Maccabi Tel Aviv BC has confirmed the signing of Rokas Jokubaitis from Barça Basket on a three-year deal.

Rokas Jokubaitis seals move to Maccabi

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv has confirmed that [Rokas Jokubaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rokas-jokubaitis/007519/) has joined the club on a three-year deal.

Jokubaitis (1.93 meters, 23 years old) heads to Israel after spending the last three seasons with FC Barcelona, where he featured 112 times in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

In a backup role, Jokubaitis appeared in 36 EuroLeague games for Barcelona last season, averaging 5.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per night in 15:31 minutes on the floor.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🤩 <a href="https://t.co/twF35FPwYB">pic.twitter.com/twF35FPwYB</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1816030292936712489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"I am really happy and cannot wait to start with the team, to play in front of you guys, one of the best fan bases in Europe", Jokubaitis told Maccabi's official club media. "Thanks to the coach, the directors and the whole club for believing in me. I am really happy and cannot wait to start the season".

Since arriving in Barcelona, the Lithuanian point guard helped the team make back-to-back EuroLeague Final Four appearances in 2022 and 2023. His best scoring season with the *Blaugrana* came in 2021-22, his first year at the club, when he posted 7.1 points per game and was named the EuroLeague Rising Star Award winner for that season.

The best plays of new Zalgiris Kaunas signing Rokas Jokubaitis while playing for FC Barcelona in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Jokubaitis' top plays in 2023-24

Jokubaitis came through Zalgiris Kaunas's youth academy and made 53 EuroLeague appearances for the club between 2018 and 2021. In his final year at Zalgiris, which was when he really burst onto the scene, Jokubaitis averaged 7.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 20:55 minutes across 31 appearances.  

More Maccabi News

New Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv signing Rokas Jokubaitis in action for FC Barcelona in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

He spent the last three years at Barcelona

Zalgiris Kaunas has confirmed the signing of Ignas Brazdeikis, who returns to the club after spending last season with Olympiacos BC.

Ignas Brazdeikis heads back to Zalgiris

Zalgiris Kaunas has announced the signing of [Ignas Brazdeikis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ignas-brazdeikis/011983/), who returns to the club after spending the 2023-24 season at Olympiacos Piraeus. He has penned a two-year deal with the Lithuanian side.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome back, <a href="https://twitter.com/_iggy_braz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_iggy_braz</a>! 🙌<br><br>Zalgiris has signed a 2-year contract with Lithuanian 🇱🇹 Ignas Brazdeikis! ✍️ <a href="https://t.co/sHsTKknkI0">pic.twitter.com/sHsTKknkI0</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1816005431569105019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Brazdeikis (2.01 meters, 25 years old) made a big impression in his debut Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season with Zalgiris before heading to Olympiacos, where he averaged 3.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in a backup role for the Reds. 

At Zalgiris, the Lithuania international posted 11.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists as a starter in the 2022-23 campaign.

The best plays of new Zalgiris Kaunas signing Ignas Brazdeikis while playing for Olympiacos Piraeus in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Brazdeikis' top plays in 2023-24

Having started his professional career in the NBA with the New York Knicks (2019-21), Philadelphia 76ers (2020-21) and Orlando Magic (2021-22), Brazdeikis – who grew up in Canada – decided to return to the city of Kaunas, where he was born, by joining Zalgiris in 2021. 

Now, following a year at Olympiacos in which he didn't see as much game time as he would have liked, Brazdeikis is once again heading to Zalgiris, this time to play under the orders of head coach Andrea Trinchieri.

More Zalgiris News

Ignas Brazdeikis in action for Zalgiris Kaunas in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

He returns to the club after one season away

Baskonia has confirmed the signing of AS Monaco center Donta Hall on a two-year deal.

Donta Hall lands at Baskonia

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz has confirmed the signing of [Donta Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/donta-hall/011196/) on a two-year deal, the club announced on Tuesday night. Hall (2.08 meters, 26 years old) made his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut in 2021-22 with AS Monaco and has remained with the principality club for the last three seasons.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">✍️ 2⃣0⃣2⃣6⃣<br> Donta Hall, físico para la pintura azulgrana 🔥👊<br><br>📋 <a href="https://t.co/KGcEwOL5bE">https://t.co/KGcEwOL5bE</a><br><br>Welcome, Donta!! 🔵🔴 <a href="https://t.co/K5KdktvHPq">pic.twitter.com/K5KdktvHPq</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1815830252284961117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Last year, the high-flying American center averaged 4.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in 38 EuroLeague games as a backup. He helped Monaco achieve a record number of wins in the regular season before it lost in Game 5 to Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in the EuroLeague Playoffs.

Best of Donta Hall: 2023-24

Hall has helped Monaco qualify for the playoffs in each of the last three seasons. He was very impressive in 2022-23, when he posted 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 41 EuroLeague games as Monaco reached the Final Four for the first time.

Yet, his best scoring season was his debut campaign in the competition as Hall averaged 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 35 games, with Monaco falling in Game 5 to Olympiacos Piraeus on its first-ever trip to the playoffs.

Before arriving in Europe, Hall hopped between the NBA and the G League, representing the Detroit Pistons (2019-20), Brooklyn Nets (2019-20) and Orlando Magic (2020-21) in the former and the Grand Rapids Gold (2019-20), G League Ignite (2020-21) and Raptors 905 (2020-21) in the latter.

More Baskonia News

New Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz signing Donta Hall dunks the basketball during an AS Monaco game in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

He arrives from Dolomiti Energia Trento 


Paris brings in forward Daulton Hommes

Paris Basketball has announced the signing of forward [Daulton Hommes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daulton-hommes/011949/) for the 2024-25 season. Hommes (2.03 meters, 28 years old) arrives from Dolomiti Energia Trento, where he averaged 5.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in four Italian League games last season. He underwent knee surgery a year ago and missed the better part of the 2023-24 campaign.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">WELCOME TO THE PARIS BASKETBALL FAMILY DAULTON HOMMES <a href="https://twitter.com/dchommes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dchommes</a> ! 👋<br>Ancien notamment de <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Baskonia</a>, il intègre le roster avec sa capacité à scorer de partout et sa polyvalence sur le terrain. Son expérience EuroLeague sera importante pour le Paris Basketball ! 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/6MYU0YQqjE">pic.twitter.com/6MYU0YQqjE</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1815816991032136086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </center>

The NCAA Division II national player of the year as a senior in 2019 for Point Loma Nazarena, Hommes started his professional career with the Austin Spurs in the G League. He has also played for Vanoli Basket Cremona in Italy, the Birmingham Squadron in the G League and Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz of Spain. He made his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut with Baskonia in the 2022-23 season, during which he averaged 7.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 31 games.

Hommes's best plays in 2002-23

More Paris Basketball news

EuroLeague debutant Paris Basketball has signed center Kevarrius Hayes for the 2024-25 season. 

Paris fortifies frontline with Kevarrius Hayes

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debutant Paris Basketball has added an experienced force to its frontline by signing center [Kevarrius Hayes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevarrius-hayes/010390/) for the 2024-25 season. 

Hayes (2.06 meters, 27 years old) arrives from Zalgiris Kaunas, where he spent the last two seasons. He averaged 5.6 points on 56.6% shooting, 4.0 rebounds and 0.7 blocks over 34 EuroLeague games last season. Hayes won the Lithuanian League and Cup double in his first season there and helped the club successfully defend the King Mindaugas Cup last season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">La première recrue de l&#39;ère Tiago Splitter est ici : <br>WELCOME TO THE PARIS BASKETBALL FAMILY KEVARRIUS HAYES !👋<br>Ancien pensionnaire du <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bczalgiris</a>, il vient apporter son expérience EuroLeague dans la raquette et dans le roster 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/7aB5JieRu9">pic.twitter.com/7aB5JieRu9</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1815801587610038408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

This will be Hayes’s second stint in France after he made his EuroLeague debut with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne during the 2020-21 season. He helped ASVEL to the French League and Cup double that season. Hayes has played a total of 91 EuroLeague games over three seasons with ASVEL and Zalgiris.

Kevarrius Hayes's best plays with Zalgiris

Hayes made his professional basketball debut in 2019 with Cantu in Italy after playing college basketball at the University of Florida. He has also played for Frutti Extra Bursaspor, which he helped on its Cinderella run to the EuroCup Championship Game in 2022. He was among the EuroCup’s top 10 in rebounds (seventh), steals (fifth) and blocks (third) that season.

New Paris Basketball recruit Kevarrius Hayes in action for Zalgiris Kaunas in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

The center returns to France, where he made his EuroLeague debut

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head coach Ergin Ataman has penned a new long-term contract at the club, which should keep him at OAKA until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Ergin Ataman extends his stay at Panathinaikos until 2027

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head coach Ergin Ataman has penned a new long-term contract at the club, which should keep him at OAKA until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Last season, Ataman's first in Athens, saw him lead the Greens to a seventh Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title — their first in 13 years. Then, Panathinaikos came back from 2-0 down in the Greek League Finals to beat archrival Olympiacos Piraeus 3-2.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Panathinaikos BC AKTOR and coach Ergin Ataman have agreed on a contract extension! <br><br>Three more years of creating memories together 🙌🏼💚<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LiveTheGreenMagic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LiveTheGreenMagic</a> <a href="https://t.co/73Pb26czXo">pic.twitter.com/73Pb26czXo</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/1815785585857921323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Before this agreement, Ataman was heading into the final year of the two-year deal he signed in the summer of 2023. By renewing at Panathinaikos, he will look to bring even more glory to OAKA over the next three years.

Ataman now has three EuroLeague titles to his name after securing back-to-back championships with Anadolu Efes Istanbul in 2020-21 and 2021-22, then with Panathinaikos in 2023-24. Those three titles are the second most by a EuroLeague head coach this century, level with Ettore Messina. Zeljko Obradovic leads the way with five.

The 58-year-old has a 223-206 record in the EuroLeague this century. He also won the BKT EuroCup title with Galatasaray in 2015-16.

Ataman, the 2020-21 EuroLeague Coach of the Year, really turned Panathinaikos's fortunes around last year. The Greens finished 17th with a 9-23 record in 2022-23, but Ataman helped Panathinaikos come second in the regular season after posting a 23-11 mark. 

Panathinaikos then beat Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 3-2 in the playoffs to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2012. Ataman's squad went on to defeat Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in the semifinals and Real Madrid in the championship game, securing the Greens' first EuroLeague title since 2011 and seventh overall.

More Panathinaikos News

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head coach Ergin Ataman celebrates as the Greens beat Real Madrid in the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game.

After leading the Greens to the championship, the Turkish tactician wants more

Here are the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games staff members are most excited about in January. 

Games I am looking forward to in January

Here are the games staff members are most excited about in January. They already selected their must-see games for [Round 1](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-round-1/), [October](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-october/), [November](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-november/) and [December](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-december/).

 

### Round 19: The Wolf howls again at Buesa Arena 

*Javier Gancedo*

Arguably no other Turkish Airlines EuroLeague newcomer had a bigger impact on his team and in competition history last season. After many years in the BKT EuroCup, [Codi Miller-McIntyre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/codi-miller-mcintyre/009048/) stormed into the EuroLeague and took [Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/roster/bas/) to the playoffs with impressive numbers: 9.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 14.9 PIR and a competition-best 7.9 assists, playing all 39 games.

Miller-McIntyre made EuroLeague history in golden letters, breaking the competition's assists record by dishing 20 in a [94-80 home win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz-ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/E2023/230/#boxscore) over LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne on February 8, 2024. Miller-McIntyre added 11 points and 11 rebounds to record just the fourth [triple-double](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/miller-mcintyre-makes-history-with-assist-record-triple-double/) in EuroLeague history. "The Wolf" took his game to another level, like many other players have in the past while playing for Baskonia. He will be warmly received when [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/roster/red/?season=2024-25) visits Fernando Buesa Arena on January 2, 2025. A perfect way for The Wolf, Baskonia and Zvezda to start a new year! 

 

### Round 19: Barcelona goes down memory lane to start 2025

*Geoff Gillingham*

In both teams’ first game of 2025, Round 19 sees [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/roster/prs/?season=2024-25) host [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/roster/bar/?season=2024-25) at Accor Arena, which has a capacity of 15,609 – almost double the 8,000 capacity of the French side’s usual home, Adidas Arena. For Barcelona, it will be the opportunity to relive one of the greatest moments in its history. Back in 2010, Barcelona won its second Turkish Airlines EuroLeague crown at Accor Arena (it was called Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy back then) after beating CSKA Moscow in the semifinals and Olympiacos Piraeus in the [championship game](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2009-10/regal-fc-barcelona-olympiacos-piraeus/E2009/188/).

On This Day, May 9, 2010: Barcelona reaches EuroLeague glory

Roger Grimau, last season’s head coach, and Ricky Rubio were part of that title-winning team, but they have both departed the club. It should be a special trip for Barcelona sporting director Juan Carlos Navarro, who had 21 points in the title decider. This game at Accor Arena will be just the second time Paris has used the city’s bigger arena in the EuroLeague this coming season, as Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens will be the first visiting team to play there in Round 3. There should be a fantastic atmosphere for this game, and Paris will be eager to put on a show against a Barcelona side that has aspirations of making it to next year’s Final Four.

### Round 23: Coach Laso leads Baskonia into Madrid

*Frankie Sachs*

Pablo Laso coached [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/roster/mad/?season=2024-25) to a pair of championships during his 12 seasons there, during which he coached more than half of *Los Blancos*’s current roster. That alone makes every visit to WiZink Arena a special one. The fact that he is now leading his hometown club, [Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/roster/bas/?season=2024-25), which faced Real in last season’s playoffs, adds more intrigue to this showdown.

Los Blancos has already set a record for the most regular season victories and they aim for a fifth after Dzanan Musa inspired a triumph versus Zvezda, whereas Baskonia have stumbled via three straight losses and bid to avenge an opening night loss to Real after Markus Howard missed on the buzzer.

Real Madrid-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 33 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Baskonia triumphed in its last two regular-season visits to Madrid, including a [91-95 contest last season](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/E2023/297/#boxscore) in which [Markus Howard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/markus-howard/011948/) poured in 35 points. However, after that, Real won Game 1 of their playoff series by 16 and the second game by 11. Real then took the series via a sweep in a high-scoring Game 3 in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Even though this will not be their first clash of the season – they will have already met at Buesa Arena in Round 3 of the EuroLeague and could have also played before this in the Spanish League, it will be another interesting chapter in the rivalry of these Spanish foes.

 

### Round 24: What's not to like about Belgrade Derby in late January?

*Igor Petrinovic*

This was pretty much a no-brainer for me, just like it was the case for their first clash in November. The reason for it is not that hard to figure out. There were no Belgrade Derbies in the EuroLeague before the 2022-23 season and each of the last two seasons the build-up for each game has been tremendous and expectation super-high. And then, the games and everything we would see both on the floor and in the stands during those two-plus hours of action, would not only meet the expectations, but surpass them.

This Belgrade Derby will mark [Partizan Mozzart Bet](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-nis-belgrade/roster/par/?season=2024-25)'s first home game against [Crvena Zvezda](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/roster/red/?season=2024-25) this season and it comes at the very end of a long, grueling January. As a matter of fact, this game scheduled for January 31 at 20:30 CET will be the very final tip-off in the first month of 2025. A Round 24 game also means that the entire competition will be knee-deep in races for playoff and play-in spots. Both of these archrivals had a disappointing 2023-24 EuroLeague campaign, but I believe both Partizan and Zvezda will be chasing playoff spots in 2025, which would make the stakes in this one even bigger. It will be a tremendous Friday night treat.

Now that the schedule for the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season has been unveiled, EuroLeague.net's staff is eyeing all the mouth-watering action.

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne has signed French prospect Melvin Ajinca for the 2024-25 season

ASVEL inks top prospect Melvin Ajinca

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne has signed French prospect [Melvin Ajinca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/players/melvin-ajinca/010316/) for the 2024-25 season. 

Ajinca (2.03 meters, 20 years old) comes off a breakout season in the French League with Saint Quentin, after which the Dallas Mavericks selected him with the 51st overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. 

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Melvin Ajinça est villeurbannais ! 🤝<br><br>Après une première saison épatante dans l&#39;élite du basket français à <a href="https://twitter.com/SQBB_Officiel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SQBB_Officiel</a>, Melvin va apporter toute son énergie et poursuivre son apprentissage du très haut niveau en découvrant, notamment, la plus grande des compétitions… <a href="https://t.co/AOALGyWt2y">pic.twitter.com/AOALGyWt2y</a></p>&mdash; LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1815681841523048472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He averaged 9.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 28 French League games to help Saint Quentin reach the playoffs. It was his second season with the club. 

In 2022-23, Ajinca was chosen as the best young player in the French second division as he helped Saint Quentin win promotion to the top flight.

A product of the French national academy, Ajinca played at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament and has represented France at multiple youth levels. 

He was the top scorer on France’s silver-medal winning squad at the 2023 U19 Basketball World Cup with 19.3 points per game. That was also second-most in the tournament.

More ASVEL news

The small forward was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Draft

Here are the games EuroLeague.net staff members are most excited about in December

Games I am looking forward to in December

Here are the games staff members are most excited about in December. They already selected their must-see games for [Round 1](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-round-1/), [October](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-october/) and [November](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-november/).

### Round 15: Ataman returns to Efes as a champion 

*Javier Ganceco*

Round 15 brings an extraordinarily attractive game, as Anadolu Efes Istanbul hosts Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens. The Greens’ head coach, Ergin Ataman, faces the club he led to consecutive EuroLeague championships in 2021 and 2022 as well as his former assistant coach, Tomislav Mijatovic, for the first time in his career. Mijatovic served as Ataman's assistant coach throughout the latter’s last stint with Efes, from December 2017 until the end of the 2022-23 season. Ataman should be ready for a battle on the sidelines against the man that may know him better than any other coach.

When you scan the matchups, it even gets better. Vincent Poirier of Efes and Mathias Lessort of Panathinaikos are set to play against each other for the first time since last season's championship game. I expect Poirier to have an extended role with Efes and Lessort has earned consecutive All-EuroLeague First Team honors with different teams, a first in EuroLeague history. Not spicy enough? Panathinaikos has not beaten Efes in Istanbul since November 2017, a month before Coach Ataman joined the team. Don't miss it! 

After winning two EuroLeague titles with the Turkish club, the charismatic coach heads back to Istanbul with the Greens.

 

Ergin Ataman and Anadolu Efes Istanbul will forever have their names linked together. During a six-year stint at Efes, the current Panathinaikos Athens boss transformed the club and helped the team win the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the first time in its history in the 2020-21 campaign, before then going back-to-back the following season.

Ataman returns to Efes with Panathinaikos: ‘I had a great time there’

### Round 16: Saras returns with a vengeance to Palau Blaugrana

*Igor Petrinovic*

Call me curious, but I cannot wait to see what Sarunas Jasikevicius's return to Barcelona will look like. During his three-year head coaching tenure at Barcelona, Coach Jasikevicius guided the team to three Final Fours, which included a championship game appearance in 2021 and the best regular season record in 2022. He also led the team to two Spanish League championships and a pair of Spanish Cups. But, the club and the coach could not find common ground once Jasikevicius's contract expired last summer and they parted ways.

Jasikevicius accepted the Fenerbahce coaching gig last December. He already coached against Barca in a 14-point home win late last regular season, but this Round 16 clash marks his return to Palau Blaugrana, a very special place for him. In addition to coaching Barcelona, Saras had two stints with the club during his playing career and helped it win the 2003 EuroLeague, the first ever for the club and the first of his four titles. It will be a bag of mixed feelings for both Saras and the fans, but I expect him to make this game extra special. I also expect the fans to give him a much-deserved standing ovation and then cheer extra hard for their team and do everything in their power to see Saras lose. This game is certainly circled in my EuroLeague calendar.

 

### Round 17: The MVP arrives in Madrid

*Geoff Gillingham*

In both teams’ final game before Christmas, Mike James and his AS Monaco squad travel to take on a Real Madrid side that has reached back-to-back championship games. It is the standout game of Round 17 and recent history suggests that another excellent game is in store between these two. *Los Blancos* came out on top 94-86 the first time they faced Monaco at WiZink Center, but 2023-24 EuroLeague MVP Mike James put on a show with a 24-point, 10-assist double-double.

AS Monaco star Mike James plays some of his best basketball whenever he comes up against Real Madrid.

James loves to face Real Madrid

The following year, James erupted for 28 points in the Spanish capital and converted a four-point play in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime, before Monaco won 94-95 in the extra period to end Real’s six-game winning streak. Last season, Real exacted revenge by knocking off Monaco 91-73 at home, then James had a 15-point, 12-assist effort – which also featured 5 steals – as the Monegasques trounced the Madrileños 98-74 in the principality. James has a habit of appearing whenever he comes up against Real Madrid, and that alone is a reason to tune in for this Round 17 clash.

### Round 18: Splitter coaches for the first time in Vitoria-Gasteiz

*Frankie Sachs*

Tiago Splitter is one of the players who helped turn Baskonia into a EuroLeague contender during his nearly a decade there and now he hopes to do the same with Paris Basketball as a head coach. While intently focused on that task, he will surely look forward to visiting his former home when he leads Paris into Buesa Arena in one of the final games of 2024.

Splitter, who led Baskonia to four consecutive Final Fours and had his No. 21 retired last season, recently returned to Europe and the EuroLeague to begin his head coaching career and the visit to Vitoria-Gasteiz will be his first against his former club. While the outpouring of love from the stands may not be quite what is was when he was a guest of honor last season, it will still be special to see Splitter walk onto the court at Buesa Arena again.