Name: Best plays of 2024-25: Panathinaikos
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Bahcesehir College Istanbul fortified its frontline for the upcoming season by signing former All-EuroCup big man Trevion Williams, the club announced Thursday morning. 

Bahcesehir makes big move for big man Trevion Williams

Bahcesehir College Istanbul fortified its frontline for the upcoming season by signing former All-EuroCup big man [Trevion Williams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/trevion-williams/012604/), the club announced Thursday morning. Williams (2.08 meters, 24 years old) arrives from Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv, and returns back to the EuroCup after making his EuroLeague debut last season.

Williams played 32 EuroLeague games last season, half with Maccabi and half with ALBA Berlin in the first part of the season. 

With ALBA, he averaged 10.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists, while those numbers dropped a bit with Maccabi, to 8.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He finished the season ranking fourth in the EuroLeague in [rebounding](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=E2024&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=totalRebounds), with 6.5 per contest.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">🙌 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬, 𝐁𝐚𝐡𝐜̧𝐞𝐬̧𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐫 𝐊𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐣𝐢’𝐧𝐝𝐞!<br><br>🤝 Son olarak EuroLeague ekiplerinden Maccabi Tel Aviv forması giyen ABD’li oyuncu Trevion Williams, 2025-2026 sezonunda takımımızın başarısı için ter dökecek!<br><br>❤️💙Welcome to our family, <a href="https://twitter.com/twill___?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@twill___</a> ! <a href="https://t.co/UqS5IFodpk">pic.twitter.com/UqS5IFodpk</a></p>&mdash; Bahçeşehir Koleji Spor Kulübü (@BKBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol/status/1945748470851121190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Williams's previous season in the EuroCup was also his first in Europe, and he left his mark in that 2023-24 campaign averaging 14.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals over 18 appearances for ratiopharm Ulm. He led the competition in [rebounds](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=U2023&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=totalRebounds) and his 12 double-doubles were tied for the most by any player in a single EuroCup season. Williams ranked second in the competition in average PIR with 22.1 and led all centers in assists that campaign, earning All-EuroCup honors.

Williams starred at Purdue University, and helped the USA national team to the gold medal at the 2019 U19 World Cup. He made his professional debut in the 2022-23 season with the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League and also played for the Capital City Go-Go before coming to Europe.

Former All-EuroCup center returns to the competition after a season in the EuroLeague

The signing of Vasilije Micic is a major statement of intent for Hapoel Tel Aviv, which is looking to become a powerhouse in the EuroLeague.

What does Vasilije Micic bring to Hapoel Tel Aviv?

What a time to be alive for fans of [Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/hapoel-ibi-tel-aviv/hta/). What has happened over the past few years is simply unthinkable. And [the signing of Vasilije Micic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/vasilije-micic-signs-lucrative-deal-with-hapoel-tel-aviv/) on Wednesday was the cherry on top. 

We have seen teams rise from relative nothingness to greatness. AS Monaco is a perfect example. And Dubai Basketball, formed just two years ago, hopes to be the next. But Hapoel Tel Aviv is a different case.

Hapoel has 90 years of history. And for much of it, the club was second fiddle in its own city to Maccabi. Even in 2023, when Ofer Yannay took ownership of the club, and despite his big promises, few believed that the next two years would go the way they have.

Just a year ago, the signing of Johnathan Motley could have been heralded as the most important in club history. It was a way of showing everyone that Hapoel was serious in its goals to win the BKT EuroCup and reach the EuroLeague. And then came more moves, such as the hiring of Dimitris Itoudis as head coach and bringing Yam Madar back home. 

If those moves were big, what word could possibly explain the importance of landing a two-time champion and former MVP who is still in the prime of his career? 

At Hapoel, they are already trying. "This is an unprecedented achievement in European sports," Yannay said.

So let's look at what Hapoel has been doing, how that helped to bring Micic and what we can expect to see on the court. 

Vasilije Micic after receiving the 2020-21 EuroLeague MVP trophy.

### Hapoel's plan for the 2025-26 season

Since Yannay took charge of the club, Hapoel has played just one game at its home arena. Hapoel blasted Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 100-73 on October 3, 2023. Four days later, war broke out in Israel. Since then, Hapoel's home games have been played abroad, with fans travelling far and wide to support their team last season as it marched to EuroCup glory.

After two years of crisscrossing Europe and countless flights, Hapoel made the decision that with the added games of a EuroLeague season, it could not go on like that. Accordingly, the roster is being constructed in such a way that is deeper than ever and will allow some players to remain abroad in between EuroLeague games and not travel back to Israel for domestic competitions.

Micic is the 16th player added to the Hapoel roster. None of them are youth players. All of them have previous experience in the EuroLeague or EuroCup. And the plan appears to be to sign at least two more players.  

Given the reality of Hapoel's situation, the idea of having two home bases was a creative way to cut down on travel and allow players to rest without sacrificing chemistry and training. When players remain in their “home away from home” in Sofia, Bulgaria, they can do so as a pod and with a coach, to be preparing for the next game while their brothers return to Tel Aviv to compete in the Israeli League.

Moreover, having 18 senior players means there is plenty of cover for potential injuries or to give a player a break if he is in a slump. Coach Itoudis has more players at his disposal than most coaches can dream of.

How it will work remains to be seen, but it surely has contributed to players' increased comfort about signing with the club, knowing from Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv's EuroLeague experiences the last two years just how grueling it can be to play north of 40 road games and the 70-plus flights it may entail.

### More sponsors and a bigger budget

None of this could be possible without ownership opening up its wallet. There has been no cutting of the corners. Hapoel has targeted big names and players with experience. It has also leveraged its success into generating more revenue, such as with its sponsorship deal with the investment house IBI.

In some cases, that has led to overpaying to bring in the players that management wanted. And to their credit, Yannay and minority owners Gili Raanan, and Miki Malka have done what every fan of every club hopes his team's owner would do: they have authorized these signings and at times been personally involved in making them happen.

Yannay revealed on Wednesday night that part of the deal to convince Micic to sign with Hapoel was to offer him shares in the club. And although he did not elaborate on what that meant, it is clear that ownership was willing to go above and beyond the norm to bring a superstar to the club. 

In his comments after the Micic signing, Itoudis said the following:

"I would like to say to Hapoel Tel Aviv fans, as I quoted many times, that they need to sleep tight because we have leaders like Ofer Yannay, Gili Raanan, and Miki Malka, who are trying to build the best possible team for decades. Special thanks, because Gili Raanan and Miki Malka consulted with Ofer and gave their full support to close this deal with Vasa. Special thanks to the management that worked on all the details".

In modern sports, you have to invest to build a winning team. Those investments can be in salary, facilities, time, etc. Hapoel has been willing to spend money to put the team in a position to compete already as EuroLeague debutants.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pt" dir="ltr">Hey Vasa 👋🏽👹 <a href="https://t.co/I8JNKO39NB">pic.twitter.com/I8JNKO39NB</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1945530801262633028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### What Micic brings

All of the above plans are much more credible now that Micic will be on the floor. The rest of the players get better with Micic there. And the ability to recruit for the remaining roster spots just got easier.

Micic already has one former teammate with him in Elijah Bryant. The two won the EuroLeague together in 2022.

What Micic brings to the court, we already know. His play promises to make Hapoel a playoff contender – at a minimum. And with Itoudis to weld all the pieces together, there is great potential for Hapoel. 

However, more than Micic's scoring or passing or leadership, what he brings to Hapoel Tel Aviv is credibility. And that goes a long way toward building a EuroLeague powerhouse. 

More Vasilije Micic News

Frankie Sachs delves into the Israeli side's high-profile signing of the two-time EuroLeague champion

What does Vasilije Micic bring to Hapoel?

Virtus Bologna has signed Italian national team player Saliou Niang, who grew up in the youth system of the club's archrival Fortitudo Bologna. 

Virtus invests in rising star Saliou Niang

[Virtus Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/roster/vir/?season=2025-26) has signed Italian national team player [Saliou Niang](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saliou-niang/012687/), who grew up in the youth system of the club's archrival Fortitudo Bologna.

Niang (1.99 meters, 21 years old) has spent the last two seasons with Dolomiti Energia Trento. He averaged 6.7 points and 5.1 rebounds over 17 BKT EuroCup games last season as a part-time starter. Niang's play improved as the season progressed; he posted an average PIR of 6.8 in his first 12 appearances and a PIR of 12.4 in his last five, which included a 10-point, 8-assist effort against eventual champion Hapoel Tel Aviv and 8 points and 12 rebounds against ratiopharm Ulm.

Best of Saliou Niang: 2024-25

He also helped Trento win the 2025 Italian Cup. In May, Niang was chosen as the Italian League's Most Improved Player of the Year.

The promise Niang showed led to him being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Born in Senegal, Niang was a child when his family moved to Italy. He made his debut for the Italian national team in February in the EuroBasket 2025 qualifying round against Hungary. In signing with Virtus, Niang returns to Bologna, where he began his career with Fortitudo.

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More Virtus Bologna news

The athletic small forward spent the last two seasons with Trento

Anadolu Efes Istanbul added another weapon to what is already shaping up to be a deep and long frontcourt by signing Georgios Papagiannis

Georgios Papagiannis returns to Istanbul with Efes

[Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/roster/ist/) added another weapon to what is already shaping up to be a deep and long frontcourt by signing [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/). The deal is for two seasons with an option for a third. 

Papagiannis (2.20 meters, 28 years old), a 2021-22 All-EuroLeague selection, arrives from AS Monaco, which he helped reach the Final Four last season. In what was his only season with the club, the big man posted 7.3 points, 3. rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 16:30 minutes per game. A threat all over the court, Papagiannis made 66.7% of his two-pointers, shot 39.3% from downtown, and led the league in blocks.

Last season marked the second time Papagiannis was the league-leader in rejections. The first was in his All-EuroLeague campaign, when he was also the league's top rebounder. He became only the fourth player in competition history to lead the EuroLeague in both rebounds and blocks, joining Arvydas Sabonis, Ekpe Udoh and Andrei Kirilenko. Papagiannis enters the 2025-26 season ranked fourth in EuroLeague history with 253 blocks and is one of 36 players with 1,00 career rebounds.

Georgios Papagiannis's best dunks: 2024-25

Papagiannis came through the ranks at the Peristeri youth system and made his professional debut with that club. He left in 2013 to play high school basketball in the United States and upon his return a year later signed with Panathinaikos. Papagiannis was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings and would play a season and a half there as well as briefly for the Portland Trail Blazers. He also played 33 games with the Reno Bighorns in the G-League.

He returned to the Greens in 2018 and became a mainstay in the paint over five seasons. Papagiannis then played one season with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and another for Monaco. His trophy case includes three Greek championships and four Greek Cups with Panathinaikos and a Turkish League and Cup double with Fenerbahce.  

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">👊 Ailemizin yeni üyesi: Georgios Papagiannis<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/mL52sWbgc4">pic.twitter.com/mL52sWbgc4</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1945492415860588561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Anadolu Efes news

The former All-EuroLeague selection played for Fenerbahce two years ago

Umana Reyer Venice has announced that Jordan Parks has signed a new contract at the club until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Jordan Parks pens two-year extension at Reyer

[Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) has announced that [Jordan Parks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jordan-parks/011909/) has signed a new contract at the club until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Parks (2.01 meters, 31 years old) has been at Reyer since 2022, and all three of his seasons in the BKT EuroCup have come with the Italian side. During the 2024-25 campaign, he averaged 10.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.9 steals in 16 EuroCup appearances.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Cuore orogranata ❤️‍🔥<br>Jordan Parks vestirà i nostri colori fino alla stagione 2026/27!<br><br>Il comunicato completo 👉 <a href="https://t.co/nRoa5nQdZJ">https://t.co/nRoa5nQdZJ</a> 🔗 <a href="https://t.co/pw6K4EezTR">pic.twitter.com/pw6K4EezTR</a></p>&mdash; Reyer Venezia (@REYER1872) <a href="https://twitter.com/REYER1872/status/1945439285508747445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Reyer vice-captain has played 42 times in the EuroCup over the last three seasons, posting career averages of 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.9 steals.

Prior to joining Reyer, Parks suited up for Trieste (2015-17), Telekom Baskets Bonn (2017-18), Orlandina (2018-19), Treviso (2019-20) and Napoli (2020-22). Of the 10 seasons the American forward has played as a professional, nine have been in Italy.

More Reyer News

The vice-captain is staying put in Venice

The big man joins FC Bayern Munich, where he reunites with head coach Gordon Herbert.

Bayern adds center Leon Kratzer

[FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/mun/) added another piece to its frontcourt by signing center [Leon Kratzer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/leon-kratzer/004512/), the club announced Wednesday. 

Kratzer (2.12 meters, 28 years old) arrives from Paris Basketball, where he made his EuroLeague debut last season.

In 27 appearances, all off the bench, Kratzer scored a total of 17 points and averaged 2.4 rebounds, all while playing just below 10 minutes per game. He also helped Paris win the French League title, but appeared in only seven games, grabbing 4.3 rebounds in those games along with 1.3 points.

A season earlier, Kratzer helped Paris win the BKT EuroCup, averaging 5.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐎𝐍 👋<br><br>We&#39;ve signed national team center Leon Kratzer, who made his <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Euroleague</a> debut with <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParisBasketball</a> last season! Read all about it ⤵️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rosterupdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rosterupdate</a> by <a href="https://twitter.com/freelanceDE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@freelancede</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1945423413390233875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Kratzer joined Paris in the summer of 2023 from Telekom Baskets Bonn, where he became a Basketball Champions League winner. His two years in the French capital were his only period outside his native Germany.

In 2011, Kratzer moved as a 14-year-old from his hometown club BBC Bayreuth to the youth system of Brose Bamberg and played with their affiliate teams at the time, Breitengusbach and Baunach. From the third division, he advanced to the German second division, where he was named Player of the Season in 2017. The following year, he played in the German elite for Wurzburg, then had a brief return to Bamberg in 2018.

Kratzer then joined the Skyliners Frankfurt, where he played for current Bayern head coach Gordon Herbert and made his EuroCup debut in the 2018-19 campaign. From there, he moved to Bonn, where he spent three seasons.

Kratzer also has 15 appearances for the German national team, also under Coach Herbert.

More Bayern News

The big man has played for Bayern head coach Gordon Herbert on two occasions in the past

Dubai Basketball has made its sixth signing of the summer by bringing in Dwayne Bacon, who previously played in the EuroLeague for AS Monaco and Panathinaikos BC.

Dwayne Bacon returns to the EuroLeague, joins Dubai's project

[Dubai Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/dubai-basketball/dub/) has made its sixth signing of the summer by bringing in [Dwayne Bacon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dwayne-bacon/011286/) on a one-year deal.

Bacon (1.98 meters, 29 years old) has two seasons of EuroLeague experience with AS Monaco and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, which came between 2021 and 2023. 

Last season, he averaged 17.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 58 VTB League games for Zenit St Petersburg. He was named the 2024-25 VTB League MVP.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome to your new home, Dwayne🤎🤍🖤 <a href="https://t.co/lEsdu9z0OD">pic.twitter.com/lEsdu9z0OD</a></p>&mdash; Dubai Basketball (@dubaibasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/dubaibasket/status/1945423160821620782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

During his two-year stint in the EuroLeague, Bacon established himself as one of the best scorers in the competition.

At Monaco, he scored in double figures in 19 of the 24 regular-season games he played in 2021-22 as his team reached the playoffs in its first year in the EuroLeague – a feat Dubai will be hoping to replicate this coming season. 

Bacon kept going in the playoffs, pouring in a season-high 23 points in Game 3, as well as 21 points in Game 4, as Monaco forced Olympiacos to five games, but it was the Greek side which advanced to the Final Four. For the season, Bacon posted 14.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steal in 29 EuroLeague appearances.

Dwayne Bacon’s best dunks: 2021-23

The following season, 2022-23, Bacon landed at Panathinaikos and continued his scoring exploits, averaging 16.6 points per night – the fourth-highest average in the EuroLeague that year. 

While Panathinaikos struggled as a team, posting a 9-23 record, the American was a force to be reckoned with on the offensive end, scoring in single digits just three times in 27 games. 

He twice broke the 30-point barrier, scoring a career-high 31 points against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Round 12 and then 30 points in the Greek derby against Olympiacos Piraeus in Round 16.

Bacon, who has also played for the Charlotte Hornets (2017-20), Orlando Magic (2020-21) and the Shanghai Sharks (2023-24) in his career, now has the chance to be a key member of Dubai's roster as the team looks to take the EuroLeague by storm.

More Dubai Basketball News

The skilled forward previously played in the competition for Monaco and Panathinaikos

With the passing of Xabier Añua on July 4th at the age of 89, Spanish basketball lost one of its most influential and respected figures

In Memory of Xabier Añúa: A Pillar of Spanish Basketball

*With the passing of Xabier Añua on July 4th at the age of 89, Spanish basketball lost one of its most influential and respected figures.*

*Beyond his distinguished career as head coach of clubs such as Baskonia and FC Barcelona, Xabier Añua was a mentor, teacher, and discoverer of talent, who guided countless players and coaches who would go on to shape the future of the sport in Spain.*

*His intelligence, charisma, courage, integrity, and above all, his extraordinary kindness, are part of the legacy he leaves behind. Perhaps the most enduring aspect of his heritage is the way he made the world a better place for those around him – on and off the court.*

*One example of the deep admiration he inspired is the unanimous decision by the City Council of Vitoria-Gasteiz to honor both Xabier and his brother Iñaki Añua the – renowned director of the Vitoria Jazz Festival for four decades – by renaming the historic Mendizorroza Sports Center, the former home of Baskonia before its move to the Buesa Arena and current venue of the world-renowned Vitoria Jazz Festival, to include their names.*

*This article by one of the preeminent experts on Basque basketball, Natxo Mendaza, was originally published in 2019 ahead of the Final Four in Vitoria-Gasteiz and now serves as a heartfelt tribute to the enduring legacy of Xabier Añua.*

If you want to understand what basketball means to Vitoria-Gasteiz and to know the sport's more than half a century history in the city, 83-year-old Xabier Añua is the person to talk to. Añua has been one of the most influential characters in the game's development in Vitoria and one of the main actors in making basketball an essential component of the city's DNA.

From the day a rim and a board were placed in the courtyard of the school that he attended – he tried playing for the first time with "a ball that was bigger than the hoop, so we looked even worse than we really were" – Añua fell in love with the sport. Basketball, alongside jazz music – his brother Iñaki has been the director of the Jazz Festival of Vitoria-Gasteiz since 1979 – became the greatest passions in Añua's life.

Añua has been a prophet in his own land, but his impact and relevance go beyond his native Vitoria. He was one of the first Spanish coaches to travel to the United States in the 1960s, which led him to attend practices of the New York Knicks and with the U.S. national team, as well as to hang out with legends such as Dave Cowens and "Pistol" Pete Maravich. He was chosen to lead the rebuilding process of the basketball section at FC Barcelona in 1968, and in so doing was responsible for the arrival of legendary coach Aito Garcia Reneses, whom he saw "not only as a player for the team, but also a helpful hand to assist me as a coach."

He also tested the waters of French basketball in Antibes from 1973 and 1976, and his frequent trips to Latin America led him to meet Salvador Allende – who tempted Añua to stay in Chile and take charge of the Chilean national team. He also influenced the "import process" that Baskonia started in Argentina in the late 1980s with the signing of Marecelo Nicola.

"They asked me to write a letter to Leon Najnudel to try to convince Marcelo to come," Añua recalled, referring to the founder of the first Argentinian professional league.

Self-taught in so many aspects, Añua relived the origins of basketball in Vitoria with strong affection: "When we started playing, we were just a small group of crazy people that didn't even know how the game had to be played. In three or four years, we just learned the basics. At that time in the 1950s, you barely found even referees; it was a photographer who ended up becoming the official at the games we played. I became a coach very soon, because I knew I could not play and as there were not many more coaches around. I thought, 'Okay, I think nobody will challenge me in this," he confessed, laughing.

"In the 1950s, you barely found even referees; it was a photographer who ended up becoming the official at the games we played."

Añua and basketball already existed in Vitoria before the arrival and success of Baskonia. In fact, the first team of Vitoria that showed up in European basketball competitions was not the club currently chaired by Josean Querejeta, but rather KAS Vitoria. That team became the Spanish Cup runner-up in 1967, which allowed it to participate in the European Cup Winners' Cup the next season, KAS was eliminated by eventual champion AEK Athens, led by Georgios Amerikanos: "He was like Nikos Galis, he was able to score in so many ways," Añua said.

The coach of that KAS team was, indeed, Xabier Añua, and he better than anyone remembered how basketball ended up earning a privileged position in a city like Vitoria:

"The Fronton Vitoriano – the court where the games were played – was always fully packed. It was such a big thing that we were named the host organization of the Spanish Cup final, and we came very close to winning it. We could have done so if Clifford Luyk hadn't made like 40 points that day and we didn't lose Jesus Iradier in the final minutes. But also, before that, basketball was a big event for the city as the games were played between schools. And even if it sounds trivial, those games brought a lot of girls to the stands because they were able to see boys their age. That court brought a lot of people together, and it was something that remained over the years. Vitoria is a city where it rains, it snows, but that court had a covered roof. It was very good and also very comfortable, because it was in the center of the city."

KAS Vitoria ended up moving to Bilbao in 1968, which opened the doors for other basketball clubs in Vitoria to step up.

"That's when Baskonia took over, and I think we must give big credit to their people and the club itself because they had to go through a very long and difficult journey," Añua said. "The team wasn't very strong in the beginning, but had a good base. They had many players born and raised in Vitoria, people loved them very much, they were well-known people in the city and they were very good guys.

"The club managed to endure during the 1970s and the 1980s thanks to some great coaches such as Pepe Laso, Iñaki Iriarte and others who were able to run the team with very little money, and thanks to presidents like Jose Luis 'Santxon' Sanchez Erauskin or Jose Antonio Santamaria, who did a very good job, too, in that, let's say, intermediate level of basketball, which is the most difficult in my opinion.

"Coach Pepe Laso was also a great contributor, as he brought some important players from Gipuzkoa, like Josean Querejeta and others, and they raised the level of the team joining local guys like Carlos Luquero, who was their franchise player. All those things were important to leave a solid legacy behind and throughout the years. Those were very intense and beautiful years."

"Fans in Vitoria have always been very good ones. I always felt basketball as a very close, familiar and friendly sport."


The first national title for Baskonia would come in 1985 (the Association Cup), which allowed the club to play in its first international competition, the Korac Cup, the following season. Again, the coach was Añua, who agreed to get back into coaching after nearly a decade for that occasion: "I wanted to try and see if I could combine my work as a lawyer with coaching, but I realized very soon then that it was almost impossible".

After his definitive retirement from the bench, Añua also witnessed the arrival of Josean Querejeta to the presidency of the club very closely, at the end of the 80s, as a member of his first managing staff: "Josean had a very clear idea of what he wanted to do from the very beginning, and he surrounded himself with people he trusted. I joined them, and later many of us became shareholders, but in the end I decided to step aside because I don't have a managerial mentality; I never did. Right now I am just a basketball fan, I have no relationship with the club beyond the friendship that I keep with many of those who still remain."

For Añua, Querejeta is the key cornerstone in the club's development from those days to these: "Many of us think now that this is what we wanted when we started, that it could be our dream; to be among the top eight teams in Europe for several years. And Josean... is the one who has brought the sport of basketball in Vitoria up to the position where we see it is now. I do not know what will happen the day that Josean leaves. He pulls all the strings and knows how to pull them."

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz - 1984-85

Añua also took a deeper lesson, beyond coaching techniques and tactics, from the time he spend in the States – the importance of an adequate management structure:

"Management is fundamental in a club that wants to move forward and grow up. You need structure. It's like when Herb Brown came to Vitoria and said, 'Where is my office?' Josean did not know what to answer at first. That kind of things became common and Josean was one of the first ones in understand that. In Vitoria, there was a good legacy regarding management, because even if it was a humble club and not a very big one, previous presidents were able to instill good managing practices. 

"Everything Santxon, Santamaria, et al., did had a purpose, so the idea that clubs need to be managed wasn't brand new here. A club is not a group of friends who hang out together. You can see the effect of what Baskonia has accomplished just by comparing the number of people who are working in the club right now with the number they were a few years ago."

But for Añua, one of Baskonia's greatest assets, and the one he considers has changed less throughout this growing process, is the social mass that lies behind the club:

"It remains the same; the fans support the team unconditionally. And they have learned to give credit for what they have, and to feel permanently excited about it. They identify themselves with the team; Baskonia is their team and for them it is the maximum, the best one, even if they lose. People are always behind the team. It is an identity, and it's like that not only for the fans, but also for the institutions, whoever is in charge at any specific moment. Thanks to the support of many politicians throughout the years it has been possible to accomplish all the things the city and the club have accomplished, because they have seen that it is good for the city's development and exposure. Vitoria is known abroad, or overseas, many times because of basketball or soccer."

About the fans of Vitoria and the fans of Baskonia, Añua has only good words:

"Fans in Vitoria have always been very good ones. I always felt basketball as a very close, familiar and friendly sport. That's why, in my opinion and as compared to some other sports, you can see a lot of parents bringing their children with them to the arena, because they know they can watch the game calmly and safely, that they can enjoy the experience without worrying that anything dangerous could happen."

In Memory of Xabier Añua: A Pillar of Spanish Basketball

After two years in the NBA, two-time EuroLeague champion and 2020-21 EuroLeague MVP Vasilije Micic has returned to Europe's premier club competition by joining newcomer Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv on a lucrative three-year deal

Vasilije Micic signs lucrative deal with Hapoel Tel Aviv

After two years in the NBA, two-time EuroLeague champion and 2020-21 EuroLeague MVP [Vasilije Micic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vasilije-micic/002580/) has returned to Europe's premier club competition by joining newcomer [Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/hapoel-ibi-tel-aviv/hta/) on a lucrative three-year deal.

Micic (1.96 meters, 31 years old) became a EuroLeague star during his five years with Anadolu Efes Istanbul, not only helping the team win the 2020-21 and 2021-22 championships but also becoming the Final Four MVP in each of those triumphs. A three-time All-EuroLeague guard, Micic took home the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy in 2021-22, too.

"I am very excited to join Hapoel Tel Aviv and to be part of the club’s historic upcoming season – its debut in the EuroLeague," Micic said. "I was deeply impressed by the project Hapoel is building – the ambition and the clear vision for the future. I was happy to speak with Coach Dimitris Itoudis and I’m excited to work with him. 

"I hope to help the team succeed and meet the high expectations. I can’t wait to get started, to arrive in Tel Aviv, and to give my all for the team and our amazing fans. Yalla Hapoel!"

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">מועדון הכדורסל הפועל ״IBI” תל אביב שמח ונרגש לבשר על החתמתו של אלוף היורוליג ו-MVP המפעל בעבר, הרכז הסרבי ואסיליה (ואסה) מיציץ׳ (31, 1.96 מ׳) לשלוש שנים, עד לסיום עונת 2027/28.<br><br>מיציץ׳ יגיע להפועל אחרי שנתיים ב-NBA במדי אוקלהומה סיטי ת׳אנדר, שארלוט הורנטס ופיניקס סאנס. במהלך… <a href="https://t.co/9YukWiJ8OQ">pic.twitter.com/9YukWiJ8OQ</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1945419717734469745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"We are happy and excited to welcome Vasa Micic to the Hapoel Tel Aviv family," Coach Dimitris Itoudis said. "From our very first conversation with Vasa back in December – the moment when everything started – Ofer Yannay and I were impressed by his commitment to hard work, his leadership, and his strong desire to return to EuroLeague play and lead Hapoel Tel Aviv to new heights. 

"We are thrilled that Vasa brings experience, work ethic, and leadership on the court. We are very excited to begin working with him and all our players, and to build the new Hapoel Tel Aviv together."

Over the last two seasons, Micic played a total of 101 games in the NBA: 30 for the Oklahoma City Thunder, 66 for the Charlotte Hornets, and five for the Phoenix Suns. In an average of over 19 minutes per night, the Serbia international posted 6.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists for his NBA career.

Micic has played a total of 229 EuroLeague games to date: 10 with FC Bayern Munich (2014-15), 17 with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2015-16), 36 with Zalgiris Kaunas (2017-18), and 166 with Efes.

He is one of 23 players to have scored 3,000 or more points, having netted 3,007 (22nd overall all-time) in his career to date. During his time with Hapoel, he will be hoping to reach 4,000 points, something just eight players have done before.

It is not just scoring where Micic has left his mark. The Serbian guard is one of 14 players to have dished over 1,000 assists, as he sits 13th place all-time with 1,097 to his name. Just 10 players in EuroLeague history have scored over 3,000 points and dished more than 1,000 assists – and Micic is part of that exclusive club.

For his career, Micic's averages stand at 13.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.0 steal and a 13.8 PIR.

More Hapoel Tel Aviv News

The two-time champion and 2020-21 MVP is ready to light up EuroLeague floors once again

Vasilije Micic signs lucrative deal with Hapoel

Dovydas Giedraitis to miss start of 2025-26 season

Zalgiris Kaunas will be without a reliable guard for the first part of the 2025-26 season after [Dovydas Giedraitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dovydas-giedraitis/007513/) underwent wrist surgery on Tuesday. The 24-year old guard is expected to be sidelined for five months, which would mean he is scheduled to return to action no earlier than December.

Giedraitis has spent the last three seasons with Zalgiris, and last season played 24 minutes per game, posting 5.8 points on 39.1% three-point shooting. He also had 1.9 assists and 1.8 rebounds.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today, Dovydas Giedraitis underwent successful wrist surgery at Gijos Klinikos. The guard will miss the first part of the 2025-2026 season. His recovery is expected to take around 4-5 months. <br><br>Speedy recovery, Dovydas. Can’t wait to see you back in action! 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/8sIgcFZMl0">pic.twitter.com/8sIgcFZMl0</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1945118042440044679?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The latest on Zalgiris Kaunas

The Zalgiris guard will miss time due to a wrist injury

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv announced on Tuesday that it has signed Canadian forward and former NBA champion Oshae Brissett to a two-year deal

Maccabi brings Oshae Brissett to the EuroLeague

[Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/roster/tel/) announced on Tuesday that it has signed Canadian forward and former NBA champion Oshae Brissett to a two-year deal.

Brissett (2.01 meters, 27 years old) has played in the NBA for all six seasons of his professional career. After playing college basketball at Syracuse, he joined the Toronto Raptors in 2019 and also played for their G-League affiliate, Raptors 905. He spent the next three seasons with the Indiana Pacers, where he became a rotation mainstay in his last two years.

In the summer of 2023, Brissett signed with the Boston Celtics and thanks to his energy and defensive effort, became a critical reserve. He helped the Celtics win the NBA championship that season, appearing in 10 playoffs games – including three in the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. Last season Brissett split time between the Long Island Nets in the G league and the Philadelphia 76ers. Maccabi will be his first team outside of North America.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome <a href="https://twitter.com/Obrissy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Obrissy</a> 🖋️ <a href="https://t.co/i9EXaIjeDz">pic.twitter.com/i9EXaIjeDz</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1945115515392778677?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Maccabi news

The Canadian forward became an NBA champion in 2024 with Boston

Virtus Bologna has announced the signing of Abramo Canka on a multi-year deal.

Abramo Canka lands at Virtus

[Virtus Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/vir/) has announced the signing of [Abramo Canka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/abramo-canka/007705/) on a multi-year deal.

Canka (1.98 meters) has spent the last three years playing in college in the United States, representing UCLA in 2022-23, Wake Forest in 2023-24, and Stetson in 2024-25. Last season, he averaged 8.5 points, 4.5 assists, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steal in 26 NCAA games for Stetson.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐀 𝐕𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐒 🇮🇹<br>Abramo Canka è un nuovo giocatore dei Campioni d’Italia 🤙 <a href="https://t.co/5W01tkWKtj">pic.twitter.com/5W01tkWKtj</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Bologna (@VirtusBo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusBo/status/1945071523288478107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The swingman, who was born in the Italian city of Genoa, returns to Italy after five years away. He started his career with Stella Azzurra and the Roseto Sharks in the 2019-20 campaign, then he played for Nevezis in Lithuania in 2020-21 and part of the 2021-22 season, before joining Lokomotiv Kuban. He made 16 appearances in the Russian second tier for Lokomotiv and also appeared in one BKT EuroCup game, knocking down one three-pointer in five minutes on the floor.

More Virtus News

He will make his EuroLeague debut when he steps onto the floor

On the heels of his finest EuroLeague campaign to date, Devin Booker is relocating to Italy to play for EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

Milan books deal with Devin Booker

On the heels of his finest EuroLeague campaign to date, [Devin Booker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/devin-booker/profile/007056/) is relocating to Italy to play for [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/roster/mil/). He has penned a multi-year contract with the Little Red Shoes.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">📝 La Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano comunica di aver raggiunto un accordo pluriennale con Devin Booker. <br>🇮🇹 Comunicato ufficiale 👉🏻 <a href="https://t.co/fK1iC7hNRy">https://t.co/fK1iC7hNRy</a><br><br>📝 Olimpia Milano has reached a multi-year agreement with Devin Booker.<br>🇬🇧 Official statement 👉🏻 <a href="https://t.co/W2WoK0D0Hi">https://t.co/W2WoK0D0Hi</a>… <a href="https://t.co/u4GEvlQXZi">pic.twitter.com/u4GEvlQXZi</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1945053833786265687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The high-flying Booker (2.05 meters, 34 years old) has played seven straight seasons in the EuroLeague. That run was sandwiched by his time with FC Bayern Munich, where he played his first EuroLeague campaign as well as the last two.

Last season Booker averaged 14.9 points on 40.5% three-point shooting and 4.7 rebounds in 28 EuroLeague games. He also helped Bayern win the German championship; it was the fourth time he had raised the trophy with Bayern.

Devin Booker's best dunks: 2024-25

After playing college basketball at Clemson University, Booker made his professional debut in France with SLUC Nancy in the 2013-14 season. He spent time with JL Bourg en Bresse in the French second division and Elan Chalon, with which he was named the French League MVP for the 2015-16. That led to his first move to Bayern, with which Booker was named to the 2017-18 All-EuroCup First Team.

Booker debuted in the EuroLeague with Bayern in the 2018-19 campaign and then spent two seasons in Russia with Khimki Moscow Region. Following two seasons with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, Booker returned to Bayern in 2023. In Milan Booker will once again team up with his former Fenerbahce teammate, Marko Guduric. This season Booker could notch a number of milestones, including playing in his 200th EuroLeague game and scoring his 2,000th point.

More Milan News

The Italian side will be the big man's fourth EuroLeague club

U-BT Cluj-Napoca has announced the signing of former EuroLeague champion Ben Altit for the 2025-26 season

Cluj gets bigger with Ben Altit

[U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/roster/clu/) has announced the signing of former EuroLeague champion [Ben Altit](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ben-altit/profile/002875/) for the 2025-26 season. 

Altit (2.08 meters, 32 years old) arrives from a fellow Romanian side Rapid Bucharest, where he averaged 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in domestic league action last season. It was first season in Romania for the veteran center, who had spent more than a decade playing pro basketball in his native Israel.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">✍️🏼 welcome to U-BT, Ben Altit! <a href="https://t.co/hmSbOEyo9U">pic.twitter.com/hmSbOEyo9U</a></p>&mdash; U-BT Cluj-Napoca (@UBTCluj) <a href="https://twitter.com/UBTCluj/status/1945016674563899454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A product of the Maccabi Tel Aviv youth system, Altit played one season of college basketball at Bryant University before returning to Israel with Bnei Hasharon for the 2012-13 season. He then rejoined Maccabi and made his EuroLeague debut in the 2013-2014 campaign.

All three EuroLeague games that Altit played in the 2013-14 season came during the Top 16 phase, as he helped Maccabi on its journey to winning the 2014 EuroLeague crown. Altit also won the Israeli League championships with Maccabi that season.

During both of those years with Maccabi, he also spent time in the Israeli second division with Elitzur Ramla and Ironi Ramat Gan. In the summer of 2015, Altit moved on to play at Maccabi Kiryat Gat. He later suited up for Maccabi Ashdod, Hapoel Galil Gilboa, Maccabi Rishon LeZion, Elitzur Ashkelon and again Ironi Ramat Gan before joining Rapid last summer.

Altit is now set to make his BKT EuroCup debut with the ambitious Cluj. 

The latest from Cluj

The veteran center is set to make his EuroCup debut



Best plays of 2024-25: Panathinaikos

Vote for the best All-EuroCup First Team in history: 2018 vs. 2014

Each season, five standout players earn their place among the competition’s elite as members of the All-EuroCup First Team. Over the years, these selections have featured rising stars, future EuroLeague legends, and unforgettable EuroCup heroes who left their mark on the competition.

Now, it's time to see which lineup stands above the rest.

Our expert panel has seeded the All-EuroCup First Teams into a bracket, and each matchup will be decided by you, the fans! Several times a week, we’ll reveal a new battle on the official **EuroCup Instagram account**, where you can vote for the team that you believe deserves to advance.

Here on [EuroCupBasketball.com](http://EuroCupBasketball.com), we’ll break down each matchup, compare the rosters, and offer our take on who has the edge.

This time it's **2018 vs. 2014**. Two incredible squads. One spot in the next round.

Let the debate begin – and may the best team win!

2018

- [Quino Colom](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/quino-colom/006533/), UNICS Kazan
- [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/scottie-wilbekin/006661/), Darussafaka
- [Amedeo Della Valle](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/della-valle-amedeo/005884/), Reggio Emilia
- [Ryan Broekhoff](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ryan-broekhoff/005195/), Lokomotiv
- [Devin Booker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devin-booker/007056/), Bayern

2014

- [DeMarcus Nelson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/demarcus-nelson/002829/), Crvena Zvezda
- [Andrew Goudelock](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-goudelock/004903/), UNICS Kazan
- [Dijon Thompson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dijon-thompson/000134/), Nizhny Novgorod
- [Justin Doellman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/justin-doellman/001832/), Valencia
- [Vladimir Golubovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/vladimir-golubovic/001236/), TED Ankara

<center><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DMDed8iIfPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DMDed8iIfPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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Scottie Wilbekin straight up had one of the great EuroCup seasons in 2017-18. And the team around him isn’t too shabby. Quino Colom was a heady playmaker and Amedeo Della Valle a craft passer and dangerous shooter. Ryan Broekhoff made 50.6% of his threes and big Devin Booker put up some nice numbers in the paint. On paper, 2018 is a great team.

The 2014 guys are a little longer and more athletic. Vladimir Golubovic had one of the great seasons for a big man with 12 double-doubles in 20 games. At forward Justin Doellman was a mismatch as a stretch-4 and could be overpowering as a small forward who crashed the boards. Andrew Goudelock was an elite scorer at the peak of his power and DeMarcus Nelson would be the perfect package at point guard to balance them all.

This matchup could be decided by the team that gets hot from deep and 2018 has the better shooters. But if they had anything less than a stellar night, they would be in trouble. 2014 is bigger and stronger. I would think 2014 would control the rebounds and find plenty of ways to score… and thus is my winner. Who do you like?

Join us on our journey to crown the greatest All-EuroCup First Team of all time! 

The latest matchup in our quest to crown the greatest All-EuroLeague First Team of all time pits 2013 against 2011!

Vote for the best All-EuroLeague First Team in history: 2013 vs. 2011

Each season, the top five players in Europe’s premier basketball competition are recognized with All-EuroLeague First Team honors. Over the past quarter century, these elite selections have showcased a who’s who of basketball legends, from rising stars to Hall of Famers and everything in between.

This summer, we're putting them all head-to-head to answer one big question: Which All-EuroLeague First Team stands above the rest?

We’ve seeded all 24 teams into a bracket created by our panel of in-house EuroLeague experts. Several times a week, we’ll reveal a new matchup on the official **EuroLeague Instagram account**, where you can vote for your favorite.

Right here on the official EuroLeague website, you’ll find a quick breakdown of each matchup – and which team we think deserves the edge. This time it's 2013 vs. 2011.

Let the debates begin. Let the voting begin. Let the best team win!

2013

- [Dimitris Diamantidis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dimitris-diamantidis/jko/), Panathinaikos (age 33)
- [Vassilis Spanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vassilis-spanoulis/juo/), Olympiacos (age 30)
- [Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rudy-fernandez/bmt/), Real Madrid (age 28)
- [Nenad Krstic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nenad-krstic/auo/), CSKA Moscow (age 29)
- [Ante Tomic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ante-tomic/002507/), Barcelona (age 26)

2011

- [Dimitris Diamantidis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dimitris-diamantidis/jko/), Panathinaikos (age 31)
- [Juan Carlos Navarro](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/juan-carlos-navarro/profile/adi/), Barcelona (age 30)
- [Fernando San Emeterio](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/fernando-san-emeterio/000518/), Baskonia (age 27)
- [Mike Batiste](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-batiste/ajv/), Panathinaikos (age 33)
- [Sofoklis Schortsanitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sofoklis-schortsanitis/jxx/), Maccabi (age 26)

<center><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DMF0XXotDlb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DMF0XXotDlb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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Could this be the toughest matchup yet? Let’s look at each team's strengths. 2013 has more size in the paint and a pairing of magical guards. This is Spanoulis at his best in the year he led the Reds to the second of back-to-back crowns.

2011 has a younger Diamantidis, more power in the paint and a peak San Emeterio, who shot 50% from downtown that season. Envision this scenario: Diamantidis plays the pick-and-roll at the top of the key with either his longtime Panathinaikos teammate (Batiste) or his Greek national team mate (Schortsanitis – remember how they shredded Team USA at the 2006 World Cup?!?!). Can you cheat to stop the roller and leave either Navarro or San Emeterio alone in the corner?

And there you have it. My take? The 2011 team is too strong for what is otherwise a great 2013 side.  But what do you think?

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem has added promising Israeli guard Roy Paretsky on a one-year deal for the 2025-26 season

Hapoel Jerusalem inks Roy Paretsky

[Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-jerusalem/roster/jer/) has added promising Israeli guard Roy Paretsky on a one-year deal for the 2025-26 season.

Paretsky (1.94 meters, 22 years old) is the team’s first domestic signing of the summer. He arrives from Elitzur Briga Netanya, where he average 8.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game last season. Paretsky began his career with Elitzur Netanya and went on to shine at Hapoel Be’er Sheva, where he was named the 2023 Israeli League rising star. He has played for the Israeli national team at the junior and senior levels, including the U20 team that finished fourth at the 2022 European Championship.

“Roy will bring us a lot of defensive toughness and his offensive potential is sky-high,” Coach Yonatan Alon said. “He has size and tools that are very hard to find in Israeli guards – or anywhere. I’m excited to have him with us and I’m sure our fans will love his hunger and willingness to do whatever it takes for the team.”

“I’m really excited to join Hapoel,” Paretsky said. “It’s a dream for any young player to be part of such a high-level team and club. I’ll give everything I’ve got to help the team succeed, grow and win as many titles as possible together with our amazing fans. I’m proud we’ve joined forces. Now the sky’s the limit. Yalla Hapoel!”

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">רכש ישראלי ראשון לעונה: רועי פריצקי מצטרף להפועל. לכל הפרטים &gt;<a href="https://t.co/UiPVmyLtod">https://t.co/UiPVmyLtod</a> <a href="https://t.co/rpc4aZLQyk">pic.twitter.com/rpc4aZLQyk</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Jerusalem BC (@JerusalemBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerusalemBasket/status/1944756799430930823?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The shooting guard will play in the BKT EuroCup for the first time