLeague crown as an All-Tournament selection and also helped Latvia win a silver medal at the U16 European Championship in 2014.

He then went on to spend three years in the NBA between 2018 and 2021, the first two with Brthe Brooklyn Nets, then one in which he also played with the Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks. He played a total of 131 games in the NBA over three years, averaging 16 minutes per game and posting 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds.

The Latvian returned to Europe in 2021, joining Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, and split the 2022-23 season between Real Betis in Spain and Strasbourg in France.

More Baskonia News

The Latvian forward returns to the EuroLeague after six years away

By joining Panathinaikos BC, TJ Shorts joins four-time EuroLeague champion Kostas Sloukas and last season's MVP Kendrick Nunn in what is an unprecedented situation at any level.

TJ Shorts gives Panathinaikos a unique lefty approach 

After a great EuroLeague debut season, [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) switched teams this summer to join [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/), taking another step in his personal journey.

The 27-year-old had become a king at Paris Basketball, leading the club to the French League crown, the French Leaders' Cup title and, perhaps most importantly, the BKT EuroCup trophy. That EuroCup triumph, a season which saw Shorts crowned as the MVP, gave Paris – and himself – the right to play in the EuroLeague for the first time.

An All-EuroLeague First Team selection and a playoff finish followed for the Shorts-led Paris, but at Panathinaikos he should have a better chance to win one title he is missing: the EuroLeague championship.

By joining the Greens, he has joined a backcourt never seen before in basketball – one featuring three left-handed star guards. Shorts joins four-time EuroLeague champion [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) and last season's MVP [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) in what is an unprecedented situation at almost any level. Left-handed players are rare to see, and having three top-class ones in the same backcourt could generate a lot of advantages.

Kendrick Nunn shoots a left-handed three-pointer in the 2024-25 season.

Panathinaikos fans are used to left-handed star guards. After all, [Dimitris Diamantidis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/diamantidis-dimitris/jko/) is arguably the best left-handed player in EuroLeague history. While [Manu Ginobili](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/emanuel-ginobili/akx/) won the EuroLeague title with Virtus Bologna in 2001, reached the Championship Game in 2002 and went on to become a Hall of Famer, he was only in the EuroLeague for two seasons. Diamantidis became the best two-way player in competition history, suffocating playmakers on defense and using his basketball IQ to dominate the game. He won three EuroLeague titles, was chosen as the competition's best defender six times, was a two-time Final Four MVP, and earned season MVP honors in 2011. 

There's more when it comes to the Greens and left-handed stars. [Tyrese Rice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyrese-rice/003367/) had a brief stint with Panathinaikos but had time to drop 41 points on archrivals Olympiacos Pireaus in a 99-91 overtime win at OAKA on December 6, 2019. Two-time scoring champion [Keith Langford](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/keith-langford/001887/) wore the team's jersey in the 2018-19 season, his last in the competition. [Jaka Lakovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jaka-lakovic/ata/) played for Panathinaikos from 2002 to 2006, averaging 13.3 points and leading the Greens to the 2005 Final Four. [KC Rivers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kc-rivers/002429/) also played for Panathinaikos for two seasons. There is a pattern but nothing beats the current situation. 

Dimitris Diamantidis shoots a left-handed three-pointer in the 2014-15 season.

It will be fun to find out how they fit together. It should not be much of a problem, too – Shorts is used to playing with left-handed guards after two seasons alongside Nadir Hifi. We also need to remember that Sloukas comes off the bench to spark his team, coach Ergin Ataman has used a three-guard lineup many times in the past, and Nunn is the competition's reigning MVP. It was not unusual to see Shane Larkin, Vasilije Micic and Rodrigue Beaubois together on the court in Anadolu Efes Istanbul's glory days under Ataman. He also did the same at Galatasaray with Carlos Arroyo, Sinan Guler and either Pietro Aradori or Ender Arslan. 

The main question, however, for all potential opponents is the following: how do you stop this three-headed, left-handed basketball dragon? 

More Panathinaikos News

The Greens now have three left-handed star guards

Paris Basketball has secured the services of one of Europe's brightest young talents by re-signing guard Nadir Hifi, the club announced Wednesday.

Paris Basketball re-signs Rising Star Nadir Hifi

[Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/roster/prs/?season=2024-25) has secured the services of one of Europe's brightest young talents by re-signing guard [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nadir-hifi/012640/), the club announced Wednesday.

Hifi (1.85 meters, 22 years old) was chosen as the [EuroLeague Rising Star](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/pariss-nadir-hifi-is-the-2024-25-euroleague-rising-star/) last season after proving himself as one of the best scorers in the competition. He ranked [13th in the league in scoring](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=E2024&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=score) with 15.1 points per game despite coming off the bench in all of his 38 appearances. Hifi was also [the best per-minute scorer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=E2024&statisticMode=perMinute&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=score). He averaged 30.3 points per 40 minutes, edging of [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/edwards-carsen/011987/) of FC Bayern Munich (28.3) and his Paris teammate [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) (27.8). Hifi was also first in three-pointers made per 40 minutes (5.0). Hifi was the top scorer in the French League last season with 18.2 points per game.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Merci <a href="https://twitter.com/thenadirhifi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thenadirhifi</a> 🖤❤️💙 <a href="https://t.co/jZAirVnwd3">pic.twitter.com/jZAirVnwd3</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1942917068912726338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A product of SIG Strasbourg’s academy, Hifi also played for ESSM Le Portal Cote d’Opale before joining Paris in 2023. He Helped Paris win the BKT EuroCup in his first season with the club, after which he was also named to the [All‑EuroCup Second Team](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/2023-24-bkt-all-eurocup-second-team/). Hifi's trophy case includes the 2024 Leaders Cup and 2025 French Cup winner, the latter of which he was named MVP.

An explosive guard is set to play his third season in the French capital

Paris Basketball re-signs Rising Star Nadir Hifi 

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens has completed the signing of Ioannis Kouzeloglou, who has penned a two-year deal at OAKA.

Ioannis Kouzeloglou arrives at Panathinaikos

[Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) has completed the signing of [Ioannis Kouzeloglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ioannis-kouzeloglou/004451/), who has penned a two-year deal at OAKA.

Kouzeloglou (2.07 meters, 30 years old) joins from AEK Athens, where he averaged 3.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 16 Basketball Champions League games last season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">𝑲𝒐𝒖𝒛𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒍𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒔 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏 💚☘️<br><br>Η ΚΑΕ Παναθηναϊκός AKTOR ανακοινώνει την απόκτηση του Γιάννη Κουζέλογλου για τα επόμενα δύο χρόνια.<br>________________________________________<br><br>Panathinaikos BC AKTOR is pleased to announce the signing of Giannis Kouzeloglou on a… <a href="https://t.co/i2sOQyz34K">pic.twitter.com/i2sOQyz34K</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/1942890950641983903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Greek big man, who has never played in the EuroLeague before, started his professional career with Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2014-15) and later went on to play for Apollon Patras (2015-17), Lavrio (2017-20), Aris Thessaloniki (2020-21), Elan Bearnais (2020-21), Iraklis (2021-22), AEK (2021-22), Lavrio (2022-23), San Pablo Burgos (2022-23), and AEK (2023-25).

The Greek big man adds depth to the Greens' roster (PHOTO: FIBA)

Virtus Bologna has added another weapon to its frontline by signing Alen Smailagic to a two-year deal

Alen Smailagic signs with Virtus for 2 years

[Virtus Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/roster/vir/) has added another weapon to its frontline by signing [Alen Smailagic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alen-smailagic/011051/) to a multi-year deal.

Smailagic (2.06 meters, 24 years old) arrives from Zalgiris Kaunas, with which he averaged 8.1 points on 67.7% two-point shooting and 2.9 rebounds over 15 minutes in 29 EuroLeague appearances last season. Those numbers rose to 10.1 points and 3.4 boards in the Lithuanian League as he helped Zalgiris win the Lithuanian League and Cup double.

Alen Smailagic Top Plays of the 2024-25 season

Best of Alen Smailagic: 2024-25

A product of the Beko Belgrade youth system, Smailagic was 18 when he moved to the United States to play for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League. The Golden State Warriors acquired Smailagic through a trade during the 2019 NBA Draft and he spent two seasons with the club before returning to Belgrade and playing three seasons with Partizan. Smailagic has also played for the Serbian national team at the junior and senior levels.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">𝐍𝐄𝐖 &quot;𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄&quot; 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 🇷🇸⚡️<br>Alen Smailagic è un nuovo giocatore dei Campioni d’Italia 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/8Dg8mQ6DIC">pic.twitter.com/8Dg8mQ6DIC</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Bologna (@VirtusBo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusBo/status/1942903418961465850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Virtus Bologna news

The Serbian big man enters his fourth EuroLeague campaign

Alen Smailagic signs with Virtus

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv is reuniting with Canadian point guard Tyler Ennis on a two-year contract.

Tyler Ennis returns to Hapoel Tel Aviv

[Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/hapoel-ibi-tel-aviv/roster/hta/) is reuniting with Canadian point guard [Tyler Ennis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyler-ennis/008858/), the club announced Wednesday. The sides penned a two-year deal. 

Ennis (1.88 meters, 30 years old) returns to Tel Aviv after a season in Italy with Umana Reyer Venice. He averaged 13.5 points and 4.6 assists for a PIR of 16.6 in helping Reyer reach the BKT EuroCup Eighthfinals and 15.4 points and 5.5 assists for a PIR of 17.3 in the Italian League. He was fifth in the Italian League in PIR and 10th in the EuroCup.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">הוא חוזר! <br><br>מועדון הכדורסל הפועל “IBI” תל אביב שמח לבשר על החתמתו של הרכז טיילר אניס (30, 1.88 מ׳) לשנתיים, עד לסיום עונת 2026/27. הקנדי, שסיים את עונת 2023/24 באדום והיה אחראי לרגעים גדולים בתקופה הקצרה שלו, חוזר ללבוש את הגופיה האדומה. <br><br>אניס, שנבחר במקום ה-18 בדראפט ה-NBA של… <a href="https://t.co/RHG60j97ED">pic.twitter.com/RHG60j97ED</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1942888960646156461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In Tel Aviv Ennis will reunite with Tomer Ginat and Bar Timor, who remain from his time with the team. He averaged 13.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 12 Israeli League games with Hapoel to help the team reach the finals.

"I am very excited to return to Hapoel Tel Aviv and take part in the club's journey in the historic season in the EuroLeague," Ennis said. "Hapoel is a special club. Last time I ended on social media with the words 'until next time' - and I meant it. Looking forward to meeting the fans again. *Yalla* Hapoel!"

Ennis returns to the EuroLeague after appearing in three games during the 2018-19 season for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul before suffering a season-ending injury.

Best of Tyler Ennis: 2024-25

After playing college basketball for Syracuse University, Ennis started his professional career with the Phoenix Suns, who selected him with the 18th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He later played for the Bakersfield Jam and Raptors 905 in the G League as well as for the Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA.

He has also suited up for Turk Telekom Ankara and Tofas Bursa in Turkiye and Gevi Napoli Basket in Italy. Ennis helped Napoli win the 2024 Italian Cup. He had 21 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists to lead Napoli to a 72-77 win against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in the final and was named MVP. Ennis has been a member of the Canadian national team, too.

More Hapoel Tel Aviv News

The playmaker finished the 2023-24 season with the Israeli side

Dubai Basketball has announced the signing of Serbian playmaker Aleksa Avramovic for the next three seasons.

Aleksa Avramovic joins EuroLeague debutant Dubai

Dubai Basketball has announced the signing of Serbian playmaker [Aleksa Avramovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/aleksa-avramovic/003983/) for the next three seasons.

Avramovic (1.92 meters, 30 years old) has spent last season with CSKA Moscow, playing in the VTB League where he was voted Newcomer of the Year averaging 12.8 points, 3.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals in the regular season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome to your new home, Aleksa 🤎🤍🖤 <a href="https://t.co/xHLcTjaVMN">pic.twitter.com/xHLcTjaVMN</a></p>&mdash; Dubai Basketball (@dubaibasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/dubaibasket/status/1942886362807410747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The previous three years, Avramovic played for Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in his native Serbia. He spent the last two of those seasons in the EuroLeague, averaging 10.2 points on 67.3% two-point shooting and 1.8 assists in 24 appearances during the 2023-24 campaign. In Dubai, Avramovic reunites with his former Partizan backcourt mates [Danilo Andjusic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/danilo-andjusic/000956/) and [Nemanja Dangubic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nemanja-dangubic/005942/).

Best of Aleksa Avramovic: 2023-24

Avramovic started his career with Borac in his hometown of Cacak. He also played for Serbian side OKK Beograd, spent three years with Varese in Italy and played for Unicaja Malaga and Estudiantes in Spain. With Unicaja, as well as with Partizan, he also played the BKT EuroCup, averaging 7.8 points and 1.2 steals in 26 games.

As a member of the Serbian national team, Avramovic won a silver medal at the 2023 Basketball World Cup and the bronze at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. He also won the 2023 ABA League with Partizan.

More Dubai Basketball news

Dubai will be his second EuroLeague club 

FC Bayern Munich has completed the signing of Justinian Jessup on a two-year deal.

Bayern captures sharpshooter Justinian Jessup

[FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/mun/) has completed the signing of [Justinian Jessup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/justinian-jessup/013290/) on a two-year deal.

Jessup (1.98 meters, 27 years old) displayed his talent in the BKT EuroCup with ratiopharm Ulm last season, posting 13.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game across 18 appearances. He was tied for the sixth most three-pointers made in the 2024-25 EuroCup with 43.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐉𝐉 👋<br><br>So schnell wird man Teammate: Wir verpflichten Justinian Jessup. Mehr zu unserem neuen Guard ⤵️<a href="https://twitter.com/freelanceDE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@freelancede</a> wünscht viel Erfolg im neuen Job.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kaderupdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kaderupdate</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1942878895558078686?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"I'm really looking forward to playing at the EuroLeague level for the first time. It's the best competition with a lot of big, historic clubs, and Bayern does really well every year," Jessup told Bayern's official club media. “This was my third year in Europe and it's definitely the right time for me to take on the EuroLeague challenge.”

Prior to playing for Ulm last season, Jessup started his professional career with the Illawarra Hawks (2020-22) in the NBL, then played for Zaragoza (2022-23) before returning to the NBL with the New Zealand Breakers (2023-24). He will now continue his European adventure with Bayern, which will allow him to taste EuroLeague basketball for the first time.

More Bayern News

Valencia Basket strengthened its backcourt by signing combo guard Omar Moore for the 2025-26 season

Valencia adds guard Omari Moore

[Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/valencia-basket/roster/pam/) strengthened its backcourt by signing combo guard Omari Moore for the 2025-26 season, the club announced Wednesday.

Moore (1.98 meters, 24 years old) comes off a strong season in the Turkish League with Darussafaka Lassa Istanbul, with which he averaged 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He led the team and was fourth in the league in PIR with 17.2. Moore parlayed that into a contract with the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Australia, though he has terminated that deal to join Valenica in the EuroLeague.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">Benvingut, <a href="https://twitter.com/omari_moore13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@omari_moore13</a> 🧡<br><br>Cas 👉 Incorporación Omari Moore<a href="https://t.co/kXF4asXbeU">https://t.co/kXF4asXbeU</a><br><br>Val 👉 Incorporació Omari Moore<a href="https://t.co/lONvqret8L">https://t.co/lONvqret8L</a><br><br>Eng 👉 Signing of Omari Moore<a href="https://t.co/pIKCeGAlFO">https://t.co/pIKCeGAlFO</a> <a href="https://t.co/iBf5ohqfWC">pic.twitter.com/iBf5ohqfWC</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1942849000383692919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Moore was crowned the 2023 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year at the end of an outstanding college basketball run with San Jose State, which saw him post 17.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game as a senior. He began his professional career with the Raptors 905 Mississauga of the G League and then played for the Niagara Rivers Lions, which he helped to the 2024 Canadian Elite Basketball League championship.

More Valencia Basket news

The combo guard will make his EuroLeague debut in 2025-26