The latest club to open its doors for the EuroLeague's annual media day session is FC Barcelona, which held the event on Wednesday afternoon at the Blaugrana's training complex. The 2023-24 season is just around the corner, with 15 days until tipoff in Round 1, so this media day was the perfect way for Barca to get pulses racing ahead of the coming campaign.

Barça Basket joins the Media Day fun

The latest club to open its doors for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague's annual media day session is [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/carousels/fc-barcelona/?q=%7B%22articleId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22categoryId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22linkedId%22%3A%7B%22sourceSystem%22%3A%22FS_BASKETBALL_TEAM%22%2C%22sourceSystemId%22%3A%22bar%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=FC%20Barcelona), which held the event on Wednesday afternoon at the Blaugrana's training complex. The 2023-24 season is just around the corner, with 15 days until tipoff in Round 1, so this media day was the perfect way for Barca to get pulses racing ahead of the coming campaign.

 

New faces such as [Willy Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fc-barcelona-signs-eurobasket-mvp-willy-hernangomez/) and [Joel Parra](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fc-barcelona-signs-joel-parra-to-a-long-term-deal/) were the first to get their pictures taken in their new jerseys, while a little later the entire squad posed for a group photo. From there, more players had to pass through the photographers, before going off to fulfil commitments with partners and conduct interviews for both TV and digital. Barca soccer player Ilkay Gundogan came over to say hello to the players as well.

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">Molta qualitat junta 🔥<br><br>2️⃣1️⃣ &amp; 2️⃣2️⃣ <a href="https://t.co/9nIprVY692">pic.twitter.com/9nIprVY692</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1704490052309401933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

There has been plenty of change at Barca during the offseason, with Sarunas Jasikevicius departing as head coach and 2022 EuroLeague MVP Nikola Mirotic leaving the club, but there is a sense of optimism among the group about what the 2023-24 season has in store.

 

Hernangomez, Parra, [Dario Brizuela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/shooting-guard-dario-brizuela-joins-fc-barcelona/) and [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/barcelona-lures-in-nba-star-forward-jabari-parker/) have all joined the club this summer, and they have clearly already integrated themselves into the group dynamics. New head coach [Roger Grimau](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/saras-jasikevicius-leaves-barcelona-roger-grimau-is-new-head-coach/) – the last Barca captain to lift the EuroLeague title – has quickly established a good rapport with the players, too, which should spell good news for Blaugrana supporters.

[Alex Abrines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alex-abrines/003478/), Barca's new team captain heading into the 2023-24 EuroLeague season, did a great job of keeping things light during the day, while Brizuela, [Rokas Jokubaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rokas-jokubaitis/007519/), [Oscar da Silva](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/oscar-da-silva/011244/) and [Oriol Pauli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/oriol-pauli/003204/) could not stop smiling. [Jan Vesely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jan-vesely/000925/) and [Nikola Kalinic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-kalinic/004866/) were in great spirits, too.

 

Barca starts its EuroLeague season at home to Anadolu Efes Istanbul on October 5 before back-to-back road games at Olympiacos Piraeus and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively.

More FC Barcelona News

Barcelona joins the media day fun

Wednesday afternoon was the time for the beautiful city of Bologna to witness Virtus Segafredo Bologna engaging in media day ahead of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign. For the second season in a row, Virtus players and coaches took part in activities ranging from recording interviews and promotional videos to social media activities and posing for photoshoots. The event was held at its training facilities at Palestra Porelli.

New-look Virtus takes the stage at media day in Bologna

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> 𝕄𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕒 𝔻𝕒𝕪 time 😎📸<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmarsiAncora?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmarsiAncora</a> <a href="https://t.co/RN97wAIrbs">pic.twitter.com/RN97wAIrbs</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1704410008522252615?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

What was different from a season ago was the makeup of the faces present at the event, and it started with new Virtus head coach [Luca Banchi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtus-bologna-names-luca-banchi-new-head-coach/), who was appointed just five days ago.

Among the players, there were a half-dozen newcomers and four of them have extensive media day experience, none more than veteran center and two-time EuroLeague champ [Bryant Dunston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtus-bologna-lands-two-time-euroleague-champ-bryant-dunston/).

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VirtusSegafredo</a> team picture🤩📸 <a href="https://t.co/KpFvLvyu0S">pic.twitter.com/KpFvLvyu0S</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1704415878639390925?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Forwards [Achille Polonara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/achille-polonara-returns-to-italy-with-virtus-bologna/) and [Ognjen Dobric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtus-bologna-inks-swingman-ognjen-dobric/), and guard [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/jaleen-smith-signs-for-virtus-bologna/) have taken part in many media days, as well. On the other hand, for rookies such as center [Devontae Cacok](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/devontae-cacok-heads-to-the-euroleague-with-virtus/) and guard [Bruno Mascolo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtus-reels-in-guard-bruno-mascolo/), this was their first look at a EuroLeague media day.

The Virtus player with the longest tenure in the club is playmaker [Alessandro Pajola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtus-pajola-together-until-2026/), who arrived as a teenager and is entering his ninth year with Virtus. Still just 23 years old, he will be surrounded by a lot veterans such as former EuroLeague champ [Daniel Hackett](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtus-lands-star-guard-hackett/), as well as stars such as [Tornike Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/shengelia-virtus-reach-new-agreement/), [Marco Belinelli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtus-extends-veteran-sharpshooter-marco-belinelli/), [Jordan Mickey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtus-signs-experienced-center-mickey/) and [Iffe Lundberg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtus-adds-lundberg-to-the-mix/).

Last season went as good as it possibly could have gone for Real Madrid, with Los Blancos winning the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the 11th time. In Chus Mateo's first year as head coach, the former assistant to Pablo Laso guided Real through a tricky playoff series against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade before knocking off FC Barcelona and Olympiacos Piraeus at the Final Four. Expectations are always high at Real, and the club's leaders will be expecting the team to lift the club's 12th EuroLeague title in Berlin, Germany, next May.

2023-24 Roster Rundown: Real Madrid

Last season went as good as it possibly could have gone for [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/roster/mad/?season=2023-24), with Los Blancos winning the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the 11th time. In Chus Mateo's first year as head coach, the former assistant to Pablo Laso guided Real through a tricky playoff series against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade before knocking off FC Barcelona and Olympiacos Piraeus at the Final Four. Expectations are always high at Real, and the club's leaders will be expecting the team to lift the club's 12th EuroLeague title in Berlin, Germany, next May.

### BACKCOURT

[Sergio Rodriguez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/real-brings-back-el-chacho/) showed in last year's postseason that, despite celebrating his 37th birthday over the summer, he can still affect games at the very highest level. At the 2023 Final Four, El Chacho brought his A-game, averaging 13.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.5 steals across the semifinals and the championship game. Another veteran who still has the clutch gene is [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/real-madrid-re-signs-llull-through-2024/), who scored the championship-winning basket last season. The 35-year-old posted 6.1 points per night in the 2022-23 campaign, the lowest average of his career, but he is still entrusted to step up with big shots in late-game situations.

The top plays of Real Madrid guard Sergio Rodriguez in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Sergio Rodriguez's best plays in 2022-23

During last season, Real was strongly linked with a move for [Facu Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/real-madrid-reunites-with-star-guard-facu-campazzo/), but in the end the Argentine's return to WiZink Center had to wait until this summer. Campazzo, who won two EuroLeague titles with Real in his first stint at the club, brings his highlight-reel plays back to the club and further strengthens what was already a very strong roster. [Carlos Alocen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/real-extends-alocen-through-2025/), 22, fills out Los Blancos' hopes to regain an important playmaking role after returning from injury. 

There may just be four natural guards in Real's backcourt , but there are several swingmen who can also play at the "two" position: [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/real-adds-scoring-punch-with-musa/), [Fabien Causeur](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/real-re-signs-causeur-for-two-more-years/), [Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/real-retains-veteran-icon-rudy-fernandez-for-next-season/) and [Alberto Abalde](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alberto-abalde/003733/). In his first EuroLeague season as a full-time starter, and his first campaign at Real, Musa shined with a team-high average of 14.8 points per game. Causeur, meanwhile, averaged a career-low 4.0 points per night, but he came up big – as he often does – in the championship game with 11 points. The 38-year-old Fernandez also posted a career-low of 4.3 points per contest last season and was there using his experience and game smarts when it counted most in the championship game. Abalde had a limited role last year, which he plans to build on.

### FRONTCOURT

[Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/real-lands-forward-hezonja/) came on strong late last season and established himself as a key player for Coach Mateo, which should put him in good stead ahead of his second year as a Real player. Let's not forget just how impressive [Gabriel Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/real-madrid-gabriel-deck-pen-extension/) was during the 2022-23 campaign, too, as he posted career highs of 12.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. An injury prevented him from appearing in Game 5 against Partizan and then at the Final Four, so he will be determined to lead Real back to that stage once again.

The top plays of Real Madrid forward Gabriel Deck in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Gabriel Deck's best plays in 2022-23

Another player who missed the Final Four, as well as Games 3, 4 and 5 against Partizan, is [Guerschon Yabusele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/real-yabusele-pen-extension-through-2025/). The Frenchman received a five-game ban for his part in a brawl between the two teams in Game 2, but with that suspension now served, he has the chance to put himself in the headlines for the right reasons in the coming campaign.

Starting center and EuroLeague Best Defender [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) was incredibly impressive at the Final Four with 16.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and a 29.5 PIR across the semifinal and championship game. At 31, Tavares is at the peak of his powers and should be in store for another dominant campaign. [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/real-pens-poirier-to-deal-through-2024/) will once again act as his backup, with the Frenchman proving over the last two seasons that he is the perfect deputy for Real's Cape Verdean starter. Also, [Eli Ndiaye](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/eli-ndiaye/009213/) will be looking to do his best to force his way into the starting lineup, having started both the semifinal and the championship game. The 19-year-old, who can also play at the "four" position, is highly regarded by Coach Mateo and should be given more opportunities to shine in the 2023-24 season.

Walter Tavares | Best Plays | 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### PLAYER TO WATCH

Facu Campazzo is a player who is beloved by Real supporters, with the Argentine point guard wizard having established himself as one of the EuroLeague's best players during his first stint at the club. Now 32, Campazzo made his EuroLeague debut with Los Blancos in the 2014-15 season, a campaign that saw him win his first EuroLeague title.

However, it wasn’t until the 2017-18 campaign, following a two-year loan away from the club, that he began to wow the supporters at WiZink Center on a regular basis. He remained at Real until late 2020, as he played 10 games in the 2020-21 season before heading to the NBA.

Campazzo returned to the EuroLeague last season with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, averaging 15.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.9 steals in nine games to close the campaign. His magical play saw him quickly become a fan favorite at Zvezda, but now he returns 'home' to play for Real once again. Los Blancos won the EuroLeague last year, so bringing in Campazzo to garnish an already strong roster should make Real's games a must-watch next season.

Facundo Campazzo | Best Plays | 2022-23 Turkish Airlines Euroleague

### OUTLOOK

It is hard to improve on winning the EuroLeague championship, but that's the task ahead of Real and Coach Mateo. There are not many holes in Real's roster, if any, so the expectation will be that the team once again has a season that goes all the way into May. The addition of Campazzo brings more excitement to the team, while several of Real's key players, such as Musa, Hezonja, Deck and Tavares, will be looking to build on impressive individual seasons last year. Don't be too surprised to see Real in this season's Final Four in Berlin, Germany, given the wealth of talent available to Coach Mateo.

Under the aptly-named motto "The Night of the Legend", Olympiacos Piraeus retired the #7 jersey of legend Vassilis Spanoulis on Sunday to cap a weekend-long celebration for the long-time Reds icon. Hundreds of Greek and European basketball personalities joined together to recognize the remarkable career in which Spanoulis led Olympiacos to back-to-back Turkish Airlines EuroLeague titles in 2011 and 2012 and was voted the Final Four MVP three times, having also won the title with Panathinaikos Athens in 2009.

Teammates, opponents remembered Vassilis Spanoulis on Olympiacos BC's  "The Night of the Legend"

Under the aptly-named motto "The Night of the Legend", [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/roster/oly/?season=2023-24) retired the #7 jersey of legend [Vassilis Spanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vassilis-spanoulis/juo/) on Sunday to cap a weekend-long celebration for the long-time Reds icon.

Hundreds of Greek and European basketball personalities joined together to recognize the remarkable career in which Spanoulis led Olympiacos to back-to-back Turkish Airlines EuroLeague titles in 2011 and 2012 and was voted the Final Four MVP three times, having also won the title with Panathinaikos Athens in 2009.

[Vassilis Spanoulis jersey-retirement interview](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/vassilis-spanoulis-olympiacos-bc-jersey-retirement-exclusive-interview-euroleague/)

The festivities started on Saturday with a gala dinner at the magnificent Matsuhisa restaurant in Vouliagmeni, Athens. Most of his former star teammates with Olympiacos and the Greek national team were there, among them his longtime friend Nikos Zisis, current Olympiacos captain Kostas Papanikolaou, fellow Reds icon Georgios Printezis, Kyle Hines, Ioannis Bourousis, Dimitris Diamantidis, Kostas Tsartsaris and Nikola Vujcic, as well as some of his head coaches, like Panagiotis Giannakis, Ioannis Sfairopoulos and Georgios Bartzokas, the club's current coach.

Also invited to the gala dinner were many international club representatives and Euroleague Basketball president Dejan Bodiroga. Sasha Vezenkov, the 2022-23 EuroLeague MVP, made a surprise appearance, too. Spanoulis gave a brief, heartfelt speech, fireworks filled the night sky, and the basketball party went up for many hours .

Teammates, opponents remembered Spanoulis on "The Night of the Legend"

On Sunday, a sellout crowd of more than 11,000 fans at Peace and Friendship Stadium had the opportunity to honor Spanoulis as his number was the first to be retired by Olympiacos.

Papanikolaou, Printezis and Olympiacos presidents Panagiotis and Georgios Angelopoulos introduced the event, and a huge ovation filled the arena when Spanoulis entered the court. Spanoulis was joined by his wife Olympia and their six children to push a button that unveiled his jersey in the arena rafters.

Even more VIPs attended Sunday's jersey-retirement, which came before Olympiacos played a friendly game against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. Euroleague Basketball CEO Paulius Motiejunas was on hand along with more Greek legends like Sofoklis Schortsanitis, Lazaros Papadopoulos and Argyris Kambouris, who led a group of Olympiacos veterans that gave Spanoulis a framed, vintage #7 jersey that was the same number that Kambouris used to wear. Hines and Milan general manager Christos Stavropoulos, who had been with Olympiacos for 19 years and presided over the team's historic back-to-back EuroLeague crowns, also honored Spanoulis with a personalized plaque.

It was a night of emotions that no Olympiacos fans will never forget! 

More news about Vassilis Spanoulis

Following the news that Martin Hermannsson underwent knee surgery and will miss the start of the season, Valencia Basket moved to reinforce its backcourt by signing veteran playmaker Stefan Jovic. 

Valencia brings in veteran playmaker Stefan Jovic 

Following the news that [Martin Hermannsson underwent knee surgery](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/valencias-martin-hermannsson-is-recovering-after-knee-surgery/) and will miss the start of the season, Valencia Basket moved to reinforce its backcourt by signing veteran playmaker [Stefan Jovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/stefan-jovic/004863/) on Tuesday.  A silver medal winner at the recently completed [FIBA Basketball World Cup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/milutinov-leads-serbia-to-the-world-cup-final/) with the Serbian national team, Jovic (1.98 meters, 32 years old) returns to the EuroLeague after suiting up for Panathinaikos Athens two seasons ago. He was under contract with fellow Spanish club Casdemont Zaragoza, where he averaged 8.7 points, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals in 20 games last season.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">Benvingut, Stefan! 🧡<br><br>Cas 👉 Stefan Jovic, un playmaker subcampeón del Mundo se une a la Familia Taronja<a href="https://t.co/M6AInvupec">https://t.co/M6AInvupec</a><br><br>Val 👉 Stefan Jovic, un playmaker subcampió del Món s&#39;unix a la Família Taronja<a href="https://t.co/fsYchL6VKR">https://t.co/fsYchL6VKR</a><br><br>Eng 👉 <a href="https://t.co/YPP1MIRcjI">https://t.co/YPP1MIRcjI</a> <a href="https://t.co/GcvLkXg1Ll">pic.twitter.com/GcvLkXg1Ll</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1704178686474293505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Jovic is a veteran of seven EuroLeague seasons - the first three of which came with Crvena Zvezda Belgrade. He also played one for FC Bayern Munich and a pair for Khimki Moscow Region. Jovic helped Zvezda win three consecutive Adriatic League championships and three straight Serbian League crowns from 2015 to 2017. He also lifted the Serbian Cup in 2015 and 2017 and helped the club to the EuroLeague Playoffs in 2016, which remains the lone playoff appearance in club history. Jovic set the EuroLeague's single-game assists record with 19 while playing for Zvezda against Bayern on November 12, 2015.

He then went on to spend a total of two seasons at Bayern, which Jovic helped win consecutive German League titles – for the first time since 1955 – and a German Cup. As a member of the Serbian national team, Jovic also helped Serbia win silver medals at the 2016 Olympic Games and EuroBasket 2017. He started his career with Sloga Kraljevo and also played for Radnicki Kragujevac, the club with which he made his EuroCup debut in 2013.

This summer Jordan Loyd of AS Monaco underwent a microdiscectomy, which is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which part of the herniated disc is removed to relieve pressure on the spinal nerve column.

Jordan Loyd, AS Monaco: 'I just look forward to coming back'

Anyone watching [Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/) over his four seasons in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague must have been impressed. Not only has he been one of the best scorers in the competition, but he has stood out for his total game as a shooter, passer and defender. What makes everything the AS Monaco guard has done even more impressive is that he was doing so at less than full strength.

Many knew about the broken nose and shoulder injuries that caused him to miss six games in the middle of last season. In addition to that, Loyd was slowed down at times by a bulging disc in his spine.

He had endured the same injury once before, when he was playing college basketball a decade earlier. This summer he underwent a microdiscectomy, which is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which part of the herniated disc is removed to relieve pressure on the spinal nerve column.

"With backs it’s a little tricky… It could be good one day, bad the next. But it was just something that I think is better for me in the long term and nothing too serious, which is great and something I've been through before, which is great. So mentally I'm good. I'm happy," Loyd said last week during Monaco's training camp in Turkey.

"I feel better already and the recovery's been super solid so far since I've been back with the team, been doing great rehab with all the staff here and yeah, so I just look forward to coming back."

Jordan Loyd on his recovery from back surgery

Loyd is on his own training schedule as he prepares for the season, though he has the support of the Monaco staff and his teammates this time. That pales in comparison to the first time Loyd had his back operated on. 

After beginning his college basketball career at Furman University, Loyd transferred to the University of Indianapolis. It was during that time in between school that he had the surgery. Loyd did most of the physical therapy back then on his own.

He estimated that the recovery the first time was "like 6 to 9 weeks," though he is in no rush to match that timeline.

"I've got to take my time and you know make sure I recover the right way and just get a get a little bit stronger," Loyd added.

If there is something that should worry teams around Europe when Loyd finally gets back on the floor it is this: "I feel better than I was the last few years actually. So that's exciting and I think once I'm feeling better physically, I think I can perform much better, too."

When can we expect to see Loyd back in uniform?

"October sometime is the goal and we'll go from there. So I won't miss too much basketball. Hopefully."

Olympiacos Piraeus did not change a lot of players this summer, but it returns to the competition with new roles to be defined in the team. The departures of playmaker Kostas Sloukas and 2022-23 EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov forces head coach Georgios Bartzokas to redefine its team. Some players are expected to have a bigger role in the team from now on, and some of the newcomers wore Olympiacos's jersey in the past and know what to expect. The goal remains the same: challenge for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title and try to lift the trophy for the fourth time. 


2023-24 Roster Rundown: Olympiacos Piraeus

After coming within a whisker of the continental crown last year, Olympiacos Piraeus did not change a lot of players this summer, but nonetheless returns with a different look. The departures of 2022-23 EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov and veteran playmaker Kostas Sloukas forces head coach [Georgios Bartzokas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/bartzokas-georgios?season=E2023) to redefine his team more than a bit. Some returning players are expected to take on bigger roles while some newcomers who had worn Olympiacos's jersey in the past know what to expect. The goal remains the same: challenge for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title and try to lift the trophy for the fourth time.

Giannoulis Larentzakis Top Plays of the Final Four

2022-23 EuroLeague highlights: Giannoulis Larentzakis, Olympiacos

### BACKCOURT

[Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/olympiacos-extends-walkup-long-term/), the team's primary floor general, is set to lead Olympiacos at both ends of the court. One of the best on-the-ball defenders in the competition, Walkup led the EuroLeague in steals (1.8 spg.) last season and was third in assists (5.6 apg.). His high basketball IQ, work ethic and experience make him a natural-born leader. [Nigel Williams-Goss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/nigel-williams-goss-returns-to-olympiacos/), who helped Real Madrid win the title last season, is back with his first EuroLeague for the prime of his career. He is deadly from deep range and can use his quick first step to attack the rim. [Michalis Lountzis ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/michalis-lountzis/006302/)saw playing time in 20 EuroLeague games last season and is set to play a more important role in the team due to his court sense and shooting skills.

[Isaiah Canaan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/isaiah-canaan/010612/) and [Giannoulis Larentzakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/giannoulis-larentzakis-olympiacos-finalize-three-year-contract-extension/) should split most time at shooting guard. Canaan is a terrific one-on-one scorer with unlimited range both off the dribble and off screens. Fully adjusted to the team, Canaan should deliver from day one. Larentzakis surprised fans and experts alike with his clutch skills last season, often bringing out his best in the fourth quarters of close games. He is a tough defender who is never afraid to take big shots, and has a big chance to keep growing with increased playing time. [Shaquielle McKissic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/olympiacos-extends-swingman-mckissic-until-2025/) is one of the most athletic players in the competition and is set to keep thrilling fans with his fast break dunks and acrobatic baskets. Tough, physical and determined, McKissic always brings in the right energy at the right time, and is an effective scorer with a solid mid-range game.  [George Papas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/george-papas/012023/) and youngster [Venjamin Abosi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/veniamin-abosi/012298/) should fight for playing time at shooting guard.

Luke Sikma arguably shared the ball like no other big man in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague during his four seasons with ALBA Berlin.

Luke Sikma's best assists

### FRONTCOURT

Team captain [Kostas Papanikolaou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/kostas-papanikolaou-reds-pen-3-year-extension/) is Olympiacos's heart and soul, able to do a little bit of everything to help his team win. Papanikolaou helps on the boards, is a solid three-point shooter and a terrific defender due to his ability to read passing lanes. Elite three-point shooter [Alec Peters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/prewrite-olympiacos-adds-former-champ-peters-to-frontline/) can change any game with shots, and is another experienced player that thinks team first. Another former EuroLeague champion, he's a candidate to see increased minutes and opportunities at the "four" position.

Speaking of team-oriented players, Olympiacos signed [Luke Sikma](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/olympiacos-piraeus-adds-playmaking-forward-luke-sikma/), a unique power forward with off-the-charts passing skills. He averaged 4.2 assists in 121 EuroLeague games with ALBA Berlin in the last four seasons, well above almost any other frontcourt player. Sikma is also a good scorer both in the low post and from mid-range and rebounds well at both ends. His passing ability from the post gives Olympiacos inside-out options like few other teams. Similarly, [Moustapha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/moustapha-fall/008811/) may be a pure center who changes shots on defense and can be unstoppable on offense, but he's also a very capable passer from the high or low posts. What's more, Olympaicos has brought back one of Europe's elite centers in his prime, [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/olympiacos-welcomes-back-nikola-milutinov/), giving the Reds the ability play with an elite center on the court all 40 minutes long. [Georgios Tanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/olympiacos-tabs-greek-prospect-georgios-tanoulis/) and [Panagiotis Tsamis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/panagiotis-tsamis/010057/) have an excellent chance to learn from more experienced players while fighting for playing time.

Nikola Milutinov Top Plays of the 2020-21 Regular Season

2020-21 EuroLeague highlights: Nikola Milutinov

### PLAYER TO WATCH

Milutinov returns to the EuroLeague ready to prove he is one of the best centers in the competition. He is a great low-post scorer due to his size, speed and great hands. Milutinov can score in many ways around the basket, attacking the rim as often as possible or looking for his really effective jump hook. He is also a terrific offensive rebounder: Milutinov holds the record for most offensive boards in a EuroLeague game, 16, in December 2020. He reads the game and runs the floor better than most big men and rarely makes mistakes, averaging just 0.6 turnovers in almost 24 minutes in the 2020-21 season. Right in the prime of his career, Milutinov does not need to hold the ball or see extended playing time to make the difference in a game. With Fall and Milutinov, Olympiacos should be rock-solid in the paint at all times.

### OUTLOOK

A decade ago, Coach Bartzokas led Olympiacos to its third and so far last EuroLeague title in 2013. The Reds returned to the EuroLeague Championship Game in 2015, 2017 and 2023 but were not able to lift the trophy. Last season's heartbreaking last-second loss against Real in the final will be all the motivation this team needs all season long. No other team should be more inspired to have a solid season, return to the Final Four and get the EuroLeague crown. If Olympiacos finds the key to be as effective as it was in the last two years, but with new leaders and different roles, the sky is the limit for the mighty Reds.

Istanbul, the city that bridges the West and the East, is the latest stop on the media day tour as the 18 clubs that will compete in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague prepare for next month's opening games. 

Efes brings Media Day to Istanbul

Istanbul, the city that bridges the West and the East, is the latest stop on the media day tour as the 18 clubs that will compete in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague prepare for next month's opening games. Anadolu Efes Istanbul, winner of the 2021 and 2022 EuroLeague crowns, organized its media day in the municipality of Bagciler and with five former champions on hand for the gamut of photo shoots, interviews, social media activities and more, it knew what to expect.

The new edition of Efes also includes a cast of newcomers, sone of which, like Tyrique Jones, Derek Willis, Burak Yildizi and Erkan Yilmaz, are entering their first seasons in Europe's premier basketball competition.

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tibor is always where the camera is at 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/tibor_pleiss?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tibor_pleiss</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnadoluEfesSK</a> <a href="https://t.co/KU72y5bBSb">pic.twitter.com/KU72y5bBSb</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1703692892269666485?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"The season for us starts today", was the common thought for everyone around the club, and it is easy to understand why.

This massive event featured exactly 28 different stations spread around on four different floors of Efes's training facility.

Players and coaches roamed around, posing for photoshoots, sitting down for interviews with broadcasters' and different media, signing basketballs and jerseys, and taking part in activities organized by club sponsors and partners.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Good vibes at the <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnadoluEfesSK</a> Media Day 🤩<a href="https://twitter.com/shanelarkin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shanelarkin</a> with his new coach ✌️ <a href="https://t.co/NwWTySaHn4">pic.twitter.com/NwWTySaHn4</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1703702175317119407?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Despite the busy schedule, it was an up-beat atmosphere. Jones was lifting everyone's spirits, and head coach Erdem Can, veteran center Tibor Pleiss and new team captain Shane Larkin were all smiles as well.

Also present at the event were the kids from the Efes youth academy, and they had a chance to do activities with their role models, too.

Efes brings media day to Istanbul 

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge returns for its 20th season with significant changes in the game and around it. One of the biggest additions to the Fantasy Challenge universe will be the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast presented by Ardu Prime, whose first episode is out already. EuroLeague.net fantasy experts Frankie Sachs and Javier Gancedo, who co-created the game in 2004, are set to host the weekly podcast, which will be available on all major podcast platforms. 

Introducing the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast

[EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) returns for its 20th season with significant changes in the game and around it. One of the biggest additions to the Fantasy Challenge universe will be the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast presented by Ardu Prime, whose first episode is out already. [EuroLeague.net](http://EuroLeague.net) fantasy experts Frankie Sachs and Javier Gancedo, who co-created the game in 2004, are set to host the weekly podcast, which will soon be available on all major podcast platforms.

Gancedo and Sachs will be occasionally joined by other [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) experts and enthusiasts, plus surprise guests. In the weekly podcast, both will discuss their teams, compare previous performances, preview the best options for the next round and share the moves they are making on their own squads. It will be a laid-back conversation in which the banter between Gancedo and Sachs promises to be a lot of fun and insights.

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast, Episode 1

The EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast is the third podcast to be produced by Euroleague Basketball. The award-winning [The Crossover with Joe Arlauckas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/podcasts/), which is entering its sixth season, is a one-on-one interview format in which the biggest names in the EuroLeague share experiences from their careers both on and off the court. EuroLeague fans can also enjoy, in both video and audio formats, [A Quarter with Kyle Hines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/podcasts/), in which the EA7 Emporio Armani Milan center talks to current players about the game and their lives off the court. 

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season is around the corner and so is the start of [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home). Tune in to the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast, presented by Ardu Prime, for more information on ways to make sure your [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) team is the best it can be. 