 Zach Auguste, Bursaspor: 'The win is a great message' 

### Bursaspor head coach Dusan Alimpijevic

"First of all, we have to say that it is very difficult to talk about sport and basketball right now when the country is in this situation. But unfortunately this is the bad side of life. Whatever happens somehow we have to find a way to continue after this big tragedy for the country. It was really difficult to play this game. It was emotional, it was different and, for sure, no one from our side in the league had a break of one month like us. To be honest I expected a game like this. I expected a game without a clear dynamic or flow in our offense even though we scored 92 points. Also, defensively we are still looking for each other in some situations and this is a normal thing after almost one month without any games. So I have to congratulate my players for this game and for this win, because this is a really precious win for us, our club, our community and surely for the country. I have to say big thanks to our fans who were unbelievable for another time and led us to that win. Last thing, which for me is very important. I know that we lost a little bit of our habits coming into this game after the break and this is normal. But I also know that for these habits to come back we need time."

### Bourg head coach Frederic Fauthoux

"Of course, we are disappointed because we lost, but we wouldn't deserve this victory, as Bursaspor played better than us. In the first half, they scored 51 points; this is too much for this level. After that, we had a good reaction in the second half, but we missed little details, like freethrows for example. We missed 8 free throws. At this level the little detail is very important, but Bursaspor deserved the victory."

### Bursaspor player Zach Auguste

"This is really important for us not just as a team but for the country of Turkey. We suffered a lot. It \[the earthquake\] was a very tragic moment for everybody, so we want to dedicate this win to our fans, supporters and everybody. The win is a great message. We are trying to make a big run in the second half \[of the season\], so we want to stay focused and continue winning."

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Zach Auguste, Bursaspor: 'The win is a great message'

Frutti Extra Bursaspor v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2023-03-02T17:00:00.000Z)

Impact moves in Group B

All teams open the season with a roster they hope can go all the way. At some point, the time comes to reevaluate. It may be because there are injuries. Perhaps something isn't working and there is a need to make changes. Or, perhaps, teams begin to smell an opportunity to make history and go all in.

With the deadline for making roster changes this season now in the past, here's a look back at the midseason moves that have had the most impact on teams in Group B and may continue to pay dividends into the playoffs.

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica took a step forward by signing experienced scorer [Erick Green](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/erick-green/005159/), who has truly delivered since his arrival, averaging 17.4 points on 47.8% three-point shooting and a PIR of 14.8. Not only does Green give Buducnost the backcourt threat it needed, but the club also signed former EuroCup champion [Jaleel O'Brien](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jaleel-o-brien/009558/) (9.6 ppg.) at forward and [Manu Lecomte](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/emmanuel-lecomte/003875/) at point guard. Lecomte is set to make his EuroCup debut in Round 15 and has added even more depth to the Buducnost backcourt.

Joe Thomasson has quickly become one of Promitheas Patras's main pillars, averaging 13.4 points in 5 games.

Thomasson arrives to lead Promitheas

Promitheas Patras needed a scorer after Joe Young's departure and found one in [Joe Thomasson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/joe-thomasson/012095/), who has quickly adjusted to the role. Thomasson has averaged 13.4 points in five games and his numbers have improved to 19.5 points in the last couple of games. He has led Promitheas on a three-game winning streak that helped the team clinch a playoff spot.

Veolia Towers Hamburg signed [Anthony Polite](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/anthony-polite/011937/) from LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Polite has made an instant impact by averaging 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and a PIR of 15.8 in four games.

Erick Green of Buducnost VOLI Podgorica is averaging 17.4 points on 47.8% three-point shooting and a PIR of 14.8 since he joined the team in early January.

Green joins Buducnost, fills the nets

[Michael Eric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/michael-eric/007360/) arrived to bolster Turk Telekom Ankara's frontcourt. A EuroCup champion with Darussafaka Istanbul in 2018, Eric is a strong defensive player with polished post moves. EuroCup newcomers Paris Basketball and London Lions, which have also reached the playoffs from Group B, added [Mael Hamon-Crespin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/mael-hamon-crespin/010802/) and [Jonathan Komagum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jonathan-komagum/012303/), respectively.

Slask Wroclaw has made the most moves in the entire EuroCup in 2023 by bringing in three new players as well as registering the injured Jakub Karolak and up-and-coming talent Kuba Pisla before the deadline. Slask signed three-point threat Vasa Pusica, forward D.J. Mitchell and big man [Serhii Pavlov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/serhii-pavlov/012200/). Mitchell and Pusica are set to make their respective EuroCups debut in Round 15 when they will try to stop their team's five-game losing streak. Pavlov has played nearly 27 minutes in three games.

All teams open the season with a roster they hope can go all the way. At some point, the time comes to reevaluate. It may be because there are injuries. Perhaps something isn't working and there is a need to make changes. Or, perhaps, teams begin to smell an opportunity to make history and go all in. 

With the deadline for making roster changes this season now in the past, here's a look back at the midseason moves that have had the most impact and may continue to pay dividends into the playoffs. 

ratiopharm Ulm got the team on the right track with a big signing in the middle. Center [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/) has been outstanding in his first go-around in the competition. Since he was registered prior to Round 10 in January, Caboclo has averaged 16.4 points on 70.2% shooting, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for a PIR of 19.8. He set a club record for most two-point shots made (14) in a 92-86 home win against Frutti Extra Bursaspor and finished that game with 33 points. Ulm also added promising French prospect [Pacome Dadiet](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/pacome-dadiet/011457/), though he has played sparingly so far. 

Bruno Caboclo joined ratiopharm Ulm in January and has been unstoppable, averaging 16.4 points on 70.2% shooting, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and a PIR of 19.8 in 5 7DAYS EuroCup games.

Caboclo's sudden impact in Ulm

[Gediminas Orelik](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/gediminas-orelik/002012/) rejoined 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys during the season after playing for that team last season. He knew head coach Nenad Canak and most of his teammates, which has helped him deliver right away to the tune of 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and a PIR of 14.5 in four games. Lietkabelis also signed center [Nikola Popovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nikola-popovic/006230/), who has adjusted to the team well to produce 7.0 points on 66.7% two-point shooting, 4.7 rebounds and a PIR of 8.0. 

Joventut also added a weapon that it knew well from last season; power forward [Vladimir Brodziansky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vladimir-brodziansky/010458/) averaged 12.3 points in 16 EuroCup games with Joventut last season. After playing for Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade earlier this season, Brodziansky begins his second stint with Joventut. 

Gediminas Orelik and Nikola Popovic joined 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys in 2023, taking their new team closer to the 7DAYS EuroCup playoffs.

Orelik, Popovic make Lietkabelis stronger

U-BT Cluj-Napoca made a pair of significant additions. It brought in playmaker [Shepherd Kasey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/shepherd-kasey/012093/), who has posted strong numbers (10.2 ppg., 5.0 apg., 1.6 spg., 10.8 PIR) through five games, and [Jalen Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jalen-jones/009298/), who's averaged 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in four games. They have not been able to prevent Cluj from ranking ninth with a 4-10 record.

Looking for depth at the wings, Frutti Extra Bursaspor inked [Aubrey Dawkins](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aubrey-dawkins/011241/), who played the 2021-22 EuroCup with Turk Telekom Ankara. And Umana Reyer Venice signed experienced combo guard [Kendrick Ray](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/reyer-signs-kendrick-ray-at-guard/), who did well with Promitheas Patras (13.3 ppg., 3.9 apg.) last season.

Impact moves in Group A

 Slask appoints Ertugrul Erdogan as head coach 

Slask Wroclaw announced on Monday that it has signed head coach Ertugrul Erdogan to guide the team through the end of the 2023-24 season. Erdogan, 54, coached Galatasaray Istanbul for three seasons, from 2018 to 2021, and had most recently has served on the Turkish national team's coaching staff. He started his coaching career as an assistant with Fenerbahce Istanbul in 2003, was appointed interim head coach at the end of the 2009-10 season, and was promoted to the head coaching spot in February 2013.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pl" dir="ltr">🆕 Ertugrul Erdogan nowym trenerem Śląska Wrocław 🇮🇹<br><br>Witamy w Śląsku i życzymy powodzenia, trenerze! 🤝<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DumaMiasta?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DumaMiasta</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/plkpl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#plkpl</a></p>&mdash; WKS Śląsk Wrocław - koszykówka (@WKS_SlaskBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/WKS_SlaskBasket/status/1630139720876408837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Erdogan also coached Turk Telekom Ankara and Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi of his native Turkiye before joining Galatasaray in 2018. He coached Galatasaray in two 7DAYS EuroCup campaigns, 2018-19 and 2019-20. Erdogan briefly coached Fenerbahce in the 2012-13 EuroLeague, too. As head coach, he helped Fenerbahce win the Turkish League in 2010. He was also an assistant coach with Turkiye when it won a silver medal at the 2010 Basketball World Cup.

Slask appoints Ertugrul Erdogan as head coach

The last round of play in the 7DAYS EuroCup, back in early February, featured two major developments at the top of the standings. In Group B, Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv beat top-seeded Gran Canaria by 22 points in Shlomo Group Arena to climb within one game of first place. On the other side of the ledger, Prometey Slobozhanske notched its seventh consecutive EuroCup victory to move a game clear of the rest of the field in Group A. 

Prometey keeps upping its chances

The last round of play in the 7DAYS EuroCup, back in early February, featured two major developments at the top of the standings. In Group B, Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv beat top-seeded Gran Canaria by 22 points in Shlomo Group Arena to climb within one game of first place. On the other side of the ledger, Prometey Slobozhanske notched its seventh consecutive EuroCup victory to move a game clear of the rest of the field in Group A. 

Ranked just 12th in offensive efficiency and 11th in defensive efficiency through Round 14, some of Prometey's rise can be attributed to a spike in three-point shooting in half-court sets and what that has meant to their ability to keep teams out of transition. Still, a great deal of what has made them so hard to beat recently can be chalked up to opportunity.

The graph above looks at which teams have had the most opportunities to put the ball in the basket relative to their opponents. In essence, the graph combines a team's abilities to secure extra possessions and avoid empty possessions, set against how well it imposes the opposite on opponents.

Prometey has had more scoring opportunities compared to its opponents than any other EuroCup team this season. That's a big reason why efficiency numbers prove less relevant to Prometey's record than they do for other teams. Even if they have been playing better as of late, their third-ranked offensive rebounding percentage, second-ranked offensive turnover percentage, and league-best steal rate have meant that they are consistently finding more chances to score than their opponents. 

Dj Kennedy, Dj Stephens, Ondrej Balvin, Caleb Agada Top Steals of the 2022-23 Regular Season

Prometey's league-leading stealers

While efficiency plays a big role in how good some teams are offensively, volume is a factor on the scoreboard as well. To put that in perspective, the average EuroCup team is scoring 81.5 points over 84.7 possessions per game which equates to 0.96 points per possession. A team with 6 extra potential scoring chances would only need to score 0.89 points per possession to reach the same point total. That is a massive margin for error.  

After scoring 0.94 points per possession over the first seven games, Prometey has scored 1.01 points per possession since – roughly the difference between ranking 15th and fourth in scoring efficiency.  While that type of improvement would mean a lot to any team, it means more to this Prometey squad than any team in recent history. With D.J. Kennedy, D.J. Stephens and Ondrej Balvin all playing better, and Caleb Agada getting on track from the perimeter to complement his ability to generate steals, numerous players have contributed to Prometey's turnaround following a 3-4 start in Group A. 

With three teams in playoff contention on their schedule with four rounds remaining, it will be fascinating to see if Prometey can continue to bend the math in its favor as few teams in the modern EuroCup format before this.

Matteo Spagnolo has learned to take the good and bad in the past two seasons. The good has been a chance to play as a professional in Italy as a teenager. But the Dolomiti Energia Trento talent has also experienced a lot of losses - something he didn’t know as a youth player. 

Trento talent Spagnolo learning life lessons, including losses

[Matteo Spagnolo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/matteo-spagnolo/008173/) has learned to take the good and bad in the past two seasons. The good has been a chance to play as a professional in Italy as a teenager. But the Dolomiti Energia Trento talent has also experienced a lot of losses - something he didn’t know as a youth player. 

Spagnolo only turned 20 years old on January 10, but the guard has already established himself at the 7DAYS EuroCup level. He is averaging 9.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.0 steals in 26 minutes with his season highlights being 15 points, 5 assists and 2 steals against Turk Telekom Ankara; 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists versus London Towers; and 10 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals against Promitheas Patras.

Still, Spagnolo has not been able to keep Trento from losing games on the European stage. The team is currently 10-9 in the Italian League but has slumped to a 2-12 record in the EuroCup, including a 21-game road losing streak that dates back to November 2020.

"I am the kind of player who always listens to what everybody says and I try to take in as much as I can."

"Everybody knows that there are many great teams in EuroCup, and EuroCup is a very high level of basketball with great individual players and great organizations and the physicality is very high, the rhythm of the game is very high," said Spagnolo, who is playing for Trento on loan from Real Madrid. 

The Brindisi native did not lose many games during his three seasons in the youth ranks at Real. He helped the club win the U16 Spanish title in 2019, twice captured the U18 Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament crown (in 2019 and 2021), as well as three undefeated runs to first-place finishes at ANGT qualifying tournaments. Spagnolo also guided Italy to third place at the FIBA U19 European Championship 2019. 

In addition to Trento’s woes this season, Spagnolo played on loan with Cremona last season and the team finished just 8-22 and was relegated.

"I wasn’t used to losing in Madrid. But then reality hit because, as you know, in basketball there is winning and losing," Spagnolo said. "For me, it was a new thing and I had to adjust to it. It wasn’t easy. I didn’t like losing. And I still don’t like losing at all. But at the end of the day, losing is also a part of life and part of my basketball journey."

Playing with Cremona last season and Trento in 2022-23 is a chance for Spagnolo to cut his teeth at the professional level - an opportunity he didn’t get at Real. 

"I wanted to play real minutes. I wanted to get a lot of experience playing basketball," said Spagnolo, who averaged 12.2 points on 44.1% three-point shooting, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists for Cremona in 2021-22. "I learned a lot being on the court with other great players and how to play with them and how to communicate with them. Also, I gained experience of playing against grown men which is a great thing for a young player."

Playing in Italy also meant playing back in front of his home fans, who he had not seen since leaving Stellazzurra Rome in 2018 for Real.

"One of the best things about playing in Italy for sure has been that I am closer to my family. Plus I know the language," he said.

Matteo Spagnolo highlights

Spagnolo did not only learn from the games on the court but also at the practices as he has benefitted from having some great teammates. In Cremona, he went head-to-head at practice with Giuseppe Poeta, who played several years for the Italian national team as well as in the EuroLeague and EuroCup. 

"I learned a lot from 'Pepe' - life-wise and basketball-wise. I was new to professional life. It was my first year living completely by myself and doing everything by myself at the professional level. And he helped me a lot with all his tricks - both in basketball and life," Spagnolo said. 

And this season, Spagnolo continues to learn the game on and off the court alongside veterans such as Toto Forray, Drew Crawford, Trent Lockett and Darion Atkins. 

"I am the kind of player who always listens to what everybody says and I try to take in as much as I can. I gotta say I am lucky this year because we have an amazing group that helps one another,” he said. 

Including helping Spagnolo deal with the highs and lows of being a young professional.

With just four games to go in the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season, there are several players in the hunt to be named the MVP. Four of the seven players on this list have led teams featuring in the competition for the first time, while the ages of the players range from 22 to 33. As the playoff picture becomes clearer, one member of this list will be hoping to do enough to inspire his team to EuroCup glory and book its place in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order according to surname.

EuroCup MVP candidates

With just four games to go in the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season, there are several players in the hunt to be named the MVP. Four of the seven players on this list have led teams featuring in the competition for the first time, while the ages of the players range from 22 to 33. As the playoff picture becomes clearer, one member of this list will be hoping to do enough to inspire his team to EuroCup glory and book its place in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order according to surname.

[**J'Covan Brown**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/j-covan-brown/011991/)**, Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv**

Another player shining in his rookie EuroCup campaign is Brown, who has orchestrated the offense of first-year team Hapoel with a competition-high 7.6 assists per game. The 33-year-old guard has also averaged 11.3 points and 3.1 rebounds, but it is his assist numbers that have stood out. In Round 11, Brown tied the EuroCup's all-time single-game assist record with 16, while he also had 14 in Round 14 and 12 in Round 2. Those three totals are the highest of any player this season and he is the first player in the competition's history to have 14 assists or more in two EuroCup games. Brown has been a vital cog in Hapoel's offense, helping it reach a 10-4 record.

The best plays of Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv guard J'Covan Brown, one of the contenders to be named the 7DAYS EuroCup MVP.

J'Covan Brown | EuroCup MVP candidates

[**Sam Dekker**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/)**, London Lions**

Flying the flag for London in its first season in the EuroCup is Sam Dekker. He suffered an injury less than 5 minutes into Round 1, but since returning in Round 4, Dekker has been on a tear. In fact, in 12 games, he has averaged 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steal and a 21.5 PIR, the second-highest in the competition. Dekker has a good case to finish as this season's top scorer; Yogi Ferrell of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana leads with an average of 19.1 points per contest. If Dekker can help London improve its 6-8 record, that may be enough to show that he deserves the MVP trophy, too.

The best plays of London Lions forward Sam Dekker, one of the contenders to be named the 7DAYS EuroCup MVP.

Sam Dekker | EuroCup MVP candidates

[**Jerian Grant**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jerian-grant/011204/)**, Turk Telekom Ankara**

Turk Telekom has been one of the best teams in this year's EuroCup and the player who has made the team tick is Grant. In addition to averaging 14.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals per night, Grant has averaged the second-most assists per contest with 6.4. Despite this being his rookie season in the competition, following a year in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in 2021-22, the American guard has looked right at home and played a key role in his team reaching a 10-4 record. What's more, Grant has averaged the EuroCup's joint third-highest PIR with 19.4. Coming off a career-high 26-point night in Round 14, Grant will be looking to keep up his level of performance heading into the playoffs.

The best plays of Turk Telekom Ankara guard Jerian Grant, one of the contenders to be named the 7DAYS EuroCup MVP.

Jerian Grant | EuroCup MVP candidates

[**Alpha Kaba**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/alpha-kaba/007855/)**, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica**

Playing in his fourth season in the EuroCup, Kaba has taken his game to another level in 2022-23. He has accrued 150 points from his 13 appearances, 16 points short of his highest-ever tally in 2020-21, while he has also set new personal bests for rebounds (144), steals (24) and blocks (16). The 27-year-old big man has been the anchor for Buducnost's success this season, leading the EuroCup in rebounds with 11.1 per game and enjoying the fourth-highest average PIR with 19.4. Should Kaba continue to dominate on the interior and improve Buducnost's 8-6 record in the process, his MVP case could become even stronger.

The best plays of Buducnost VOLI Podgorica center Alpha Kaba, one of the contenders to be named the 7DAYS EuroCup MVP.

Alpha Kaba | EuroCup MVP candidates

[**Ismael Kamagate**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ismael-kamagate/011926/)**, Paris Basketball**

The youngest contender to be named MVP is Kamagate, as the 22-year-old has taken to the EuroCup like a duck to water. After a nondescript performance in Paris's competition debut in Round 1, Kamagate had back-to-back double-doubles in Rounds 2 and 3 before tying the third-highest rebounding total in competition history with 19 in Round 6, when he was named MVP of the Round. From his 14 appearances, Kamagate has averaged almost a double-double with 9.8 points and 9.6 rebounds. Not only does he have this season's second-highest average for boards, but he also leads the competition with 1.7 blocks. Paris finds itself with a 9-5 record and Kamagate is a big reason why.

The best plays of Paris Basketball center Ismael Kamagate, one of the contenders to be named the 7DAYS EuroCup MVP.

Ismael Kamagate | EuroCup MVP candidates

[**DJ Kennedy**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dj-kennedy/005301/)**, Prometey Slobozhanske**

EuroCup newcomer Prometey Slobozhanske has taken the competition by storm this season, with forward Kennedy shining in particular. The 33-year-old, who rejoined Prometey last summer after playing for the team between September 2021 and March 2022, has done a bit of everything for his side, averaging 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.0 steals across his 14 appearances. Prometey sits at the top of Group A with a record of 10-4, and Kennedy's performances have been instrumental in helping the Ukrainian team defy the odds. With Prometey having already wrapped up its place in the playoffs, a strong end to the regular season could further strengthen Kennedy's MVP case.

The best plays of Prometey Slobozhanske forward DJ Kennedy, one of the contenders to be named the 7DAYS EuroCup MVP.

DJ Kennedy | EuroCup MVP candidates

[**Arnoldas Kulboka**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/arnoldas-kulboka/006180/)**, Promitheas Patras**

One of the keys behind Promitheas's impressive season so far has been the consistent play of Kulboka, who has averaged 14.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 14 games. After acting as the sidekick to Joe Young in the opening six rounds, Kulboka has made this team his own since the guard's departure. The Lithuanian forward had a career night in Round 12, scoring a career-high 30 points and finishing with a PIR of 36, as he grabbed his second MVP of the Round accolade this season. Following a scoreless night in Round 14, Kulbolka will hope to end the regular season on a high note.

The best plays of Promitheas Patras forward Arnoldas Kulboka, one of the contenders to be named the 7DAYS EuroCup MVP.

Arnoldas Kulboka | EuroCup MVP candidates

With a 10-4 record and half of the weekly MVPs so far this season, Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv has emerged as a real contender.

In Hebrew, “Hapoel” means “the worker”. And there’s not a more hard-working team in this season’s 7DAYS EuroCup than Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv.

[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/1466136/hapoel-tel-aviv-worked-itself-into-a-bonified-eurocup-dark-horse/)

Hapoel Tel Aviv worked itself into a bonified EuroCup Dark Horse

When Karlo Matkovic rejoined Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana during the off-season, it was more than just a talented big man preparing to make his 7DAYS EuroCup debut. It was also the story of a former Cedevita prospect coming home to where it all started.

Matkovic thrilled to be at back Cedevita, where it all started

When [Karlo Matkovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/karlo-matkovic/009395/) rejoined Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana during the off-season, it was more than just a talented big man preparing to make his 7DAYS EuroCup debut. It was also the story of a former Cedevita prospect coming home to where it all started.

Matkovic had a big summer in 2022: He was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans in the second round of the NBA Draft; played at his first major international competition, EuroBasket 2022; and agreed to go back to the club that signed him to his first pro contract way back in April 2019.

The 21-year-old Matkovic penned a long-term deal with Cedevita almost four years ago and spent the last three seasons on loan - 2019-20 with Serbian side OKK Belgrade and the last two with Mega Belgrade.

"It feels great of course," Matkovic said about coming back to Cedevita, where he came up in the youth ranks. "When you start there as a kid, let’s say, you want to get to that big stage as soon as possible. And over the course of these three years I had with OKK Belgrade and Mega, it really paid off nicely.

"I moved on loan to develop myself as a player. I went to Belgrade to improve and after some time to be ready for the bigger stage and the next step in my career. And I think that was a great step for me to take."

Highlights from Karlo Matkovic's first EuroCup games

Last season Matkovic averaged 11.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks for Mega in the Adriatic League. That performance was enough for New Orleans to select the Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina, native with the 52nd pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

At last summer’s EuroBasket, Matkovic was worth 8.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in helping Croatia reach the Round of 16.

"Having NBA and EuroLeague players in the team and playing against some made me really feel I improved a lot in a short amount of time," the 2.07-meter Matkovic said. "Playing well over the summer was really a great feeling knowing I can do a lot, even on the big stage."

As happy as Matkovic has been back with Cedevita, he missed a bit of time. He dealt with a twisted ankle that lingered from EuroBasket and then pulled his medial collateral ligament and ended up missing six weeks of action until November 26.

He played in four EuroCup games and then got hit in the head and lost his center of balance and suffered from dizziness. That kept him out for more than two weeks before finally coming back against Umana Reyer Venice on February 1.

"It was frustrating not being able to help the team. Seeing them not doing well made me even more frustrated because I know I can help them in lots of ways," said Matkovic, who has averaged 7.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 0.8 rebounds in six games in the EuroCup this season.

The young big man said he has really been helped by the veterans on Cedevita, especially fellow center Alen Omic.

"I think being with the experienced guys has helped me see some little details in every segment of the game. Having Omic at my position really helps a lot. He always talks to me at practice about how to defend some situations, how to put my body in some situations, how to create for others, and for myself at the end," Matkovic said.

All-in-all, Matkovic is just happy to be back home.