Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse remained undefeated at Ekinox this season by beating Turk Telekom Ankara 86-67 on Tuesday night. 

Bourg beats Turk Telekom, 86-67, to remain unbeaten at home

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse remained undefeated at Ekinox this season by beating Turk Telekom Ankara 86-67 on Tuesday night. The hosts outscored the Turkish side 43-25 in the first half and managed to clinch the victory in the last quarter despite a heroic comeback by the visitors. With the win, Bourg improved to 6-2 this season, while Turk Telekom dropped to 1-6.

Jeremy Morgan paced Bourg with 17 points, Isiaha Mike and Axel Julien scored 12 each and Isiaha Mike added 10. Kevin Kokila paired his 10 points with 9 rebounds. James Palmer and Steven Enoch netted a game-high 19 points each, with the latter also recording 10 rebounds. Okben Ulubay recorded 11 points after shooting 3-for-5 from behind the arc.

Game News

### Hosts take control early

Enoch opened the scoring with an early bucket before Morgan and Mike responded with a triple each. Then, Kevin Kokila netted a put-back basket and Morgan threw down a slam for a 10-0 run that gave Bourg a 10-2 lead midway through the first quarter. Kokila scored 4 quick points and Bryce Brown drilled a deep three-point shot for a 17-2 Bourg cushion. Palmer’s jump shot ended the French side’s momentum, but Brown nailed another triple and E.J. Rowland opened his account with a layup as the hosts took a 22-8 lead into the second quarter.

Turk Telekom responded with a 0-9 surge, with Tyrone Wallace grabbing his first 2 points of the night before Palmer and Ulubay sank a triple each. Bourg was held scoreless for more than 3 minutes, but Zaccharie Risacher made 2 from the line to make it 24-17. Morgan and Mike drilled a triple apiece to restore a double-digit lead for the hosts, 32-21. Then, a couple of Morgan three-pointers and another triple by Rowland gave Bourg a 43-25 lead heading into halftime.

Game Videos

### Turk Telekom puts together spirited comeback

Morgan responded to Enoch’s early basket with his fifth three-pointer of the night, but the Turk Telekom center drilled a triple of his own and Ulubay netted another one from downtown to bring the visitors within 48-35. Palmer scored his first bucket of the second half to take his tally to 11 points, but then his head coach, Selcuk Ernak, was ejected after receiving his second technical foul of the night with 3:21 to go in the third quarter. Ulubay nailed one from downtown and Yigitcan Saybir scored a bucket to allow Turk Telekom to cut the difference to single digits, 51-45. Back-to-back Ulubay triples brought the visitors within 53-51.

Kokila and Rowland scored a basket each in the opening stages of the last quarter, but Palmer responded with a mid-range bucket, 58-53. Maksim Salash netted a couple of scores before Palmer sank a triple to take his tally to 18 points against his former team and trim the deficit to 62-58. Julien scored his third triple of the season and Jequan Lewis made 2 from the charity stripe to restore a double-digit lead, 68-58, with 4:32 left on the clock. Saybir and Julien exchanged three-pointers before Mike and Risacher scored a bucket each to give Bourg a 76-62 lead and practically put the game to bed with a couple of minutes to go.

The result gives Bourg a share of second place in Group B.

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Turk Telekom Ankara (2023-11-21T18:30:00.000Z)

Reigning BKT EuroCup champ Dreamland Gran Canaria had 9 steals in the second half alone against U-BT Cluj-Napoca to turn a 2-point halftime lead into a comfortable 70-92 victory. 

Gran Canaria flexed on defense to blast Cluj 

Dreamland Gran Canaria came into Tuesday's road came at U-BT Cluj-Napoca averaging 8 steals per game. The reigning BKT EuroCup champs had 9 steals in the second half alone to turn a 2-point halftime lead into a comfortable 70-92 victory.

"We are satisfied, especially with our defensive work in the second half," Coach Jaka Lakovic of Gran Canaria said. "We stopped their transition, we rebounded the ball well and… on offense we created great things for ourselves, especially Sylven \[Landesberg\] was hot and we kept going to him."

Landesberg led all scorers with 26 points, of which 15 came in the game's final 10 minutes.

Sylven Landesberg led the way for Dreamland Gran Canaria with 26 points against U-BT Cluj-Napoca in Round 8.

Sylven Landesberg scored 26 points at Cluj-Napoca

"Unfortunately in the fourth quarter we didn't manage to stop them, especially Landesberg, who had a very good fourth quarter and he scored everything," Coach Mihai Silvasan added. "The difference was our 24 turnovers. That’s a lot if you want to win a game in the EuroCup… We stayed with them for three quarters... We fought. We should have had some more courage in some moments."

Gran Canaria totaled 13 steals and scored 30 points off of Cluj's turnovers. Andrew Albicy led the visiting defense with 4 steals and Roko Prkacin and Ben Lammers had 3 each. All of Albicy's steals came in the second half.

After Cluj scored 43 points in the first half, Gran Canaria clamped it down to 11 in the third quarter and 16 in the fourth. The excellent perimeter defense saw Cluj shoot 2 for 11 from behind the arc in the last two quarters.

Overall, it was Gran Canaria's third-best defensive effort in terms of points allowed this season and the margin of victory was its second highest. In all of last season, the club held opponents to 70 points or less only four times and had a margin of victory of at least 20 once – in the semifinals against Paris Basketball.

Gran Canaria is already ahead of that pace and now it has a two-win gap atop Group B. Could it become the first team to ever successfully defend the EuroCup crown?

Over the final 16 minutes on Tuesday, the visitors romped 19-40. 

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2023-11-21T17:00:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica snapped a four-game losing streak in Group B by beating Dolomiti Energia Trento 98-96 in overtime on in the Montenegrin capital on Tuesday. Both teams now have 3-5 records.

Yoan Makoundou paced the winners with 23 points and 8 rebounds. McKinley Wright added 22 points, Fletcher Magee scored 14 while Andrija Grbovic had 10 for Buducnost. Prentis Hubb led Trento with 25 points. Andrejs Grazulis netted 22 points and Kamar Baldwin scored 11 for the visitors.

### Grazulis stepped up early

Grazulis got Trento going with a three-pointer and a floater for a 2-5 lead. He got help from Quinn Ellis and Paul Biligha to make it a double-digit game, 6-17. Wright and Makoundou rescued Buducnost and Magee's layup brought the hosts within 16-20. Toto Forray and Magee traded layups and Ross's step-back jumper fixed the score at 20-22 after 10 minutes.

### A back and forth battle

JaCorey Williams scored down low to complete Buducnost's comeback, 24-22, early in the second quarter. Trento found a new go-to guy in Hubb, who scored 8 quick points, prompting Buducnost to call timeout at 26-30. Grbovic buried back-to-back triples to put the hosts back in charge, 38-35. Ellis and Biligha allowed Trento to gain a 44-45 edge at halftime.

### Ross extended Trento's lead

Magee opened the second half with a wild four-point play. Biligha kept pacing Trento, joining forces with Mattia Udom and Myles Stephens for a 50-56 lead. Makoundou took over with a three-pointer, a layup and a dunk but Ross kept Trento in charge, 61-65, after 30 minutes.

### Wright, Makoundou saved the day

Grazulis struck from downtown and added an off-balance three-point play to give Trento fresh air at 66-73. Makoundou and Wright fueled an 8-0 run that Magee capped with a long jumper for a 77-75 Buducnost lead with over 4 minutes left. Baldwin stepped up with a put-back basket and Ross hit a triple, good for a 78-80 Trento edge. Wright hit free throws and Makoundou bettered Biligha's dunk with a three-pointer for an 83-82 Buducnost edge with a minute to go. Grazulis answered from beyond the arc and Wright scored in penetration to force overtime.

### Buducnost returned to winning ways

Marvin Jones and Wright put Buducnost ahead, 88-85, early in overtime. Ross, Wright, Forray and Brandon Paul each made a three-pointer, then Popovic's driving layup boosted the hosts' lead to 96-91 in the next-to-last minute. Ross singlehandedly brought Trento within 98-96 with 37.7 seconds left. Wright missed but Baldwin drew a foul with 4.0 seconds. He missed both attempts, the second on purpose, allowing Buducnost to seal a big win.

The Montenegrin champs triumphed in new head coach Andrej Zakelj's first game on the bench. 

Buducnost edges Trento in OT, 98-96! 

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2023-11-21T18:00:00.000Z)

Reigning BKT EuroCup champion Dreamland Gran Canaria remained undefeated this season and won its 16th in a row dating back to last season with a 70-92 rout of U-BT Cluj-Napoca on Tuesday at BT-Arena. 

Landesberg leads champs to 70-92 triumph in Romania

Reigning BKT EuroCup champion Dreamland Gran Canaria remained undefeated this season and won its 16th in a row dating back to last season with a 70-92 rout of U-BT Cluj-Napoca on Tuesday at BT-Arena. Sylven Landesberg shined with 26 points as the visitors stretched their lead in Group B to two wins over second-place Cluj, which slipped to 6-2. After Cluj closed with 1 point early in the second quarter, Gran Canaria ran rampant 19-40 over the game's final 16 minutes. <br>
<br>
Ethan Happ posted 13 points and 9 rebounds for the winners and A.J. Slaughter and Roko Prkacin scored 12 points apiece, while Ferran Bassas contributed 7 assists. Bryce Jones paced Cluj with 18 points and 7 assists and Andrija Stipanovic tallied 10 points and 7 boards in defeat.

### Gran Canaria roars early

Karel Guzman and Slaughter starred for their respective teams in an exciting first few minutes. The visitors pulled ahead behind Prkacin and slowly but surely continue to add to the lead as Landesberg netted a jumper and Happ converted a three-point play. Pierre Pelos's shot gave Gran Canaria a double-digit lead and Prkacin made it 20-32 after 10 minutes.  

### Cluj rallies to tie it

A three-pointer by Jones gave the crowd something to cheer about, but Andrew Albicy responded in suit. Dunks by Adam Mokoka and Stipanovic prompted a timeout for Gran Canaria. The momentum remained with the hosts as Mareks Mejeris drilled a triple as part of a 9-0 run to make it 32-37. Jones stepped up with a pair of jumpers that evened the game at 41-41 with 2 minutes left in the half. Slaughter came to the visitors' rescue to give Gran Canaria a 43-45 halftime lead.

Jarrell Eddie knocked down a pair of triples as Cluj stayed close, 51-52. Landesberg heated up with 5 quick points to keep the visitors ahead. Both teams suddenly went cold for a few minutes until Ben Lammers split free throws to make it 51-58. D.J. Seeley trimmed the deficit to 4 and Landesberg gave Gran Canaria a 54-60 advantage through three quarters.

### Landesberg puts the game away

A contested three by Landesberg restored a double-digit margin and after another jumper it was 54-67. Landesberg remained hot with a dunk, a layup and a three in engineering a 2-16 start to the fourth quarter that all but put the game out of reach at 56-76. The margin peaked at 60-86 on a Jovan Kljajic layup as the champs wrapped up an impressive win.

Gran Canaria's veteran guard erupted for 26 points to help his team remain undefeated. 

The BKT EuroCup Regular Season Round 9 game between Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul and Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv will be played in Belgrade instead of Istanbul, with the contest now taking place at 19:00 local time on Wednesday, November 29.

This decision has been taken considering the recommendations of both the Israeli and Turkish governments.

All Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv home games played in Belgrade will take place behind closed doors until further notice, as decided by Euroleague Basketball.

Order of Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv games switched

Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2023-11-29T17:00:00.000Z)

The 32-year-old guard is in his fourth season at the German club and feels very comfortable as one of the team’s veteran players.

Thomas Klepeisz, Ulm: ‘I'm trying to be a leader’

ratiopharm Ulm is one of the best teams to watch in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup due to its up-tempo style, young talents showcasing their skills and crowd-pleasing basketball. [Thomas Klepeisz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/thomas-klepeisz/010582/) has been at Ulm for the last four seasons and is one of its key players, both on and off the court. 

Born in Gussing, Austria, Klepeisz started his career with UBC Gussing Knights but has played in Germany since 2016, having spent four years with Basketball Lowen Braunschweig and the last three years with Ulm. Last season. Klepeisz helped Ulm lift the German League title for the first time in the club’s history. Off the court, Klepeisz won the Most Likeable Player award, as voted by fans. 

Soft spoken and funny, Klepeisz is back to blog for [EuroCupBasketball.com](http://EuroCupBasketball.com) after a one-year break. Don't miss his thoughts throughout the season!

### EuroCup blog: Thomas Klepeisz, Ulm

Hello again! Everything is good in Ulm right now. We’ve come off a win against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica and remain undefeated at home in the EuroCup. I think we responded the right way after the bad start we had in the U-BT Cluj-Napoca game the week before, which was a little bit frustrating for us because it was a big game. And I think already our response in the second half in Cluj was better. Then we made the next step in a German League game, and then also on Wednesday with the game against Buducnost and Brandon Paul.

"It was beautiful to see Brandon Paul again"

It was beautiful to see Brandon again. It was really emotional. The EuroCup made it available that we could have this beautiful moment before the game where he received his \[German League\] ring, his championship ring. And we went out on the court as his teammates and had a really special moment together where we hugged him and we could kind of share this experience together one more time. I think he even shed some tears! And, of course, you love to see somebody get so emotional about how much it meant for him to be together with this team. And then a couple of minutes later we said, 'OK, now it's business time and now we go against each other, so it's time to fight each other now.' It was great.

As you probably know, we won the German League title last season, the club's first. I think it definitely changed the mentality of some players. I'm happy that we could keep all the German players on board, which also helped us at the beginning of the season to integrate the new guys quicker and have a better team chemistry quickly because we already had a core of players together who know the system of Anton Gavel, our head coach. So, it was easy and quick for them to adapt. And yes, I think this confidence that we gained through winning the title together also helped the new players to get this confidence. It definitely gives you an edge sometimes in some games.

"I'm very happy to be able to represent ratiopharm Ulm"

The club's management did a great job, too. They are really, really good with what they wanted to be like. They told me their vision of how they envision playing basketball in Ulm with the talents, the international prospects that they want to give a chance to develop and also at the same time be competitive. It's always easier said than done, but I think with the training facilities and the Orange Campus we have and this blueprint and the idea they have to use this and still be able to win and play successful basketball like we did... this is special. I'm very happy to be able to represent ratiopharm Ulm and be a part of this organization.

Of course, I am very comfortable in the team after four seasons here. I'm trying to be a leader, helping the younger guys out and integrating the new guys. And it worked really well with the German players that we have now. We have very unselfish players who do everything for the team and then it's easier for the prospects to find their roles and play good basketball. I think it takes a little bit of the pressure away from everybody to think, 'OK, I have to score 20 points.' If you see, there are unselfish guys next to me who don't force shots or do anything, and they have been successful. That's what I'm trying to, that's the identity I'm trying to establish here. I think it's been working pretty well.

The top plays of ratiopharm Ulm guard Thomas Klepeisz through the first seven rounds of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

Thomas Klepeisz's best plays in 2023-24

Take Juan Nunez, for instance. Playing with him is a beautiful experience for me. I think we complement each other really well because we're both pretty smart players, I think. I would say so! We understand each other and know what the other guy is thinking and what he is planning to do if it's on offense or on defense. He has made a huge step forward in this time that we have been together. The way he is controlling games this season is even better than it was in the first season. And, of course, that's what everyone expects from him. But at this young age, to carry this responsibility and be this type of leader, controlling games, controlling the pace, also getting steals and changing games with this as well, it's impressive. I really love playing alongside him, and I think we are a good backcourt duo. And with Dakota Mathias, also another great shooter. And then Georginho de Paula when he's playing well, we are very, very solid at the '1' and '2' positions.

Juan is also a very funny kid, but he's way more mature than you would think. When he came in at the beginning, he was a little shy. But I realized pretty quickly that he loves to enjoy himself and have a good time. And he's joking a lot. He loves to sing in the locker room and is the DJ playing all these John Legend and Beyonce songs. He keeps singing those and gets everybody in a good mood. He's a funny guy. I love being around him.

We will face Aris Midea Thessaloniki in Greece next week. I'm very much looking forward to this game because I saw some of their games already and the atmosphere there is amazing. And you always want to play in front of a full gym. That's what we play for! Aris is a tough team. They have really good scorers and are an athletic team, so it's not going to be easy at all. It's going to be a fight; especially at their place, it's even tougher. I'm really looking forward to the crowd and the atmosphere in Greece.

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In two months’ time, the club will retire Per Guenther's jersey. He is a legend and also a great friend of mine, so these are two big reasons why I’m looking forward to this. He is exactly the type of person whose jersey you want to see hanging in your rafters. He's a great guy, a great leader. I learned a lot from him when he was the team captain. Sending this jersey up to the rafters is going to be a special day for him. And I'm really looking forward to it, because it's so deserved. He is an Ulm legend and played for this club for 14 years, helping it grow. It is amazing that we had the chance to share the court together.

I will tell you all about it when the time comes. Until then, stay safe and follow us throughout the season. It is going to be fun!

There are several promising players EuroCup Fantasy Challenge managers should consider ahead of Round 8.

Fantasy tips for Round 8: Backcourt values

A deep dive into some of the most intriguing players for Round 8 of the [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) brings up several guards in different price ranges who could provide great value. The below lists features players with different roles and playing styles, but they all have important roles on their teams and many of them have the ball in their hands very often, too. Minutes and usage are key for producing PIR, so have a look at this quintet to find the players who might be the perfect fit for your teams.

[Kendale McCullum, Slask Wroclaw](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kendale-mccullum/012010/) (11.5 credits) – A midseason addition, McCullum roared for a PIR of 27 in his debut in Round 6 against Dolomiti Energia Trento and was held to a modest 11 last week against Dreamland Gran Canaria. Of course, Granca has one of the best defenses in Group B. This week's opponent, 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys, has allowed the most points in the group and a fast-paced game could be a good chance for McCullum to fill the stat sheet.

[Juan Nunez, ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/juan-nunez/010106/) (10.2 credits) – Since missing two games early in the season, the teenage sensation has been on fire. Nuñez has averaged 12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 3.0 steals for a PIR of 18.7 over his last three appearances. He has long been tapped as a rising star and from week to week he is starting to shed the "rising" part of that phrase. It's time to jump aboard the Nuñez bandwagon.

Best plays in 2023 24 for Surtan Sanogo  Mckinley Wright, Juan Nunez, Kristupas Zemaitis and Kendale McCullum

[Surtan Sanogo, Aris Midea Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/surtan-ismael-sanogo/012615/) (6.5 credits) – It's been hit or miss for the rookie forward this season as Sanogo has three games with PIRs of at least 14 and three of 5 or less. With time, it is fair to expect more consistency. Sanogo has started all but one game thus far and this week’s matchup against ratiopharm Ulm should lead to more scoring – and rebounding – opportunities. If you are looking for an inexpensive option at forward with upside, look no further.

[McKinley Wright, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/mckinley-wright-iv/012606/) (12.5 credits) – The boost that comes in a new coach’s first game is very real. The question is what direction will Coach Andrej Zakelj try to take the team in. Wright is a player whose talents should shine in almost any system. After a sizzling start to the season, Wright has slumped in recent weeks. Will he and Buducnost turn it around this week at home against Dolomiti Energia Trento? If so, there is a lot of value here.

[Kristupas Zemaitis, Wolves Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kristupas-zemaitis/005516/) (7.9 credits) - Zemaitis had PIRs in the 20s each week from Rounds 3-5. Over the last two games, he averaged 28 minutes per game, but his three-pointers didn't fall. Though his 10-for-12 three-point shooting from the early part of the season was not sustainable, with such a big role on the team at such a reasonable price, Zemaitis seems like a safe bet to bring lots of value. 

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v ratiopharm Ulm (2023-11-22T18:00:00.000Z)

Slask Wroclaw v 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2023-11-22T17:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Joventut Badalona (2023-11-22T18:00:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (2023-11-21T20:00:00.000Z)

London Lions v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2023-11-22T19:30:00.000Z)

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Wolves Vilnius (2023-11-21T18:30:00.000Z)

Prometey Slobozhanske v Umana Reyer Venice (2023-11-22T17:00:00.000Z)

Even before the first ball was thrown in the air this season, Zaccharie Risacher of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse was always going to attract plenty of attention. The wiry 18-year-old forward is among the top prospects his age in the sport.

Zaccharie Risacher, Bourg: 'I do not have any regrets'

After playing a small role with LDLC ASVEL Villeurnbanne the last two seasons, [Zaccharie Risache](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/zaccharie-risacher/010718/)r joined Bourg over the summer seeking more minutes and a greater opportunity. He has taken that opportunity and ran with it to average 13.6 points on 61.9% three-point shooting and 3.6 rebounds per game. The son of former EuroLeague player and French Olympian Stephane Risacher, Zaccharie has Bourg off to a fine start and is solely focused on what he can do for his team, as he explained in this exclusive interview with the official EuroCup website. "I work to be the best version of myself and to win games for my teammates and my club," he said. "The most important thing for me is to have a successful season with Bourg, for the organization and the city." 

**Congratulations on a great start to the season. With this win, Bourg is 5-2 and undefeated at home. What allowed Bourg play so well right away?** 

"I would say the dynamic. I've felt great in my new team, from the beginning. We have a great group: great teammates and a great coaching staff. I work a lot outside of practice. I think that is what makes good chemistry - everybody is working hard, so I do the same. I would say it is a lot of little things that have made us have this good start in the EuroCup."

"I feel I can help my team on the court to win games, so that's a great feeling."

**You have been playing better and better, too. How comfortable do you feel in your new team and new role?**

"I am really happy to be here in this new team, with a new role, as you say. That's new for me. That's my first pro year, with a real role, and I am glad to be a part of this organization and this team. I feel useful, I feel I can help my team on the court to win games, so that's a great feeling. I do what I get to do and I feel more comfortable game after game. I am really happy to be here."

**I am sure you had many offers to go to many different teams. What led you to choose Bourg over all other options?**

"I had many options, yes. One in New Zealand, one in Germany, with Ulm... Also, in college with Georgia Tech and one from Paris. There were many options, yes. But I thought that Bourg's plan was the best one for me. The fact that I could play EuroCup and stay in the French championship with a new role, be a major piece of a EuroCup team, that was something that liked when I had to choose. That's it. I do not have any regrets about my choice."

Zaccharie Risacher EuroCup highlights: Rounds 1-7

Zaccharie Risacher EuroCup highlights Rounds 1-7

**You rank fourth in three-point shooting and shot the ball well last season. How much have you been working on that aspect of your game? What do you do, specifically?**

"Three-point shooting was always a strong point of my game, from the beginning. My father taught me how to shoot the ball from far away since I was three years old. That is something that I kept improving on all my life. With my dad and the coaches that I had all my life. Now I keep shooting a lot and I think that's important to develop this part of my game, to be really efficient from the long range."

**You mentioned your father. Stephane Risacher played in the EuroLeague for six seasons. How important has he been in your career, in terms of guiding you in the right direction?**

"My dad taught me everything. From the beginning, I used to watch him on the court. We did a lot of workouts in the last 10 summers or so. We worked out together a lot when I was young. It was the only time we had together. These last three years I was with ASVEL, in their formation center, so I did not stay at home. I was with the team, I had school... I was in the same city but not living at my parents’, so the time we had together was rather short. At summer, when I got home, we had a lot of time to talk basketball and do some workouts, but during the year, like this year, for example, I talk to him a lot about my game and the last game we played. We talk on the phone or in Bourg, when he comes to visit. We talk about basketball a lot, the last game that I played, the last game that my sister played, the last NBA game, the last EuroLeague game... In my family there's not a time to speak, it just comes naturally."

**How important is it for a young player like yourself to play so much in a strong European competition like the EuroCup?**

"I will say I think it's a great competition with many adversaries, a lot of great teams and players, too. For a young player like me, that is very helpful in order to become a better player, because there are great, experienced players, but also younger players like me. These reasons make the EuroCup an interesting competition for a player like me."

"I talk to [my father] a lot about my game and the last game we played. We talk on the phone or in Bourg, when he comes to visit."

**And speaking of the EuroCup, what do you think about its playing level, the teams you faced until now, and the competition system?**

"I really like the EuroCup and playing in this league. The adversaries are tough, the teams are organized, we travel all over Europe... There are different styles of course: Spanish style with Gran Canaria, Greek style with Aris, Lithuanian style with Lietkabelis... That's very interesting. They are all different, but they are all good. There are no easy games here, every game is a war. It's a great place to be, a great competition for a guy like me."

**There are many French young players doing well lately: you and Hugo in Bourg, Nadir Hifi in Paris, Ismael Kamagate and Juhann Begarin before him, not to mention Victor Wembanyama. In your opinion, what has led France to develop so many top-class talents lately?**

"I really don't know what to say. I am just super proud of the current situation. It is exciting to know that there are so many French prospects, French talents. I think there will be more and more French talents and that's a very good thing for our country."

**It is going to be a big battle to be this year's EuroCup Rising Star. What would it mean for you to get the award and to have a successful season with Bourg?**

"About the Rising Star, it would be an honor. But that is not actually what I am working for; I work to be the best version of myself and to win games for my teammates and my club. The most important thing for me is to have a successful season with Bourg, for the organization and the city. On a personal level, that's my project for this season."

New Buducnost (2-5) coach Andrej Zakelj will attempt to start with a victory as his team hosts Trento (3-4).

Game preview: Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/buducnost-voli-podgorica-dolomiti-energia-trento/U2023/79/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs8-game-notes-facts-bud-trn) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs8-prequotes-bud-trn/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

The home team is on a four-game losing streak, while Trento saw its renaissance crash to a halt with last week's thumping loss against Cluj. This isn't likely to be a high-scoring game, with Buducnost ranking next-to-last in scoring at just 76.1 points per game while Trento isn't much better at 79.0. Expect a fierce battle for inside dominance between JaCorey Williams (11.7 ppg., 6.7 rpg.) and Andrejs Grazulis (12.9 ppg., 5.9 rpg.). The Trento man, however, can try to stretch the floor with his 50.0% three-point shooting.

[Buducnost Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/statistics/bud/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Trento Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/statistics/trn/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

JaCorey Williams vs. Andrejs Grazulis: Their tussle on at the power positions could sway this encounter either way.

New Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2-5) coach Andrej Zakelj will attempt to start with a victory as his team hosts Dolomiti Energia Trento (3-4).