With the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague on a two-week hiatus from games, it is the perfect time to look back at the top performers from the first 26 rounds of the regular season and to look ahead and make our early picks for some of the end-of-season awards. Several Euroleague.net staff members will take part and reveal their choices. After revealing their selections for the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy on Monday, today we continue with the EuroLeague Best Defender Trophy.

Awards Watch: EuroLeague Best Defender

With the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague on a two-week hiatus from games, it is the perfect time to look back at the top performers from the first 26 rounds of the regular season and to look ahead and make our early picks for some of the end-of-season awards. 

Several [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net) staff members will take part and reveal their choices. After revealing their selections for the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy on Monday, today we continue with the EuroLeague Best Defender Trophy.

### John Brown gets his flowers

#### *by Geoff Gillingham*

On a team stacked with offensive firepower, [John Brown’s](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/john-brown/010588/) elite-level defense is crucial in making AS Monaco tick. [Having told my colleague Frankie Sachs in training camp](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/john-brown-as-monaco-basket-interview-best-defender-euroleague/) that he thinks he is “the best defender in the EuroLeague”, Brown’s play this season has certainly demonstrated that to be the case. 

He has regularly been tasked with guarding the opposition’s best player – especially those that play in the forward positions or at center – and has reveled in the role of party pooper, leading to below-par nights for some of the EuroLeague’s biggest stars. Monaco’s offense has been lauded during its recent five-game winning streak, but Brown’s defense provides the platform for the likes of Mike James and Elie Okobo to shine on the other end of the floor. A first EuroLeague Best Defender Trophy would certainly be well-deserved for the 32-year-old.

John Brown of AS Monaco has had another excellent season on the defensive end during the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign.

Best Defender candidate: John Brown

### Walter Tavares reigns supreme, again

#### *by Frankie Sachs*

There are numerous ways for an elite defender to impact a game. Some can neutralize an elite scorer. Others disrupt an offense by hawking and hounding the opposing point guard. And then there are the elite rim-protectors. Yet nobody – and I mean nobody – does more to trouble the opposition’s attack than [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) of Real Madrid. A three-time EuroLeague Best Defender Trophy-winner, Tavares stands out on paper for his shot-blocking prowess; he is the competition’s all-time leader with 405 blocked shots and second this season by the slimmest of margins with 1.6 per game. 

However, blocks do not tell the entire story as Tavares’s presence in that paint not only alters dozens of shots each season, but also causes untold guards who have penetrated the paint to circle through without even trying to shoot or pass. Tavares’s combination of height, length and intelligent positioning anchor *Los Blancos*' defense and wreak havoc on the rest of the league, which is why you can count on many of the EuroLeague’s head coaches voting for Tavares to win this prestigious award again.

Best Defender candidate: Walter Tavares

### Grant gaining steam as Greens’ ace

#### *by Igor Petrinovic*

This season, [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jerian-grant/011204/) returned to the EuroLeague as the 2022-23 EuroCup MVP and the playmaker has averaged 8.8 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.4 rebounds, while currently ranking second in the league with 1.6 steals per game. But his impact for Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens goes far beyond his numbers, as Grant has displayed relentless perimeter defense, setting the tone for a team that has won six of its last eight games and has shown immense defensive improvement. 

The Greens opened the season allowing 80 or more points 10 times in the first 15 rounds. Over the last 11 games, however, Panathinaikos allowed more than 80 points just twice and is averaging 72.2 points allowed over that stretch. In the middle of it is Grant, who not only leads the team in time spent on the floor, but ranks sixth in average minutes played in the league (29:53). Grant might not have been on everyone's radar when the season began, but he has turned himself into one of the frontrunners for EuroLeague Best Defender Trophy.

Best Defender candidate: Jerian Grant

### Walkup has a really strong case

#### *by Javier Gancedo*

There are a good number of reasons to have [Thomas Walkup's](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/) name on the table when it comes to selecting this season's EuroLeague Best Defender. First, he leads the best defense in the competition, as Olympiacos Piraeus only allows 75.2 points per game. Second, Walkup was last season's runner-up in the voting for the Best Defender Trophy, only trailing Walter Tavares. Finally, take the competition's three best scorers and see how they did against Walkup when they visited Olympiacos. 

In the case of Anadolu Efes Istanbul's Shane Larkin, he had 8 points on 3-of-8 shooting and a PIR of 10 in his only game against the Reds. Mike James of AS Monaco was limited to 10 points in his team's road loss in Piraeus. When Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz played at Peace and Friendship Stadium, Markus Howard hit 2-of-10 shots on his way to 11 points. Walkup is an efficient on-ball and pick-and-roll defender who deserves the award.

Thomas Walkup leads Olympiacos Piraeus's defense, the best in the competition (75.2 ppg.).

Walkup: turning defense into offense

Check out the favorites below, according to Euroleague.net journalists

Euroleague Basketball has announced the following disciplinary sanction pertaining to incidents that occurred in Round 26 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague regular season.

Round 26 disciplinary sanctions

- Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade has been sanctioned with a fine of €3,500 for the throwing of objects on to the playing court on occasion of its home game against FC Bayern Munich under Article 29.2.h) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code.
- Crvena Zvezda meridianbet Belgrade has been sanctioned with a fine of €30,000 for repeated incidents generated by the public on occasion of its home game against Zalgiris Kaunas under Article 29.1.g) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code.
- Kendrick Nunn, Player of Panathinaikos Aktor Athens has been sanctioned with a fine of €2,500, for repeated public statements, following Rounds 23 and Round 24,  related to the performance of the referees, under Article 24.2.c) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code.

Euroleague Basketball has announced the following disciplinary sanctions pertaining to incidents that occurred in Round 26 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague regular season.

You can now watch the first episode of Euroleague Basketball Originals’ latest documentary on YouTube.

Episode 1 of “Overseas” released on YouTube: How three EuroLeague stars adapted to life abroad

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague is full of players who have switched countries in order to pursue their dreams. In the “Overseas” documentary series, which focuses on EA7 Emporio Armani Milan’s Kyle Hines, Olympiacos Piraeus’s Shaquielle McKissic and AS Monaco’s Donatas Motiejunas, fans are able to get a glimpse of the ups and downs of being a professional basketball player overseas.

Hines, a four-time EuroLeague champion, has been playing in Europe since 2008 and in Europe’s premier club basketball competition since 2010. From Sicklerville, New Jersey, in the United States, Hines’s EuroLeague career has seen him play in Germany (Brose Bamberg, 2010-11), Greece (Olympiacos, 2011-13), Russia (CSKA Moscow, 2013-20) and now Italy (2020-present), where he first began his professional career with Veroli Basket back in 2008.

McKissic signed for Olympiacos during the 2019-20 season, which gave him the chance to make his EuroLeague debut. He has been with the Reds ever since. Born in Seattle, Washington, in the U.S., McKissic’s journey to reach the top of European basketball was not the most straightforward. He split the 2015-16 season between Italy (VL Pesaro) and South Korea (Changwon LG Sakers), then played in Turkiye (Usak Sportif, 2016-17), Spain (Dreamland Gran Canaria, 2017-18), Russia (Avtodor Saratov, 2017-18) and Turkiye again (Gaziantep, 2018-19; Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul, 2019-20). During that 2019-20 campaign, he made a mid-season switch to Olympiacos and, as they say, the rest is history.

In the case of Motiejunas, he is now in his third season at Monaco, having arrived in the principality in the summer of 2021. Having come through the academy of Zalgiris Kaunas, making his senior debut in the 2007-08 season, he then suited up for Aisciai Kaunas in 2008-09 before beginning his worldwide adventure. Motiejunas, born in Kaunas, Lithuania, played in Italy (Benetton Treviso, 2009-11) and Poland (Arka Gdynia, 2011-12), ahead of a move across the water, as he joined up with the Houston Rockets in the NBA. Following four years in Houston (2012-16), he played for the New Orleans Pelicans (2016-17) and then changed continents once again, signing for the Shandong Golden Stars in China (2017-19). A brief stint back in the NBA followed at the tail end of the 2018-19 season, but Motiejunas returned to China by joining the Shanghai Sharks (2019-20) and then the Xinjiang Flying Tigers (2020-21), prior to returning to Europe with Monaco.

During the documentary series, you will hear crucial bits of advice from Hines, McKissic and Motiejunas on how they navigated their careers overseas, as well as the knock-on effects of being so far away from home.

"Overseas" joins a long list of premium, long-form content from the Euroleague Basketball Originals platform. Among the other documentaries available are "[Back 2 Back](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D1m0YpAdW8)", "[Land of MVPS](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMDJsLc01Lg)" and [“Obradovic, the return”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMMDVBd-iwc).

With the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague on a two-week hiatus from games, it is the perfect time to look back at the top performers from the first 26 rounds of the regular season and to look ahead and make our early picks for some of the end-of-season awards. Several Euroleague.net staff members will take part and reveal their choices. We start with their selections for the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy.

Awards watch: EuroLeague Top Scorer

With the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague on a two-week hiatus from games, it is the perfect time to look back at the top performers from the first 26 rounds of the regular season and to look ahead and make our early picks for some of the end-of-season awards. 

Several [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net) staff members will take part and reveal their choices. We start with their selections for the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy.

### Mike James has it in the bag

#### *by Geoff Gillingham*

Having entered the 2023-24 campaign knowing that becoming the EuroLeague’s all-time top scorer is a real possibility, AS Monaco star [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) has been on a tear all season long. James has led the EuroLeague in scoring over the last couple of months – and currently averages a league-best 19.4 points per night – and I am convinced that he will come away with his second Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy come the end of the campaign. 

What’s more, James is now just 28 points behind Greek legend Vassilis Spanoulis for the all-time top scorer honor and should usurp his friend “Billy” in the next game or two. There’s no doubt that James’s scoring makes Monaco a huge threat on a night in, night out basis, and I don’t think that “The Natural” will be slowing down any time soon. This might not be the only individual award that James wins this season, too…

AS Monaco's Mike James currently leads the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague in scoring at 19.4 points per game.

Mike James: EuroLeague Top Scorer candidates

### You can bet on more Markus Howard heroics

#### *by Frankie Sachs*

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz sharpshooter [Markus Howard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/markus-howard/011948/) is second in the league in scoring with 19.2 points per game, which is 0.2 points less than the leader, Mike James. In total, he trails James for the top spot by just 5 points. Anyone who has seen Howard get hot this season knows that he can tally 5 points in a matter of seconds. No player has more 30-point games this season than Howard’s three. His 35-point outburst against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in Round 9 remains the second-most points scored by a player this season and his 33 at AS Monaco in Round 20 is tied for third. 

Howard also has five games with at least 6 triples made; no other player has more than two. Just two weeks ago, he set a club record with an 18-point second-quarter in Round 25 against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. Howard started the season in a bit of a rut; he averaged 6.3 points on 2-for-19 three-point shooting (10.5) over his first three games. Ever since, Howard has been worth 20.7 points on 43.5% three-point shooting. Those numbers should lead him to the scoring title.

Markus Howard erupts for 18 points in 2Q

### Watch out for Wade Baldwin

#### *by Igor Petrinovic*

Currently sitting in fourth place among EuroLeague top scorers is All-EuroLeague guard [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. He is averaging 17.4 points, having appeared in 19 games this season. However, Baldwin is currently the hottest scorer in the competition. Over the last five games no player has scored more than Baldwin's 23.8 points per game, and that is a full 5 points per game more than Mike James over that same five-game stretch since Round 22. 

The lead held by James and Howard at the top of the scoring charts might at first look out of reach for Baldwin, but bear in mind that if Baldwin and James continue scoring at the same rate as they have been the last five games, Baldwin would overtake James as the top scorer at the end of Round 34. I think that is more than possible, and that is not the slightest of knocks on James’s and Howard’s scoring abilities. I really believe Baldwin can do it.

Some of Wade Baldwin's best baskets in 2023-24

### Don't count Shane Larkin out

#### *by Javier Gancedo*

He may be a few points behind, but it is isn't over until it's over. [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) of Anadolu Efes Istanbul ranks third in scoring (17.6 ppg.) this season. With the same number of games, Larkin is 46 points behind James, but there are good reasons to believe he will catch up and challenge for the scoring title. Larkin has been Efes's go-to guy and leader all season, but even more so since Tomislav Mijatovic was promoted to head coach. 

In those two games with Coach Mijatovic, he already boosted his scoring average to 20.5 points. Larkin is arguably in his best shape since averaging 22.2 points in the 2019-20 season. That's when he broke the EuroLeague's single-game scoring record, getting 49 points against FC Bayern Munich. Larkin is full of confidence and on a mission to keep Efes in the playoff race, so expect him to fight for the Alphonso Ford Trophy, too.

Shane Larkin Top Plays of the 2023-24 Regular Season

2023-24 EuroLeague scoring highlights: Shane Larkin, Efes

Awards Watch: EuroLeague Top Scorer 

**CODI'S NIGHT**: On Thursday night, Codi Miller-McIntyre broke the EuroLeague's single-game record with 20 assists and became the third man ever to record a triple-double in the competition.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My teammates, Coach and the fans made this happen! <a href="https://t.co/EmZAkMUQzf">https://t.co/EmZAkMUQzf</a></p>&mdash; Codi Miller-McIntyre (@CMMPatience) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMMPatience/status/1755727914832646623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">¡La importancia de la FAMILIA en los grandes momentos! ❤️ <a href="https://twitter.com/CMMPatience?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CMMPatience</a> <br><br>¡Repasa las declaraciones del 3º jugador en lograr un TRIPLE-DOBLE en <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a>! 🎥 <a href="https://t.co/1AQEsQ1jLJ">https://t.co/1AQEsQ1jLJ</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> <a href="https://t.co/OSdd16558G">pic.twitter.com/OSdd16558G</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1755902107813577129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 &amp; 20 asistencias 🌟<br><br>¡Historia de Baskonia! 🔵🔴<br>¡Historia de la <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a>! <br>¡Historia del baloncesto! 🏀<br><br>¡Repasa el TRIPLE-DOBLE de <a href="https://twitter.com/CMMPatience?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CMMPatience</a>! 🎥 <a href="https://t.co/8TFcbuKGOo">https://t.co/8TFcbuKGOo</a><br>🗞️ <a href="https://t.co/l5Wpcg65TM">https://t.co/l5Wpcg65TM</a> <a href="https://t.co/aoqYUjGlV7">pic.twitter.com/aoqYUjGlV7</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1755872137250763116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wow. What a historic night for <a href="https://twitter.com/CMMPatience?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CMMPatience</a> !! Great win tonight fellas. On to the next!</p>&mdash; Jordan Theodore (@J__Theo25) <a href="https://twitter.com/J__Theo25/status/1755701342499143696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🔥🔥🔥 LA LOCURA DEL VESTUARIO 🔥🔥🔥<br><br>FAMILY 💙❤️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> <a href="https://t.co/uUNSHLjZXs">pic.twitter.com/uUNSHLjZXs</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1755716976247222700?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NO WORDS 🔥🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> HISTORY 🤩🤩<a href="https://twitter.com/CMMPatience?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CMMPatience</a> THE WOLF 🐺🔝 <a href="https://t.co/hzCfU76yif">pic.twitter.com/hzCfU76yif</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1755702723284963738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


**UNLIMITED RANGE**: Luckily, the cameras were on when Jaron Blossomgame and Paris Lee made their shots.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🏈 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗖𝗛𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡 💯🎯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/Xt9bxqtLWV">pic.twitter.com/Xt9bxqtLWV</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1755943084934750525?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">PLEE avait prévenu 😂<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LDLCASVEL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LDLCASVEL</a> <a href="https://t.co/iZ9PWCqMI0">pic.twitter.com/iZ9PWCqMI0</a></p>&mdash; LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1755626979775086795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


**SMALL WORLD**: Staying at the same hotel will do that to you. As Zalgiris was going to its morning shootaround, Bayern was on its way out of the hotel. Andrea Trinchieri was Bayern's head coach the past three years.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Small world. Zalgiris head coach Andrea Trinchieri meets his former team <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCBBasketball</a> in Belgrade. 🤝 <a href="https://t.co/rgaOrADhZT">pic.twitter.com/rgaOrADhZT</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1755915155773202653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

**WARM WELCOMES**: Vladimir Lucic played for the first time in his career against Partizan. And there is always a big welcome for Sergio Rodriguez in Milan.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1⃣3⃣<br>4⃣EVER <a href="https://t.co/bfB2DBNGqJ">https://t.co/bfB2DBNGqJ</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1755908987269030303?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Welcome home Luča! | Willkommen zuhause Luča!🖤🤍 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKPartizan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKPartizan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCBBasketball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/bhHRt6l43N">pic.twitter.com/bhHRt6l43N</a></p>&mdash; KK Partizan Mozzart Bet (@PartizanBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PartizanBC/status/1755664616137306130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">They know how to throw a reception in Belgrade 👏 <br><br>Welcome back to the Stark Arena, Vladimir Lucic! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/kh6IuQgTPe">pic.twitter.com/kh6IuQgTPe</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1755675480273883594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


**THE SHOT**: The sights and sounds of Sylvain Francisco's game-winner at a packed Stark Arena.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨 Sylvain <a href="https://twitter.com/S_CISCO_2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@S_CISCO_2</a> calls game <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/WPqvbMikTr">pic.twitter.com/WPqvbMikTr</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1755711378742968357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">⏳🏹 <a href="https://t.co/W9qq0nUoUC">pic.twitter.com/W9qq0nUoUC</a></p>&mdash; Frenchie (@S_CISCO_2) <a href="https://twitter.com/S_CISCO_2/status/1756373671139025382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


**WINNERS' CORNER**: Bayern, Zalgiris and Monaco pulled out tight road wins, while Efes picked up another win under new head coach Tomislav Mijatovic.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dreams will always come true... 🏀❤️<br>Beogradska Arena ✅ <a href="https://t.co/FFhqNgcmIU">pic.twitter.com/FFhqNgcmIU</a></p>&mdash; Dino Radončić (@DinoRadoncic6) <a href="https://twitter.com/DinoRadoncic6/status/1755947491856392232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🧐 We are now 3-0 with Schweinsteiger Courtside. No pressure, <a href="https://twitter.com/BSchweinsteiger?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BSchweinsteiger</a> 😂 <a href="https://t.co/edhQ1PU8ek">pic.twitter.com/edhQ1PU8ek</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1755717944250699777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Güzel dilekleri için herkese şimdiden teşekkürler! 💙🤍<br><br>🥳 Devaaaaaam! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/syTI5MLgee">pic.twitter.com/syTI5MLgee</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1755684628625515000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Partidazo de todos pero sobre todo del Lobo <a href="https://twitter.com/CMMPatience?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CMMPatience</a> 💪🏼🐺🔥 <br>Era muy importante ganar hoy y lo hemos hecho gracias a vuestro apoyo afición.🙌🏼 Nos vemos el domingo! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> 🔵🔴 <a href="https://t.co/qh2idMOUig">pic.twitter.com/qh2idMOUig</a></p>&mdash; dani diez (@danidiez11) <a href="https://twitter.com/danidiez11/status/1755725431074881903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Same place, same feeling ✌🏼💚<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAOwins?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAOwins</a> <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://t.co/Qt9593CEuD">pic.twitter.com/Qt9593CEuD</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1756232880634626400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Captain &amp; his emotions 🦁 <a href="https://t.co/Sisq7HJXqm">pic.twitter.com/Sisq7HJXqm</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1756209360391246263?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Amazing win fellas😤 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadWarriors?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadWarriors</a> <a href="https://t.co/JpvMZZb2KK">https://t.co/JpvMZZb2KK</a></p>&mdash; Jordan Loyd (@mrjloyd) <a href="https://twitter.com/mrjloyd/status/1756088547457573254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Check out our selection of social media posts from around the EuroLeague.

EuroLeague week on social media

After suffering its worst loss of the season, a 26-point beatdown at Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 24, Anadolu Efes Istanbul made a change at the head of its bench and promoted assistant coach Tomislav Mijatovic to man the sidelines. 

Coach Mijatovic has changed Efes's mentality

After suffering its worst loss of the season, a 26-point beatdown at Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 24, Anadolu Efes Istanbul made a change at the head of its bench and promoted assistant coach Tomislav Mijatovic to man the sidelines. In the two games since, Efes has defeated EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 79-73 and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 105-91 to quickly repair its hopes of reaching the Play-In Showdown.

Mijatovic is well-known at Efes. He joined the team as an assistant coach and worked under some of the best coaches in Europe, including Dusan Ivkovic, Velimir Perasovic, Oktay Mahmuti and Ergin Ataman. A basketball junkie, he seemed to be comfortable in his assistant coaching role but when Efes parted ways with Erdem Cam, it was his time to shine.

Having part of the core of players who won back-to-back Turkish Airlines EuroLeague championships has helped Mijatovic hit the ground running.  Efes is a different team now, but Shane Larkin, Rodrigue Beaubois, Elijah Bryant, Erten Gazi and Tibor Pleiss won the EuroLeague with the club and are still around. One of the first things that Coach Mijatovic did was to lean on these players.

Shane Larkin Top Plays of the Round 25 and Round 26

Larkin steps up for Efes

It has shown right away. In the last two games, Larkin has averaged 20.5 points on 7-of-12 two-point shooting and 7-of-14 on threes plus 6.0 assists for a PIR of 28.0, an increase over his season averages (17.6 ppg., 5.3 apg., 20.8 PIR). Rodrigue Beaubois had 20 points against Maccabi, Gazi has started both games as his team's on-the-ball defensive stopper, Pleiss has been worth 14.5 points and a PIR of 14.5, and Bryant is playing a key role in leading the team's second unit.

Once roles were well-defined, other players stepped up. Will Clyburn buried back-to-back three-pointers in crunch time against Milan and had 10 points and 7 rebounds against Maccabi. In that game, Ercan Osmani had a career-best night with 13 points and 7 rebounds for a PIR of 20. Before Round 26, he had averaged 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds for a PIR of 1.0 this season. Derek Willis and Tyrique Jones have also been important pieces of the puzzle, providing physicality and great intensity.

"The guys showed that we have that Efes character in us," Mijatovic said after beating Maccabi. "They fought for 40 minutes against a team that never really gives up, they keep coming. The guys really did an amazing job. Our coaches did an amazing job preparing the game and our fans showed up, made us feel very comfortable. It was a collective team win. I am really happy and thankful to everybody who participated and did this wonderful job."

Efes will need that character in the remaining eight regular season games. It is two wins behind Maccabi for 10th place, the last spot that leads to the Play-In Showdown. Efes now has a 13-13 record and owns the tie-break advantage against the Israeli champs. Efes has regrouped and will next have a chance to prove itself at one of the toughest courts in Europe, as it plays against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade at Stark Arena in Round 27.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul has won back-to-back games since it appointed Tomislav Mijatovic as head coach. 

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-02-08T17:30:00.000Z)

EuroLeague top photos of the week

Mbaye Ndiaye of ASVEL after dunking against Baskonia.

Shane Larkin of Efes tries to elude the defense of Maccabi's Josh Nebo and Bonzie Colson.

Willy Hernangomez of Barcelona grabs the rebound in front of ALBA Berlin's Justin Bean and Kresimir Nikic.

Jonathan Motley of Fenerbahce dunks the ball in front of Panathinaikos's Mathias Lessort and Juancho Hernangomez.

Nikola Mirotic of Milan fights for the ball with Real Madrid's Facu Campazzo..

Kevin Punter of Partizan shoots over Bayern's Serge Ibaka and Isaac Bonga.

Jaron Blossomgame of Monaco dunks in front of Virtus's Jordan Mickey.

Thomas Walkup of Olympiacos tries to pass the ball past Valencia's Chris Jones.

Walter Tavares of Real Madrid dunks against Milan.

Dovydas Giedraitis of Zalgiris and Zvezda's Nemanja Nedovic chase down a loose ball. 

Look back at all the action from Round 26 of the regular season by checking out the best photos of the week!

The Top 10 photos of the week, Rounds 26

Following speculation surrounding a play happening with 21.1 seconds remaining on the game clock of the fourth quarter of the Round 26 game between Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade and Zalgiris Kaunas, played on February 9, 2024, Euroleague Basketball's findings are:

\- With 21.1 seconds remaining on the game clock, Dovydas Giedraitis inbounds the ball from Zalgiris Kaunas’ frontcourt to Keenan Evans. Keenan Evans receives the ball and passes it to Tomas Dimsa who draws a personal foul. The referees determined that Keenan Evans did not step on the midcourt line during his possession, therefore no backcourt violation was called.

Euroleague Basketball Officiating Department has reviewed multiple camera angles available of the game and has not found any clear and conclusive visual evidence that Keenan Evans steps on the midcourt line, therefore it is determined that the officiating crew made a correct no call.

Euroleague Basketball report on Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Zalgiris Kaunas

In the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague roll call, we take a look at five players that had a big impact on their respective games for Round 26.

Roll call, Round 26: Finding a way to stand out

### Roddy Buckets was efficient in his minutes

He may have played just 14:51 minutes, but that was still enough time for [Rodrigue Beaubois](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rodrigue-beaubois/006590/) to reach 20 points in Anadolu Efes Istanbul’s [105-91 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/anadolu-efes-istanbul-maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/E2023/227/) against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. In the final minutes of the contest, the veteran guard netted 6 of Efes’s last 10 points to make sure there was no way for Maccabi to turn things around late on. “Roddy Buckets” also finished with a team-high +17 in the +/- column for Efes, showing that good things tend to happen when he is on the floor.

Rodrigue Beaubois had 20 points in just 14:51 minutes as Anadolu Efes Istanbul defeated Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in Round 26.

Roddy Buckets was efficient in his minutes

### Mirotic showed he’s getting back to his best

[Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/) missed 12 games due to injury before returning Round 24, but his Round 26 performance in an [81-76 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/ea7-emporio-armani-milan-real-madrid/E2023/226/) against Real Madrid was his best game yet since stepping back on the floor. Milan boss Ettore Messina had been easing Mirotic back in, playing him just over 15 minutes per night in Rounds 24 and 25, with the 2021-22 EuroLeague MVP recording 11 and 6 points, respectively, in a couple of losses. However, with Real coming to town, Mirotic’s minutes jumped to 25:59 and he netted 23 points on impressive shooting numbers, going 1-of-2 on twos, 6-of-7 from three and 3-of-3 on free throws. Those 6 triples made is a new career high for Mirotic, who will now be looking to build on his display in Round 26 in the coming weeks.

Nikola Mirotic drained a career-high 6 threes in EA7 Emporio Armani Milan's win against Real Madrid in Round 26.

Mirotic's 6 threes vs. Real Madrid

### Peters was active on the boards

Olympiacos Piraeus can always lean on [Alec Peters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alec-peters/008829/) to contribute in the battle of the boards, yet Round 26 saw the 28-year-old have a career-best night in that regard by bringing down 11 rebounds in a [65-78 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/valencia-basket-olympiacos-piraeus/E2023/228/) at Valencia Basket. In fact, the only other time that Peters had grabbed a double-digit number of boards came in Round 1 this season – and on that occasion he had to rely on an overtime period to reach 10. This time, he got the job done in just three quarters. With Nikola Milutinov still out injured and Moustapha Fall in his first game back, Peters helping out with rebounds is a big plus for head coach Georgios Bartzokas.

Alec Peters had a career-high 11 rebounds as Olympiacos Piraeus beat Valencia Basket in Round 26.

Peters's highlights vs. Valencia

### Birutis kept rolling

Zalgiris Kaunas kept its good run going by edging Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade [91-93](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade-zalgiris-kaunas/E2023/231/) in the Serbian capital. [Laurynas Birutis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/laurynas-birutis/005504/) was rock-solid once again, getting 12 points on 5-of-7 two-pointers and 2-of-2 free throws. He added 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks for a PIR of 14. It is no coincidence that Zalgiris has been playing better since Birutis stepped up to become the team's go-to guy in the frontcourt. In Zalgiris’s current three-game winning streak, Birutis is averaging 14.0 points on 18-of-24 two-pointers (66.7% 2FG), 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and a PIR of 17.7. His ability to change shots on defense and finish strong around the rim has allowed Zalgiris to stay in the play-in race.

Zalgiris Kaunas center Laurynas Birutis was rock-solid once again, getting 12 points on 5 of 7 two-pointers and 2 of 2 free throws. He added 4 rebounds, an assist and 2 blocks for a PIR of 14 against Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade.

Birutis keeps pacing Zalgiris

### First double-double for Yago Dos Santos

Friday night's game did not have a happy ending for Crvena Zvezda, but it does not take away from the fact that [Yago Dos Santos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/yago-dos-santos/012044/) had the best game of his young career. In the absence of Milos Teodosic, Yago had his first double-double with 21 points and 14 assists. He was on 10 points and 9 assists in the first half, then reached a double-double on the opening possession of the third quarter. The first-year playmaker was 5-of-8 on two-pointers and 2-of-5 from downtown, keeping his team close throughout the night, but Zvezda ended up falling just short to Zalgiris at the end.

Yago Dos Santos had the best game of his young career, with his first double-double of 21 points and 14 assists.