Here are the games EuroLeague.net staff members are most excited about in December

Games I am looking forward to in December

Here are the games staff members are most excited about in December. They already selected their must-see games for [Round 1](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-round-1/), [October](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-october/) and [November](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-november/).

### Round 15: Ataman returns to Efes as a champion 

*Javier Ganceco*

Round 15 brings an extraordinarily attractive game, as Anadolu Efes Istanbul hosts Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens. The Greens’ head coach, Ergin Ataman, faces the club he led to consecutive EuroLeague championships in 2021 and 2022 as well as his former assistant coach, Tomislav Mijatovic, for the first time in his career. Mijatovic served as Ataman's assistant coach throughout the latter’s last stint with Efes, from December 2017 until the end of the 2022-23 season. Ataman should be ready for a battle on the sidelines against the man that may know him better than any other coach.

When you scan the matchups, it even gets better. Vincent Poirier of Efes and Mathias Lessort of Panathinaikos are set to play against each other for the first time since last season's championship game. I expect Poirier to have an extended role with Efes and Lessort has earned consecutive All-EuroLeague First Team honors with different teams, a first in EuroLeague history. Not spicy enough? Panathinaikos has not beaten Efes in Istanbul since November 2017, a month before Coach Ataman joined the team. Don't miss it! 

After winning two EuroLeague titles with the Turkish club, the charismatic coach heads back to Istanbul with the Greens.

 

Ergin Ataman and Anadolu Efes Istanbul will forever have their names linked together. During a six-year stint at Efes, the current Panathinaikos Athens boss transformed the club and helped the team win the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the first time in its history in the 2020-21 campaign, before then going back-to-back the following season.

Ataman returns to Efes with Panathinaikos: ‘I had a great time there’

### Round 16: Saras returns with a vengeance to Palau Blaugrana

*Igor Petrinovic*

Call me curious, but I cannot wait to see what Sarunas Jasikevicius's return to Barcelona will look like. During his three-year head coaching tenure at Barcelona, Coach Jasikevicius guided the team to three Final Fours, which included a championship game appearance in 2021 and the best regular season record in 2022. He also led the team to two Spanish League championships and a pair of Spanish Cups. But, the club and the coach could not find common ground once Jasikevicius's contract expired last summer and they parted ways.

Jasikevicius accepted the Fenerbahce coaching gig last December. He already coached against Barca in a 14-point home win late last regular season, but this Round 16 clash marks his return to Palau Blaugrana, a very special place for him. In addition to coaching Barcelona, Saras had two stints with the club during his playing career and helped it win the 2003 EuroLeague, the first ever for the club and the first of his four titles. It will be a bag of mixed feelings for both Saras and the fans, but I expect him to make this game extra special. I also expect the fans to give him a much-deserved standing ovation and then cheer extra hard for their team and do everything in their power to see Saras lose. This game is certainly circled in my EuroLeague calendar.

 

### Round 17: The MVP arrives in Madrid

*Geoff Gillingham*

In both teams’ final game before Christmas, Mike James and his AS Monaco squad travel to take on a Real Madrid side that has reached back-to-back championship games. It is the standout game of Round 17 and recent history suggests that another excellent game is in store between these two. *Los Blancos* came out on top 94-86 the first time they faced Monaco at WiZink Center, but 2023-24 EuroLeague MVP Mike James put on a show with a 24-point, 10-assist double-double.

AS Monaco star Mike James plays some of his best basketball whenever he comes up against Real Madrid.

James loves to face Real Madrid

The following year, James erupted for 28 points in the Spanish capital and converted a four-point play in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime, before Monaco won 94-95 in the extra period to end Real’s six-game winning streak. Last season, Real exacted revenge by knocking off Monaco 91-73 at home, then James had a 15-point, 12-assist effort – which also featured 5 steals – as the Monegasques trounced the Madrileños 98-74 in the principality. James has a habit of appearing whenever he comes up against Real Madrid, and that alone is a reason to tune in for this Round 17 clash.

### Round 18: Splitter coaches for the first time in Vitoria-Gasteiz

*Frankie Sachs*

Tiago Splitter is one of the players who helped turn Baskonia into a EuroLeague contender during his nearly a decade there and now he hopes to do the same with Paris Basketball as a head coach. While intently focused on that task, he will surely look forward to visiting his former home when he leads Paris into Buesa Arena in one of the final games of 2024.

Splitter, who led Baskonia to four consecutive Final Fours and had his No. 21 retired last season, recently returned to Europe and the EuroLeague to begin his head coaching career and the visit to Vitoria-Gasteiz will be his first against his former club. While the outpouring of love from the stands may not be quite what is was when he was a guest of honor last season, it will still be special to see Splitter walk onto the court at Buesa Arena again.

Now that the schedule for the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season has been unveiled, EuroLeague.net's staff is eyeing all the mouth-watering action.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade is reuniting with swingman Ognjen Dobric, who returns to his boyhood club after a single season with Virtus Segafredo Bologna. 

Ognjen Dobric returns home to Zvezda

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade is reuniting with swingman [Ognjen Dobric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ognjen-dobric/004007/), who returns to his boyhood club after a single season with Virtus Segafredo Bologna. The sides agreed to a three-year deal. Dobric (2.00 meters, 29 years old) averaged 4.7 points on 40.8% three-point shooting in 13:21 minutes over 28 EuroLeague games with Virtus in his first time playing outside of his native Serbia.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sr" dir="ltr">Репрезентативац Србије Огњен Добрић вратио се у наш клуб и потписао трогодишњи уговор.<br><br>Прошлу сезону провео је у Виртусу и Болоње из кога стиже без обештећења, а пре тога је 7 сезона носио црвено-бели дрес и бројним титулама и утакмицама, оставио велики траг у историји клуба!… <a href="https://t.co/5tfRSZeYVS">pic.twitter.com/5tfRSZeYVS</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1814933732257902680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The season before, Dobric started in a career-high 19 games for Zvezda and averaged 9.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists for a PIR of 8.1. He came through the club's youth academy but spent the first three years of his career on loan at the club's affiliate team, FMP Zeleznik. During his time with Zvezda, Dobric played 153 games in six EuroLeague campaigns.

Dobric achieved plenty of success with Zvezda, including winning the triple – the Adriatic League, the Serbian League and the Serbian Cup – in 2017, 2021 and 2022. In total, he lifted the Adriatic League crown four times, the Serbian League trophy on six occasions, the Serbian Cup four times and the Adriatic League Super Cup once. Dobric was named the Adriatic League Finals MVP in 2022, the Serbian League Playoffs MVP in 2017 and 2021, and the Serbian Cup MVP in 2021. He is also a member of the Serbian national team.

Best of Ognjen Dobric: 2023-24

Crvena Zvezda News

Ognjen Dobric in action for Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade in the 2022-23 season.

The sharpshooter played just one season in Bologna

Virtus Segafredo Bologna unveiled its updated roster on Saturday with six new players, including former Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion and Final Four MVP Will Clyburn. He is joined by Matt Morgan, Riccardo Visconti, Andrejs Grazulis, Nicola Akele, and Mouhamet Diouf as the newest members of the squad. 

Virtus unveils roster with Will Clyburn among new six faces

Virtus Segafredo Bologna unveiled its updated roster on Saturday with six new players, including former Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion and Final Four MVP Will Clyburn. He is joined by Matt Morgan, Andrejs Grazulis, Nicola Akele, Riccardo Visconti and Mouhamet Diouf as the newest members of the squad. Contract details were not released for any of the players.

A two-time All-EuroLeague forward, [Will Clyburn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/will-clyburn/004888/) (2.01 meters, 34 years old) arrives from Anadolu Efes Istanbul, where he spent the past two seasons. He averaged 13.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 25 EuroLeague appearances last season. At Virtus, Clyburn will reunite with several former teammates, including Daniel Hackett, whom he played alongside for four seasons at CSKA Moscow; Toko Shengelia, whom he played with for two seasons at CSKA; and Ante Zizic, who was Cyburn’s teammate during the 2016-17 campaign with Darussafaka Istanbul.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">𝙉𝙀𝙒 𝘽&amp;𝙒 ⚪️⚫️<br><br>Leggi il comunicato ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/FEk9lijb7C">https://t.co/FEk9lijb7C</a> <a href="https://t.co/k2MP0RdGd5">pic.twitter.com/k2MP0RdGd5</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1814739568278819029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Matt Morgan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matthew-morgan/012585/) (1.88 meters, 26 years old) is a point guard who was an All-EuroCup First Team selection last season with the London Lions. He led the team and was fifth in the BKT EuroCup in scoring with 16.5 points per game. He added 3.9 assists for a PIR of 18.0 in 22 games for London, which reached the EuroCup Semifinals.  

2023-24 BKT All-EuroCup First Team: Matt Morgan, London Lions

[Andrejs Grazulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrejs-grazulis/005738/) (2.02 meters, 31 years old) remains in Italy after spending five seasons in the country, first with Derthona Basket and then with Trieste and Dolomiti Energia Trento. He averaged 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 18 EuroCup games for Trento last season, which was his second with the club and third in the competition.

Forward [Nicola Akele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nicola-akele/011816/) (2.03 meters, 28 years old) played for Germani Brescia the last two seasons, including 19 appearances in the EuroCup in 2022-23. Last season he averaged 4.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in the Italian League.

Mouhamet Diouf (2.08 meters, 22 years old) returns to Italy after a season in Spain with Breogan, where he averaged 7.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 12 games. Diouf is a member of the Italian national team for which he played at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Diouf began his career at Reggio Emilia, where he spent five seasons.

Italian guard Riccardo Visconti (1.98 meters, 25 years old) played for Pesaro the last two seasons and averaged 7.3 points in 29 Italian League games last season. He has been a member of the Italian national team.

Virtus also named Marco Belinelli, Devontae Cacok, Isaia Cordinier, Daniel Hackett, Alessandro Pajola, Achille Polonara, Toko Shengelia and Ante Zizic as returning players.

Matt Morgan and Andrejs Grazulis have also joined the team

Now that the schedule for the 2024-25 EuroLeague Regular Season has been unveiled, EuroLeague.net's staff is eyeing all the mouth-watering action in November. 

Games I am looking forward to in November

Here are the games staff members are most excited about in November. They already selected their must-see games for [Round 1](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-round-1/) and [October](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-october/).

### Round 8: A Greek derby for the ages

*Geoff Gillingham*

It’s always a ferocious atmosphere whenever [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-bc-athens/roster/pan/?season=2024-25) and [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/roster/oly/?season=2024-25) lock horns. In Round 8, the Greens’ fans inside OAKA will be keen to remind the Reds’ supporters about what happened at the end of last season, when Panathinaikos won its seventh EuroLeague championship and then came from 2-0 down to beat Olympiacos 3-2 in the Greek League Finals. However, the 2023-24 EuroLeague campaign did see Olympiacos win both of its games against its archrival.

By the time this game comes around on November 8, Panathinaikos will have gone three years, nine months and seven days without having beaten Olympiacos in the EuroLeague. Ergin Ataman’s stacked roster is looking to win back-to-back titles this year and ending its ‘curse’ against Olympiacos would be the icing on the cake. That said, Georgios Bartzokas is 9-2 in the EuroLeague when facing Panathinaikos as Olympiacos head coach, so he certainly knows what it takes to defeat the Reds’ oldest foe.

Their teams are archrivals in one of the biggest derbies in all of sports, but their coaches have plenty in common.

Bartzokas and Ataman chat across the red-green divide

### Round 8:  Coach Trinchieri leads Zalgiris into Munich

*Frankie Sachs*

The trip to Munich for [Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/roster/zal/?season=2024-25)’s November 7 game against host [FC Bayern](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/roster/mun/?season=2024-25) will be a familiar trip for some as head coach Andrea Trinchieri leads the Lithuanian powerhouse against his former team. One of the team’s exciting summer signings was guard [Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/), who made his EuroLeague debut with Bayern last summer.

Games between these teams have historically been close. Bayern leads their head-to-head matchups 7-6, though only two of them have been decided by double figures and five of them by a single basket! What’s more, the timing is interesting for both teams… Zalgiris will be well-rested after playing three straight games on the road, during which it could build some momentum. Meanwhile, Bayern will be excited to get back home after road games in Italy and France. In the #EveryGameMatters EuroLeague, this is a game that could end up playing a role in the playoff push and one I look forward to seeing in early November.

### Round 11: Get ready for another Belgrade derby

*Igor Petrinovic*

The very first Belgrade derby of the 2024-25 season is the highlight on the November schedule for me. Battles between [Crvena Zvezda](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/roster/red/?season=2024-25) and [Partizan ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-nis-belgrade/roster/par/?season=2024-25)have proven to be instant classics, with out-of-the world atmospheres, and decibel levels that shake the foundations of Belgrade Arena. In this Round 11 encounter, it will be Zvezda having the home court advantage and its fans trying to carry the team to the win that is valued more than any other.

Belgrade Derby: Heated on court, friendly off it

When it comes to basketball alone, the two clubs split road wins in their EuroLeague clashes two years ago, then split home wins last season. However, Crvena Zvezda has won the last eight games over Partizan in all competitions, and will certainly want to continue the streak against the archrival guided by the winningest head coach in EuroLeague history, Zeljko Obradovic, who is set to have a brand new roster at hand in the coming season. Zvezda, on the other hand, underwent mild changes, but the biggest one is last year's EuroLeague assist leader – and a former Partizan player – [Codi Miller-McIntyre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/codi-miller-mcintyre/009048/) joining Zvezda's playmaking duo of [Milos Teodosic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/milos-teodosic/jdr/) and [Yago Dos Santos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/yago-dos-santos/012044/). A must-watch Thursday night collision.

### Round 12: ‘El Clásico’ is here again!

*Javier Ganceco*

Even though these teams face each other several times during the season (by the way, the maximum number would be 15 times), it is always special when [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/roster/bar/?season=2024-25) and [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/roster/mad/?season=2024-25) meet in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the first time every season: this time it is Round 12 on November 29. Basketball-wise, it is always a tricky game. You want to win, but it is a good opportunity to test things that you can use later on the season, when these teams challenge for titles.

Real is back with a strong core of players meant to play together for many years, led by [Facu Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/), [Gabriel Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/gabriel-deck/009005/), [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) and [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/). The All-EuroLeague center will anchor the defense, which will be required against [Jan Vesely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jan-vesely/000925/) and former Real center [Willy Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/willy-hernangomez/003196/). Barca star guard [Kevin Punter ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/)has played some of the best games of his EuroLeague career against Real: remember that game-winning shot with Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade at WiZink Center in [Game 1 of the 2023 playoffs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU8hJ96VnWE)? As always, Barca fans will bring the noise at Palau Blaugrana: it is also a special game in the stands, more colorful and with a more electric atmosphere. Unless you support one of the teams, prepare the popcorn, sit back and enjoy one of those games that only the EuroLeague can offer as early as November!

Round Five of the 23/24 season and arguably the most celebrated rivalry in world sport is already upon us.

El Clásico

Now that the schedule for the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season has been unveiled, EuroLeague.net's staff is eyeing all the mouth-watering action in October

Games I am looking forward to in October

Here are the games staff members are most excited about in October. They already selected their must see games for [Round 1](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-round-1/).

### Round 2: The battle for Istanbul bragging rights

*Geoff Gillingham*

It’s always a lot of fun whenever Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul go head-to-head, and that will certainly be the case when they face off in Round 2. Fenerbahce has gone about trying to create an Avengers-like squad by adding the likes of Wade Baldwin, Bonzie Colson and Nicolo Melli to an already stacked roster, while Efes will be hoping to continue the momentum it generated after Tomislav Mijatovic’s late-season appointment last year. Shane Larkin remains the face of Efes after penning a new four-year deal at the club, and he’ll be backed up by new recruits Stanley Johnson, Rolands Smits and Vincent Poirier.

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul - Anadolu Efes Istanbul | Round 33 | Highlights

Round 2 is too early to make any sweeping judgements, but the winner of this game should have a good idea about where they stand in relation to their season goals. They'll have bragging rights until they meet again in Round 19, too.

### Round 4: A rematch of last season's Final 

*Javier Gancedo*

When the calendar came out on July 15, Real Madrid and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens quickly looked for this matchup. It will be the teams' first meeting since last season's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game. Panathinaikos beat Real 80-95 to add a seventh star to its logo and deny *Los Blancos* the possibility of winning back-to-back EuroLeague titles for the first time since 1968.

Panathinaikos is back with pretty much the same team that won the EuroLeague last season featuring Final Four MVP Kostas Sloukas, Kendrick Nunn, Mathias Lessort, Juancho Hernangomez and Dinos Mitoglou. Real also kept its main players, adding reinforcements like Xavier Rathen-Mayes and Andres Feliz. As always, it will a special game for Real forward and long-time Panathinaikos fan Mario Hezonja. Last season, Panathinaikos beat Real in the Spanish capital for the first time since 2013. It should be nothing but an extraordinary basketball game! 

Panathinaikos' Jerian Grant has a key role to play for the Greek giants in breaking the rhythm of Real playmaker Facu Campazzo as his team looks to reaffirm top-spot, while we can also look forward to an all-action duel between explosive big men as Guerschon Yabusele goes up against Mathias Lessort.

Real Madrid-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | Round 27 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### Round 6: James and Monaco visit Belgrade Arena

*Igor Petrinovic*

The reigning EuroLeague MVP Mike James has been re-united in Monaco's backcourt with his former teammate and close friend Nick Calathes. When the two were together at Panathinaikos few years back, James was a Robin to Calathes's Batman, but their roles will now be reversed as the EuroLeague’s all-time scoring leader (James) and the competition's all-time leader in assists and steals (Calathes) have only one goal set in mind – to win the EuroLeague championship.

To battle its way there, the team will need to win games in fiery environments, and a Round 6 visit the Belgrade Arena will be a perfect early litmus test for Coach Sasa Obradovic’s squad. Equally so, a brand-new Partizan team under the other Coach Obradovic, the nine-time EuroLeague winner Zeljko, will have a chance to show how it will compete. With a crazy atmosphere in a surely sold-out arena, James and Calathes on the floor for the visiting team, and two Obradovics on the sidelines, what's not to like about this one?

 

### Round 7: Olympiacos hosts Barca in a playoff rematch

*Frankie Sachs*

The last time these teams met at Peace & Friendship Stadium, Olympiacos Piraeus smacked down FC Barcelona 92-58 to even their best of five playoff series at 2-2. A few days later, the Reds stunned Barca on the road to advance to the Final Four. This will be their first clash since.

The last ticket for the Final Four is to be be taken. Olympiacos big men, Moustapha Fall and Filip Petrusev, had a strong influence on Game 4, combining for 22 points and 10 boards and Barca may turn to for its own centers, Jan Vesely and Willy Hernangomez, in an effort to bounce back and prevail.

FC Barcelona vs Olympiacos Piraeus | Playoffs - Game 5 | Highlights

With the exception of Joan Penarroya stepping in as Barcelona’s new head coach, the roster turnover on these two teams so far this summer has been minimal, which means the passions of that playoff series should rise to the top pretty quickly. Barcelona will want to avenge its defeat, while Olympiacos will seek a repeat result. There is a rich tradition between these teams, including four Final Four meetings, and another intense game on the last day of October could be what raises the stakes and makes it a rivalry.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-10-10T17:30:00.000Z)

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v AS Monaco (2024-10-30T19:45:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v FC Barcelona (2024-10-31T19:15:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-10-17T18:45:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv has locked up the services of big man Roman Sorkin. Sorkin comes off his third season for Maccabi and it was his best yet. 

Maccabi, Roman Sorkin agree to contract extension 

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv has locked up the services of big man [Roman Sorkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/roman-sorkin/011219/) for five more years. Sorkin (2.08 meters, 27 years old) comes off his third season for Maccabi and it was his best yet. He averaged 6.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.6 blocks over 15:45 minutes in 32 games in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🤝<a href="https://twitter.com/RomannSorkin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RomannSorkin</a> X <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreMaccabi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreMaccabi</a> <a href="https://t.co/hk9XzTNZzX">pic.twitter.com/hk9XzTNZzX</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1813846511043702905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Those numbers soared to 16.2 points on 67.0% two-point shooting and 48.8% three-point shooting, 5.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in the Israeli League. He posted 19 points and 9 boards in the deciding game of the finals to lead Maccabi to a second straight Israeli League championship.

Best of Roman Sorkin: 2023-24

Sorkin played youth basketball at Elitzur Ashdod and then went to the United States to play college basketball at the University of Oregon, which he helped to reach the NCAA Tournament Final Four in 2017. He returned home to Israel in 2018 to play for Maccabi Haifa. He spent three seasons with Haifa before signing for Maccabi. Sorkin has also been a member of the Israeli national team.

More Maccabi news

The big man was the Israeli League MVP and Israeli Finals MVP last season

Maccabi, Roman Sorkin agree to extension through 2029

With the EuroLeague calendar now available, the Euroleague.net staff have looked forward to their favorite games in Round 1 of the 2024-25 season.

Games I am looking forward to in Round 1

### Panathinaikos opens the season in its new favorite city

*Javier Gancedo*

This is going to be a special game, no question about it. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens will play its first Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game as a seven-time champion, which is already special enough. And it does so on the court where it lifted its last trophy: Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany, as it faces ALBA Berlin in the competition's season opener, on Thursday, October 3 at 18:45 CET. Panathinaikos will be back in Berlin to start a new challenge: winning back-to-back EuroLeague titles for the first time in club history.

The Greens are back with pretty much the same squad that lifted the EuroLeague trophy in May, led by Final Four MVP Kostas Sloukas, Kendrick Nunn, Mathias Lessort, Dinos Mitoglou and Jerian Grant. ALBA managed to keep a core of players led by last season's EuroLeague Rising Star Gabriele Procida and signed All-EuroCup center Trevion Williams. Expect thousands of Panathinaikos fans in the stands as this game will surely bring back good memories!  

For the first time since the current competition format was introduced in 2016, the top two teams from the regular season meet in the final. Real Madrid topped the standings after winning its first 10 games and finished with a 27-7 mark, while Panathinaikos soared late to place second at 23-11.

Real-Panathinaikos | Championshp Game Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### Munich’s SAP Garden opens its doors

*Frankie Sachs*

This is a game that has been nearly a decade in the making. That’s when the decision to build what would come to be known as SAP Garden in the Olympic Village in Munich was made. The state-of-the-art multi-purpose venue will first open its doors in late September when FC Bayern Munich’s co-host, the ice hockey playing Red Bull Munich, skates against an NHL team.

The first basketball game will see Bayern take on the winningest team in European basketball history, Real Madrid, on Thursday, October 3. Bayern’s last home win over Real was in October 2019, but would anybody be surprised to see a little magic from SAP Garden make opening night something for all to remember? This is truly a game worthy of opening night!

### Opening week's powerhouse collision

*Igor Petrinovic*

Round 1 delivers the first big collision of the season with a clash between Fenerbahce and Olympiacos, two ambitious EuroLeague contenders and last season's losing semifinalists from the Final Four in Berlin. This game is set to tip off the action on the second day of the opening week and it will be a big test for both teams and the very first chance to see how the fresh faces in each locker room fit into their coaches' plans.

Fenerbahce has been super active on the market so far this summer, making quite a facelift with the arrivals of Wade Baldwin and Bonzie Colson from Maccabi as well as Nicolo Melli and Devon Hall from Milan. Meanwhile, Olympiacos has re-shaped its backcourt with the return of Tyler Dorsey, who is set to face his former team right away as he spent the last two seasons with Fenerbahce, as well as playmakers Luca Vildoza and an injured Keenan Evans. In my book, this is the game to watch in Round 1.

### Paris, welcome to the EuroLeague!

*Geoff Gillingham*

What a moment this is going to be for Paris Basketball. Just six years old as a club, the side from the French capital secured its spot in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague the hard way – by becoming the BKT EuroCup champion. Paris’s fans were able to watch in awe as TJ Shorts and Nadir Hifi lit up the EuroCup last season, and they’ll be hoping that the backcourt duo can do the same among Europe’s elite.

Paris Basketball star playmaker TJ Shorts averaged 18.5 points and a PIR of 24.0 in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Finals against Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse.

TJ Shorts, Paris: 2024 EuroCup Finals highlights

The brand-new Adidas Arena will play host to Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade in Round 1, so Paris has an early opportunity to announce itself to the EuroLeague audience. With new head coach Tiago Splitter on the sideline and plenty of buzz surrounding the team, an early scalp from a club like Zvezda would be a fine way to start.

Now that the schedule for the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season has been unveiled, EuroLeague.net's staff is eyeing all the mouth-watering action. Here are the games staff members are most excited about in Round 1.

Paris Basketball v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2024-10-04T19:00:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-10-04T17:30:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (2024-10-03T18:45:00.000Z)

ALBA Berlin v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-10-03T16:45:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas has completed the signing of Bryant Dunston on a one-year deal.

Bryant Dunston heads to Zalgiris

Zalgiris Kaunas has added experience to its frontcourt with the addition of [Bryant Dunston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bryant-dunston/003048/) on a one-year deal, the club announced on Wednesday.

Dunston (2.03 meters, 38 years old) is heading into his 12th Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season. Last year, he averaged 4.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 36 games for Virtus Segafredo Bologna.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zalgiris has signed a 1 year contract with the 2x EuroLeague Champion Bryant Dunston! ✍️ <a href="https://t.co/UwEhas86le">pic.twitter.com/UwEhas86le</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1813488946409533506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A two-time champion with Anadolu Efes Istanbul in 2021 and 2022, Bryant was named the back-to-back winner of the EuroLeague Best Defender award while playing for Olympiacos Piraeus in 2014 and 2015. In the 2016-17 EuroLeague season, his second at Efes, he was selected to the All-EuroLeague Second Team.

Bryant ranks second in the EuroLeague's all-time lists when it comes to blocks (347), while he's also 16th in games played (330), 28th in points (2,619), ninth in rebounding (1,481), and 16th in steals (258).

The best plays of new Zalgiris Kaunas signing Bryant Dunston while playing for Virtus Segafredo Bologna in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Dunston's top plays in 2023-24

Dunston made his competition debut in 2013-14 with Olympiacos, having previously played professionally for Mobis Phoebus in South Korea (2009-10), Greek club Aris Midea Thessaloniki (2010-11), Israeli sides Bnei Herzliya and Hapoel Holon (2011-12) and Italian outfit Varese (2012-13).

After spending two years with Olympiacos, Dunston moved on to Efes, where he became a club legend and team captain. He remained at Efes between 2015 and 2023 before heading to Virtus last season. Now, he will look to bring his experience and leadership to a Zalgiris side hoping to make a run towards the EuroLeague Playoffs under head coach Andrea Trinchieri.

More Zalgiris News

New Zalgiris Kaunas signing Bryant Dunston in action for Virtus Segafredo Bologna in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

The two-time champion will bring veteran experience and leadership to the Lithuanian side

FC Bayern Munich signed Yam Madar to a multi-year contract. Madar arrives from Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Bayern bags 2023 EuroLeague Rising Star Yam Madar

FC Bayern Munich has signed [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/yam-madar/011052/) to a two-year contract, the club confirmed on Tuesday. 

Madar (1.90 meters, 23 years old) arrives from Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, with which he reached the EuroLeague Final Four and won the Turkish League and Cup double last season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Baruchim HaBa&#39;im, Yam Madar! 👋<br><br>Wir verpflichten den israelischen Guard bis 2026 - alle Infos ⤵️<a href="https://twitter.com/freelanceDE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@freelancede</a> wünscht viel Spaß 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/WeBallTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeBallTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kaderupdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kaderupdate</a></p>&mdash; 🏆 Deutscher Meister 🏆 (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1813151593942163914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


The Israeli guard averaged 4.3 points and 2.0 assists over 13:31 minutes in 30 EuroLeague games last season. He also produced 10.7 points on 45.5% three-point shooting and 6.1 assists in the Turkish League. Madar ranked third in the league in assists.

Madar began his professional career with Hapoel Tel Aviv, where he was chosen as the Israeli League’s Breakout Player for the 2019-20 season when he averaged 17.1 points, 5.2 assists and 1.3 steals. 

Best of Yam Madar: 2023-24

In the summer of 2021, Madar signed for Partizan Belgrade and appeared in the BKT EuroCup for the first time. He debuted in the EuroLeague with Partizan the next season and earned the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Rising Star Trophy after averaging 5.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and a 5.0 PIR in 13:24 minutes. 

Now he seeks to make an even bigger impact with Bayern.

More Bayern news

The guard reached the Final Four last season with Fenerbahce