Name: Centers are the center of attention in this week's Fantasy Challenge Podcast
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Regular co-hosts Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs of Euroleague.net joined forced again to discuss which centers you should select in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge this week.

Centers are the centers of attention in this week's Fantasy Challenge Podcast

Episode No. 23 of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast is destined to be a great one in honor of greats of the game of basketball like Michael Jordan and Sergio Llull who have donned that number in their legendary career. Regular co-hosts [Javier Gancedo](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fganchetto&data=05%7C02%7Cgeoff.gillingham%40euroleague.net%7Cff2a7b4fdb8942bff95208dd654005c4%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638778047824882217%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=sVGmeHZVSTZXEoK1dfvl8YTvEa6Toa04F3Qok%2FuiEr8%3D&reserved=0) and [Frankie Sachs](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FMrEuroleague&data=05%7C02%7Cgeoff.gillingham%40euroleague.net%7Cff2a7b4fdb8942bff95208dd654005c4%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638778047824901897%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=OsbA2cH%2Fonzp6wHTixlMtT0Z7Z56BNvCYzb4CalbbaI%3D&reserved=0) of [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net) joined forced again this week, with Vasiliki Karamouza experiencing technical difficulties.

The name of the fantasy game for Round 30 is centers, with [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade sidelined and [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) of AS Monaco questionable. Moreover, a Tuesday night fixture between Paris Basketball and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan means that a decision must be made by Tuesday evening, so waiting on player updates can be risky.

Javi and Frankie discussed alternatives at center as well as how to build your teams in this three-turn round. If you are – like Frankie – among those who lost both of your centers to injuries, you have come to the right place for help! See what moves Javi and Frankie advise – as well as what they actually do – this week. And make sure your lineups are set by 20:30 CET on Tuesday when Paris vs. Milan tips off in the French capital. Good luck, fantasy fans!

Centers are the center of attention in this week's Fantasy Challenge Podcast

With injuries decimating frontcourts, decisions must be made

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-03-21T19:45:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v Zalgiris Kaunas (2025-03-21T19:30:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-03-20T19:45:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v ALBA Berlin (2025-03-21T19:15:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v FC Bayern Munich (2025-03-20T19:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2025-03-20T18:00:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2025-03-20T19:15:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-03-20T18:00:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-03-18T19:30:00.000Z)

In the second episode of the EuroLeague 25 Moments series, listen to coach David Blatt, Rice, Sofoklis Schortsanitis, as well as Real Madrid's Pablo Laso and Ioannis Bourousis, as they relive some highlights from Maccabi Tel Aviv's magical run to the championship title.

EuroLeague 25 Moments: Maccabi and its magical run to the 2014 title

The city of Milan will always bring back fond memories for fans of [Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/tel/).

In 2014, David Blatt's Maccabi made it to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four having beaten EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 3-1 in the playoffs. Now, they would return to the Italian city for a semifinal clash against Russian powerhouse CSKA Moscow.

What transpired was one of the most epic games in EuroLeague history. After being down by 15 points, Maccabi roared back to win 67-68 after [Tyrese Rice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyrese-rice/003367/)'s tough layup with five seconds remaining in regulation, a victory that set up a meeting with Real Madrid in the championship game.

Real Madrid was the overwhelming favorite after beating FC Barcelona by 38 points in the semifinals, yet Maccabi had a chance to win in overtime, only for Rice's three-pointer to be off the mark. Then, in overtime, Maccabi stepped up to come away with an 86-94 victory, the club's sixth EuroLeague title to date.

In the second episode of the EuroLeague 25 Moments series, listen to coach David Blatt, Rice, [Sofoklis Schortsanitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sofoklis-schortsanitis/jxx/), as well as Real Madrid's Pablo Laso and [Ioannis Bourousis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ioannis-bourousis/aqu/), as they relive some highlights from Maccabi's magical run to the championship title.

More Maccabi News

CSKA Moscow v Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv (2014-05-16T16:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv (2014-05-18T18:00:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz has confirmed that guard Kamar Baldwin will undergo surgery after suffering an injury to his right hand during a Spanish League game this past weekend.

Kamar Baldwin to undergo surgery for hand fracture

[Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/bas/) has confirmed that guard [Kamar Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kamar-baldwin/012597/) will undergo surgery after suffering an injury to his right hand during a Spanish League game this past weekend.

Baldwin, playing in his rookie Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, has made 25 appearances for Baskonia so far, posting 7.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 0.9 steals, but he now faces a spell on the sidelines.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Parte médico: Kamar Baldwin<br><br>📰<a href="https://t.co/YQLMsSSHBY">https://t.co/YQLMsSSHBY</a><br><br>¡Ánimo, Kamar! <a href="https://t.co/tffJ2tdVhK">pic.twitter.com/tffJ2tdVhK</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1901676732958040330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"Baskonia's playmaker has suffered a fracture in the first phalanx of his right hand and will have to undergo surgery," read Baskonia's statement on Monday.

"The medical tests performed to Kamar Baldwin in recent hours by the club's medical services, after suffering a collision in this past Sunday's game against Real Madrid, confirm an unstable fracture in the first phalanx of his right hand, which requires surgical treatment for stabilization.

"Baldwin will undergo surgery and the evolution after the operation will mark his return to the team's dynamic."

More Baskonia News

The injury occurred in a domestic game over the weekend

Begüm Yücel and Pinar Çiler Çağlayan are two women helping take Bahçeşehir College Istanbul to new heights in European basketball.

Begüm Yücel and Pinar Çiler Çağlayan: Inspiring Bahçeşehir College's journey

Begüm Yücel and Pinar Çiler Çağlayan are not focused on the history they are making. They understand being in the positions they are in sets them up to be role models and inspirations for others like them.

But they want something bigger: namely to turn [Bahçeşehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/bud/) into an established powerhouse in European basketball – ideally starting next season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Yücel and Çiler Çağlayan have guided their Turkish club to just four victories from winning the BKT EuroCup and earning the right to play next season in the EuroLeague.

What makes Yücel and Çiler Çağlayan special, you might ask? Both the Club President Yücel and General Manager Çiler Çağlayan are women. Strong-willed and ambitious women doing their part in breaking down the gender barrier in European basketball.

Begüm Yücel, Club President at Bahçeşehir College Istanbul.

### A story unfortunately needing to be told

The disappointing aspect of telling this story is that Yücel and Çiler Çağlayan should not be anything special because they are women. It should not need to be highlighted that these two are women in a men’s game. It should not even be a side note.

Yücel and Çiler Çağlayan should just be seen as two basketball leaders looking to do something rarely seen in European basketball: taking a club from its founding in 2017 and winning the FIBA Europe Cup before now attempting to lift the EuroCup in a matter of eight seasons, which would book a spot in the second-best club competition in the world.

“We want to stay humble and go step by step," Yücel told David Hein via [his Taking The Charge Substack page](https://takingthecharge.substack.com/p/begum-yucel-and-pinar-ciler-caglayan) ahead of Bahcesehir's quarterfinal clash with Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, [a game the team won 85-81](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-rallies-past-cedevita-85-81/). "We are still far from the \[EuroCup\] Final and we should focus on every game without thinking of the championship. This is basketball, anything can happen and it is impossible to control everything.

“With that being said, I can say that the target is seeing our name in the EuroLeague starting from next season, and it would mean the world to me personally since I was there in every step this club ever took.”

Çiler Çağlayan added: “Being just a few games from achieving our exact goal is incredibly exciting. Of course, it brings not only motivation but also pressure as it is unique to be this close to making history and knowing that every decision, every game could just define the whole season.”

Having beaten Cedevita, if Bahcesehir wins both of its best-of-three series in the semifinals and finals, it would become just the third Turkish club to win the EuroCup following Galatasaray Istanbul in 2016 and Darüşşafaka Istanbul in 2018. Frutti Extra Bursaspor and Türk Telekom Ankara reached the final in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and Besiktas Istanbul advanced to the semifinals last season.

“Turkish teams have made strong cases for the EuroLeague and it is pretty common to see EuroCup contenders from our country, which is very important," Yücel said. "Darüşşafaka were a great team with many future EuroLeague players; Bursaspor’s amazing final run was like a fairytale story; and Türk Telekom were one of the most successful teams that whole season both in the Turkish Super League and the EuroCup.

“The question we should ask ourselves might be if this is sustainable, and how many Turkish teams managed to stay competitive in Europe consistently besides Fenerbahçe Beko and Anadolu Efes. We want to stay competitive and be consistent which would be even more impressive than making it to the \[EuroCup\] Finals in my opinion.”

Bahçeşehir has been one of the best teams in the EuroCup this season, finishing the regular season atop Group A with a 14-4 record and securing a direct bye to the quarterfinals. Things have not gone quite as smoothly in the Turkish domestic league, where they have a 12-9 record in sixth place.

The team has essentially a EuroLeague-caliber roster with former EuroLeague play-caller Dejan Radonjic as head coach, as well as players such as [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/), [Mateusz Ponitka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mateusz-ponitka/004172/), [Tyler Cavanaugh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-cavanaugh/009601/), [Sehmus Hazer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sehmus-hazer/011201/) and [Marko Simonovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marko-simonovic/012711/) all having played EuroLeague in the past. Bahcesehir added even more experienced depth in January by signing [Kenan Sipahi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kenan-sipahi/005275/) – a veteran of 57 EuroLeague games – and former NBA star [Furkan Korkmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/furkan-korkmaz/005763/).

“In the beginning, our goal was to make a name for ourselves, at least reach the playoffs and make it to the EuroLeague in at worst a couple of seasons," Yücel said. "When you overachieve any of your goals, you unavoidably want more. This season, we saw the light."

### From Turkish second division to FIBA Europe Cup champs and runners-up

And the light is certainly shining bright as the basketball club has seen a meteroic rise through first the Turkish ranks and then the European ranks. After being founded in 2017, Bahçeşehir started its journey in the Turkish second division and finished as runners-up in its first campaign. It played in the Turkish top flight, the Basketbol Süper Ligi, in its second season and finished ninth in 2018-19.

Bahçeşehir was given a spot in the FIBA Europe Cup in 2019-20 season and the team stormed to the semifinals before the remainder of the competition was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020-21 season saw Bahçeşehir debut in the EuroCup and register a 2-8 record, grabbing wins over Joventut Badalona and Umana Reyer Venice.

In 2021-22, the club took part in the FIBA Europe Cup for a second time. Head coach Erhan Ernak guided a team including established players such as Sam Dekker, Jamar Smith, Langston Hall and Oguz Savas to the title, beating Italian side Reggio Emilia 162-143 over a two-leg aggregate.

In the Turkish BSL, Bahçeşehir College was swept 2-0 by Galatasaray Istanbul in the first-round quarterfinals and the club missed the playoffs in 2022-23 with a ninth-placed finish.

The 2022 FIBA Europe Cup title gave Bahçeşehir College the right to play in the Basketball Champions League in 2022-23. And the team went 3-3 in the group stage before being eliminated by Filou Oostende 2-1 in the play-in. The Round of 16 group proved too much as the club went 0-6 to bow out.

Bahçeşehir Collegemoved back down to the FIBA Europe Cup for 2023-24 and won its first-round group, then went undefeated in the second round as well. The Turkish side had a coaching change in December 2023, releasing Sinan Atalay in favor of Dejan Radonjic. The former EuroLeague play-caller guided Bahcesehir past FC Porto and Varese in the first two rounds of the FIBA Europe Cup playoffs.

In the finals, the Turkish side had a thrilling battle with NINERS Chemnitz. The Germans won the opening leg 85-74 at home. Bahçeşehir took the victory in the return leg in Türkiye but it was only a 105-95 overtime victory, meaning Chemnitz took the crown with a 180-179 aggregate victory.

## Bahçeşehir College a place of higher education

This seems like a good time to take a step back. Bahçeşehir has already established itself as a club to take seriously. But who or what is Bahçeşehir?

Bahçeşehir College belongs to the Bahçeşehir Uğur Educational Institutions family, which has been operating in the field of education for nearly half a century. Bahçeşehir College started education in its first campus in 1994 in the western Istanbul district of Bahçeşehir.

Bahçeşehir College had the mission of bringing quality education to every corner of Türkiye and began to open branches in Istanbul and throughout Türkiye.

According to the club, Bahçeşehir College serves nearly 100,000 students on 153 campuses in 63 provinces across Türkiye. It considers itself a “pioneer in world-class, contemporary and high-quality education in Türkiye” since 1994 with its practices that make a difference in foreign language education and educational models that set an example for the world.

Bahçeşehir College, the private Bahçeşehir University and Uğur Schools are part of the BAU Global Education Network, an international education network with institutions across three continents and 11 countries.

Bahçeşehir College has a total of 15,425 employees and 11,096 of them are women, making up 70 percent of the workforce.

“For me, gender equality isn't just about numbers or quotas but creating an environment of respect, fairness, and inclusivity," Yücel said. "Ensuring that women feel equally empowered to take on leadership roles and be confident in their abilities is crucial."

And bringing Bahçeşehir back to Begüm Yücel, the Bahçeşehir College itself was founded in 1994 by Enver Yücel, Begum’s father.

On top of that, Begüm’s brother Hüseyin founded the basketball club in 2017 – transferring the rights from Turkish second division side Acıbadem Üniversitesi SK – and served as its president until December 2023, when he moved to Beşiktaş to take over a second time as that basketball club’s president. And Begüm filled the presidency vacancy at Bahçeşehir.

<center>
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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZjOKbPDNIg/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Hüseyin Yücel (@huseyinyucel)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

In addition to the senior men’s team, Bahçeşehir College have been working tirelessly to help develop young talent, with nearly 40 youth teams across the country. The club’s teams won the Turkish U16 and U18 championships in 2023, and in 2024 they won the Turkish U14 national title.

## Family love of Beşiktaş

While father Enver Yücel has been involved with Bahçeşehir since 1994, the basketball team has only existed since 2017. And the Yücel family’s rooting interests in the heated battle for fans’ hearts in the Istanbul sports landscape have always been with Beşiktaş.

“Yes, we were Beşiktaş fans growing up, and I have only good memories about Beşiktaş," Begüm Yücel admitted. "Supporting a club, it makes you feel like you are part of a huge community. In Türkiye, it is no different than having a family legacy.

“Of course, most of the fanbases in our country are football-oriented. As I grew up, I started to lose interest in football. I am the biggest fan of the Bahçeşehir College basketball team and my love for basketball dictates my life.”

Her brother Hüseyin had previously worked with Beşiktaş as well, so when he answered the call to the Black and Whites in December 2023, it was not a surprise for Begüm, especially given his love for the club.

And given her own love of the Bahçeşehir College, taking over as club president was also a no-brainer.

“I was the biggest fan of Bahçeşehir College from the very beginning and I was involved in a lot of business decisions with my family. It was a natural move for both sides, and it felt like the right thing to do,” she said. “The whole organization knew my passion for the game and the club. I was confident once I saw their support. After the decision was made, we talked about some general details. I wanted to learn from his experiences but I always knew I wanted to run things my way.”

## History being made – inspiration in the works

By taking over the reins, Yücel was also making history. Four years earlier in 2019, Berna Gözbasi became the first female president in Turkish football history at Kayserispor. Now it was Yücel’s turn. She had become the first female president at a men’s Turkish professional basketball club.

“I believe women should always have greater presence in management roles in professional sports clubs and, of course, in business as well," Yücel said. "I am happy to have taken on this role but I do not want to overthink it. I hope I can set a good example and one day we can eliminate terms like ‘female president’ and ‘female manager’ from our vocabulary."

When seeking inspiration, she always looked to her parents.

“My parents are and always have been my biggest role models. Their road to success is very inspiring and what they have been able to do for the children in Türkiye, how they manage to adapt to all the drastic changes in the system is impressive to me even as their daughter,” she said.

Yücel is aware that many eyes are looking at her. Most notably, those of young women and girls in the country.

“I am just trying to be the best version of myself while doing my job," she said. "If it inspires other women and especially young girls who want to be successful in sports business, it means I am doing my job right. I hope more and more women succeed on their business journeys.

“Having women in leadership roles shows young girls that they belong in this space, too. When they see women making decisions, running teams, and succeeding in sports management, it breaks down the idea that this is a man’s world. It gives them the confidence to believe in themselves and take the leap into this career, knowing that there’s a place for them to lead.”

Çiler Çağlayan has been impressed with Begüm Yücel since taking over for her brother.

“Begüm Yücel has not only carried forward the club’s success but with her vision, our club remains a competitive, well-run and respected organization," Çiler Çağlayan said. "Having a president like Begüm Yücel not only breaks down the barriers but reshapes the culture, broadens opportunities and drives the long-term growth.

“Begüm Yücel represents a modern, strategic and sustainable vision to club management and always focusing long-term development rather than just short-term results. I strongly believe that having Begüm Yücel as the president of Bahçeşehir College, a club now just a few wins away from reaching the EuroLeague, is not only a remarkable moment for our club but also for both Turkish and European basketball.”

## Çiler Çağlayan taking her own historic journey

Pinar Çiler Çağlayan, for her part, has been with Bahçeşehir from the very beginning. She worked with the club from its founding in 2017 as Executive Manager and remained in that post until February 2024, when Mehmet Alpaslan Aydın became a board member and she moved into the position.

That made Çiler Çağlayan the first female general manager in Turkish men’s basketball history.

“I can say it is a personal milestone and with the right approach women can lead and succeed in men’s professional sports," she said. "It also challenges the mindset that only men can lead and succeed in men’s professional sports.

“It is essential to create a structure where women take on significant roles not only in traditionally male-dominated fields but in every branch, department and position within the sports to ensure this equality.”

When asked how other leaders in the European basketball community responded to her becoming general manager of the club and making history, Çiler Çağlayan said: “I received messages of support and positive reactions from many people I have had the opportunity to work with or compete against. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank everyone who has written, called and supported me.”

Just like for Yücel, the hope for Çiler Çağlayan is that evaluation of individuals can be done on merit and not be highlighted by exclusion out of tradition or unawareness.

“While emphasizing equality, it is also crucial not to highlight discrimination even further," she said. "When we evaluate individuals not as male or female executives, but simply as executives, and the primary criterion becomes the work itself, I believe that gender equality in sports can be naturally balanced without reinforcing division."

And again just like Yücel, Çiler Çağlayan knows the eyes of inspiration are cast upon her from young women and girls dreaming of doing similar great things.

“With this role being entrusted to me, I can confidently say that I will do my best to create a positive impact and show the path exists for them in sports management. I truly believe that the hard work will be recognized, regardless of gender,” she said.

It should not be a shock that Çiler Çağlayan is helping bring Bahçeşehir to lofty heights. She already helped two Turkish clubs rise further than ever before. She hails from Ankara but grew up in Izmir and played basketball recreationally there. She returned to the Turkish capital in 2009 to study philosophy at Bilkent University.

She was taking some online courses from FIBA and had a certificate for team management, but before planning on moving to to Netherlands to participate in the Erasmus program wanted some experience.

Çiler Çağlayan wrote to Ankara-based Süper Liga teams Hacettepe Universitesi Basketbol Kulübü, TED College, Türk Telekom Ankara and only Mutlu Hayran from Hacettepe responded. She then joined the club as administrative manager.

“Mutlu Hayran was the person who taught me everything when I first started in this field. I was 18 years old, and as the first female administrative manager, he believed in me. His trust and support at such an early stage in my career gave me the confidence to pursue my goals and prove myself in male-dominated industry,” she said of Hayran, who was the club’s general manager. “His mentorship, guidance, and leadership style helped me understand and handle challenges, make strategic decisions, and build strong teams.”

The team had been promoted from the Turkish third division to the second flight in 2009 and finished first in the then TB2L regular season but just missed out on promotion. With Çiler Çağlayan on board, Hacettepe finished second in the regular season before taking second place in the postseason to earn promotion to the Turkish first division.

Hacettepe ended up staying there two seasons, being relegated back to the second division in 2013, and Çiler Çağlayan returned to her studies in Ankara.

She would later reunite with former Hacettepe head coach Alp Bayramoğlu at Acıbadem Üniversitesi SK, a newly founded club Istanbul-based club in 2014.

Acıbadem started in the third division and immediately won the league, gaining promotion to the second flight in 2015. They finished second in the regular season in 2015-16 but lost 3-1 to Balıkesir in the Semi-Finals.

In 2016-17, Acıbadem finished sixth in the league and beat Socar Petkim in the quarterfinals but then finished last in the Final Four, which was a round-robin style group with each team playing the other three teams home and away.

Acıbadem was unable to reach the top flight and team owner Mehmet Ali Aydınlar decided to give up the club’s rights to Bahçeşehir Koleji Sports Club.

Çiler Çağlayan moved over to Bahçeşehir in 2017 and started taking the new club to another level. And one of her role modes was Alper Tunca Yılmaz, who served as sports director and general manager at Anadolu Efes Istanbul from 2009 to 2024 and guided the club to back-to-back Turkish Airlines EuroLeague crowns in 2021 and 2022.

“I didn’t get the chance to work with Alper Tunca Yılmaz, but his work ethic and dedication have always been an inspiration to me. Watching his approach to hard work, discipline, and professionalism has influenced the way I approach my own career,” she said of Yılmaz, who in November 2024 left Efes to become sports director of the Turkish Basketball Federation.

Pinar Çiler Çağlayan, General Manager at Bahçeşehir College Istanbul.

## Not easy being a woman in a man’s world

Look at Çiler Çağlayan’s résumé and you have to think the general manager has really climbed the basketball ladder and deserves to be on the brink of something fantastic with the club.

Look at Çiler Çağlayan herself and if you don’t know who see is and her standing in the basketball landscape, all that hard work, sweat, dedication and grind often has been for naught.

“At the beginning, outsiders never assumed I was a manager. Many thought I was a nutritionist or part of the medical team. Some team representatives even assumed I was a TV presenter rather than a basketball executive. And on a few occasions, at the passport controls in airports, I was even asked if I was a cheerleader!”

Let that sink in. The general manager of a club with a European club title as well as a runners-up finish in a second season was being asked if she was a cheerleader for the team.

Still, Çiler Çağlayan took the high road, saying: “These moments both funny and eye-opening, showing just how deeply gender stereotypes are ingrained in sports. However, over time, through hard work and persistence, perceptions changed, and now people recognize me for what I am, a manager in basketball.”

She continued: “I never had an ambition for titles. For me, the most important thing has always been hard work, enjoying the journey, and learning as much as possible. I was really young when I started this job, and to be taken seriously took time, let’s say at least 10 years.”

She finished that statement with a smile. But her president knows exactly what she has with Çiler Çağlayan on her side.

“Pınar has always been amazing. She was our administrative manager for years and she has been killing it as the GM as well. She is one of the most respected professionals in Turkish basketball community and deserves it,” Yücel said. “It is of course important for a woman to be in this position and it sets an example, but our intention was never to hire or promote her because of her gender.”

Yücel herself says she really didn’t face many barriers being a woman in the game.

“I’ve been fortunate to receive strong support from everyone at the club and from those around me. This support has made it possible to focus on my goals and continue growing as a leader without being held back. I believe having a supportive environment is key to overcoming any challenge,” she said.

## Not the only women in European men’s basketball

What Yücel and Çiler Çağlayan are doing it not entirely unpredecented. There have been and are other women leading clubs in European basketball.

Natalia Furaeva serves as Vice President of eight-time EuroLeague champions CSKA Moscow while Natalia Kuznetsova is the Executive Director of the club. Both have been with the Russian giants since 2002 and in their posts since 2009, being part of two of those EuroLeague successes.

Natalia Furaeva, Vice President at CSKA Moscow.

Graziella Bragaglio is the president and co-owner of Pallacanestro Brescia, which won the Italian Cup in 2023.

Veronica Bartoli has served as the president of Reggio Emilia since 2020 and took over from another female president, Maria Licia Ferrarini.

In Greece, Vasiliki Belekou was the president of the club Charilaos Trikoupis, based in a small city called Mesologi, which played in the first division during the 2020-21 season but is now in the amateur divisions.

Audrey Sauret – a former FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2001 champion with France and two-time Women’s EuroLeague winner – has been the General Manager of French club Élan Béarnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez since September 2022.

In addition, Defne Patir has been the Director of Basketball Operations and Media Relations Manager with Fenerbahçe Istanbul’s men’s team since 2010.

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## What do leading male figures in Europe think?

With the cases being so few, women holding leadership positions in men’s basketball remains a highly uncommon occurrence. That begs the question: what do some leading male figures in the European game think about Yücel and Çiler Çağlayan and what they are doing with Bahçeşehir College?

“I had a lot of talks with them, especially negotiating the deal for their current coach Radonjic. Everything was at a very high level, especially their professionalism,” said Misko Ražnatović, one of the leading agents in European basketball.

“Those two are smart and educated with vision and passion. And it made them successful.”

When asked what barriers he thinks women aspiring to leadership roles face, Ražnatović added: “A lot. Their starting position is low because generally people believe women don’t know the sport, and especially basketball. More or less, nobody has experience in negotiating anything in the sport with women. They had to have a lot of patience and self-confidence to ignore all of that and prove that they are capable of leading their club.”

Himar Ojeda, the sports director of the German EuroLeague club ALBA Berlin, is confident in saying women are qualified to be taking leadership positions.

“It's about time that we all correct that. I definitely think that they have all the necessary skills to be effective leaders,” Ojeda said.

“I think it means a lot for European basketball to have a big club with two powerful women. It will give a good impulse and I really hope that the things go well there because it will open up possibilities and appreciation in different places for young women that might be coming up into the organizations.”

And while it may not be hiring a female executive, Ojeda still showed with ALBA how much he values women’s basketball. Before the 2019-20 season, he and the club dedicated themselves to professionalizing women’s basketball in their club and lead it to the national peak. ALBA’s women’s team reached the German first division in 2022 and won the German title in 2024.

“We have some women in our organization and we're trying to empower them and trying to open up situations for them. And Bahçeşehir College is definitely a good example. It will be very, very powerful. I would love to envision a time when women will be leading clubs not as an exception.”

Ojeda urged that not all men are the same and not all women are the same. But there are some traits that women tend to have, he believes.

“I don't think there will be big differences that they're women and the others are men. Still, as a general idea, I think women are less tempted to go into overpowered situations that historically we as men have been done,” he said.

Nemanja Bjelica, for his part, doesn’t know why it’s such a big deal to have two powerful women leading the club. The former EuroLeague MVP with Fenerbahçe and former NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors experienced that in the United States during his seven years in the NBA.

Bjelica witnessed Greek-American Matina Kolokotronis as Chief Operating Officer with the Sacramento Kings. Kolokotronis is serving her 27th season with the Kings.

“She was doing the same stuff. So I don't know why it's strange when you see some female running the club or being on the top of the club,” Bjelica said.

There was also Nanea McGuigan, who has been Senior Manager, Executive Assistant to the General Manager, and Basketball Operations Coordinator at Golden State since 2004.

“I think maybe women are more organized than us,” Bjelica said, adding: “Sometimes women do things better than we do and it maybe helps make it a little more equal.”

Yücel once said in an interview that when a woman touches something, everything becomes more organized and more professional. She talked more about that women’s touch.

“Mostly the intangible things and little details matter to me in this case. I do not want to differentiate anyone, but I believe having a diversed environment in the work place leads to success. Most of the sports teams do not have that and I think it gives us an edge.”

Çiler Çağlayan added: “Having a woman in the management brings a unique and positive impact on a club’s culture and values. Women in leadership roles often emphasize communication, collaboration, relationship-building, fostering a healthy and structured work environment. This approach encourages stronger teamwork between departments, improving efficiency and creating a more connected organization. A well-organized and communicative culture directly benefits team performance, morale, and long-term stability.”

One of Bahçeşehir’s players, Jaleen Smith, loves the idea of having women at the head of the club.

“That's amazing. I tell everybody: my president, she's a woman, because you never hear anything about that in European basketball. You could say she's like Jeanie Buss (the Los Angeles Lakers' controlling owner and president). But it's great to have leadership like that because she treats herself as a professional as well. She comes in, talks to us before the games. She's taking care of everybody, like the true professional that she is,” Smith said.

“And having her and Pinar is really nice to have. And it also shows growth in the basketball world that more women could be in that position and have successful basketball teams under their leadership.”

When asked how important it would be for this club with this dynamic to reach the EuroLeague, Smith added: “If we go to EuroLeague, then it's going to be… it's going to be f\*\*\*ing amazing to have a woman president in the EuroLeague with a team. That's going to be awesome to say and also to be a part of. She has her team in EuroLeague and brought it up from basically nothing to now this.”

## Former NBA champ and EuroLeague MVP as sports director

Nemanja Bjelica has had a front-row seat to watch Yücel and Çiler Çağlayan. After playing the game for 20 years, Bjelica, who calls himself "just a kid from Block 70 in New Belgrade", joined forces with Bahçeşehir College in April 2024, taking the spot as sports director.

During the 2023-24 season, Bjelica was with Fenerbahçe but unable to play due to injury. Bahçeşehir College was playing a game in the city and he decided to use his free time to check it out.

“I learned more and I met with the people of Bahçeşehir College and it just happened," Bjelica said. "I never expected it, I never counted on this. I was never thinking in this direction. My goal was always to go back to NBA, to stay there, to live in USA. But now I'm here, I'm very happy."

The 36-year-old announced his retirement from the game on March 23, 2024 and only about four weeks later on April 21, Bahçeşehir College announced that he had been hired as sports director.

“What Begüm Yücel has done is unbelievable. I never seen such a club organization in Europe. I'm not putting Bahçeşehir College into the top 10 teams in the EuroLeague. I know where we are now. But potential-wise, I'm just talking about big picture, it's beautiful, it's unbelievable.”

Bjelica played from 2010 to 2015 in the EuroLeague, the last of those two years were in Türkiye with Fenerbahçe, winning the league MVP in 2014-15. And he understands the pressure that teams in the country face, having lost to Real Madrid in the EuroLeague Semifinals at the Final Four.

“Türkiye is very tough place to work because you need to win every day. You need to win yesterday,” he said. “I'm competitor and I want to win, but I'm very aware, even though what we did so far, it was really great accomplishment.

"But what about next year? So we've got to have consistency. We've got to be professional and a philosophy or a family, like this team is completely different than other team. We want to be gentlemen, we want to behave well. It's all other small things what can help you to build some big organization. Of course, it takes time but it's a different culture.”

And all that is a testament to the work of the president and general manager.

“It's great that females are working in some sports organization. Because I believe that all of us, we are equal. So she's the best,” Bjelica said of Yücel. “We are lucky that the family loves basketball, that our president loves basketball. It's easier to talk, to explain.

"I believe what I learned most in this job, you've got to be honest. You've got to be honest. Even if you make mistakes, you've just got to say what you think, what you feel. Because otherwise, a big company or a big sports organization with more than 30, 50 people who you see every day, then you're going to lose the edge. You're going to lose the trust. So everybody's got to be on the same page. You need to treat everybody the same. You need to respect, first of all, yourself. You need to respect your employees. And, of course, I've always got to say you've got to win.”

Nemanja Bjelica, Head of Basketball Operations at Bahçeşehir College Istanbul, alongside Club President Begüm Yücel.

Bjelica has been in the game of basketball for some two decades, and what Çiler Çağlayan is doing with the club just thrills him.

“Without Pinar, I wouldn't be able to do anything," he said. "For me, it’s a privilege, and I’m really grateful working with her, and I can learn a lot of stuff from her because I was so lucky to be in the best team in the world, like the Golden State Warriors, and I saw the best from the best. And what Pinar is doing here – like her skills, her job – it's the same with the top NBA teams.

“Pinar is special and she's a hard worker. And she's like the top people from the NBA. So we are a very professional team and organized. And without her, we wouldn't be here today.”

Bjelica was asked to further explain what he meant in terms of Çiler Çağlayan and being at a similar level as NBA executives – not being asked to compare.

“What she's doing is the same way as top NBA teams," he said. "She's always on time. She comes first to the office. Always leaving last. She's so focused, she always prepares everything on time and always thinks ahead."

Çiler Çağlayan, meanwhile, believes that adding Bjelica adds instant credibility to Bahçeşehir College and its reputation.

“It was a crucial decision for the future of our club. Nemanja’s experience and deep understanding of the game instantly elevated the club’s credibility, professionalism, and basketball operations,” she said. “His experience as a EuroLeague MVP and NBA champion brings a unique perspective on team building, player development, and competitive culture.”

She continued: “His presence makes Bahçeşehir College a more attractive destination for top players, as they know they will be working together someone with proven success at the highest levels. From the start, we have had a strong and open communication, and it is very important to build the culture together also with the same vision.”

## Is Bahçeşehir College ready for the EuroLeague?

Once Yücel took over as club president, one of the first trips she made was to Belgrade to speak to Dejan Bodiroga, the president of Euroleague Basketball.

“I wanted to meet him mainly because he is in charge of the best basketball organization in Europe," Yücel said. "I wanted to learn from his experiences and we discussed the steps we could take to grow as a team. Also we talked about basketball and management."

Bahçeşehir College is just four EuroCup victories away from being in the EuroLeague and is able to boast a head coach with EuroLeague experience and many players who have played in the competition, but that doesn’t mean the club is ready for the EuroLeague.

“The EuroLeague is a different level of competition, with the teams having larger budgets and deeper rosters," Çiler Çağlayan said. "Bahçeşehir College is capable of following all kinds of requirements being a part of the EuroLeague. We have a great and consistent organization off the court also but with the help of Euroleague \[Basketball\], it will get better and better.

“We are trying to establish the right structure where everyone only focuses on their own responsibilities without taking on extra burdens. This allows each person to perform their job better and ensures that the system runs smoothly and consistently.

“There are no easy games in the EuroLeague, so also mentally we should be ready for the pressure of it and keep the winning mentality and consistency as a key.”

Let's hope that we no longer need to see cases like Begüm Yücel and Pinar Çiler Çağlayan as anything special just because they are women. Until then, let’s all realize just how special the situation at Bahçeşehir College is.

More Bahcesehir News

Begüm Yücel and Pinar Çiler Çağlayan are on the verge of making history at Bahçeşehir College Istanbul. The Turkish club is close to becoming a EuroLeague team - with two women at the helm.

Begüm Yücel and Pinar Çiler Çağlayan: Inspiring Bahçeşehir's journey

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2025-04-02T17:00:00.000Z)

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-03-28T20:00:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2025-03-25T17:00:00.000Z)

The Turkish team has won three straight thanks to a red-hot offense that has netted 98, 89 and 97 points in those victories, with superstar [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) hitting top form by scoring a season-high 25 points in last week’s impressive triumph at Bayern. Partizan has been less consistent, winning three and losing three of its last six games and needs a 10-point victory to claim the head-to-head advantage after losing [86-77 to Efes in December](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/ercan-osmani-leads-efes-past-partizan-86-77/). Former Efes big man [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) scored 23 points in that game and will be a key figure again, with his battle in the paint against visiting [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) sure to provide some highlight reel moments.

Game Videos

\- In Round 17, Efes beat Partizan 86-77 behind a career game from Ercan Osmani, who had career high in PIR (29) and points (25).

\- In that Round 17 loss, Partizan's Aleksej Pokusevski posted his career high and a club-record 6 blocks.

\- Efes beat Partizan 100-94 last season in Istanbul behind Shane Larkin, who scored 27 points and earned co-MVP honors with a PIR of 38.

\- When Partizan beat Efes 84-97 in Istanbul in March 2023, it set a club record by making 28 free throws without a miss, which is the second-best perfect total in EuroLeague history. Partizan was also a perfect 16 for 16 on free throws in an 82-79 home win over Efes in December 2022.

\- Partizan center Tyrique Jones spent last season with Efes, where he made his EuroLeague debut.

\- In that Round 17 loss, Tyrique Jones scored a career-high 23 points against Efes.

\- Efes guard PJ Dozier made his EuroLeague debut at Partizan last season.

\- Partizan guard Iffe Lundberg player under Efes head coach Luca Banchi at Virtus Segafredo Bologna last season.

\- Efes big man Rolands Smits was a teammate of Brandon Davies at FC Barcelona for three seasons, from 2019 through 2022.

\- Partizan guard Frank Ntilikina has been a teammate of Efes center Vincent Poirier on the French national team. Together, they won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

\- Partizan center Brandon Davies had a career-high 6 offensive rebounds while playing for FC Barcelona in the 2021 EuroLeague Championship Game loss against Efes.

\- Efes guard Rodrigue Beaubois scored a career-high 30 points in an 82-79 loss against Partizan in December 2022.

\- Iffe Lundberg tied his career high with 7 rebounds while playing for Virtus Segafredo Bologna in last season’s first-round Play-In Showdown road win over Efes.

Game News

Two teams with everything to play for conclude the round as Partizan (15-14) hosts Efes (15-14) to break their current tie for 10th place. 

Game Notes: Partizan vs. Efes

The Spanish side was delighted to welcome back [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) for [last week’s meeting with Partizan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-roars-back-to-sink-partizan-87-80/), especially when the sharpshooter promptly knocked down 25 points – including 5 triples on 9 attempts – to inspire a key triumph. Zalgiris grabbed an equally valuable victory the night before, with [Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/)’s thrilling game-winner completing[ a major comeback against Paris](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-edges-paris-83-81-on-franciscos-jumper/), which also saw forward [Ignas Brazdeikis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ignas-brazdeikis/011983/) continue his strong form with 16 points. [Zalgiris won 74-67](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-kaunas-powers-past-barcelona-74-67/) when the teams met in the opening round in Kaunas, and will need a similarly strong defensive performance after holding Barca to just 24 made field goals in that game.

\- Zalgiris beat Barcelona 74-67 in the season opener, ending a streak of six straight losses in this fixture.

\- Barcelona swept Zalgiris in their best-of-five 2023 playoff series, clinching the series with a 66-77 Game 3 win in Kaunas.

\- In Barcelona's 89-81 win in Game 2 of that series, Nicolas Laprovittola set his career high with 11 assists.

\- In a 91-69 Game 1 win, Barcelona set a new playoff record by making 21 free throws without a miss.

\- Barcelona beat Zalgiris in the 1985 Cup Winners' Cup final, 77-73, behind 29 points from Chicho Sibilio.

\- Barcelona's single-game record for blocks by a player is 5, which Daniel Santiago tied against Zalgiris on November 27, 2008.

\- Barcelona's single-game record for steals by a player is 6, which Michailis Kakiouzis tied against Zalgiris Kaunas on January 3, 2007.

\- The EuroLeague and Barcelona's record for the most two-point shots without a miss by a player, 11, was set by Ante Tomic against Zalgiris in December 2015.

\- Zalgiris big man Smailagic and Barcelona guard Kevin Punter were teammates at Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade for the past three seasons.

\- Last season in Kaunas, Zalgiris big man Laurynas Birutis scored a career-high 18 points, but it came in an 80-85 loss.

\- Barcelona big man Youssoupha Fall had a career-high 5 blocks while playing for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz against Zalgiris in October 2019.

\- When Zalgiris beat Barcelona 91-84 in Kaunas in March 2022 to end a streak of six consecutive losses against the Spanish side, Edgaras Ulanovas had a career-high PIR of 33 and a career-best 6 steals.

\- In Game 3 of the 2023 playoffs, Ulanovas posted a career-high 6 offensive rebounds in a 66-77 loss.

\- Ulanovas set his career high with 7 assists in a 90-74 win over Barcelona in March 2018.

\- Lukas Lekavicius made a career-high 8 two-point shots against Barcelona in February 2017.

\- Jan Vesely made a career-high 10 free throws while playing for Fenerbahce Istanbul against Zalgiris in December 2017.

Two teams riding high on the back of crucial victories last week will look to build more momentum as Barcelona (16-13) welcomes Zalgiris (14-15). 

Game Notes: Barcelona vs. Zalgiris

The Greens are looking to stay in third place and bounce back from last week’s [Greek derby loss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-holds-off-panathinaikos-to-claim-the-greek-derby-76-74/) with scoring star [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) eager to regain his usual high standards after being held to just 7 points in that game. ALBA’s key shooter is former Panathinaikos man [Matt Thomas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matt-thomas/008967/), who drained 21 points in last week’s triumph and has netted 3.2 triples per game in the last five contests. And with the worst defense in the competition – allowing an average of 91.3 points per game – the German team will likely need a stellar offensive performance to grab a shock road win.

\- In the season opener, Panathinaikos beat ALBA in Berlin 77-87 for its third straight win in this fixture.

\- Last season in Athens, in Round 34, Panathinaikos beat ALBA 84-75 with Kostas Sloukas earning MVP of the Round honors, having posted a PIR of 27.

\- Last season in Berlin, Panathinaikos beat ALBA 85-99 in Round 7 with Konstantinos Mitoglou scoring 24 points and Jerian Grant dishing a career-high 9 assists.

\- ALBA set club records in scoring (106 points) and two-pointers made (33) against Panathinaikos in a 105-106 double-overtime road win in November 2019.

\- Panathinaikos guard Marius Grigonis played for ALBA during the 2017-18 season. He was a teammate of current ALBA players Jonas Mattisseck and Tim Schneider.

\- ALBA sharpshooter Matt Thomas played for Panathinaikos in the 2022-23 season.

\- Panathinaikos guard Kostas Sloukas earned MVP honors in Round 12 of the 2019-20 season when he set a career high with a PIR of 39, collecting 23 points and 10 assists and also making a career-best 13 free throws while playing for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul against ALBA.

\- Panathinaikos forward Ioannis Papapetrou set career highs with 39 points and a PIR of 41 while playing for Panathinaikos in a double-overtime home loss against ALBA in November 2019. Papapetrou played a career-high 48:53 minutes and set a couple of career highs after making 9-of-10 two-pointers and 6-of-12 three-pointers.

\- Panathinaikos big man Konstantinos Mitoglou had a career-high 3 blocks against ALBA in February 2021.

\- ALBA guard Jonas Mattisseck set a career high with 3 steals against Panathinaikos in November 2019.

After starting his tenure as ALBA (5-24) head coach with a home win over Baskonia, Pedro Calles now faces the tough test of a road trip to reigning champ Panathinaikos (18-11).

Game Notes: Panathinaikos vs. ALBA

 The hosts will hope to see [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/) continue his return to form after averaging 13.7 points in the last three games and center [Bruno Fernando](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/bruno-fernando/013667/) will attempt to continue his growing role by subduing ASVEL’s big man duo of [Joffrey Lauvergne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joffrey-lauvergne/004194/) and [Neal Sako](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/neal-sako/010545/). The French team, which has fallen out of playoff contention by losing six in a row, needs star scorer [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) to recover from a finger injury. Maledon’s 23 points were crucial when [ASVEL shocked Real, 80-78](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/asvel-stuns-real-in-breathtaking-rollercoaster-80-78/), in December, but *Los Blancos* have won five of their last six in Madrid, so they will be confident of gaining revenge.

\- ASVEL stunned Real 80-78 on a buzzer-beating floater from Paris Lee. In that win, Theo Maledon led ASVEL with 23 points on 5-of-7 two-pointers, 2-of-5 three-pointers and 7-of-7 free throws, adding 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 6 fouls drawn for a PIR of 31.

\- ASVEL's only win over Real before the one in Round 13 was a 77-85 triumph, which came in Madrid in February 2003. Real won the other 11 games between these two teams.

\- ASVEL and Real played each other for the first time in the 1965 European Cup quarterfinals. Real swept ASVEL with a 37-point aggregate victory.

\- ASVEL and Real faced each other in the 2002-03 EuroLeague when they split regular-season road wins. ASVEL won 77-85 in Madrid behind 18 points from Robert Gulyas.

\- ASVEL's Ben Bentil was a teammate of Real Madrid's Mario Hezonja at Panathinaikos Athens in the 2020-21 season.

\- Bentil was a teammate of Real's Facundo Campazo at Crvena Zvezda Belgrade in the 2022-23 season.

\- In ASVEL's Round 11 win, Joffrey Lauvergne and Mbaye Ndiaye each tied their respective career highs with 3 steals.

\- ASVEL forward Charles Kahudi set his career high with 18 points and a PIR of 22 in a 77-87 home loss against Real in January 2020.

\- ASVEL guard David Lighty set his career high in steals with 4 in a 77-87 home loss against Real in January 2020.

Real (15-14) will attempt to climb back into the top 10 by overcoming a stone-cold ASVEL team (11-18) that would be eliminated from postseason contention with a loss.

Game Notes: Madrid vs. ASVEL

The German champion needs a victory to protect its position in the top six, while Baskonia must win all five of its remaining games to have a realistic chance of climbing into the top 10. The Spanish team will be confident after winning its last four at home, but last week’s [loss at bottom-placed ALBA](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/alba-snaps-4-month-home-losing-streak-in-first-game-under-coach-calles/) highlighted the fragility of Baskonia’s defense. Bayern will attempt to exploit that through shooters such as [Johannes Voigtmann](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/johannes-voigtmann/007201/), who netted 16 points in [defeat against Efes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/larkin-leads-efes-past-bayern-92-97/) last time out. The home team will look to counter Bayern’s three-point scoring threat through [Nikos Rogkavopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikolaos-rogkavopoulos/011085/), who has made multiple triples on 19 occasions so far this season.

\- Baskonia head coach Pablo Laso moved from Bayern to Baskonia last summer after spending one season in Munich. He led Bayern to a season sweep of Baskonia, including a 112-109 overtime win in Munich last January.

\- Bayern has won the last four games against Baskonia, including a 94-80 win in Round 14.

\- Last season in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bayern beat Baskonia 68-76 with Nick Weiler-Babb collecting a career-high 11 rebounds.

\- Bayern forward Vladimir Lucic had a career-high and a joint club-record 14 rebounds in a home loss against Baskonia in December 2021.

\- Baskonia guard Ognjen Jaramaz spent two seasons with Bayern, from 2021 to 2023.

\- Bayern's Vladimir Lucic and Jaramaz have also been teammates on the Serbian national team.

\- Bayern's Johannes Voigtmann spent three seasons with Baskonia. He made his EuroLeague debut there during the 2016-17 season.

\- Baskonia forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot was a teammate of Bayern's Shabazz Napier and Voigtmann at EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in the 2022-23 season.

\- Voigtmann tied his career high in blocks with 3 while playing for Milan against Baskonia last March.

\- Bayern's Elias Harris grabbed a career-high 6 rebounds while playing for Brose Bamberg against Baskonia in February 2016.

Two teams aiming to bounce back meet in Vitoria as Baskonia (12-17) boss Pablo Laso welcomes his former club Bayern (17-12). 

Game Notes: Baskonia vs. Bayern

Maccabi’s three-game winning streak has been sparked by a stellar offense that has exceeded 90 points in each of those games, and a key factor has been forward [Levi Randolph](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/levi-randolph/013382/) with an average of 16.3 points over the last four games. Virtus has lost seven in a row and would love to find the same offensive fluidity as Maccabi, having failed to surpass 70 points in the last three games. The Italian team particularly needs to improve its long-range shooting after only making 3 triples on 20 attempts in last week’s [home loss to Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-holds-off-virtus-to-grab-important-win-67-80/) and will hope that [Achille Polonara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/achille-polonara/002084/) rediscovers his range after going 1-of-20 from deep in the last eight games.

\- Virtus and Maccabi have played seven times this century and the home teams have won the last six games, including Virtus's 84-77 win in Round 8.

\- Last season, when Maccabi beat Virtus 95-78 in Belgrade, Virtus sharpshooter Marco Belinelli set a new club record with a career-high 7 triples.

\- When Maccabi thrashed Virtus 110-80 in Tel Aviv in March 2023, Maccabi dished 38 assists to set a EuroLeague record.

\- Maccabi won the 1981 EuroLeague championship, the second in club history, with an 80-79 win over Virtus in Strasbourg, France.

\- Virtus center Ante Zizic spent two seasons with Maccabi, from 2020 to 2022. He helped the team make the 2022 EuroLeague Playoffs.

\- Virtus center Ante Zizic had a career-best 4 steals in that Round 8 win over Maccabi.

\- Maccabi's Levi Randolph scored his personal-high 21 points in Round 8 against Virtus.

\- Virtus forward Achille Polonara posted career highs of 6 assists and 5 blocks playing for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz against Maccabi in December 2020.

\- Shengelia set his career-high with 6 three-pointers made playing for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz against Maccabi in November 2019.

Red-hot Maccabi (9-20) will attempt to maintain its outstanding form with a visit from struggling Virtus (7-22). 

Game Notes: Maccabi vs. Virtus

The home team has lost three of the last four games due to a struggling defense that has allowed an average of 85.3 points during that run. Fener, in contrast, is in fine form with three straight victories, with [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) excelling since his return to fitness by averaging 13.3 points and 4.8 assists in the last four games. His battle with Monaco backcourt leader [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) will be crucial, and another important duel will take place in the paint as [Mam Jaiteh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mam-jaiteh/002581/) looks to repeat the double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) he posted in last week’s loss at Maccabi, while recent signing [Jilson Bango](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jilson-bango/013696/) will look to continue growing in importance for the visitors.

\- This is a rematch of last year's playoff series in which Fenerbahce made history by becoming the first-ever team to win Game 5 on the road, 79-80, after overtime.

\- In Round 15, Monaco crushed Fenerbahce in Istanbul 69-99. It was Fenerbahce’s fourth-highest home losing margin in EuroLeague history.

\- Fenerbahce set a club playoff record with 16 three-pointers made in a Game 2 road loss in that series.

\- Fenerbahce pulled out a 91-95 overtime road win over Monaco in Game 1 of the 2024 playoffs behind Nigel Hayes-Davis, who had 19 points and earned MVP of the Round honors with a PIR of 23.

\- Fenerbahce and Monaco never played an official game before the 2021-22 season.

\- Monaco's Nick Calathes and Georgios Papagiannis arrived from Fenerbahce this past summer. Calathes spent the last two seasons there and Papagiannis played with Fenerbahce last season.

\- Calathes played under Fenerbahce head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius not only last season at Fenerbahce, but also for two seasons at FC Barcelona, from 2020 to 2022.

\- Head coaches Vasilis Spanoulis and Sarunas Jasikevicius were teammates at Panathinaikos Athens, where they won the 2009 EuroLeague title together.

\- Fenerbahce forward Bonzie Colson earned co-MVP of the Round honors with a PIR of 34 while playing for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in a 93-83 win over Monaco in January 2024.

\- Fenerbahce's Nigel Hayes-Davis tied his career high in two-pointers made with 9 in a home loss against Monaco in Round 15.

Monaco's Alpha Diallo tied his career high with 8 two-pointers in Game 3 of last season's playoffs against Fenerbahce.

\- In Monaco's home 92-78 win over Fenerbahce in February 2022, Alpha Diallo scored a career-high 24 points.

\- Monaco's Jaron Blossomgame had a career-high 9 rebounds in his team's Game 1 loss against Fenerbahce in last year's playoffs.

\- Tarik Biberovic posted a career-high 8 rebounds in a home loss against Monaco in Game 4 of last season's playoffs.

\- Wade Baldwin tied his personal best with 8 rebounds while playing for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv against Monaco in a Game 3 loss in the 2023 EuroLeague Playoffs.

\- Mike James has made a career-best 6 triples twice in his career against Fenerbahce; first for AX Armani Exchange Milan in December 2018 and then for CSKA Moscow in November 2019.

\- James dropped 31 points on Fenerbahce in November 2019 while playing for CSKA Moscow in an 88-70 win. James's scoring total included a career-best 6-for-8 three-point and 9-for-9 free-throw shooting and he accumulated a performance index rating of 38. He earned MVP of the Round honors for his performance.

\- Scottie Wilbekin set career highs in points (37) and PIR (37) while playing for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv against Monaco in November 2021. He won MVP of the Round honors for that performance in a 95-84 win.

Monaco (17-12) will look to recover its winning ways by overcoming second-placed Fenerbahce (20-9) in a crucial battle for the top-four race. 

Game Notes: Monaco vs. Fenerbahce

Two teams heading in opposite directions collide in Piraeus with playoff-bound Olympiacos (22-7) aiming to extend its six-game winning streak against a Zvezda team (16-13) that has lost three in a row. The league leader will hope for another strong performance from giant [Moustapha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/moustapha-fall/008811/), whose all-around talent has seen him record an average PIR of 15.3 in the last three games. He will look to take advantage of a depleted Zvezda frontcourt that will be without the competition’s top rebounder, [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/), and [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/). Zvezda needs to fix a leaky defense that has allowed 86, 100 and 82 points during its losing streak, with veteran forward [Nikola Kalinic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-kalinic/004866/) and [John Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/john-brown-iii/010588/) helping fill the task of trying to slow down MVP candidate [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/).

\- When Olympiacos beat Zvezda 88-83 in Piraeus last season, Alec Peters scored a career-high 28 points and tied his career best with a PIR of 31, while Moustapha Fall set a new career high with 14 rebounds and tied a career best with 7 offensive rebounds.

\- When Olympiacos edged Zvezda 86-89 in Belgrade last April, it came behind a career-best 20 points and 25 PIR from Moses Wright, who is now out until the end of the season.

\- Zvezda guard Isaiah Canaan spent the last two seasons with Olympiacos; he helped the team reach the Final Four in both seasons.

\- Zvezda head coach Ioannis Sfairopolous coached Olympiacos for three seasons from 2015 to 2018. During his tenure there, Nikola Milutinov and Kostas Papanikolaou played for Olympiacos. They reached the 2017 championship game together.

\- Zvezda point guard Milos Teodosic made his EuroLeague debut with Olympiacos in 2007 and spent four seasons there. He was chosen as the EuroLeague MVP in 2010 and helped lead the team to the 2010 championship game. In Piraeus, he was a teammate of Kostas Papanikolaou.

\- Olympiacos set a club record with 9 blocks against Crvena Zvezda on November 7, 2014.

\- When Zvezda beat Olympiacos 88-81 in Belgrade in December 2019, Lorenzo Brown, now with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, scored 34 points to set Zvezda's single-game scoring record. Brown also tied the Zvezda single-game record for two-pointers made with 11.

\- Olympiacos guard Luca Vildoza played for Crvena Zvezda during the 2022-23 season and earned December MVP honors during his time there.

\- Zvezda center Joel Bolomboy played for Olympiacos during the 2022-23 season and helped the team reach the EuroLeague Championship Game.

\- Zvezda center Filip Petrusev played for Olympiacos last season and is currently at Zvezda on loan from Olympiacos.

\- Zvezda's Dejan Davidovac, Ognjen Dobric and Petrusev, and Olympiacos center Nikola Milutinov won silver medals together with the Serbian national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The four also won bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

\- Milutinov and Davidovac spent the 2022-23 season playing together at CSKA Moscow.

\- Milutinov and Bolomboy were teammates at CSKA Moscow from 2020 to 2022.

\- Milutinov has been a teammate of Zvezda's Nemanja Nedovic and Nikola Kalinic on the Serbian national team.

\- Olympiacos guard Keenan Evans made his EuroLeague debut under Zvezda head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos at Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv during the 2021-22 season.

\- Olympiacos guard Tyler Dorsey played under Coach Sfairopoulos at Maccabi for two years, from 2019 to 2021.

\- In Zvezda's 87-73 win in Round 15, point guard Yago dos Santos posted a career-high 3 steals.

\- Zvezda forward Nikola Kalinic scored a career-high 25 points and had a career-best PIR of 27 against Olympiacos in December 2021.

\- Filip Petrusev had a career-best 4 blocks in Crvena Zvezda's 86-90 road win over Olympiacos in December 2022.

\- Zvezda's Joel Bolomboy had a career-high 32 PIR in an 86-89 home loss against Olympiacos last April.

\- Zvezda guard Nemanja Nedovic collected a career-high 3 steals playing for Valencia Basket against Olympiacos in November 2014.

\- Olympiacos guard Tyler Dorsey posted his career high in steals with 4 playing for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv against Crvena Zvezda in April 2021.

Two teams heading in opposite directions collide in Piraeus with playoff-bound Olympiacos (22-7) aiming to extend its six-game winning streak against a Zvezda team (16-13) that has lost three in a row. 

Game Notes: Olympiacos vs. Zvezda

### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

**Streaks**

Sterling Brown has made at least 1 three-point shot in 16 of his last 17 games.

Tyrique Jones has had at least 1 steal in 10 of his last 11 games.

Tyrique Jones has pulled down at least 5 rebounds in seven of his last eight games.

Tyrique Jones has had a PIR of 10 or more in eight of his last nine games.

Tyrique Jones has at least 1 block in five of his last six games.

Carlik Jones has had a PIR of 13 or more in eight of his last nine games.

Isaac Bonga has made at least 1 three-pointer and a PIR of 10 or more in four straight games.

Brandon Davies has made at least 1 three-point shot in 10 of his last 11 games.

Davies has had a PIR of 12 or more in six of his last seven games.

Iffe Lundberg has made at least 1 three-point shot in 10 of his last 11 games.

**Season rankings**

Tyrique Jones ranks eighth in rebounding with 6.2 per game.

Tyrique Jones ranks fourth in offensive rebounding with 2.8 per game.

Tyrique Jones ranks eighth in steals with 1.1 per game.

Carlik Jones ranks eighth in assists with 5.2 per game.

Aleksej Pokusevski ranks seventh in blocks with 1.0 per game.

Brandon Davies ranks fourth in three-point shooting at 51.0%.

Sterling Brown ranks sixth in three-point shooting at 47.7%.

Brown ranks seventh in free-throw shooting at 92.7%.

Isaac Bonga is tied for 10th in free-throw shooting at 91.7%.

Partizan has committed the third-fewest turnovers with 10.9 per game.

Partizan is second in the league in steals with 7.4 per game.

Partizan ranks third in blocks with 2.9 per game.

Partizan's defense has allowed 79.5 points per game, the second-fewest in the league.

Partizan has forced 13.2 turnovers, the second-most in the league.

**Records/Milestones**

Iffe Lundberg needs 1 steal to reach 100 for his career.

Isaac Bonga's next assist will be the 100th of his career.

Brandon Davies needs 18 more two-point baskets to reach 1,000 for his career.

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul

**Streaks**

 

Shane Larkin has had a PIR of 12 or more in eight of his last nine games.

 

Larkin has made at least 1 three-point shot in 11 straight games.

 

Elijah Bryant has scored 12 or more points in 11 of his last 12 games.

 

Vincent Poirier has had a PIR of 10 or more in 11 of his last 12 games.

 

Rolands Smits has made 15 straight free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

 

Dan Oturu ranks 10th in offensive rebounding with 2.0 per game.

 

Oturu ranks fourth in two-point shooting at 70.7%.

 

Vincent Poirier ranks fifth in blocks with 1.1 per game.

 

Ercan Osmani ranks sixth in free-throw shooting at 93.5%.

 

Rodrigue Beaubois ranks eighth in three-point shooting at 46.7%.

 

Efes leads the league in blocks with 3.7 per game.

 

**Records/Milestones**

 

Shane Larkin is ranked 11th all-time in scoring with 3,511 points. Georgios Printezis is 10th with 3,599 points.

 

Larkin is in eighth place all-time in three-pointers made with 541. Monaco's Mike James is seventh with 584 and counting.

 

Larkin is in ninth place all-time with 772 free throws made. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is eighth with 789 and counting.

 

Rodrigue Beaubois is in 10th place all-time in three-pointers made with 506. Vassilis Spanoulis is nith with 518 three-pointers made.

 

Beaubois is in 19th place in career scoring with 3,079 points. Scottie Wilbekin of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is 18th with 3,179 points.

 

Vincent Poirier ranks ninth all-time in blocks with 206. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is eighth all-time with 216 and counting.

 

Poirier is in 11th place all-time with 455 offensive rebounds. Tibor Pleiss of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens is 10th with 470 offensive rebounds and counting.

Game Facts: Partizan vs. Efes

### FC Barcelona

**Streaks**

Jabari Parker has made multiple three-point shots in four of his last five games.

Parker has scored 10 or more points in six of his last seven games.

Parker has had a PIR of 12 or more in four of his last five games.

Kevin Punter has made at least 1 three-point shot in 17 straight and 26 of his last 27 games.

Punter has scored in double figures in 13 of his last 14 games.

Jan Vesely has at least 1 steal in four of his last five games.

Nico Laprovittola has made at least 1 three-point shot in 19 straight games.

Chimezie Metu has scored 10 or more points in 11 of his last 12 games.

Dario Brizuela has made at least 1 three-pointer in 15 of his last 16 games.

Brizuela has scored in double figures in nine of his last 10 games.

**Season rankings**

Kevin Punter ranks sixth in scoring with 16.8 points per game.

Punter ranks third in steals with 1.2 per game.

Jan Vesely ranks seventh in steals with 1.1 per game.

Punter ranks 10th in average three-pointers made with 2.2 per game.

Punter ranks eighth in free-throw shooting at 92.5%.

Tomas Satoransky ranks seventh in assists with 5.2 per game.

Youssoupha Fall ranks eighth in two-point shooting at 70.2%.

Barcelona ranks second in assists with 20.3 per game.

Barcelona is the league leader in steals with 7.4 per game.

Barcelona ranks first in scoring with 87.6 points per game.

Barcelona ranks second in three-point accuracy at 39.1%.

**Records/Milestones**

Tomas Satoransky ranks second all-time with a 2.9-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Jan Vesely is the all-time leader in two-pointers made with 1,564.

Vesely ranks third all-time with 5,099 index rating points. Mike James of AS Monaco is second with 5,204. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is the all-time leader with 5,412 and counting.

Vesely is sixth all-time with 4,028 points scored. Sergio Llull of Real Madrid is fifth with 4,134 and counting.

Vesely ranks fourth all-time with 365 steals. Rudy Fernandez is third with 367 steals.

Vesely ranks fifth all-time with 1,774 rebounds. Felipe Reyes is fourth with 1,799 and Walter Tavares of Real Madrid is third with 1,819 and counting.

Vesely is in fifth place all-time with 656 offensive rebounds. Bryant Dunston of Zalgiris Kaunas is fourth with 663 and counting.

Vesely ranks eighth all-time with 216 blocks. Tibor Pleiss of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens is seventh with 228 and counting.

Vesely ranks eighth all-time with 789 free throws made. Juan Carlos Navarro is seventh with 853.

Kevin Punter ranks 10th all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.0%.

Youssoupha Fall ranks 13th all-time in two-point accuracy at 65.0%.

Nico Laprovittola needs 3 three-point shots made to reach 300 for his career.

### Zalgiris Kaunas

**Streaks**

Sylvain Francisco has made at least 1 three-pointer in 17 straight games.

Ignas Brazdeikis has made 22 consecutive free throws.

Arnas Butkevicius has at least 1 steal in five straight games.

**Season rankings**

Ignas Brazdeikis ranks fourth in free-throw shooting at 93.9%.

Alen Smailagic ranks 10th in two-point shooting at 69.2%.

Sylvain Francisco ranks eighth in average three-pointers made with 2.3 per game.

Zalgiris ranks last in the league in scoring with 77.6 points per game.

Zalgiris has averaged a league-low 15.3 assists per game.

Zalgiris's defense has allowed a league-low 78.1 points per game.

Zalgiris's defense has held opponents to a league-low 31.9% three-point shooting.

Zalgiris's defense has held opponents to a 53.5% two-point shooting, the second-lowest in the league.

**Records/Milestones**

Bryant Dunston ranks second all-time with 360 blocked shots. Walter Tavares of Real Madrid is the all-time leader with 464 and counting.

Dunston ranks eighth all-time with 1,579 rebounds. Ioannis Bourousis is seventh with 1,603 and counting.

Dunston ranks fourth all-time with 663 career offensive rebounds. Tavares is third with 684 and counting.

Dunston is in seventh place all-time with 1,047 two-pointers made. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is sixth with 1,063 two-point makes and counting.

Edgaras Ulanovas ranks fourth all-time with 271 games started. His former teammate Paulius Jankunas is third with 283 starts.

Alen Smailagic ranks 12th all-time in two-point accuracy at 65.2%.

Game Facts: Barcelona vs. Zalgiris

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

**Streaks**

Kendrick Nunn has made at least 1 three-point shot in 34 straight games.

Nunn has scored 17 or more points in six of his last seven games.

Juancho Hernangomez has had a PIR of 12 or more in 11 straight games.

Hernangomez has pulled down 6 or more rebounds in 11 straight games.

Kostas Sloukas has scored in double figures in six of his last seven games.

Sloukas has at least 1 steal in eight of his last nine games.

Sloukas has posted a PIR in double figures in eight straight games.

Mathias Lessort has pulled down at least 5 rebounds in 11 straight and 23 of his last 24 games.

Lessort has had a PIR of 10 or more in 25 of his last 26 games.

Omer Yurtseven has scored in double figures in four straight games.

**Season rankings**

Kendrick Nunn leads the league in scoring with 20.1 points per game.

Mathias Lessort ranks fourth in average index rating with 20.5 per game.

Nunn ranks ninth in average index rating with 18.1 per game.

Nunn ranks second in average three-pointers made with 2.9 per game.

Lessort ranks third in rebounding with 7.1 per game.

Juancho Hernangomez ranks seventh in rebounding with 6.3 per game.

Lessort ranks third in offensive rebounding with 2.8 per game.

Lessort ranks third in two-point shooting at 74.1%.

Kostas Sloukas ranks ninth in assists with 5.1 per game.

Sloukas ranks fifth in free-throw shooting at 93.6%.

Wenyen Gabriel ranks sixth in blocks with 1.0 per game.

Panathinaikos ranks second in the league in average PIR with 102.7 per game.

Panathinaikos ranks third in scoring with 86.8 points per game.

Panathinaikos ranks second in two-point shooting at 58.5%.

Panathinaikos ranks third in three-point shooting at 38.8%.

Panathinaikos ranks second in defensive rebounding with 24.2 per game.

Panathinaikos has made a league-low 73.7% of its free throws.

Panathinaikos has allowed 9.6 offensive rebounds per game, the third-lowest this season.

**Records/Milestones**

Kostas Sloukas is in third place all-time with 415 games played.

Sloukas ranks third all-time with 1,843 assists. Sergio Rodriguez is second with 1,874.

Sloukas is in fourth place all-time with 981 free throws made. Mike James of AS Monaco is third with 1,113.

Sloukas is eighth all-time with 3,959 career points. Nikola Mirotic of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan is seventh with 3,992 and counting.

Sloukas is ranked fourth all-time with 4,956 index rating points. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is third with 5,099 and counting.

Sloukas is 12th all-time with 500 three-point shots made. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is 11th with 503, and Rodrigue Beaubois of Anadolu Efes Istanbul is 10th with 506.

Marius Grigonis ranks seventh all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.6%.

Sloukas ranks 16th all-time in free-throw accuracy at 89.0%.

Sloukas is tied with Daniel Hackett of Virtus Segafedo Bologna in 18th place on the all-time charts with 262 career steals. Vassilis Spanoulis is 17th with 273 steals.

Tibor Pleiss is ranked seventh all-time with 228 career blocks. Alex Tyus is sixth with 238.

Pleiss ranks 10th all-time with 1,009 two-pointers made. Paulius Jankunas is ninth with 1,011.

Pleiss is ranked 15th all-time with 1,398 rebounds. Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos is 14th with 1,405 and counting.

Grigonis needs 4 steals to reach 100 for his career.

Jerian Grant is the all-time leader with a 3.1-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

### ALBA Berlin

**Streaks**

Matt Thomas has made at least 1 three-pointer in 11 of his last 12 games. He has made multiple threes in 10 of those games.

Thomas has scored in double figures in nine of his last 10 games.

Yanni Wetzell has scored 10 or more points in eight straight games.

Martin Hermannsson has had a PIR in double figures in five of his last six games.

David McCormack has had a PIR of 14 or more in four of his last five games.

McCormack has pulled down 5 or more rebounds four of his last five games.

McCormack has at least 1 steal in five straight and nine of his last 10 games.

**Season rankings**

Martin Hermannsson ranks fifth in assists with 5.5 per game.

Louis Olinde is tied for fifth in two-point shooting at 70.6%.

Matt Thomas ranks fifth in average three-pointers made with 2.6 per game.

ALBA has committed a league-high 15.3 turnovers per game.

ALBA has made a league-low 29.8% of its three-point attempts.

ALBA has allowed a league-high 91.3 points per game.

ALBA has allowed a league-high 38.4% three-point shooting.

Game Facts: Panathinaikos vs. ALBA

### Real Madrid

**Streaks**

 

Mario Hezonja has made at least 1 triple in 37 of his last 38 games.

 

Hezonja has scored 10 or more points in 14 straight and 22 of his last 23 games.

 

Hezonja has had a PIR of 10 or more in 14 straight games.

 

Walter Tavares has at least 1 block in six of his last seven games.

 

Tavares has had a PIR of 11 or more in seven of his last eight games.

 

**Season rankings**

 

Walter Tavares leads the league in blocks with 1.4 per game.

 

Tavares ranks second in rebounding with 7.1 per game.

 

Tavares ranks sixth in offensive rebounding with 2.6 per game.

 

Tavares ranks second in two-point shooting at 74.5%.

 

Usman Garuba is tied for fifth in two-point shooting at 70.6%.

 

Facundo Campazzo ranks eighth in average index rating with 18.8 per game.

 

Campazzo ranks third in assists with 6.6 per game.

 

Real leads the league in rebounding with 36.7 per game.

 

Real leads the league in defensive rebounding with 26.4 per game.

 

Real leads the league in two-point accuracy at 59.8%.

 

Real has held opponents to a league-low 51.7% two-point shooting.

 

**Records/Milestones**

 

Walter Tavares blocked 88 shots in the 2022-23 season to set the all-time single-season record.

 

Tavares is the competition's all-time leader in blocks with 464.

 

Tavares is in fourth place all-time in two-point accuracy at 68.4%.

 

Tavares ranks third all-time with 1,819 rebounds. Kyle Hines is second with 1,855 rebounds.

 

Tavares ranks third all-time with 684 offensive rebounds. Felipe Reyes is second with 705.

 

Tavares needs 4 more two-point baskets to reach 1,000 for his career.

 

Sergio Llull is the all-time leader with 436 EuroLeague appearances.

 

Llull is the all-time leader in three-point shots made with 671.

 

Llull ranks fifth all-time in scoring with 4,134 points. Juan Carlos Navarro is fourth with 4,152.

 

Llull is sixth all-time with 1,449 assists. Milos Teodosic of Crvena Zvezda is fifth with 1,479 and counting.

 

Facundo Campazzo is in 13th place all-time with 1,078 assists. Shane Larkin of Anadolu Efes Istanbul is 12th with 1,092 and counting.

 

Llull ranks 12th all-time with 727 free throws made. Paulius Jankunas is 11th with 748.

 

Llull ranks fifth all-time with a 2.7-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

 

Facundo Campazzo ranks 11th all-time with a 2.6-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

 

Dzanan Musa made 178 free throws during the 2022-23 season to set the single-season EuroLeague record.

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

**Streaks**

 

Joffrey Lauvergne has had a PIR of 10 or more in 13 of his last 14 games.

 

Nando De Colo has made at least 1 three-point shot in 15 straight games.

 

De Colo has posted a PIR in double figures in seven of his last eight games.

 

Andre Roberson has blocked at least 1 shot in eight of his last nine games.

 

Melvin Ajinca has made 10 consecutive free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

 

Theo Maledon ranks fifth in average index rating with 20.4 per game.

 

Maledon ranks eighth in scoring with 16.5 points per game.

 

Neal Sako ranks ninth in rebounding with 6.1 per game.

 

Sako ranks second in offensive rebounding with 2.8 per game.

 

Andre Roberson ranks fourth in blocks with 1.2 per game.

 

Nando De Colo ranks third in free-throw shooting at 94.6%.

 

Tarik Black ranks seventh in two-point shooting at 70.4%.

 

**Records/Milestones**

 

Nando De Colo is the all-time leader in free-throw accuracy at 93.1%.

 

De Colo is the all-time leader in free throws made with 1,160.

 

De Colo is the all-time leader in PIR with 5,412 index rating points.

 

De Colo is in second place all-time in scoring with 4,795 points. Mike James leads the all-time charts with 5,071 points and counting.

 

De Colo ranks sixth all-time in two-point shots made with 1,063. Mike James is fifth with 1,103 and counting.

 

De Colo is in fifth place all-time in steals with 356. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is fourth with 365 steals and counting.

 

De Colo ranks 10th all-time in assists with 1,191. Dimitris Diamantidis is ninth with 1,255.

 

De Colo ranks 11th all-time with 503 career three-pointers made. Rodrigue Beaubois of Anadolu Efes Istanbul is 10th with 506, and Vassilis Spanoulis is ninth with 518.

 

Tarik Black ranks 10th all-time in two-point accuracy at 65.9%.

Game Facts: Madrid vs. ASVEL

### Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

**Streaks**

 

Chima Moneke has had a double-digit PIR in eight of his last nine games.

 

Moneke has scored 10 or more points in eight of his last nine games.

 

Nikos Rogkavopoulos has made at least 1 three-pointer in 22 straight games.

 

Donta Hall has posted a double-digit PIR in 17 of his last 18 games.

 

Markus Howard has made at least 1 three-pointer in seven straight and 14 of his last 15 games.

 

Trent Forrest has collected at least 1 steal in eight straight games.

 

**Season rankings**

 

Chima Moneke ranks seventh in average index rating with 19.3 per game.

 

Moneke ranks sixth in rebounding with 6.4 per game.

 

Moneke ranks seventh in offensive rebounding with 2.3 per game.

 

Donta Hall ranks ninth in offensive rebounding with 2.0 per game.

 

Hall ranks third in blocks with 1.2 per game.

 

Hall ranks ninth in two-point shooting at 70.0%.

 

Markus Howard ranks ninth in average three-pointers made with 2.3 per game.

 

Tadas Sedekerskis ranks seventh in three-point shooting at 46.9%.

 

Baskonia ranks second in rebounding with 36.3 rebounds per game.

 

Baskonia leads the league in offensive rebounding with 12.5 per game.

 

**Records/Milestones**

 

Markus Howard made 148 triples last season to set the all-time single-season record.

 

Donta Hall leads the all-time charts in two-point accuracy at 73.8%.

 

Tadas Sedekerskis ranks 14th all-time in two-point accuracy at 64.9%.

 

Ognjen Jaramaz needs 2 points to reach 500 for his career.

### FC Bayern Munich

**Streaks**

 

Devin Booker has scored in double figures in seven of his last eight games.

 

Carsen Edwards has made at least 1 three-pointer in eight straight games.

 

Edwards has scored 12 or more points in eight of his last nine games.

 

Nick Weiler-Babb has at least 1 steal in six of his last seven games.

 

Vladimir Lucic has had a PIR of 12 or more in six of his last seven games.

 

Lucic has pulled down more than 5 rebounds in five of his last six games.

 

Lucic has made at least 1 three-pointer in four of his last five games.

 

Shabazz Napier has made 31 consecutive free throws.

 

Andreas Obst has made at least 1 three-point shot in 21 of his last 22 games; Obst has made multiple triples in eight straight games.

 

Johannes Voigtmann has made at least 1 three-pointer in 10 of his last 11 games.

 

**Season rankings**

 

Carsen Edwards ranks third in scoring with 19.9 points per game.

 

Edwards is tied for 10th in free-throw shooting at 91.7%.

 

Andreas Obst leads the league in average three-pointers made with 3.0 per game.

 

Edwards ranks third in average three-pointers made with 2.6 per game.

 

Nick Weiler-Babb leads the league in steals with 1.6 per game.

 

Weiler-Babb ranks sixth in assists with 5.3 per game.

 

Shabazz Napier ranks fifth in steals with 1.2 per game.

 

Napier leads the league in free-throw shooting at 96.8%.

 

Niels Giffey leads the league in three-point shooting at 54.1%.

 

Bayern ranks first in free-throw shooting at 83.8%.

 

Bayern ranks third in scoring with 86.8 points per game.

 

Bayern ranks third in two-point shooting at 58.3%.

 

 

 

**Records/Milestones**

 

Carsen Edwards ranks eighth all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.5%.

 

Johannes Voigtmann is ranked 13th all-time with 1,408 rebounds. Othello Hunter is 12th with 1,424.

 

Voigtmann is in 10th place all-time in defensive rebounds with 1,048. Georgios Printezis is ninth with 1,065 defensive rebounds.

 

Nick Weiler-Babb ranks 12th all-time with a 2.6-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio

Game Facts: Baskonia vs. Bayern

### Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv

**Streaks**

Jake Cohen has made 21 consecutive free throws.

Tamir Blatt has made at least 1 three-pointer in seven of his last eight games.

Blatt has made 18 consecutive free throws.

Jaylen Hoard has had a PIR of at least 10 in 22 of his 23 EuroLeague appearances.

Hoard has scored 12 points or more in 14 of his last 15 games.

Hoard has collected at least 1 steal in four straight and nine of his last 10 games.

Rokas Jokubaitis has had a PIR of at least 14 in six of his last seven games.

Jokubaitis has had at least 1 steal in five of his last six games.

Roman Sorkin has scored at least 10 points in 10 straight and 13 of his last 14 games.

Will Rayman has made 13 straight free throws.

**Season rankings**

Tamir Blatt is the league co-leader in assists with 7.0 per game.

Rokas Jokubaitis ranks 10th in assists with 5.0 per game.

Blatt ranks second in free-throw shooting at 95.0%.

Jaylen Hoard ranks 10th in average index rating with 18.1 per game.

Hoard ranks second in steals with 1.3 per game.

Trevion Williams ranks eighth in offensive rebounding with 2.0 per game.

Maccabi ranks second in offensive rebounding with 12.2 per game.

Maccabi has allowed a league-high 58.6% on two-point shooting.

**Records/Milestones**

John DiBartolomeo is 13th all-time with a 2.5-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Rokas Jokubaitis needs 4 three-point shots made to reach 100 for his career.

### Virtus Segafredo Bologna

**Streaks**

 

Matt Morgan has made 17 consecutive free throws.

 

Toko Shengelia has pulled down 5 or more rebounds in 15 of his last 16 games.

 

Shengelia has scored 12 points or more in nine of his last 10 games.

 

Shengelia has had a PIR of 12 or more in 10 straight games.

 

Will Clyburn has posted a PIR of at least 10 in 11 of his last 12 games.

 

Clyburn has made at least 1 three-point shot in seven of his last eight games.

 

Clyburn has at least 1 steal in seven of his last eight games.

 

**Season rankings**

 

Tornike Shengelia ranks ninth in scoring with 16.2 points per game.

 

Matt Morgan is tied for 10th in free-throw shooting at 91.7%.

 

Virtus pulls down a league-low 31.7 rebounds.

 

**Records/Milestones**

 

Ante Zizic ranks 16th all-time in two-point accuracy at 64.5%.

 

Toko Shengelia ranks 12th all-time in scoring with 3,441 points. Shane Larkin of Anadolu Efes Istanbul is 11th with 3,511 and counting.

 

Will Clyburn is in 16th place all-time in scoring with 3,279 points. Nick Calathes of AS Monaco is 15th with 3,280 points and counting and Kyle Hines is 14th with 3,339.

 

Shengelia rank 10th all-time with 771 free throws made. Shane Larkin of Anadolu Efes Istanbul in ninth place with 772, and Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is eighth with 789 and counting.

 

Daniel Hackett ranks 16th all-time in assists with 955. Theo Papaloukas ranks 15th with 977 assists.

 

Hackett is in 18th place on the all-time charts with 262 career steals. Vassilis Spanoulis is 17th with 272 steals.

 

Achille Polonara needs 2 blocks to reach 100 for his career.

 

Alessandro Pajola ranks fourth all-time with a 2.9-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.