Besiktas Istanbul inked former All-EuroCup guard Derrick Needham to return to the competition with a bang on Thursday. Needham (1.80 meters, 32 years old) arrives from another Turkish club, Frutti Extra Bursaspor, who he helped lead to the EuroCup Final two seasons ago and to the playoffs last season. Over the last two EuroCup seasons, Needham has accumulated more assists (183) and steals (54) than any EuroCup player while ranking second in points (555). 

 Besiktas lands point man Derrick Needham 

Besiktas Istanbul inked former All-EuroCup guard [Derek Needham](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/derek-needham/008945/) to return to the competition with a bang on Thursday. Needham (1.80 meters, 32 years old) arrives from another Turkish club, Frutti Extra Bursaspor, who he helped lead to the EuroCup Final two seasons ago and to the playoffs last season. Over the last two EuroCup seasons, Needham has accumulated more assists (183) and steals (54) than any EuroCup player while ranking second in points (555) while starting all 41 games he played for Bursaspor.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Derek Needham Beşiktaş’ta 🦅<br><br>2023-2024 sezonu transfer çalışmalarını sürdüren Erkek Basketbol Takımımız, Derek Needham’ı kadrosuna kattı.<br><br>🔗 <a href="https://t.co/k8aUii8Rgx">https://t.co/k8aUii8Rgx</a> <a href="https://t.co/qPulqDL5Pn">pic.twitter.com/qPulqDL5Pn</a></p>&mdash; Beşiktaş Basketbol (@BJK_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJK_Basketbol/status/1674505556998909970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>  

All told, Needham has played four EuroCup seasons since debuting with AS Monaco in 2018-19 and returning with Morna Bar of Montenegro two seasons later before switching to Bursaspor. In that five-year span, Needham's 4.4 assists per game rank fourth among all EuroCup players, his 1.2 steals rank sixth and his 11.5 points 12th. He was named to the All-EuroCup First Team in 2021-22 after posting averages of 13.1 points, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals. He and Bursaspor won three do-or-die road wins that season to reach the finals before losing to Virtus Bologna.

Besiktas lands point man Derek Needham

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys has confirmed the appointment of Roberts Stelmahers as its new head coach on a one+one-year contract. He replaces Nenad Canak, who left to join fellow 7DAYS EuroCup team Turk Telekom Ankara. 

Lietkabelis appoints Roberts Stelmahers as its new head coach

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys has confirmed the appointment of Roberts Stelmahers as its new head coach on a one+one-year contract. He replaces Nenad Canak, who left to join fellow 7DAYS EuroCup team Turk Telekom Ankara. Stelmahers began his coaching career in 2009 and most recently coached Basketball Nymburk in the Czech Republic in 2022. The Latvian tactician has coached in Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, the Netherlands and, as mentioned, the Czech Republic. During his playing days, Stelmahers appeared in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for Fenerbahce Istanbul (2001-02), Olimpija Ljubljana (2002-03, 2003-04) and Lietuvos Rytas (2005-06). He also spent two years playing in the EuroCup with Rytas in the 2004-05 and 2006-07 seasons. Stelmahers became a EuroCup champion with Rytas in 2005.

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New 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys head coach Roberts Stelmahers on the sidelines during a game for BC Kalev in the VTB League.

Turk Telekom and Mehmet Yagmur have agreed on a new one-year contract that will keep the veteran guard on the team's roster for the 2023-24 7DAYS EuroCup season. Yagmur (1.87 meters, 35 years old) came off the bench to help Turk Telekom reach the EuroCup Finals last season.

Turk Telekom renews veteran Mehmet Yagmur

Turk Telekom and [Mehmet Yagmur](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/mehmet-yagmur/000497/) have agreed on a new one-year contract that will keep the veteran guard on the team's roster for the 2023-24 7DAYS EuroCup season. Yagmur (1.87 meters, 35 years old) came off the bench to help Turk Telekom reach the EuroCup Finals last season. He averaged 1.6 points while shooting sparingly in 5:27 minutes per game. He took only 12 field goal attempts in 12 games played, making 3 of 3 two-pointers, 4 of 9 triples and his only free throw. He had a season-high 11 points in 25 minutes without a miss in a comeback 72-80 road win at Dolomiti Energia Trento in Round 14 of the regular season.


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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Mehmet Yağmur 1 yıl daha Türk Telekom&#39;da! ✍️<br><br>Geçtiğimiz sezon hem takımı hem de <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AnkaraBasketbolu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AnkaraBasketbolu</a> için 4 numaralı formasını terleten Mehmet Yağmur ile 1 yıllık sözleşme yeniledik.👏🔥 <a href="https://t.co/TycKGetmyi">pic.twitter.com/TycKGetmyi</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1674462490871181314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 


Yagmur is a veteran of five EuroCup seasons since his debut as a 20-year-old back in the 2007-08 season with Besiktas Istanbul. In three seasons with Besiktas, one with Galatasaray and last season with Turk Telekom, he has averaged 3.1 points and 1.5 assists over 59 total EuroCup games. 

Dreamland Gran Canaria added size and experience in the paint by landing center Ethan Happ, who arrives from Spanish side Rio Breogan Lugo. 

Gran Canaria adds size with Happ

##### Reigning EuroCup champion Dreamland Gran Canaria bolstered its frontcourt by signing center [Ethan Happ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/-/009864/) for the 2023-24 season, the club announced on Thursday. 

Happ (2.08 meters, 27 years old) arrives from Rio Breogan Lugo, where he averaged 12.6 points and 2.5 assists in 34 Spanish League games last season. He ranked second in the league in rebounds (7.9) and steals (1.9). Happ posted a season-high PIR of 37 against Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Real Madrid with 21 points, 19 rebounds and 6 steals in a 91-73 losing effort in January.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">📝 OFICIAL | Ethan Happ refuerza el juego interior del Dreamland Gran Canaria.<br><br>▪ Estrella universitaria, tercero en valoración en la pasada Liga Endesa, máximo reboteador de la competición y el mejor en robos de balón. Firma por una temporada.<br><br>👀 <a href="https://t.co/ujplqhmV2S">https://t.co/ujplqhmV2S</a> <a href="https://t.co/PLB0StReRW">pic.twitter.com/PLB0StReRW</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1674396255563272192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Happ had a standout college career at the University of Wisconsin; he averaged 17.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 blocks in 34 NCAA games in the 2018-19 season. He started his professional career with Olympiacos Piraeus and made his EuroLeague debut there. He then moved to Italian side Vanoli Basket Cremona. Happ also played for Lavoroplu Fortitudo Bologna and Banco di Sardegna Sassari of Italy, as well as for MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg of Germany before joining Breogan in 2022. Happ is set to make his EuroCup debut with Gran Canaria next season.

Gran Canaria adds size with Ethan Happ 

Last season's 7DAYS EuroCup runner-up Turk Telekom Ankara continued re-building its roster for the new challenges in the competition by inking big forward Yigitcan Saybir for the upcoming season, the club announced Thursday. 

Turk Telekom adds more size with Yigitcan Saybir

Last season's 7DAYS EuroCup runner-up Turk Telekom Ankara continued re-building its roster for the new challenges in the competition by inking big forward [Yigitcan Saybir](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/yigitcan-saybir/006693/) for the upcoming season, the club announced Thursday. Saybir (2.03 meters, 24 years old) made his EuroCup debut last season, posting 6.3 points and 3.4 rebounds for Frutti Extra Bursaspor.

Prior to his one-year stint with Bursaspor, Saybir spent most of his career with Anadolu Efes Istanbul, the team with which he grew up. He helped Efes win the 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title, Turkish League crowns in 2019 and 2021 and Turkish Cups in 2018 and 2022. He spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan at Istanbul Basket. Saybir has also been a member of the Turkish national team.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Yiğitcan Saybir yeni sezonda <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AnkaraBasketbolu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AnkaraBasketbolu</a> için mücadele verecek ✍️👏<br><br>Geçtiğimiz sezon Bursaspor forması giyen Yiğitcan Saybir’i renklerimize bağladık. Ailemize hoş geldin Yiğitcan Saybir! 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/2CeKOp15Z7">pic.twitter.com/2CeKOp15Z7</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1674373256206336002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Besiktas Istanbul has a new man on the bench for its return to the competition after hiring Dusan Alimpijevic, a former 7DAYS EuroCup Coach of the Year. Alimpijevic, 37, has spent the past three seasons with fellow Turkish side Frutti Extra Bursaspor, where he was the mastermind behind team's fairytale run to the 2022 EuroCup Finals.

Besiktas hires former Coach of the Year Alimpijevic

Besiktas Istanbul has a new man on the bench for its return to the competition after hiring Dusan Alimpijevic, a former 7DAYS EuroCup Coach of the Year. Alimpijevic, 37, has spent the past three seasons with fellow Turkish side Frutti Extra Bursaspor, where he was the mastermind behind team's fairytale run to the 2022 EuroCup Finals.

Coach Alimpijevic was appointed as Bursaspor's coach back in November 2020 and compiled a 22-28 record with the team. He also led the team to the Turkish League playoffs in both 2022 and 2023, the only playoff appearances in club history.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Dušan Alimpijević, Erkek Basketbol Takımımızın yeni başantrenörü oldu. 🦅<br><br>Takımımıza önemli hizmetlerde bulunacağına inandığımız Dušan Alimpijević’e başarılar dileriz. 💪🏻 <a href="https://t.co/4VxQLuJfbe">pic.twitter.com/4VxQLuJfbe</a></p>&mdash; Beşiktaş Basketbol (@BJK_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJK_Basketbol/status/1674373054514839554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Alimpijevic started his coaching career at age 22, working as an assistant for Novi Sad and Vojvodina in his native Serbia. While in Vojvodina, he survived the fatal crash of a team bus in 2010 that left his head coach and one player dead while Alimpijevic was hospitalized for more than a month. 

He would make his head-coaching debut with Vojvodina and served as head coach of Spartak Subotica, too, before joining FMP Zeleznik in 2016. His breakthrough came in the 2017-18 season when as a 31-year old he led Crvena Zvezda Belgrade to an 11-19 record in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and guided the club to the Adriatic League finals. Alimpijevic also coached Avtodor Saratov in Russia before taking over at Bursaspor.

More on Coach Alimpijevic

Besiktas hires former Coach of the Year Dusan Alimpijevic

The EuroCup will have a new format this season that rewards regular-season dominance and makes it tougher to reach the EuroCup Playoffs.

New EuroCup format certain to bring increased drama

**The EuroCup will have a new format this season that rewards regular-season dominance and makes it tougher to reach the EuroCup Playoffs.**

Starting this season, only six teams will advance to the playoffs, instead of eight. Moreover, the top two teams in each regular season group will receive first-round playoff byes, skipping the eighthfinals to be slotted directly into the quarterfinals.

The eighthfinals pairings will feature third- vs. sixth-place teams and fourth- vs. fifth-place teams from different regular season groups in single games hosted by the higher-placed teams. The winners of each game advance to visit the first- and second-place teams in do-or-die quarterfinals games.

The EuroCup Semifinals and Finals, which were also single games under the previous format, will now become best-of-three series starting on the court of the higher-placed team at the end of the regular season.

The format changes will bring more excitement to the regular season as the difference between finishing second and third is greater than before. At the tail end of the standings, four teams will now go home after the regular season, making for a tougher push just to reach the postseason.

Under the new format, the finalists could play as few as 23 games and as many as 26.

New BKT EuroCup format certain to bring increased drama

The The Assembly of Syndicated Shareholders of Euroleague Commercial Assets meeting, held on Thursday, June 29 in Barcelona, revealed the identities of the 20 teams that will compete in the 2023-24 EuroCup. Alongside 17 returning clubs from last season, the EuroCup will feature debutante Wolved Vilnius and welcome back Aris Thessaloniki and Besiktas Istanbul.

2023-24 EuroCup teams confirmed by ECA Assembly

**The** [Assembly of Syndicated Shareholders of Euroleague Commercial Assets meeting](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/news/assembly-of-syndicate-shareholders-of-eca-approves-teams-lists-format-changes-for-2023-24-euroleague-eurocup/)**, held on Thursday, June 29, revealed the identities of the 20 teams that will compete in the 2023-24 EuroCup. Alongside 17 returning clubs from last season, the EuroCup will feature debutante Wolves Vilnius and welcome back Aris Thessaloniki and Besiktas Istanbul.**

In the coming season, the EuroCup will see clubs from 14 nations, including two each from France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Spain and Turkiye. There are two current or former champions (Dreamland Gran Canaria and Joventut Badalona), two more runners-up (Turk Telekom Ankara and Aris), and three more past semifinalists (Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Dolomiti Energia Trento and Prometey Slobozhanske).

Aris has played seven previous seasons in the EuroCup and reached the final in 2006. This season will mark Besiktas's 10th in the EuroCup; its high-water mark was the quarterfinals in 2008. Both teams last competed in the competition during the 2015-16 season. Wolves was founded in 2022 and made its first appearance in international competition last season in the European North Basketball League.

The assembly also approved a [new postseason format](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/new-eurocup-format-certain-to-bring-increased-drama), which includes best-of-three series in the semifinal and final phases, or the new 2023-24 EuroCup season.

2023-24 BKT EuroCup teams confirmed by ECA Assembly

Paris Basketball has confirmed the appointment of Tuomas Iisalo as the team's new head coach on a three-year deal. Iisalo is coming off a memorable campaign with Telekom Baskets Bonn of Germany, having secured the club's first-ever title in the Basketball Champions League and guided the team to the German League finals. 

Paris Basketball names Tuomas Iisalo as new head coach

Paris Basketball has confirmed the appointment of Tuomas Iisalo as the team's head coach on a multi-year deal. Iisalo is coming off a memorable campaign with Telekom Baskets Bonn of Germany, having secured the club's first-ever title in the Basketball Champions League and guided the team to the German League finals, where it came up short against ratiopharm Ulm. At just 40 years of age, Iisalo is one of the most promising coaches in Europe and he now has a chance to lead Paris's exciting project, following the departure of former head coach Will Weaver. Next season, Iisalo will coach in the 7DAYS EuroCup for the first time in his career.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">🚨Welcome Tuomas Iisalo ✍️<br><br>Le club est très fier d’annoncer l’arrivée dans la capitale d’un des meilleurs coachs d’Europe, vainqueur de la BCL, 1er de saison régulière devant le Bayern et l’Alba Berlin avec un bilan de 32-2. <br><br>T. Iisalo arrive dans la capitale plein d’ambitions! <a href="https://t.co/udDZwt7osq">pic.twitter.com/udDZwt7osq</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1674345711268241408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I am really excited about the idea of joining this unique project embodied by Paris Basketball. As a man of challenges, the ambitions of the club really speak to me. The management, previous staff and players have done an impressive job of growing the club in such a short time. There is enormous potential around basketball in the Paris region, and this is what drives me to want to help the club take a new step," Coach Iisalo said. "My biggest goals will be to create a great work environment and help the team grow. I will also work to develop a special connection between the team, the club and its fans. The ambition will be to make people want to identify with Paris Basketball and be proud of it."

Paris impressed in its first-ever season in the EuroCup in the 2022-23 campaign, finishing with a 10-8 regular-season record, which meant it was the No. 5 seed entering the playoffs. Once in the postseason, the French side defeated 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 97-98 on the road in the eighthfinals but then lost to eventual champ Gran Canaria, 104-74, in the quarterfinals. With the arrival of Iisalo, Paris will be hoping to take the next big step in its development.

### Iisalo's journey to Paris

Iisalo had a 14-year playing career between 2000 and 2014, in which he remained in his native Finland and played as a shooting guard. He played for the Finnish national team, too. His coaching career began with Finland's Under-20 side in 2014, but soon after he took charge of Finnish side Tapiolan Honka in the 2014-15 season. Iisalo's next job saw him move to Germany in March 2016 to sign a deal with Crailsheim Merlins, which was playing in the German Second Division. In the 2017-18 season, Iisalo helped Crailsheim get promoted to the German First Division.

After a couple of years of establishing itself as a top-flight side, Iisalo's Crailsheim made history in the 2020-21 campaign by reaching the German League playoffs for the first time. In the summer of 2021, he decided to accept a job offer from Bonn, where he went on to make more history. Iisalo was named the German League Coach of the Year in both 2022 and 2023, while he also earned Basketball Champions League Coach of the Year honors in 2023. Having led Bonn to the BCL title in 2022-23, the first in the club's history, Iisalo will forever be remembered in the German city.

New Paris Basketball head coach Tuomas Iisalo during a Telekom Baskets Bonn game in the 2022-23 season.