The Greek giant has a backcourt duo that will be the envy of many this season
Bryce Jones, Bryn Forbes showed they mean business for Aris
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Regular Season
Round 1 of 18
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Umana Reyer VeniceURV
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Aris Thessaloniki BetssonARI
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If Round 1 is anything to go by, Aris Thessaloniki Betsson is going to be a problem in the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season. You only have to look at Bryce Jones and Bryn Forbes to know why.
On the road at Umana Reyer Venice, the backcourt pair completed each other brilliantly as Aris grabbed an 81-85 win. Just one year ago, Aris also started its EuroCup campaign on the road at Reyer, but it fell to a 20-point defeat. In fact, new Aris head coach Bogdan Karaicic revealed something special in the postgame press conference.
“This is the first time that Aris won in Italy against an Italian team, so it gives some special meaning for Aris in this new beginning and new situation that we are in,” he said. “I will address the fans: we are building something, so don’t just us on our wins and losses. Judge us on our effort. The effort is going to be there for the whole season.
“This is the main thing that we are trying to build here – new character, new effort, and a new situation. Not wins and losses as a priority this season.”
That may be the case, but with Jones and Forbes combining to score 44 of Aris’s 85 points in Round 1, it is understandable that fans are starting to get excited. Jones, in particular, really showed his leadership on the court with a complete performance, not only scoring the ball with a career-high 26 points but grabbing 8 rebounds, dishing 6 assists, and making 1 steal. Forbes, meanwhile, netted 18 points in addition to recording 1 rebound and 2 steals.
“This was a huge road win. We needed this win,” Jones told EuroLeague TV after the game. “I’m just happy for my guys, that we fought together, came together and got the win.”
EuroCup fans will remember seeing Jones impress for U-BT Cluj-Napoca in the 2023-24 campaign, averaging 11.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals as the team reached the quarterfinals, but he is coming off a season in which he led the ABA League in scoring Igokea. His confidence is sky-high and he knows that Aris is his team, yet he is determined to make sure his teammates continue to work hard in order to have a successful year.
“[We need to focus on] our daily habits, what it takes to get to this position. That’s just hard work and sacrifice. That’s all I know,” he said. “Me being a leader for this team, I’m trying to lead by example and be more vocal to help them understand that this is what it takes to win. It’s tough. It’s going to be hard, but this is more meaningful. Doing it for these fans is amazing.”
The many Aris supporters who made the trip to Venice will remember Tuesday night for a long time – and if Jones and Forbes maintain their Round 1 form, there could be plenty more nights like it ahead.