South Sudan was victorious in its first-ever game at the Olympic basketball tournament, defeating Puerto Rico 90-79.

Tremont Waters drained a pair of three-pointers as Puerto Rico jumped out to a 0-8 lead. After a South Sudan used a timeout, Nuni Omot scored his first points with free throws. The pace quickened with baskets falling at both ends as a Carlik Jones jumper narrowed the gap to 14-17 midway through the opening quarter. Puerto Rico regrouped behind Jose Alvarado to lead 20-28 after 10 minutes. South Sudan opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run to tie the game on a Peter Jok layup. Puerto Rico heated up to lead by as much as 31-40 and the score settled at 48-54 at the halftime break.

South Sudan came out of the locker room for the second half with more energy – with Wenyen Gabriel of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv making plays at both ends – and scored the first 11 points. A three by Omot gave South Sudan its first lead, 56-54. A pair of threes by Bul Kuol made it 62-56. The margin grew to 8 before Dreamland Gran Canaria center George Conditt scored 6 quick points, including a jaw-dropping dunk, to rally Puerto Rico within 71-69 at the end of the third quarter. The physicality of the game picked up in the final frame as South Sudan restored a comfortable lead, which reached 83-73 on JT Thor free throws with less than 4 minutes remaining. And Puerto Rico was unable to threaten again.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Olympics</a> game, first W 🔥<br><br>Bright Stars 🇸🇸 are here to battle and win 🌟<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/otQJHpCX3V">pic.twitter.com/otQJHpCX3V</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1817517105622737225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The key stats for the game were South Sudan’s 55-37 rebounding advantage, which included a 24-2 different in second-chance points. Jones, who has been linked to Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade for next season, led South Sudan with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Former Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul player Marial Shayok added 15 points, Omot and Kuol netted 12 each and Gabriel collected 9 rebounds and blocked 2 shots.

Alvarado, who injured his leg in the final seconds of the second quarter after scoring 19 first-half points, finished with 26 points. Waters added 18 points an Conditt posted 13 points and 6 rebounds in defeat.

### USA overpowers Serbia

The United States of America blasted Serbia 84-110 in the afternoon game on Sunday behind 23 points on near-perfect shooting by Kevin Durant in less than 17 minutes. LeBron James posted 21 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists and Jrue Holliday added 15 points for the winners. Nikola Jokic paced Serbia with 20 points, 8 assists and 4 steals, Bogdan Boganovic netted 14 points, Ognjen Dobric of Crvena Zvezda Merdianbet Belgrade had 13 and former EuroLeague MVP Vasa Micic 11.  

Ognjen Dobric of Serbia shoots over Steph Curry in their Olympic showdown. (Photo: FIBA)

Aleksa Avramovic scored the game’s first two baskets as Serbia set the tone. Dobric’s steal and layup made it 10-2 and prompted an early timeout by the Americans. Threes by Devin Booker got USA back on track and James gave them their first lead, 12-14. Four different players scored for Serbia in an 8-0 run before USA answered with 3 straight three-pointers to lead 20-25 after 10 minutes. Durant heated up to keep USA in control and Serbia called timeout when it fell behind 23-32. After the margin reached double figures, Jokic stepped up for Serbia to bring his side within 36-40. Durrant completed a perfect shooting half with a jumper on the buzzer to make it 49-58 at the break.  

USA scored the first 5 points of the second half, but Serbia refused to go away and a Dobric floater made it 57-65. However, when the Americans scored 6 straight points to end the third quarter, the margin was 65-84. Bam Adebayo’s dunk pushed the lead into the 20s at the start of the fourth quarter. Jokic and Micic led a final Serbia push to get within 73-86, but USA took over after that and raced to the victory.

The games were played on the second day of the tournament in Lille, France 

South Sudan triumphs in Olympic debut; USA blasts Serbia

South Sudan big man Wenyen Gabriel showed he is ready for the spotlight by helping his country defeat Puerto Rico 90-79

Maccabi’s Wenyen Gabriel impressed with South Sudan

The basketball tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games is a chance for many Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans to get a read on new players they may not be familiar with. South Sudan big man Wenyen Gabriel, who Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv signed last month to step into the shoes of star center Josh Nebo, is one such player. And Gabriel showed he is ready for the spotlight in Sunday’s first game, helping his country defeat Puerto Rico 90-79.

Wenyen Gabriel and his South Sudan teammates celebrate after defeating Puerto Rico (Photo: FIBA)

Gabriel displayed his versatility as someone who can handle the ball and make crisp passes as well as crash the boards and block shots. Even though he fouled out in the game’s final minute, with the game all but wrapped up, Gabriel was the game’s top rebounder with 9 boards. He was also the only player with multiple blocked shots. Gabriel also scored 6 points, dished 2 assists and collected 1 steal, though he also committed a game-high 6 turnovers, which left his PIR at 9.

The stat the showed Gabriel’s impact the most was +/-; his 12 in 21 minutes played led South Sudan and the only other players with at least 10 played several minutes more than Gabriel.

It won’t get easier for South Sudan as a date with Team USA awaits on Wednesday, but Gabriel already showed EuroLeague fans that he is able to produce on one of the grandest stages in the world of sports.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wenyen Gabriel in South Sudan&#39;s historic 90:79 win over Puerto Rico:<br><br>6 PTS (3/7 FG)<br>9 REB<br>2 AST<br>2 BLK<br>1 STL<br>12+ with him on the court <a href="https://t.co/qmZAsTwQs6">pic.twitter.com/qmZAsTwQs6</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱 (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1817518020102656057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The soon-to-be EuroLeague rookie left his mark in his and his country’s Olympic debut 

In the opening game of the Olympics Tournament, Australia beat Spain 92-80 in Group A action. In Group B, Germany beat Japan 97-77 leading from start to finish, while France topped Brazil 78-66 in come-from-behind fashion.

France, Germany, Australia open Olympic tourney with victories

In the opening game of the 2024 Olympic Tournament, Australia beat Spain 92-80 in Group A action. Jock Landale, who played in the EuroLeague for Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Zalgiris Kaunas, starred with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists, while Patty Mills scored 19 for Australia, which had five scorers in double figures. Spain's Santi Aldama was top scorer with 27 points, while Real Madrid's Sergio Llull scored 17 points on 5-of-15 three-point shooting.

Australia opened a double-digit lead after only 5 minutes of play and Josh Giddey strung together 8 points to keep Spain at bay. *The Boomers* opened a 31-17 lead early in the second, but Spain put together a 0-10 run capped by back-to-back threes from Llull.

Australia kept the lead safe and took 49-42 into halftime before Willy Hernangomez of FC Barcelona scored 5 points and Aldama's back-to-back threes gave Spain 54-56 lead in the third quarter, capping a 3-14 run. However, Australia responded with 8 straight points, and a 15-3 run of its own to restore a double-digit lead. In the fourth, Llull strung together 8 more points, including back-to-back threes to cut it to 73-68, but Australia pulled away again through Mills, Landale and Jack McVeigh and held on for victory.

Sergio Llull of Spain hit 5 three-pointers and scored 17 points in a loss against Australia (photo credit: FIBA)

Giddey flirted with a triple-double with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. For Spain, Hernangomez finished the game with 14 points, while Lorenzo Brown of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens had 7 points and a team high 7 assist.

### Germany runs past Japan

In the second game of the day, Germany beat Japan 97-77 in Group B by leading from start to finish. Isaac Bonga scored 10 first-half points and helped the reigning World Champions open a 47-31 lead in the second quarter, but Japan cut it to 52-44 at halftime.

After the break, Germany maintained its lead through Daniel Theis, Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner, while Johannes Thiemann, last season's top scorer for ALBA Berlin, and FC Bayern Munich's Nick Weiler-Babb made it 83-64 with 7 minutes to go and Japan never rallied back.

Franz Wagner had 22 points, Theis 18 points and Schroder 13 points and 12 assists. Bonga finished with 11 points and 6 rebounds in the victory. Weiler-Babb finished with 5 points and was one of our German players with a double digit +/-; his was 10 in 19 minutes on the floor.

Rui Hachimura led Japan with 20 points plus 10 rebounds.

Nick Weiler-Babb of FC Bayern Munich in action for Germany in a 97-77 win over Japan at the 2024 Olympic Games.  (photo credit: FIBA)

### France comes from behind against Brazil

In the second game of Group B, host France rallied from a first-half double-digit deficit to beat Brazil 78-66.

Brazil led by 12 points in the second quarter but Victor Wembanyama turned on the jets, scored 14 points before halftime, and with the help of Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier and reigning EuroLeague champion Mathias Lessort of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, France turned things around and was up 39-36 at halftime.

Early in the second half, Frank Ntilikina of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade hit a triple and ignited another France run, capped by a baskets from Dreamland Gran Canaria guard Andrew Albicy and Real Madrid forward Guerschon Yabusele for a 54-41 margin. France kept the lead, but back-to-back threes from Lucas Dias and Marchelinho Huertas help cut it to 62-58.

But Virtus Segafredo Bologna's Isaia Cordinier and Ntilikina with another three-pointer sparked a 7-0 run, and France was on its way to victory. Wembanyama had 19 points and 9 rebounds, and Batum also scored 19 in a victory. Ntilikina was the next best scorer for France with 9 points, and also had 3 assists and 2 steals. Cristiano Felicio and Leo Meindl scored 14 apiece for Brazil.

Thomas Walkup of Olympiacos Piraeus attacks the basket for Greece. (photo credit: FIBA)

### Canada survives late Greece rally

The final game of the opening day in basketball saw Canada prevail over Greece 79-86 despite a valiant late effort from the losing team.

Canada scored the game’s first 6 points and led 7-19 midway through the opening quarter. Olympiacos Piraeus forward Kostas Papanikolaou drilled a pair of three-pointers in a 10-0 Greece run to trim the margin to 2 before Jamal Murray free throws made it 22-26 after 10 minutes. R.J. Barrett had a strong finish to the second quarter to give Canada a 38-48 halftime advantage.

A hot start to the second half saw Canada go ahead by 16. Giannis Antetokounmpo and AS Monaco’s Nick Calathes helped Greece halve the deficit. The margin stood at 60-68 with 10 minutes remaining. Greece rallied in the fourth and several times had possession while trailing by 4, but back-to-back three-pointers by Luguentz Dort and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander restored a double-digit lead for Canada. Greece made one last charge as a floater by Aris Midea Thessaloniki guard Vassilis Toliopoulos was followed by a Thomas Walkup steal, which led to a Antetokounmpo slam that made it 78-80 inside the final minute. Gilgeous-Alexander answered for Canada and free throws by Murray with 15.2 seconds left put the game on ice.  

Barrett paced the Canadian attack with 23 points and Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 21 points and 7 assists for the winners. Antetokounmpo netted 34 points to match his jersey number for Greece and Papanikolaou added 17 points in defeat.

Nick Weiler-Babb of FC Bayern Munich in action for Germany in a 97-77 win over Japan at the 2024 Olympic Games.

The basketball competition at the 2024 Olympic Games started on Saturday in Lille, France.

Olympics: France, Germany among Day 1 winners

When Rudy Fernandez entered the game with 5:18 left on the clock in the first quarter of the opening game of the 2024 Olympic tournament, he made Olympic history. His Spain might have been down 18-7 at that point, officially becaming the first-ever basketball player to compete in six Olympic Games.

Rudy Fernandez re-wrote Olympic history books

When [Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rudy-fernandez/bmt/) entered the game with 5:18 left on the clock in the first quarter of the opening game of the 2024 Olympic tournament, he made Olympic history. His Spain might have been down 18-7 at that point, but Fernandez officially became the first-ever basketball player to compete in six Olympic Games.

Spanish forward, the three-time Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (2015, 2018, 2023) and one-time BKT EuroCup (2008) champion has made his Olympic debut in 2004 in Athens as a 19-year old. During his illustrious career has won Olympic silver medals in 2008 in Beijing and in 2012 in London, and has won a bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Now, 20 years later, he has re-written Olympic record books at the age of 39 and at what he hinted will be the final basketball tournament of his career. Fernandez might have finished scoreless during his 17 minutes in the floor, while picking up a steal and a rebound, but in what ended up a 12-point loss, he had a 0 in +/- column.

Meanwhile, his long-time Real Madrid teammate, a fellow three-time EuroLeague champ and a former EuroLeague MVP [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/records/tgb/) appeared in his fourth Olympics.

Llull's back-to-back triples in the second quarter cut Spain's deficit to 31-27, and his run of eight points early in the fourth helped cut the margin to 75-71. But Spain never came closer than that the rest of the way.

Llull finished with 17 points as his team's second-best scorer in 24 minutes on the floor.

Next for Spain is a clash against Greece on Tuesday.

The three-time EuroLeague champion has now appeared in six consecutive Olympic tournaments, which has never been done before.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna added another fresh face to the mix for the upcoming season, signing guard Rayjon Tucker, the club announced Saturday.

Virtus gets explosive guard Rayjon Tucker

Virtus Segafredo Bologna added another fresh face to the mix for the upcoming season, signing guard [Rayjon Tucker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/rayjon-tucker/012591/), the club announced Saturday. Tucker (1.91 meters, 26 years old) arrives from a fellow Italian side Umana Reyer Venice, where he averaged 14.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists last season in BKT EuroCup action. He also averaged 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals in the Italian League.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FLYING TO BOLOGNA ✈️<br>𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑹𝒂𝒚𝒋𝒐𝒏 <a href="https://t.co/GjkMbFSV1W">pic.twitter.com/GjkMbFSV1W</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1817137874904449371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Last season was Tucker's first in Europe. He came to Reyer from Melbourne United in the Australian League. Prior to that, after playing college basketball at Florida Gulf Coast University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Tucker spend three seasons in the NBA and the G-League. He suited up for the Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA and appeared in playoff games with Utah, Philadelphia and Milwaukee. Tucker also played for their G-League affiliates, the Wisconsin Herd, Salt Lake City Stars and Delaware Blue Coats.

Tucker is now set to make his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut.

Rayjon Tucker, the new signing of Virtus Segafredo Bologna, averaged 14.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in BKT EuroCup action last season.

Rayjon Tucker's best dunks of the 2023-24 EuroCup season

He played in the BKT EuroCup with Umana Reyer Venice last season.

The basketball tournament is one of the most anticipated events of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and the 12-man tournament will be filled with the EuroLeague, and EuroCup, stars of present and past.

Olympic tournament is filled with EuroLeague, EuroCup stars

The basketball tournament is one of the most anticipated events of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, and the 12-team showpiece will be filled with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup stars from the past and present.

The men's Olympic basketball tournament features 42 players currently under contract with teams set to compete in the 2024-25 campaigns and a half-dozen more who played on EuroLeague and EuroCup floors last season.

The event will feature five reigning EuroLeague champs – [Konstantinos Mitoglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/konstantinos-mitoglou/007866/), [Panagiotis Kalaitzakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/panagiotis-kalaitzakis/011209/) and [Dimitris Moraitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dimitris-moraitis/006544/) of Greece, [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) of Spain, and [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) of France – who lifted the trophy this past May with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens. The Greens nearly had a sixth, but center [Kostas Antetokounmpo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-antetokounmpo/011221/) was a late scratch due to injury.

There are also 11 more players who competed at the 2024 Final Four wearing the jerseys of Real Madrid, Olympiacos Piraeus or Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in Berlin.

Konstantinos Mitoglou (left) and Juancho Hernangomez (right) celebrate after Panathinaikos won the 2023-24 EuroLeague championship.

Of the 12 national teams in the French capital, Greece is the team that leads the way with a total of 10 players who are currently on EuroLeague (eight) or EuroCup (two) rosters. Spain comes next with nine such players, followed by Serbia and France, each with seven.

Among those teams, there are also four former EuroLeague MVPs: France's [Nando De Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nando-de-colo/002100/) (2016), Spain's [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/) (2017) and Serbia's [Vasilije Micic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vasilije-micic/002580/) (2022) will be playing, while 2013 EuroLeague MVP and EuroLeague Legend [Vassilis Spanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vassilis-spanoulis/juo/) is the head coach of Greece.

Spanoulis is one of six head coaches – representing half of the teams in the Olympic tournament – who have left a significant mark in either the EuroLeague, EuroCup or both. Serbia's Svetislav Pesic led FC Barcelona to the EuroLeague crown in 2003, while another coaching mastermind, Spain head coach Sergio Scariolo, won the 2022 EuroCup with Virtus Segafredo Bologna.

Brazil tactician Aleksandar Petrovic was the 2010-11 EuroCup Coach of the Year, while France's Vincent Collet and Germany's and FC Bayern Munich's Gordon Herbert have a combined eight seasons coaching in the EuroLeague and 13 in the EuroCup.

Below is a country-by-country look at the current and former EuroLeague and EuroCup players expected to compete.

### Australia

[Dante Exum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dante-exum/profile/011302/) (formerly of Barcelona, Partizan)

[Joe Ingles](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/joe-ingles/profile/003062/) (formerly of Barcelona, Maccabi)

[Jock Landale](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jock-landale/008820/) (formerly of Partizan, Zalgiris)

[Duop Reath ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/duop-reath/profile/010603/)(formerly of Crvena Zvezda)

### Brazil

[Vitor Benite](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vitor-benite/007128/) (formerly of Murcia, Cedevita, Gran Canaria)

[Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/) (Partizan)

[Yago Dos Santos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/yago-dos-santos/012044/) (Crvena Zvezda)

[Cristiano Felicio](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/cristiano-felicio/profile/011230/) (formerly of ratiopharm Ulm)

[Marcelinho Huertas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marcelinho-huertas/profile/juj/) (formerly of Joventut, Fortitudo, Baskonia, Barcelona)

[Leo Meindl](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/leonardo-meindl/profile/011800/) (formerly of U-BT Cluj-Napoca)

[Georginho de Paula](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/georginho-de-paula-/profile/012703/) (formerly of Ulm)

### Canada

[Khem Birch](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/khem-birch/007182/) (formerly of Olympiacos)

[Melvin Ejim](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/melvin-ejim/profile/005896/) (formerly of Roma, UNICS, Unicaja, Buducnost, Cedevita)

### France

[Andrew Albicy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andrew-albicy/003425/) (Gran Canaria)

[Nicolas Batum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nicolas-batum/KOH/) (formerly of Le Mans, SLUC Nancy)

[Isaia Cordinier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/isaia-cordinier/009549/) (Virtus)

[Nando De Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nando-de-colo/002100/) (ASVEL)

[Rudy Gobert](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/-/002859/) (formerly of Cholet)

[Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) (Panathinaikos)

[Frank Ntilikina](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/frank-ntilikina/006591/) (Partizan)

[Matthew Strazel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matthew-strazel/008099/) (AS Monaco)

[Guerschon Yabusele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/guerschon-yabusele/010357/) (Real Madrid)

[Victor Wembanyama](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/victor-wembanyama/009553/) (formerly of Nanterre, ASVEL)

Mathias Lessort (Panathinaikos) and Isaia Cordinier (Virtus) are two of seven EuroLeague players who will represent France. (photo: FIBA)

### Germany

[Isaac Bonga](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/isaac-bonga/006760/) (last played for Bayern)

[Oscar da Silva](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/oscar-da-silva/011244/) (Bayern)

[Niels Giffey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/niels-giffey/001557/) (Bayern)

[Maodo Lo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/maodo-lo/007032/) (Milan)

[Andreas Obst](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/andreas-obst/004508/) (Bayern)

[Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) (formerly of ratiopharm Ulm, Bamberg)

[Johannes Thiemann](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/johannes-thiemann/003958/) (formerly of Bamberg, ALBA)

[Johannes Voigtmann](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/johannes-voigtmann/007201/) (last played for Milan)

[Franz Wagner](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/franz-wagner/007543/) (formerly of ALBA)

[Mo Wagner](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/moritz-wagner/005758/) (formerly of ALBA)

[Nick Weiler-Babb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nick-weiler-babb/010391/) (Bayern)

### Greece

[Kostas Papanikolaou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-papanikolaou/001255/) (Olympiacos)

[Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) (AS Monaco)

[Nikos Chougkaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikos-chougkaz/011396/) (formerly of Panathinaikos)

[Giannoulis Larentzakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/giannoulis-larentzakis/010392/) (Olympiacos)

[Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) (AS Monaco)

[Konstantinos Mitoglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/konstantinos-mitoglou/007866/) (Panathinaikos)

[Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/) (Olympiacos)

[Vassilis Charalampopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vasilis-charalampopoulos/004218/) (Turk Telekom)

[Dimitris Moraitis ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dimitris-moraitis/006544/)(Panathinaikos)

[Panagiotis Kalaitzakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/panagiotis-kalaitzakis/011209/) (Panathinaikos)

[Vassilis Toliopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vassilis-toliopoulos/004292/) (Aris)

### Puerto Rico

[Gian Clavell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/gian-clavell/011942/) (last played for Prometey)

[George Conditt IV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/george-conditt-iv/012016/) (Gran Canaria)

[Davon Reed](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/davon-reed/012599/) (formerly of Prometey)

### Serbia

[Aleksa Avramovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/aleksa-avramovic/003983/) (formerly of Unicaja, Partizan)

[Bogdan Bogdanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bogdan-bogdanovic/002821/) (formerly of Partizan, Fenerbahce)

[Dejan Davidovac](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dejan-davidovac/007960/) (Crvena Zvezda)

[Ognjen Dobric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ognjen-dobric/004007/) (Crvena Zvezda)

[Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/) (Fenerbahce)

[Vanja Marinkovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vanja-marinkovic/004761/) (Partizan)

[Vasilije Micic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vasilije-micic/002580/) (formerly of Bayern, Crvena Zvezda, Zalgiris, Efes)

[Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/) (Olympiacos)

[Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/) (Olympiacos)

[Uros Plavsic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/uros-plavsic/006240/) (Crvena Zvezda)

Dejan Davidovac (Crvena Zvezda) and Filip Petrusev (Olympiacos) will be representing Serbia at the Olympics. (photo: FIBA)

### South Sudan

Wenyen Gabriel (Maccabi)

[Marial Shayok](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marial-shayok/011202/) (formerly of Fenerbahce)

### Spain

[Alex Abrines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alex-abrines/003478/) (Barcelona)

[Dario Brizuela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dario-brizuela/009992/) (Barcelona)

[Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/) (Panathinaikos)

[Alberto Diaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alberto-diaz/004213/) (formerly of Unicaja)

[Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rudy-fernandez/bmt/) (Real Madrid)

[Usman Garuba](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/usman-garuba/007630/) (formerly of Real Madrid)

[Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) (Panathinaikos)

[Willy Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/willy-hernangomez/003196/) (Barcelona)

[Sergio Llull ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/)(Real Madrid)

[Xabi Lopez-Arostegui](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/xabi-lopez-arostegui/005356/) (Valencia)

[Jaime Pradilla](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jaime-pradilla/010393/) (Valencia)

*(Top photo: FIBA)*

The main basketball event of the summer will tip off on Saturday at 11:00 CEST when Spain and Australia lock horns

Real Madrid Baloncsto has fortified its frontcourt by signing Serge Ibaka, who returns to the Spanish capital after spending part of the 2011-12 season there. 

Real Madrid and Serge Ibaka reunite

Real Madrid has fortified its frontcourt by signing [Serge Ibaka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/serge-ibaka/003583/), who returns to the Spanish capital after spending part of the 2011-12 season there. He signed a one-year deal with *Los Blancos*. 

Ibaka (2.08 meters, 34 years old) was a force in the paint last season for FC Bayern Munich, for which he averaged 12.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game for a PIR of 15.8. Ibaka made 62.8% of his two-pointers and 48.0% of his threes. He was second in the league in rebounding, third in blocks and 13th in PIR. Ibaka also won the German League and Cup double with Bayern.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pt" dir="ltr">Comunicado Oficial: Ibaka.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RMBaloncesto?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RMBaloncesto</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WelcomeIbaka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WelcomeIbaka</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1816779568289841385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

### A former NBA champion

Born in the People's Republic of the Congo, Ibaka made a name for himself during his 14 seasons in the NBA. In that time, he won the championship in 2019 and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team on three occasions. Ibaka started his career in his native Brazzaville and played for ES Prisse Macon of France as well as for L'Hospitalet and Manresa of Spain before joining the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA in 2009. After seven seasons in Oklahoma, Ibaka went on to play for the Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks. He helped Toronto win the title and reached the finals with Oklahoma City in 2012.

### An accomplished defender

Ibaka was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in three consecutive seasons from 2011-12 to 2013-14. He led the NBA in blocks twice: in the 2011-12 (3.7 bpg.) and 2012-13 campaigns (3.0 bpg.).

Best of Serge Ibaka from 2023-24

Ibaka ranks 26th in the NBA's all-time blocked shots standings (1,759). In 919 NBA regular-season career games, Ibaka amassed 11,028 points (12.0 ppg.) and 6,513 rebounds (7.1 rpg.). He averaged 10.6 points, 6.3 playoffs and 1.9 blocks in 152 NBA playoff games, too. Ibaka ranks eighth all-time in NBA playoff blocked shots with 292.

### Returning to Madrid

Ibaka briefly played for Real Madrid in the EuroLeague during the 2010-11 season during the NBA lockout. He averaged 5.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in six EuroLeague games. Ibaka's best game for Real came against Belgacom Spirou Charleroi when he had 12 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks in a 93-89 victory.

He has also been a member of the Spanish national team, which he helped to a gold medal at EuroBasket 2011 and a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Before that, Ibaka represented the Republic of the Congo at the youth level.

More Real Madrid News

New Real Madrid signing Serge Ibaka in action for FC Bayern Munich in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague last season.

The big man suited up for Los Blancos in 2011-12


FC Barcelona announced that it has signed point guard Juan Nuñez to a multi-year contract. 

Barcelona makes Juan Nuñez its playmaker of the future

FC Barcelona announced that it has signed point guard Juan Nuñez to a three-year contract. Nuñez (1.92 meters, 20 years old) spent the past two seasons with ratiopharm Ulm where he established himself as a top-tier playmaker. He averaged 10.8 points, 5.7 assists and 1.9 steals in 15 BKT EuroCup games last season. Nuñez was second in the competition in assists and fourth in steals. He was worth 9.4 points, 4.7 assists and 1.6 steals in the German League.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">Benvingut a Barcelona, Juan! <a href="https://t.co/VoIb2Io2My">pic.twitter.com/VoIb2Io2My</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1816775851792310704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Nuñez is a product of the Real Madrid youth system and made his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut during the 2021-22 season. He helped *Los Blancos* win the Spanish League that season and won the German championship with Ulm in 2023. Nuñez led Spain to the gold medal at the U20 European Championship in 2022 as tournament MVP and played for Spain’s senior men’s national team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup last summer.

Best of Juan Nuñez - 2023-24

More FC Barcelona news

The Real Madrid product returns to Spain after two years in Germany

Now that he has sealed his return to Olympiacos BC, Sasha Vezenkov could be the key in bringing a first EuroLeague championship to the club since 2013.

Vezenkov was missed at Olympiacos last year - now he's back with a vengeance

Let’s take a trip down memory lane. Fourteen months ago, [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) was enjoying a performance for the ages in the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game.

The 2022-23 EuroLeague MVP had 29 points against Real Madrid, the joint most ever in the title decider, but [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/)’s game-winning basket meant that Vezenkov and Olympiacos Piraeus went home without the trophy. It was a painful yet familiar feeling.

Just one year prior, [Vasilije Micic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vasilije-micic/002580/) drained a three-pointer at the buzzer of Anadolu Efes Istanbul’s semifinal clash against Olympiacos, which left the Reds having to compete in the third-place game. After waiting five years to make the EuroLeague Final Four, it was a real smack in the face.

For Olympiacos and Vezenkov, those back-to-back frustrations were compounded by the forward’s decision to seal his long-awaited move to the NBA with the Sacramento Kings in the summer of 2023.

Sasha Vezenkov in the Sacramento Kings' jersey during an NBA game in the 2023-24 season. (PHOTO: NBA)

Admittedly, head coach Georgios Bartzokas was still able to take Olympiacos to a third straight Final Four for the first time in club history, but the team came up short – albeit not in as heartbreaking a situation – in the semifinals against Real.

Olympiacos then had to watch archrival Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens do what it could not do one year prior – defeat *Los Blancos* to become the EuroLeague champion. That is something no Reds fan will have enjoyed, including owners Giorgos and Panagiotis Angelopoulos.

Rather than decide to blow up the roster, Olympiacos has made tweaks to its playing squad this summer. The notable departures have included [Isaiah Canaan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/isaiah-canaan-joins-kk-crvena-zvezda/), [Ignas Brazdeikis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/ignas-brazdeikis-heads-back-to-zalgiris-kaunas/) and [Luke Sikma](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/luke-sikma/006589/), but [Tyler Dorsey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-bc-tyler-dorsey-reunite/), [Luca Vildoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/luca-vildoza-switches-panathinaikos-bc-for-olympiacos-bc/) and the injured [Keenan Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-bc-signs-keenan-evans/), who is expected to be out for [four to six more months after undergoing knee surgery in May](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-star-keenan-evans-out-long-term-after-knee-surgery/), have bolstered the club’s options.

Yet, the whole time there has been one name on the fans’ lips: Vezenkov.

Once Vezenkov got traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Toronto Raptors on June 28, which came after early reports of a possible return to SEF, Olympiacos fans were glued to Twitter in the hope that the 28-year-old would not be a part of the franchise’s plans.

Well, on Monday, July 22, the supporters got what they wanted as he was waived by the Raptors, leaving him free to sign for the Reds once he passed the 48-hour waiver period. Then, Wednesday night saw the deal become official: Vezenkov is an Olympiacos player again, having penned a five-year deal at the club.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="el" dir="ltr">Kalimera! ☀️☕️❤️<br><br>«Για όσα ζήσαμε, μα πιο πολύ για όσα θα ζήσουμε! Γύρισα στην οικογένειά μου» ~ Sasha Vezenkov <br><br>Καλώς όρισες Σάσα! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a> <a href="https://t.co/dToZv5yvwb">pic.twitter.com/dToZv5yvwb</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1816367577431482570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Vezenkov remains an idol at Olympiacos after earning a place in the fans’ hearts between 2018 and 2023. Now he has the chance to become a legend at the club if he can bring a first EuroLeague championship to SEF since 2013.

The best basketball in Vezenkov’s career has come under Coach Bartzokas, first at FC Barcelona in the 2015-16 season and then at Olympiacos between January 2020 and July 2023. Now that they are together once again, they have one goal in mind – taking the Reds to the top of European basketball.

Seeing Panathinaikos not only win the EuroLeague trophy but also the Greek League title was a bitter pill to swallow, but Olympiacos now has what it hopes is its final piece in the jigsaw.

All eyes will be on Round 8 when the Reds and the Greens go to battle at OAKA, with an all-star cast of players set to be on display. The addition of Vezenkov certainly makes things very interesting when looking ahead to the first Greek derby of the year.

Vezenkov was the missing ingredient for Olympiacos last season. Now it seems the Reds have the full recipe as they aim to become the 2024-25 EuroLeague champions.

More Sasha Vezenkov News

Sasha Vezenkov in action for Olympiacos Piraeus at the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

The Bulgarian international returned to the Reds on Wednesday