Two direct rivals currently tied for second place in Group B go head to head as ratiopharm Ulm (6-2) hosts Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (6-2). 

Bourg, Ulm dispute a third-place share in Group B

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/ratiopharm-ulm-mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2023/86/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-game-notes-facts-ulm-bou) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-prequotes-ulm-bou/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Both are in great form, with Ulm winning five of its last six while Bourg has won three out of four. The German team's smooth offense has delivered an average of 22.5 assists per game, led by 6.2 per night from impressive youngster Juan Nuñez. But nobody puts more pressure on the ball than Bourg, which leads the league in steals with 10.4 per game - 2.4 of those coming from Isaiha Mike. There will also be a big battle in the paint between the competition's leading rebounder Trevion Williams (10.9 per game) and Kevin Kokila, who had 10 points and 9 boards in last week's win over Turk Telekom.

[Ulm Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/statistics/ulm/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Bourg Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/statistics/bou/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Trevion Williams vs. Kevin Kokila: The EuroCup's top performer so far will take on a young, smaller leaper.

ratiopharm Ulm v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2023-11-29T18:30:00.000Z)

Struggling Joventut Badalona (3-5) will aim to end a three-game slide against a Prometey Slobozhanske team (4-4) that has been heading in the opposite direction by winning two in a row. 

Joventut aims to stop slide with visit from Prometey

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/joventut-badalona-prometey-slobozhanske/U2023/81/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-game-notes-facts-jov-pmt) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-prequotes-jov-pmt/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Powered by Ondrey Balvin's 8.9 rebounds per game, second best in the league, Prometey is the competition's top rebounding team (39.5 per game) and will expect to dominate the physical battle. Joventut will hope to control the tempo through the backcourt in a game that could become a matter of speed versus power. A key figure could be guard Andres Feliz, who made an excellent return from injury in last week's defeat against Hapoel, scoring 24 points on 10 of 14 field goal shooting and adding 7 assists.

[Joventut Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/statistics/jov/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Prometey Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/prometey-slobozhanske/statistics/pmt/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Yannick Kraag vs. Ronald March: Youth vs. experience in a matchup of perimeter scorers.

Joventut Badalona v Prometey Slobozhanske (2023-11-29T19:30:00.000Z)

The competition's only perfect team, Dreamland Gran Canaria (8-0), will aim to underline its intent to retain the EuroCup title with a visit from Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (3-5), which boosted its own playoffs hopes by ending a four-game losing streak last time out.

Gran Canaria shoots for perfect first half vs. Buducnost

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/dreamland-gran-canaria-buducnost-voli-podgorica/U2023/88/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-game-notes-facts-can-bud) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-prequotes-can-bud/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

The main man in that triumph was Yoan Makoundou, who now averages 20 points and 6.3 rebounds in the last three games. Gran Canaria has won all eight previous meetings between the teams and is looking to maintain its defensive excellence after restricting its opponents to less than 80 points for six consecutive games. Ethan Happ has dominated the boards, averaging 7 rebounds in the last four games, and will look to limit the influence of Makoundou.

[Gran Canaria Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/statistics/can/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Buducnost Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/statistics/bud/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Ethan Happ vs. Yoan Makoundou: A pair of distinct big men will test their styles in this game.

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2023-11-29T20:00:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica ended a four-game losing streak by downing Dolomiti Energia Trento 98-96 in overtime at home in Round 8 and young forward Yoan Makoundou had to do a lot with it. The 23-year-old Frenchman led Buducnost with a career-high PIR of 33. He also set personal bests in points (23), rebounds (8), assists (3) and blocks (3). 

Yoan Makoundou, Buducnost: 'This is a good challenge for me'

[Yoan Makoundou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/yoan-makoundou/011935/) joined Buducnost at the start of the season from AS Monaco, where he played limited minutes on a very successful team. He is making the most out of his new role as one of Buducnost's leaders, averaging 13.4 points on 54.5% three-point shooting, 5.0 rebounds and a PIR of 15.4. Over his last three games, Makoundou boosted his numbers to 20.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and a PIR of 23.7. Against Trento,  the 23-year-old Frenchman led Buducnost with a career-high PIR of 33. He also set personal bests in points (23), rebounds (8), assists (3) and blocks (3).

Makoundou said he thinks this season could allow him to get to the next level. "I think this is a good challenge for me, like I said, it is an opportunity. It is what I really needed, playing for a team and a coach and an organization that trusts me," Makoundou said. "So this is a great challenge, and I'll do everything to make it a good turning point in my career."

**Congratulations on beating Trento. The team trailed most of the way but got the win in overtime. What allowed you to have that strong mentality?**

"Thank you. It was more about the fight we showed, I would say. We kept our fighting spirit during the whole 40 minutes... I mean, 45 minutes! So I think Trento is a great team, but they they pretty much fell at the end."

**This win snapped a four-game losing streak. What does the team need to make it a turning point?**

"I think wins like this definitely help us come back to play the right way. It will be more about making all the efforts, the little efforts that we were not doing earlier. It is all about the team, I am unselfish and not really worried about how the next game will go. We will just fight and see at the end of the game."

"I'm not taking this for granted and I'm just making sure that I give everything on the court."

**You have been playing better and better lately. How great is it to play a leading role on a strong team like Buducnost?**

"Man, it is a great opportunity for me, coming from a team where I didn't really have the chance to contribute as I wanted to. I'm not taking this for granted, and I'm just making sure that I give everything on the court. It is what it is."

**Now that you have played against almost all the opponents in Group B, how strong is the EuroCup this season and how much of a challenge is it for you?**

"I think this is a good challenge for me, like I said, it is an opportunity. It is what I really needed, playing for a team and a coach and an organization that trusts me. So this is a great challenge and I'll do everything to make it a good turning point in my career."

**Your next game is arguably the toughest one on paper, on the road against undefeated Gran Canaria. How much are you looking forward to it?**

"We will just try to get a win, whatever it takes. That is the main thing and what matters to me. I watched a couple of their games. I know they play well and everything they do is organized. They play the right way and I think it is going to be a defensive game."

Yoan Makoundou highlights - October-November '23

Yoan Makoundou highlights, October-November '23

**You have a new coach in Andrej Zakelj. I know he just arrived, but in what ways can he help the team?**

"I think he will help the team with our spacing and focus on the things we didn't do well earlier in this season. These are the main things he is focusing on and probably the things that will help us the most for this second part of the EuroCup season."

**There are many young French players doing well in the EuroCup this season: you, Nadir Hifi, Noa Essengur, Zaccharie Risacher, Hugo Benitez... Why is that?**

"I would say that everything is in the way we learn how to play, the way we learn how to fight in young teams in the Espoirs \[U21\] categories. I think that's pretty much about it. France is a place that really cares about young people and makes sure they get involved somehow. If you can't really play pro early, you can work your way up, being responsible and accountable through the younger teams, the younger categories. So this is the main thing that France has been doing, at least for me. I can speak for me and not for the others."

"I'll do everything to make it a good turning point in my career."

**Did any team or any player surprise you until now in the EuroCup?**

"I cannot say I was surprised, because I had the chance to see a lot of great teams and great players, so I wouldn't say it shocked me. But I really think the EuroCup is a good championship, a good European competition. I can play it being 23 years old and get responsibilities and opportunities for me."

**How was the experience of being inside the EuroLeague Final Four last season, even getting a chance to play one game?**

"It was obviously great, playing the Final Four so early in my career. That was really a blessing and a big chance. It's been really interesting seeing how players talk to each other and stick together whether it's a loss or a win. And being a part of it on the inside was really interesting."

**What would you consider a good season for Buducnost, and for you in particular?**

"To be able to be in the \[semifinals\] or the \[quarterfinals\] and give everything in each game that we played in, do all the things that help us to get the most wins possible. That's the main thing for me. All other things will come if we play well. I'm confident in myself and the team. I just expect us to get some wins and show a good face of a good team that plays well, that's it."

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica ended a four-game losing streak by downing Dolomiti Energia Trento 98-96 in overtime at home in Round 8 and young forward Yoan Makoundou had to do a lot with it.

The 25-year-old Serbian center is living a new life in the BKT EuroCup with Slask Wroclaw.

Dusan Miletic learned from Marc Gasol how to flourish in the EuroCup

Slask Wroclaw center Dusan Miletic has crossed paths with many basketball greats so far during his career and he has taken away something from all of them to grow into a dominant force.

He began his senior career with KK Sloga Kraljevo, where he played from 2017 to 2019. That is the same club where FIBA and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame center Vlade Divac played for three years before moving to Partizan Belgrade and later to the NBA.

And just like his legendary countryman did back in 1986, Miletic continued his career with Partizan in Belgrade, playing there from 2019 to 2022, including time on loan at Borac Cacak.

[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/1587883/dusan-miletic-slask-wroclaw-bkt-eurocup-2023-2024/)

The BKT EuroCup Regular Season will reach its midway point with Round 9 on Tuesday and Wednesday, including clashes between the top four teams in both Groups A and B. Here's the lowdown on this week's ten games.

Round 9 features key duels at the tops and bottoms of the groups

### Tuesday, November 28

[Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Slask Wroclaw ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/turk-telekom-ankara-slask-wroclaw/U2023/90/)

Either Turk Telekom (1-7) or Slask (0-8) will finally celebrate the end of a long losing run in a game that already looks like a battle to avoid the wooden spoon in Group B. The game could be a real grind, with Turk Telekom possessing the competition's second-worst offense (76.5 points per game), while Slask is only marginally better at 77.4 points per game. A bright spot for the Turkish team has been the form of Steven Enoch, who has recorded four straight double-doubles with an average PIR of 24.3. A highlight of this game will be his battle in the paint with the equally prolific Dusan Miletic, who will be looking to regain top form after netting 9 points in last week's loss to Lietkabelis, ending a five-game streak of double-digit scoring. 

 

[Wolves Vilnius vs. London Lions ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/wolves-vilnius-london-lions/U2023/84/)

Red-hot London (6-2) will aim for a fourth straight victory as it travels to a Wolves team (4-3) that is also looking good for a place in the playoffs after winning four of its last five. Expect a fierce rebounding battle: Wolves averages the league's second-highest number of offensive boards, 13.4 per game, with 2.6 coming from Tre'Shawn Thurman; but London protects its backboard better than anyone else, with Donte Grantham (5.6 defensive rebounds per game) contributing to London's league-best average of 28.1 boards off its own glass. Matthew Morgan has scored at least 15 points in seven straight games, so slowing him down will be a key for the Wolves defense.

[Umana Reyer Venice vs. Veolia Hamburg Towers ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/umana-reyer-venice-veolia-towers-hamburg/U2023/85/)

After seeing a promising upturn in form ended by last week's loss against Prometey, Reyer (3-5) will look to get back on the playoff trail with a visit from a Hamburg team (1-7) whose hopes of challenging for the knockout stages are fast fading. Reyer is one of the best two-point shooting teams in the competition, making 56.9% of shots inside the arc, and will look for Kyle Wiltjer (11.2 points per game) to register his fifth straight double-digit scoring night. Hamburg will look to control him through the dependable William Christmas (7.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game), who has made at least one steal every game this season. 

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys - U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 4 Highlights | 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup

### Wednesday, November 29

[U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/u-bt-cluj-napoca-7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys/U2023/89/)

In Wednesday's opening tip-off, Cluj (6-2) will look to get back onto the winning path against Lietkabelis (4-4) which has won three in a row. Cluj's heavy loss to Gran Canaria last week was partly down to committing 24 turnovers, and guard duo DJ Seeley and Bryce Jones will look to take better care of the basketball after respectively losing 4 and 5 possessions in that defeat. Lietkabelis continued its excellent run with a hard-fought victory at Slask, surviving a fourth-quarter collapse as Vytenis Lipkevicius flirted with a triple-double by posting 8 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, and the Lithuanian team will be conscious of starting in Cluj much better than it finished in Slask.

[Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Paris Basketball ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana-paris-basketball/U2023/83/)

Cedevita's (0-8) long quest for a first victory of the season faces its latest chapter with a visit from high-flying Paris (7-1), which is eager to recover from the blip of its first defeat of the campaign against Besiktas. The game is highlighted by a backcourt battle between the league's leading assisters, with Cedevita's Klemen Prepelic (9.3 assists per game) going up against Paris orchestrator TJ Shorts (7.6 apg.). The host's cause is helped by the presence of Justin Cobbs, who scored 19 points on his return from injury last week. Paris will again look to the long-range shooting prowess of Nadir Hifi, who has made 15 of his last 26 three-pointers. 

[Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv-besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul/U2023/82/)

After claiming the prestigious prize of Group A leader Paris last week, Besiktas (6-2) faces another major road test with a trip to face Hapoel (5-2) in Belgrade. Besiktas has won three of its last four thanks to a suffocating defense, which restricted explosive Paris to just 63 points last week and has allowed only 72.5 points per game, best in the league. Hapoel, in contrast, boasts the league's most potent offense with an average of 97.9 points per game including a 103-99 thriller against Joventut last week. Xavier Munford was the hero, ending a relative slump in form by blasting 31 points. So Besiktas will look to the likes of Berk Ugurlu, who has at least one steal in six games this season, to slow down Munford in what promises to be an enthralling clash of styles.

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse - ratiopharm Ulm  | Round 17 Highlights | 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup

[ratiopharm Ulm vs. JL Bourg en Bresse ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/ratiopharm-ulm-mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2023/86/)

Two direct rivals currently tied for second place in Group B go head to head as Ulm (6-2) hosts Bourg (6-2). Both are in great form, with Ulm winning five of its last six while Bourg has won three out of four. The German team's smooth offense has delivered an average of 22.5 assists per game, led by 6.2 per night from impressive youngster Juan Nuñez. But nobody puts more pressure on the ball than Bourg, which leads the league in steals with 10.4 per game - 2.4 of those coming from Isaiha Mike. There will also be a big battle in the paint between the competition's leading rebounder Trevion Williams (10.9 per game) and Kevin Kokila, who had 10 points and 9 boards in last week's win over Turk Telekom. 

[Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Aris Midea Thessaloniki ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/dolomiti-energia-trento-aris-midea-thessaloniki/U2023/87/)

Two teams tied on the fringes of the playoff places go head to head as Trento (3-5) hosts Aris (3-5) with both on two-game losing streaks. A key head-to-head will come in the paint, where Trento's Andrejs Grazulis (14 points and 5.8 rebounds per game) goes up against visiting big man Silvio de Sousa (7.4 points and 6.6 boards). Aris is the lowest-scoring team in the competition with just 70.6 points per game despite a season-high 88 against Ulm last week. This should be a good opportunity to build on that improvement against a Trento team that has struggled defensively, allowing 88.1 points per game and it suffered a big psychological setback last time out with an overtime defeat to Buducnost. 

Joventut Badalona - Prometey Slobozhanske | Round 4 Highlights | 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup

[Joventut Badalona vs. Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/joventut-badalona-prometey-slobozhanske/U2023/81/)

Struggling Joventut (3-5) will aim to end a three-game slide against a Prometey team (4-4) that has been heading in the opposite direction by winning two in a row. Powered by Ondrey Balvin's 8.9 rebounds per game, second best in the league, Prometey is the competition's top rebounding team (39.5 per game) and will expect to dominate the physical battle. Joventut will hope to control the tempo through the backcourt in a game that could become a matter of speed versus power. A key figure could be guard Andres Feliz, who made an excellent return from injury in last week's defeat against Hapoel, scoring 24 points on 10 of 14 field goal shooting and adding 7 assists. 

[Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/dreamland-gran-canaria-buducnost-voli-podgorica/U2023/88/)

The competition's only perfect team, Gran Canaria (8-0), will aim to underline its intent to retain the EuroCup title with a visit from Buducnost (3-5) which boosted its own playoffs hopes by ending a four-game losing streak by downing Trento in an overtime thriller last time out. The main man in that triumph was Yoan Makoundou, who now averages 20 points and 6.3 rebounds in the last three games. Gran Canaria has won all eight previous meetings between the teams and is looking to maintain its defensive excellence after restricting its opponents to less than 80 points for six consecutive games. Ethan Happ has dominated the boards, averaging 7 rebounds in the last four games, and will look to limit the influence of Makoundou.

Turk Telekom Ankara v Slask Wroclaw (2023-11-28T17:00:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2023-11-29T17:00:00.000Z)

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Aris Midea Thessaloniki (2023-11-29T19:00:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2023-11-28T19:00:00.000Z)

Wolves Vilnius v London Lions (2023-11-28T17:00:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Paris Basketball (2023-11-29T17:30:00.000Z)

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (2023-11-29T18:00:00.000Z)

Fourth-quarter dominance let Besiktas end Paris Basketball's unbeaten run.

Stats review: Finding a way to win

Round 8 of the BKT EuroCup featured major tests for the teams at the top of both groups. In Group B, Dreamland Gran Canaria passed with flying colors, a 22-point victory over second-place U-BT Cluj-Napoca. In Group A, however, Paris Basketball suffered its first defeat as Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul emerged victorious at Halle Georges Carpentier by controlling the details. 

While Paris point guards TJ Shorts and Nadir Hifi combined to score 43 points, Besiktas held Paris to just 14 points around the rim, which ranks among the EuroCup's best marks in the last several years. For a team that has made an obvious effort to take away jump shots and chase shooters off the three-point line throughout the early part of the season, Besiktas flipped the switch and walled off the interior exceptionally well to make another defensive statement in Paris.

Prepare for a crunch-clash at the summit of Group A as unbeaten Paris are confronted by a Besiktas group situated just one spot behind. TJ Shorts and Nadir Hifi are the leaders for the French team, while the Turks are armed with the physicality of Angel Delgado.

Paris Basketball-Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul | Round 8 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

Besiktas also controlled the offensive glass, which allowed the visitors to control the tempo of the game and giving their offense just enough opportunities to take back the lead in the fourth quarter. On a night when neither team put points on the board very consistently, the 12 extra opportunities Besiktas had to score were just as important to their victory as their stingy defense. Coming into the game they had averaged 3.2 second-chance opportunities fewer than opponents, so Besiktas's efforts on that front marked another departure from the norm. 

While several key details added up for Besiktas as a team, Matt Mitchell's 10-for-11 shooting from the foul line helped his team stay connected through the middle of the game and seal the victory late in the fourth quarter. 

Given the way it occurred, Besiktas's Round 8 win certainly felt like a prime example of a team getting the job done by whatever means necessary. 

The table above shows which teams this season have been doing best at finding ways to control the fourth-quarter action. Besiktas may not take the top spot on this list due to a lack of elite shooting consistency from beyond the arc, but their defensive excellence late in games is worth noting. Through eight games, its defense has allowed a EuroCup-best 14.8 points per game over the final 10 minutes. The win over Paris – who had been tremendous in the fourth quarter until then – showed that Besiktas can switch up strategies to give even the most dynamic teams headaches. In their first season competing in the EuroCup since 2016, Besiktas has solidified themselves as a team to monitor moving forward.

Aris Midea Thessaloniki announced on Saturday that forward Ismael Sanogo will miss at least three weeks due to a sprained right ankle. 

Aris's Ismael Sanogo out with sprained ankle

Aris Midea Thessaloniki announced on Saturday that forward [Ismael Sanogo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/surtan-ismael-sanogo/012615/) will miss at least three weeks due to a sprained right ankle. Sanogo, 27, averaged 7.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals in his first seven games in the competition this season. He started in six of those games.  

This season is Sanogo's second with Aris and first in the EuroCup. The native of the Ivory Coast made his European basketball debut in 2021 in Italy with Vanoli Cremona.

Ismael Sanogo highlights, October-November '23

Ismael Sanogo highlights October-November '23

The forward is expected to miss at least three weeks. 

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Aris Midea Thessaloniki (2023-12-06T20:00:00.000Z)

He may have been just a boy, but Aris forward Ronnie Harrell's memories of being and NBA ball boy remain strong.

NBA ballboy experience helped Aris's Harrell love the game

Basketball players draw on their past experiences to help develop their approach to the game. And one of the most lasting impressions for Aris Midea Thessaloniki forward [Ronnie Harrell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ronnie-lee-harrell-jr/012716/) in his basketball development was serving as a ballboy for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA.

Harrell hails from Denver and is a cousin of the former NBA great Chauncey Billups, which also helped the young Harrell get a chance to be a ballboy.

Harrell was in middle school while Billups played for the Nuggets and he was ballboy for a couple of years. 

"I was pretty young, but it was right around the same time that I fell in love with the game. So it was perfect," Harrell said. "I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything." 

One of Harrell’s favorite experiences as a ballboy was when Denver was playing the Milwaukee Bucks and he got to experience Brandon Jennings.

"One time I was a ballboy and Denver was playing the Milwaukee Bucks and Brandon Jennings was the starting point guard. He was always one of my favorite players to watch on TV," Harrell recalled. "It was a fun game, back and forth. I think the Nuggets got the win, which was good but that was definitely a favorite moment of mine."

Ronnie Lee Harrell Jr Top Plays from 09/30/2023 to 11/24/2023

Ronnie Harrell's best moments in the BKT EuroCup with Aris Midea Thessaloniki

Harrell also valued a special connection he built with Carmelo Anthony.

"In the locker room you are kind of shy being around all these great players you see on TV. And when you are shy you really don't say much. But Carmelo just walked up to me and said: 'What's up young fella' and asked me if I was ready for the game – as if I was playing," he said. "It was always a special connection. He would always show me his shoes and asked me which ones I liked and which ones I didn't like. It was always fun to be around him. He's a real genuine guy."

Harrell said those experiences as a ballboy played a major role in his development – even though they occurred when he was a youngster.

"Being around the game as a ballboy definitely helped me – not necessarily physically but more psychologically and mentally because you see how professionals approach the game from a young age. How they approach the game and interact on the court – things you can't really catch on TV," Harrell said.

"That helped me because it gave me something to set as a goal. When I step on the court I want to have this kind of focus. When I interact with my teammates I want to have this kind of body language. It's a lot of small subtle things that go on on the court at a level you can't see on TV. So being around it at a young age was a really big help."

Years after being a youngster around the NBA game, those experiences are still helping Harrell in the EuroCup.