Some 130 days after Panathinaikos lifted the EuroLeague title in Berlin, the new season is ready to get underway
At a glance: The world's most passionate basketball league is back!
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We’re back! The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague returns on Thursday and Friday with nine tantalizing matchups, including a EuroLeague debut for a rising force and a big showdown between last season's beaten semifinalists. Here’s your guide to Round 1.
Thursday, October 3
ALBA Berlin vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (18:45 CEST)
Reigning champ Panathinaikos makes an immediate return to the scene of May’s Final Four triumph with a trip to face ALBA Berlin. The Greek giant has strengthened an already formidable roster with the introduction of explosive guard Lorenzo Brown and two players who have returned to Europe after long spells in the United States: all-action forward Cedi Osman and big man Omer Yurtseven. ALBA has retained the vast majority of last season’s squad which finished rock bottom with a disappointing 5-29 record, and coach Israel Gonzalez will hope to become more competitive through two new signings: Trevion Williams, last season’s rebounding leader in the EuroCup, and Australian guard Will McDowell-White. Taking on the title holders could not be a tougher start for the German team.
Zalgiris Kaunas vs. FC Barcelona (19:00 CEST)
New Barcelona coach Joan Penarroya faces his first test with a trip to Andrea Trinchieri’s Zalgiris. The hosts will look for instant impact from a long line of summer arrivals, including veteran big man Bryant Dunston, scoring threat Sylvain Francisco, hard-working Alen Smailagic and talented guard Deividas Sirvydis, who excelled in last season’s EuroCup. In addition to their new man on the sidelines, Barca will give debuts to scoring star Kevin Punter and rebounding specialist Youssoupha Fall. Another summer arrival, young guard Juan Nunez, will look to underline his reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting rising talents alongside the scoring talent of Nico Laprovittola, but Barca will also have to confront the always-electric atmosphere of Zalgirio Arena.
AS Monaco vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (19:00 CEST)
After falling just short of a place in last season’s Final Four, Monaco will aim for a strong start at home to powerfully rebuilt Milan. Roca Team superstar Mike James is doubtful for Round 1 after undergoing surgery in the summer, while new signing Nick Calathes is out for three to four weeks. It will likely be the task of Elie Okobo and Matthew Strazel to find giant Georgios Papagiannis, who will hope to quickly develop an effective one-two big man punch with the returning Donatas Motiejunas. Milan boss Ettore Messina has added plenty of experience during the off-season, including last season’s rebounding leader Josh Nebo. Zach LeDay and Leandro Bolmaro will add hustle to support star men Shavon Shields and Nikola Mirotic, and the cool experience of Fabien Causeur will be crucial in quickly setting Milan on the right path.
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (20:30 CEST)
Pablo Laso makes his coaching debut for Baskonia with a visit from another legendary play-caller, Partizan’s Zeljko Obradovic. Baskonia sharpshooter Markus Howard will receive last season’s Top Scorer Trophy before tip-off, and denying Howard open looks on the perimeter will be a major focus for the Partizan defense. A big summer signing for Baskonia is Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who will attempt to maintain the electric form he showed last season with ASVEL. Partizan has an almost entirely new roster, with only two players remaining. EuroLeague experience is provided by big men Brandon Davies and Isaac Bonga, along with guards Iffe Lundberg and Sterling Brown. And if any coach can quickly craft a winning team out of so many new pieces, it’s surely the incomparable Obradovic.
FC Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid (20:45 CEST)
Last season’s runner-up Real will aim for a winning start with a tough trip to ambitious Bayern. After losing the vast experience of Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez to retirement, Los Blancos will look for returning stars like Mario Hezonja and Dzanan Musa to take on even bigger leadership roles, while backcourt creativity and dominance in the paint are respectively guaranteed from Facu Campazzo and Walter Tavares. New Real signing Serge Ibaka faces an immediate matchup with his former team, and he faces another big man with long-range scoring capability in the form of new Bayern arrival Johannes Voigtmann. New coach Gordie Herbert will hope for backcourt chemistry between new guards Yam Madar and Shabazz Napier, and leadership will still be provided by the hustle of Vladimir Lucic.
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (21:00 CEST)
After losing several key performers during the summer, Maccabi will hope that new stars will immediately be born with a visit from retooled ASVEL. Rokas Jokubaitis and Jordan Loyd provide an intriguing new backcourt combination with plenty of EuroLeague experience, but Maccabi cannot call upon another new signing, center Wenyen Gabriel, due to injury. After a tough couple of seasons, ASVEL will be desperate to enter the new campaign on a more optimistic note and coach Pierric Poupet can continue to put the team in the hands of backcourt stars Paris Lee – who led the league in steals last season – and Nando De Colo. Centers Tarik Black and Neal Sako are among half a dozen new signings hoping to make ASVEL more competitive this time around.
Friday, October 4
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (19:30 CEST)
Last season’s beaten semifinalists start the campaign with a bang as Fenerbahce confronts Olympiacos in Istanbul. It’s an immediate repeat of last season’s third-place game, narrowly edged by the Reds. Both teams boast exciting summer signings, headlined by Fenerbahce bringing giant Boban Marjanovic back to Europe after a decade away. Bonzie Colson and Wade Baldwin will aim to repeat the excellence they routinely displayed for Maccabi last season, and Nicolo Melli will be eager to make a positive start to his second spell at Fenerbahce. For Olympiacos, there’s a very welcome return for former EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov after just one year away, and an array of new backcourt stars including Evan Fournier and Tyler Dorsey join a formidable roster.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (21:00 CEST)
After falling in the first edition of the play-in tournament last season, Virtus is hungry for even more as it welcomes the always dangerous Efes. Luca Banchi’s team still has the backcourt experience of Daniel Hackett, Marco Belinelli and Isaia Cordinier, along with the inside presence of Ante Zizic and Toko Shengelia. Joining them are exciting new signings Matt Morgan and Will Clyburn, who faces an instant reunion with his former Efes teammates. Shane Larkin is an injury doubt for the Turkish team, which still has plenty of talented guards with Elijah Bryant, Rodrigue Beaubois and Darius Thompson. Coach Tomislav Mijatovic will also hope that new arrivals Vincent Poirier and Rolands Smits can give his team more power in the paint to prevail in this season opener.
Paris Basketball vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (21:00 CEST)
After a scintillating season of success in the EuroCup, Paris is more than ready for its EuroLeague debut with a visit from new-look Zvezda. The French club has retained last year’s star guard duo TJ Shorts and Nadir Hifi, while new head coach Tiago Splitter has also retained big men Leon Kratzer and Bandja Sy. Joining them are fresh faces with EuroLeague experience like Maodo Lo, Yakuba Ouattara and Kevarrius Hayes. Zvezda coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos has recruited several proven performers such as shooting star Isaiah Canaan, last season’s leading assists provider, Codi Miller-McIntyre, and the returning Nikola Kalinic. Power in the paint comes from Joel Bolomboy and long-serving Luka Mitrovic, but Milos Teodosic will miss the game through suspension.