All-EuroLeague swingman Kevin Punter has come to terms on a deal that will keep him with Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade for two more years, the club announced on Thursday.

All-EuroLeague swingman Kevin Punter re-signs with Partizan

#### All-EuroLeague swingman [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) has come to terms on a deal that will keep him with Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade for two more years, the club announced on Thursday.

Punter (1.93 meters, 30 years old) first joined the club in 2021 and has shined in the Serbian capital. He averaged 16.1 points on 44.3% three-point shooting, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steal over 37 EuroLeague games last season during which he led the team to within one game of the Final Four. He also helped Partizan win the ABA League championship. In his first season with Partizan, Punter was named to the All-EuroCup Team after leading the club to the EuroCup Playoffs.

The Partizan star talks about the adversity he has had to overcome, the importance of never giving up and staying true to the game.

Kevin Punter: Letter to Myself

A college basketball star at the University of Tennessee, Punter began his professional career in Greece with GC Lavrio. He has also played for AEK Athens and Olympiacos Piraeus in Greece, Antwerp in Belgium, Rosa Radom in Poland, Virtus Bologna and AX Armani Exchange Milan in Italy and Crvena Zvezda Belgrade in Serbia. Punter’s trophy case includes winning respective national cups with AEK in Greece in 2018 and in Italy with Milan in 2021. He also captured the Basketball Champions League title in back-to-back seasons with AEK in 2018 and Virtus in 2019. This season will be Punter’s fourth in the EuroLeague.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Kapiten ostaje u crno-belom dresu.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKPartizan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKPartizan</a> <a href="https://t.co/KS5rpNIr9X">pic.twitter.com/KS5rpNIr9X</a></p>&mdash; KK Partizan Mozzart Bet (@PartizanBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PartizanBC/status/1674346250697621504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After three years in charge at Palau Blaugrana, Sarunas Jasikevicius leaves FC Barcelona with his status as a club legend firmly intact.

Despite no EuroLeague title, Jasikevicius remains a Barca icon

**After three years in charge at Palau Blaugrana, Sarunas Jasikevicius leaves FC Barcelona with his status as a club legend firmly intact.**

The Lithuanian coach is bowing out on a high, having led his team to the Spanish League title in a 3-0 final series sweep of archrival and recent Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Real Madrid. That took Jasikevicius's total tally with Barca to an impressive four trophies in three seasons, including two domestic crowns.

There is, however, an obvious and significant 'but' to the story. While Saras enjoyed great success with Barca, he fell just short of achieving the main goal of restoring the team to the summit of continental basketball, as he did during his playing days with his and the club's first EuroLeague title in 2003.

Jasikevicius and his players did come close to that heady objective, however. Very close.

In his first season on the bench, Barca went all the way to the 2021 championship game. They topped the regular season standings, edged Zenit St Petersburg in the playoffs and then downing AX Armani Exchange Milan in a thrilling semifinal thanks to a dramatic game-winner from Cory Higgins.

But the title game went against Barca as Anadolu Efes Istanbul instead claimed the first of its back-to-back crowns with a tight 81-86 decision after Jasikevicius's men ran out of steam and scored just 1 field goal in the final 3 minutes.

The next two seasons saw Barca again confirm its position among the continent's heavyweights with first- and second-place regular season finishes, along with playoffs victories over FC Bayern Munich (in 2022) and Zalgiris Kaunas (2023), making it three Final Fours in as many seasons under Jasikevicius.

But the last two of those, including the latest in his hometown of Kaunas, only yielded more frustration for Jasikevicius in the form of consecutive semifinal losses to Real. This season's setback was particularly disappointing as Barca squandered a nine-point lead just before halftime by scoring only 24 points in the second half, ultimately fading away without much of a fight as its dreams of title glory once again disappeared.

This time, it felt like the end of a chapter not only for Jasikevicius and his expensively assembled team, which has proven to be the case, with the club's football-induced financial crisis already leading to the departure of star player Nikola Mirotic and other high earners likely to follow. The upheaval likely made it an opportune time for Jasikevicius to leave. He certainly won't be short of offers, both in Europe and on the other side of the Atlantic, but wherever he pivots, the already successful 47-year-old will surely take stock of what worked and what didn't in his time at Barca.

 

In particular, Saras's old-school, ultra-disciplinarian approach, including regular sideline screaming fits, may have worn down his players or caused them to feel extra pressure at key moments. Even the usually diplomatic Nick Calathes, who had played with Jasikevicius early in his career, expressed this sentiment when he left the club a year ago, commenting: "As a player, you want to have some freedom. I'm not 20 years old; I know how to play."

 

Still, the overall balance from Saras's time at Barca remains overwhelmingly positive. Despite falling short of the EuroLeague title, he certainly succeeded in making Barca competitive again among the continent's elite after the club had missed the Final Four for seven years in a row. The fans certainly appreciated that resurgence. Palau Blaugrana habitually reserved its loudest pregame noise for the 'Ja-Si-Ke-Vicius!' chant that always rang around the arena when he emerged from the locker room to take his place on the bench a few minutes before tipoff. In the end, there was never any sense that fans blamed the coach for the team's failure to take the final step in the quest for another EuroLeague crown.

 

Whether the standards set by Saras can be retained is a big question. His replacement, Roger Grimau, is unlikely to be backed with the same kind of tried and tested talent that Jasikevicius was able to call upon, and the new coach's experience with the club's youth ranks suggest that homegrown talent will become more prominent next season and beyond.

 

But for now, as Jasikevicius makes his third departure from Palau Blaugrana – twice as a player and now as a coach – the message from the fans to their idol is simple: *moltes gràcies.*

Real Madrid and Gabriel Deck have agreed to a contract extension that will keep him with Los Blancos through the end of the 2027-28 season.

Real Madrid, Gabriel Deck pen extension

##### Real Madrid and [Gabriel Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/gabriel-deck/009005/) have agreed to a contract extension that will keep him with *Los Blancos* through the end of the 2027-28 season. 

The player was already under contract for another season and committed his future to the club by signing a four-year deal. The deal is one of the longest-reaching extensions for an established player in league history. 

Deck (1.98 meters, 28 years old) comes off one of the finest seasons of his career. He averaged 12.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 26:02 minutes over 31 games and his performance index rating of 15.7 ranked 13th in the league. Deck's season from an individual standpoint did not end well as he suffered a ruptured internal collateral ligament in his left knee in the playoffs. The injury meant he was unable to take part in the Final Four and had to watch from the sidelines as Real won the championship.

Gabriel Deck's best plays 2022-23

Last season was Deck’s fifth with the club and in that time, he was won the Spanish League twice, the Spanish Cup once and the Spanish Super Cup four times. Deck began his career with Asociacion Quimsa Santiago del Estero in his native Argentine and also played for San Lorenzo de Almagro before he first signed with Real in 2018. Deck also played parts of two seasons in the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🤍 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DECK2028?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DECK2028</a> 🤍 <a href="https://t.co/ty6hdoVdb9">pic.twitter.com/ty6hdoVdb9</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1673996585481404416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A three-time national champion in Argentina, Deck has also captured five medals for the Argentinean national team, including gold medals at the 2019 Pan American Games and the 2022 AmeriCup. He was the MVP of the latter of those events.

More on Gabriel Deck

Olympiacos Piraeus has decided to reunite with Nigel Williams-Goss once again, as the playmaker has signed a contract with the Reds, who he played for in the 2018-19 season, until the end of the 2024-25 campaign. Williams-Goss (28 years old, 1.91 meters) is coming off a year in which he became a EuroLeague champion for the first time, with Real Madrid having defeated Olympiacos in the championship game in May. 

Nigel Williams-Goss returns to Olympiacos

##### Nigel Williams-Goss is back with the team he made his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut for after signing a deal with Olympiacos Piraeus. 

Olympiacos and [Nigel Williams-Goss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-williams-goss/007982/) are reuniting with the playmaker having signed a contract with the Reds, who he first played for in the 2018-19 season. The contract is through the end of the 2024-25 campaign. Williams-Goss (28 years old, 1.91 meters) is coming off a year in which he became a EuroLeague champion for the first time, with Real Madrid defeating Olympiacos in the championship game in May.

Williams-Goss spent the past two seasons with *Los Blancos*, and is coming off a campaign in which he started in 23 of his 26 EuroLeague appearances for Real, posting 7.4 points, 1.8 assists and 1.3 rebounds on the way to winning the title. He also had 6.4 points, 2.8 assists and 2.0 rebounds in Spanish League action this past season.

Nigel Williams-Goss of Real Madrid is now a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion!

EuroLeague Final Four highlights: Nigel Williams-Goss, Real Madrid

Williams-Goss made his professional debut with Partizan Belgrade in the 2017-18 season. While playing in the EuroCup for Partizan, the American guard ranked fourth in average PIR (20.1), second in assists (6.7 apg.) and tied for fifth in scoring (17.0 ppg.) during the regular season. Williams-Goss then moved to Olympiacos, where he made his EuroLeague debut, averaging 9.2 points, 4.2 assists and 2.0 rebounds in the 2018-19 season. 

After that, he split the 2019-20 campaign between the Utah Jazz in the NBA and its G League team, the Salt Lake City Stars, before spending the following campaign with Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar. Now, like Nikola Milutinov, Olympiacos's first signing this summer, he returns to Piraeus with the goal of helping the team win its first EuroLeague title since 2013.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="el" dir="ltr">✍🏽 Η ΚΑΕ Ολυμπιακός ανακοινώνει την απόκτηση του <a href="https://twitter.com/NigelWG5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NigelWG5</a> . <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a><a href="https://t.co/lHOpIsgm1V">https://t.co/lHOpIsgm1V</a></p>&mdash; OLYMPIACOS BC (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1673974169187360773?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Nigel Williams-Goss, who has returned to Olympiacos Piraeus, in action for Real Madrid in last season's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game against the Reds.

Panathinaikos Athens has announced the signing of dominant center Mathias Lessort to a two-year deal. Lessort (27 years old, 2.06 meters) is coming off a very impressive season with Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, which saw him earn All-EuroLeague First Team honors. Across 38 appearances last season, the Frenchman averaged 12.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and a 19.1 PIR. 

Panathinaikos secures center Mathias Lessort

Panathinaikos Athens has announced the signing of dominant center [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) to a two-year deal. Lessort (27 years old, 2.06 meters) is coming off a very impressive season with Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, which saw him earn All-EuroLeague First Team honors. Across 38 appearances last season, the Frenchman averaged 12.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and a 19.1 PIR. Lessort follows the likes of Luca Vildoza, Kostas Antetokounmpo and Dimitris Moraitis, who have all joined Ergin Ataman's project at Panathinaikos this summer.

2022-23 All-EuroLeague First Team: Mathias Lessort, Partizan Mozart Bet Belgrade

Lessort has four years of experience in the EuroLeague, but last season was really his breakout campaign. Curiously, the big man's first taste of EuroLeague basketball came with Partizan's archrival, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, in the 2017-18 season. That year, Lessort averaged 8.5 points and 5.7 rebounds, his second-best totals in the competition. He also had a reserve role with FC Bayern Munich in 2019-20 and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv at the start of the 2021-22 season. Partizan ended up picking Lessort off the back of his time at Maccabi, with the Frenchman thriving under coach Zeljko Obradovic in the 7DAYS EuroCup before taking his game to another level in last season's EuroLeague. Lessort has also played in the EuroCup for Unicaja Malaga (2018-19) and AS Monaco (2020-21), while he began his professional career in his native France with Elan Chalon (2014-16) and Nanterre (2016-17).

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Signed on the dotted line ✍<br><br>Welcome to our family Mathias Lessort! ☘<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/3g4WndvDtA">https://t.co/3g4WndvDtA</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/panathinaikos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#panathinaikos</a> <a href="https://t.co/711Qtox3W2">pic.twitter.com/711Qtox3W2</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1673741646331101202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Mathias Lessort, Panathinaikos Athens's newest signing, reacts during a Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade game in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Olimpia Milano has added depth to its frontcourt by signing power forward Guglielmo Caruso to a four-year deal. Caruso (24 years old, 2.11 meters) has spent the last two years with fellow Italian side Pallacanestro Varese, where he averaged 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in the Italian League last season.

Olimpia Milano inks big man Guglielmo Caruso to long-term deal

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan has added depth to its frontcourt by signing power forward [Guglielmo Caruso](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/players/guglielmo-caruso/006721/) to a four-year deal. Caruso (24 years old, 2.11 meters) has spent the last two years with fellow Italian side Pallacanestro Varese, where he averaged 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in the Italian League last season.

“We feel like Caruso is an emerging player and a guy with the right personality to fit in our team, who can still improve a lot,” said Milan's general manager, Christos Stavropoulos. 

“I’m very happy and proud at the same time to have the chance to be part of a great organization, both in Italy and Europe, like Milan," commented Caruso. "It will be an extremely motivating adventure. I’m here to learn from the best players and keep improving. My goal is to do anything in order to help the team any way I can. I'm grateful for this incredible opportunity."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">All&#39;Olimpia arriva Willie Caruso: &quot;Sono qui per imparare e crescere ancora&quot; ➡ <a href="https://t.co/uIR2RMevIc">https://t.co/uIR2RMevIc</a><br><br>Caruso is coming to Olimpia: &quot;Grateful for the opportunity, I&#39;m here to improve&quot; ➡ <a href="https://t.co/qujGYgd8iR">https://t.co/qujGYgd8iR</a><br><br>⚪🔴<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/insieme?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#insieme</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WelcomeWillie?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WelcomeWillie</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForzaOlimpia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForzaOlimpia</a> <a href="https://t.co/hWjb4yFV8L">pic.twitter.com/hWjb4yFV8L</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1673729004518490113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Caruso started his professional career as a teenager with lower division teams in Italy, such as San Mauro, Agrigento and Napoli, before spending three years playing at Santa Clara University in the USA. At youth level, he helped Italy win a bronze medal at the U18 European Championship in 2016 and a silver medal at the U19 World Championship in 2017. Caruso is a member of the Italian national team, and this season he will get a chance to make his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut.

 Guglielmo Caruso, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan's new signing, in action for Pallacanestro Varese in the 2022-23 season.

Milan inks big man Guglielmo Caruso to long-term deal

AS Monaco has brought center Mam Jaiteh back to France by signing the center to a two-year deal. Jaiteh (28 years old, 2.08 meters) arrives from Virtus Segafredo Bologna, where he averaged 8.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and a PIR of 9.6 in 33 EuroLeague games last season, his second with the team.

Monaco lands 2021-22 EuroCup MVP Mam Jaiteh 

AS Monaco has brought center [Mam Jaiteh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mam-jaiteh/002581/) back to France by signing the center to a two-year deal. Jaiteh (28 years old, 2.08 meters) arrives from Virtus Segafredo Bologna, where he averaged 8.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and a PIR of 9.6 in 33 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season, his second with the team. In his first campaign with Virtus, Jaiteh led the club to the 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup crown and was named the EuroCup MVP. That season, he averaged 12.8 points on 69.1% shooting, 7.6 rebounds and a PIR of 17.8 in 21 EuroCup games, despite playing just 22 minutes per night.

Mam Jaiteh returned to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the first time in almost a decade, right aftr winning the 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup title with Virtus Segafredo Bologna.

Mam Jaiteh: 2022-23 EuroLeague highlights

Jaiteh started his career with Centre Federal du Basket-Ball and played for other French teams, including SO Maritime Boulogne, Nanterre 92, Strasbourg and Limoges CSP, before joining Fiat Turin in November 2018. He went on to suit up for Avtodor Saratov of Russia and Gaziantep Basketbol of Türkiye before joining Virtus in 2021. Jaiteh has also been a member of the French national team, with which he won a bronze medal at EuroBasket 2015. He also helped Nanterre win the French Cup in 2014 and the EuroChallenge in 2015.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">✍️ L’AS Monaco est heureuse d’annoncer la signature pour les 2 prochaines saisons du pivot international français <a href="https://twitter.com/mamjaiteh14?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mamjaiteh14</a> 🇫🇷<br><br>🗣️ Ses premiers mots sous ses nouvelles couleurs 👇<br>🔗<a href="https://t.co/vtSmXU1Ig7">https://t.co/vtSmXU1Ig7</a> <a href="https://t.co/0pHnMUTC0I">pic.twitter.com/0pHnMUTC0I</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1673721867771813893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More on Mam Jaiteh

Mam Jaiteh, AS Monaco's newest signing, dunks during a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game for Virtus Segafredo Bologna last season.

Monaco signs 2021-22 EuroCup MVP Mam Jaiteh 

No team in the EuroLeague has been busier in terms of sculpting its look for the 2023-24 season over that past week than Anadolu Efes Istanbul. So, what can we expect from the new-look Efes in the coming season? It may all start with Erdem Can, the 2022-23 EuroCup Coach of the Year.

Efes has been busy building a team worthy of Erdem Can’s vision

No team in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague has been busier in terms of sculpting its look for the 2023-24 season over that past week than Anadolu Efes Istanbul. After winning consecutive crowns in 2021 and 2022, the team failed to reach the playoffs last season. However, Efes does not want to see that happen again and before the calendar has even reached July, Efes has hired a new coach, extended three key players' contracts and signed four newcomers.

So, what can we expect from the new-look Efes in the coming season? It may all start with [Erdem Can](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/efes-appoints-erdem-can-as-its-new-head-coach/), the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Coach of the Year. Just 42 years of age, Can has spent most of his career as an assistant coach, learning from some masters. He sat beside coach Zeljko Obradovic for all seven of the Serbian's seasons with Fenerbahce Istanbul and after that went overseas to experience something different as an assistant to Quin Snyder with the Utah Jazz in the NBA.

Among the principles of Can's coaching philosophy are to build a structure based on the players' talents, to emphasize proper movement and spacing to maximize offensive efficiency and to play relentless defense. With that in mind, the roles for the players signed by Efes over the past week start to make a lot of sense.

Derek Willis ranks fifth all-time in three-point shooting in the 7DAYS EuroCup, burying 60 of 125 attempts (48.0%). Here are some of his best three-pointers with Umana Reyer Venice in the 2022-23 season.

Derek Willis: elite three-point shooter

First, the extensions. [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/elijah-bryant-renews-at-efes-until-2025/) and [Rodrigue Beaubois](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/efes-rodrigue-beaubois-come-to-terms-on-new-deal/) are ideal two-way players for Can. They are good shooters who help space the floor, can go aggressively to the basket and are tough on the defensive end. The third player who re-signed, Erten Gazi, has not made a major impact on the offensive side of the ball in his two seasons with Efes, but is a pest defensively who should flourish in that role under Can.

Then there are the newcomers. The biggest names are [Derek Willis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/efes-brings-in-power-forward-derek-willis/) and [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/efes-lands-turkish-league-mvp-tyrique-jones/), who may serve as the starting frontcourt. Willis, a power forward, comes off a great season in the EuroCup in which he averaged 12.9 points and 5.0 rebounds for Umana Reyer Venice. More than the raw numbers, though, was his elite shooting, Willis netted 58.8% of his two-pointers, 47.5% of his threes and 90.7% of his free throws. He instantly becomes a weapon who will both benefit from the shooters and slashers around him as well as create space for them with his inside-outside game.

Tyrique Jones, Erkan Yilmaz and head coach Erdem Can went from Turk Telekom Ankara to Anadolu Efes Istanbul.

Jones, Yilmaz join Coach Can at Efes

Jones, who like Willis will debut in the EuroCup this season, is a dominant force inside. The shooters around him should help create space for Jones and when his man is forced to switch onto one of the guards, Jones is always a threat to go airborne for an alley-oop. He was among the EuroCup leaders in rebounding last season, which is a skill that should translate, too. What's more, Jones played for Can last season at Turk Telekom and was the Turkish League MVP, so he should hit the ground running at Efes.

Versatile forward [Erkan Yilmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/erkan-yilmaz-reunites-with-erdem-can-at-efes/), who also arrives from Turk Telekom, and [Dogus Ozdemiroglu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/efes-adds-speedy-dogus-ozdemiroglu-to-backcourt/) both bring the type of toughness that Can loves to see. Ozdemiroglu, in particular, should not be overlooked. His scoring average rose in each of the last six seasons with Darussafaka Istanbul, culminating with 14.5 points, 6.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game in the Turkish League. A former EuroCup champion, Ozdemiroglu has two years of EuroLeague experience under his belt and could have a key role.

These players join a team that has superstars Shane Larkin and Will Clyburn returning, too. At nearly all times, the 2023-24 version of Efes should have at least four top defenders, four deep shooting threats and three ball-handlers on the floor. Can will lead an experienced group and, if the new guys can jell quickly and the right chemistry forms, we should see the winning plan that Can envisions play out on basketball courts all across Europe.

Tyrique Jones is one of the star arrivals at Anadolu Efes Istanbul so far this summer.

Efes has been busy building a team worthy of Coach Can’s vision

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz found a young force it hopes to run its offense by signing point guard Nico Mannion to a two-year deal. Mannion (22 years old, 1.90 meters) arrives from Virtus Segafredo Bologna.

Baskonia puts Nico Mannion in the backcourt

##### Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz found a young force it hopes to run its offense by signing point guard [Nico Mannion](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/niccolo-mannion/011064/) to a two-year deal. 

Mannion (22 years old, 1.90 meters) arrives from Virtus Segafredo Bologna, where he spent the past two years. Last season, in his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague rookie campaign, Mannion appeared in 19 games averaging 5.9 points, 2.6 assists and 1.4 rebounds. A year earlier, Mannion helped Virtus win the 7DAYS EuroCup crown, but he now moves to Baskonia in search from more playing opportunities.

Niccolo Mannion Top Plays of the 2022-23 Regular Season

Niccolo Mannion top plays of the 2022-23 season

Mannion started his professional career playing for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA and the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League in 2020 after playing college basketball at the University of Arizona. Following his first pro season, Mannion played for the Italian national team at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, and was second on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg.) and led the team with 4.5 assists per game, helping Italy reach the quarterfinals.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🚨 Oficial | Nico Mannion, primera pieza del nuevo Baskonia 🔵🔴<br><br>🗞️ <a href="https://t.co/uklhCfX5mx">https://t.co/uklhCfX5mx</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> <a href="https://t.co/qBSde6ga5D">pic.twitter.com/qBSde6ga5D</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1673618501934764033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

New Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz signing Nico Mannion in action for Virtus Segafredo Bologna in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.