London Lions added a serious weapon to the frontcourt by signing forward [Sam Dekker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/), the club announced on Sunday. Dekker (2.02 meters, 28 years old) arrives from Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul, where he posted 13.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in 18 Turkish League games last season. He started the season in the NBA with Toronto, but only made one appearance. Dekker returns to the competition where he made his European debut in the 2019-20 season, when he played for Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar and averaged 13.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists. He has also played for Turk Telekom Ankara in Turkey.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">IT&#39;S OFFICIAL! ✍️ <a href="https://twitter.com/dekker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dekker</a> <br>We are very happy to confirm the signing of the talented forward with NBA &amp; EuroCup experience - Sam Dekker! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wearelondon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wearelondon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/londonlions?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#londonlions</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/samdekker?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#samdekker</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BritishBasketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BritishBasketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/gDvIdPOXj1">pic.twitter.com/gDvIdPOXj1</a></p>&mdash; London Lions (@LondonLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions/status/1556294099040346114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Prior to that, Dekker spent four years in the NBA. His first two seasons were with Houston, his third was with the Los Angeles Clippers, and in the 2018-19 campaign he suited up for Cleveland and Washington. Before turning pro, he played three seasons at the University of Wisconsin, posting 12.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

London bolsters frontcourt with Dekker

Gran Canaria finished the week with a bang by signing shooting guard [Vitor Benite](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vitor-benite/007128/) for the coming season. Benite (1,94 meters, 34 years old) arrives from San Pablo Burgos, where he spent the past three seasons. He averaged 12.5 points last season and is a career 39.9% three-point shooting in the Spanish League. Benite returns to the 7DAYS EuroCup after playing for Cedevita Zagreb in the 2018-19 season. He also played the 2016-17 EuroCup with UCAM Murcia. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🖊 OFICIAL | El Gran Canaria ficha a Vítor Benite.<br><br>▪ El experimentado exterior brasileño se incorpora a la disciplina claretiana.<br><br>👀 <a href="https://t.co/FJvLs4nwLD">https://t.co/FJvLs4nwLD</a> <a href="https://t.co/ljg32ZzEwF">pic.twitter.com/ljg32ZzEwF</a></p>&mdash; CB Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1555609414429704198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Benite began his career with Pinheiros in his native Brazil and also played for Franca, Limeira and Flamengo before coming overseas to play for Murcia in 2015. He helped San Pablo Burgos win back-to-back Basketball Champions League crowns in 2020 and 2021 and was the Final Eight MVP in the second of those triumphs. Benite won the Brazilian League three times with Flamengo and also lifted the 2014 Intercontinental Cup. He won the gold medal with Brazil at the 2015 Pan American Games and the silver at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship.

Gran Canaria grabs shooting guard Benite

The London Lions announced on Friday that guard Bradley Kaboza has signed a four-year-deal to remain with the club. 

London locks up Kaboza on 4-year deal

Kaboza (1.88 meters, 21 years old) was promoted to the club’s first-team last season during which he averaged 7.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 14 games. The London native previously played for Myerscough College and in Iceland for Selfoss Karfa.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FOUR. YEAR. DEAL. ✍️🔥<br>Welcome back <a href="https://twitter.com/BradleyKaboza1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BradleyKaboza1</a>🚶🏿‍♂️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wearelondon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wearelondon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/londonlions?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#londonlions</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/britishbasketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#britishbasketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/xMIBRwgOqk">pic.twitter.com/xMIBRwgOqk</a></p>&mdash; London Lions (@LondonLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions/status/1555570709472190465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“We’re excited to have Bradley sign a long-term deal with us and to continue to be a part of what we are building as an organisation,” Coach Ryan Schmidt said. “He's a fearless competitor and I love his ability to impact winning. I’m looking forward to working with him and helping him take that next step in his development as a professional.”

After failing to qualify for the knock-out rounds from Group B last season, where it ranked ninth with a 6-12 record, Bourg will look to start strong and make a strong run in the 2022-23 campaign. Here are four of the biggest challenges Bourg is set to face during the regular season. 

 

### Round 1: A fresh start 

In the 2020-21 campaign, Bourg opened the regular season with a 4-2 record and ended up qualifying for the next round. Last season, a poor start was one of the main reasons why Bourg did not advance past the group stage. In its two previous EuroCup seasons, Bourg lost its first home game - against Joventut Badalona in 2020 and Umana Reyer Venice in 2021. Bourg will try to break this streak at home in Round 1 against EuroCup newcomer U-BT Cluj-Napoca. 

 

### Round 9: Cedevita, again 

Another season, another two games between Bourg and Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana. In the 2020-21 campaign, Cedevita eliminated Bourg in the Top 16, downing it twice – 94-91 in Ljubljana and 64-77 in France. Bourg fell to 0-4 and was eliminated from that season's playoffs. Last season, Bourg registered a 91-79 home victory but lost again in the Slovenian capital, 76-69. It has already become a EuroCup modern classic. 

### Round 11: Reyer's second visit

Just like with Cedevita, every time Bourg plays the EuroCup, it has crossed paths with Umana Reyer Venice. The teams faced each other twice in Venice in the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 and Bourg beat Reyer twice. Last season, Reyer finally traveled to Bourg and won, 62-73, in the teams' season opener. Bourg won again in Venice for the third time in as many games, 78-81. It will be interesting to see what happens this time. 

 

### Round 17: Home finale 

Bourg visits Cedevita in Round 18 – a difficult opponent in a tough place to play. That makes its Round 17 home game against ratiopharm Ulm even more important, as both teams could be fighting for survival at that point. Ulm got two important wins against Bourg last season – 96-86 in Germany and 72-85 in France. It is a chance to see two of the best young point guards in the competition: Fedor Zugic of Ulm and Hugo Benitez of Bourg!

Barely three years ago, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse was a team with no experience in European competitions. Now, Bourg is entering its third consecutive 7DAYS EuroCup campaign. 

2022-23 Games to Watch: Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse

Veolia Hamburg Towers added depth to its backcourt with the arrival of playmaker [Ziga Samar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/players/ziga-samar/007550/) on loan from ALBA Berlin, both clubs announced Friday. Samar (1.97 meters, 21 years old) played last season at Urbas Fuenlabrada, where he averaged 7.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 30 Spanish League games. His performances during the 2021-22 campaign saw him become a member of the Slovenian national team.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Willkommen in Hamburg, Ziga! 👋🏀🖤<br><br>Der für vier Jahre von <a href="https://twitter.com/albaberlin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@albaberlin</a> verpflichte <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZigaSamar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZigaSamar</a> kommt per Leihe nach Hamburg. Über die Zusammenarbeit und das 21-jährige europäische Guard-Talent freuen wir uns sehr! <br><br>➡️ <a href="https://t.co/YXraMEXpiy">https://t.co/YXraMEXpiy</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HamburgTowers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HamburgTowers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/easyCreditBBL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#easyCreditBBL</a> <a href="https://t.co/aDUA13aS3w">pic.twitter.com/aDUA13aS3w</a></p>&mdash; Veolia Towers Hamburg (@hamburgtowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers/status/1555495822980153345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Samar started his career with his hometown club, Jesenice, and also played for Union Olimpija Ljubljana's junior squad before joining Real Madrid's academy in January 2018. Samar played for Real's U18, U19 and Spanish fourth division teams, while he helped Los Blancos win the 2019 Adidas Next Generation Tournament in Vitoria-Gasteiz, averaging 7.0 points and 3.5 assists in four games. He also played for Aquimisa Laboratorios Zamorano in the Spanish third division before joining Fuenlabrada in 2020. Samar is set to make his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut with ALBA next season.

Hamburg gets playmaker Samar on loan from ALBA

Promitheas Patras added depth to its roster with small forward Jericole Hellems who signed a one-year deal, the club announced Friday. Hellems (2.01 meters, 22 years old) has spent the last four years playing college basketball at North Carolina State University, and each year he increased his scoring and three-point shooting numbers. Last season he averaged 13.7 points on 39.0% three-point shooting playing 34 minutes per game. He also pulled down 4.6 rebounds along with 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals. Playing with Promitheas will be the first stop in his professional career.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="el" dir="ltr">Παίκτης του Προμηθέα ο Jericole Hellems!<br>Διαβάστε περισσότερα: <a href="https://t.co/JFZUdGWwsm">https://t.co/JFZUdGWwsm</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/promitheaspatras?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#promitheaspatras</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/promitheasbc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#promitheasbc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/proudtobeorange?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#proudtobeorange</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sharethefire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sharethefire</a> <a href="https://t.co/R6cWFM7m6q">pic.twitter.com/R6cWFM7m6q</a></p>&mdash; Promitheas Patras BC (@promitheasbc) <a href="https://twitter.com/promitheasbc/status/1555463627859263488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Promitheas brings rookie forward Hellems

After winning just one game last season, Dolomiti Energia Trento enters the new 7DAYS EuroCup campaign, its sixth in a row, with new hopes and ambitions to do better.

2022-23 Games to watch: Dolomiti Energia Trento

The regular season draw has pitted Trento against some newcomers as well as several familiar opponents the team has battled against in recent years. Here are some games on the Trento calendar worth keeping an eye on. 

 

### Round 1: Season opener to clean the slate

Trento enters this season on a 12-game losing streak after managing just one win last in the EuroCup campaign. It was a season Trento would love to forget, and success in the home opener against Promitheas Patras would not only get the new campaign started in the right direction, but also not allow the taste of last season to spill into this one. In addition, Trento lost each of its first four games last season by double-digit margins and this time head coach Emanuele Molin knows how important it is to avoid such a bad start. It is a home opener that carries extra importance. 

 

### Round 6: Formidable opponent visits

Trento will have one of the toughest home tests of the season when perennial EuroCup contender Gran Canaria pays a visit. They will meet for the fifth time in EuroCup since 2017 and Gran Canaria holds a 3-1 edge in those games. But those will not matter much, as each season is a new story. What will matter, however, is that this late November game will be Trento's only home game in a span of almost two months. Trento's fans will be eager to see their team compete on the EuroCup stage and the players would love to reward them with a win.

Watch the Game Highlights from Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. TURK TELEKOM ANKARA, 12/14/2021

Dolomiti Energia Trento vs TURK TELEKOM ANKARA - Game Highlights_3901062.mp4

### Round 14: Chance to build confidence 

Trento will have two home games in early February before the competition goes on a traditional month-long break. It will be an opportunity for the team to gain confidence ahead of the final stretch of the season, especially in the second of those two fixtures, against Turk Telekom Ankara. One month is a long period of time, and having to go into a break after a victory can make all the difference in team chemistry. It is also an opportunity for Toto Forray, Diego Flaccadori and the rest of the team to avenge last season's home loss when Turk Telekom held on for a 70-76 win.

 

### Round 18: Flaccadori meets Slask

Trento's only win last season was at home against Slask Wroclaw after overtime. In that game, Trento's Diego Flaccadori shined with his best career effort. He netted a career-high 22 points, while also collecting 6 rebounds and 4 assists. He played 38 minutes and shot 22 field goal attempts, both also his career-most. This season, Slask visits Trento in the regular season finale and it is worth monitoring what Flaccadori will do in a game that could have great importance.

After winning just one game last season, Dolomiti Energia Trento enters the new 7DAYS EuroCup campaign, its sixth in a row, with new hopes and ambitions to do better.  

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica has signed center Alpha Kaba, who was the MVP of the Turkish League last season, to a two-year contract, the club announced on Thursday. 

Buducnost signs Turkish League MVP Kaba

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica has signed center [Alpha Kaba](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/alpha-kaba/007855/), who was the MVP of the Turkish League last season, to a two-year contract, the club announced on Thursday. Kaba (2.09 meters, 26 years old) averaged 13.6 points on 61.5% two-point shooting, a league-best 10.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks in 31 games for Gaziantep.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">✍️MVP turskog šampionata novi je košarkaš Budućnost Volija!🔵⚪️<a href="https://t.co/gUMo4pTRXN">https://t.co/gUMo4pTRXN</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ajmoplavobijeli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ajmoplavobijeli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeOwnTheFuture?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeOwnTheFuture</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZBGp5lko63">pic.twitter.com/ZBGp5lko63</a></p>&mdash; KK Budućnost VOLI (@KKBuducnostVOLI) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKBuducnostVOLI/status/1555100883179999232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Kaba returns to the 7DAYS EuroCup, where he has played three previous seasons. His most recent campaign came with Nanterre 92 of his native France, where Kaba posted 8.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 2020-21. He also played two EuroCup campaigns with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. Kaba began his career with Pau-Orthez and has also played for Boulazac as well as for Mega Leks in Serbia. He helped ASVEL win the French championship in 2019 and won the 2016 Serbian Cup with Mega.

The London Lions have signed British national team point guard Luke Nelson, the club announced on Wednesday.

Lions land London-born guard Nelson

Born in London and raised in Worthing, England, Nelson (1.90 meters, 27 years old) will make his 7DAYS EuroCup debut this season. He arrives from Le Portel, where Nelson averaged 8.3 points and 4.0 assists in the French League last season. He has played for BG Goettingen in Germany and Real Betis and Manresa in Spain after finishing a successful college basketball career at the University of California at Irvine. Nelson was the 2016-17 Big West Conference Player of the Year with Irvine.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LUKE! ✍️ <br>We are thrilled to confirm the signing of the GB international Luke Nelson! 🇬🇧<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wearelondon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wearelondon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/londonlions?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#londonlions</a> <a href="https://t.co/2kvpTrRfBs">pic.twitter.com/2kvpTrRfBs</a></p>&mdash; London Lions (@LondonLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions/status/1554844547125067779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>