Name: TJ Shorts: 'We will carry this momentum for the rest of the season'
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Back in the top six and feeling good about itself, Paris Basketball still has a long way to go if it is to secure an automatic place in the EuroLeague Playoffs.

Step one complete: Now Paris must gear up for tough three-game road stretch

[Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) has amazed basketball fans all season long with its play, led by Turkish Airlines EuroLeague rookie [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) and first-year head coach [Tiago Splitter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/splitter-tiago/), and the side from the French capital put on a show [against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on Tuesday night](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tj-shorts-stars-as-paris-comes-out-on-top-against-milan-92-79/).

Following three successive defeats, Paris knew that anything less than a win would have been devastating, particularly as Milan had the head-to-head advantage after triumphing by five points in Round 2. But a 92-79 victory in Round 30 allowed Paris to secure the tiebreaker and take another step forward in its bid for a top-six finish.

The hope for a direct passage to the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs is now well and truly on as Paris's victory over Milan allowed it to rise up the standings and back into sixth place. There was a celebratory mode inside Adidas Arena after the team's penultimate home game of the season, yet there is still plenty of work to do if Coach Splitter's squad is to avoid playing in the Play-In Showdown or even dropping out of the postseason picture altogether.

The next three games are going to be vital for Paris. In the double round next week, the EuroLeague newcomer has the unenviable task of facing [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) and [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) in back-to-back road games, then in Round 33 it travels to take on [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/). However, Splitter is choosing to look at the positives.

"I think it's always great when we travel," he told EuroLeague TV. "The team, the bonding, is unbelievable.

"We go to dinners together, we stay a lot \[together\] when we travel – on the bus, airplane – and I feel like on those road trips, the team is special. Hopefully we can go to those tough places and get the W."

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">ISSA WINNNNNNNNNNNN ‼️<br><br>Face à un concurrent direct pour les playoffs l’équipe a fait le job ce soir 😤<br><br>Et que dire de votre soutien Paris…<br><br>MERCI 🖤❤️💙 <a href="https://t.co/Xo2SnipOGo">pic.twitter.com/Xo2SnipOGo</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1902112603389727156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Paris now has a two-win cushion over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Real Madrid, which share a 15-14 record but occupy 10th to 12th in the standings. Remember, only the top 10 sides qualify for the postseason, with teams six through 10 battling it out for two playoff spots via the play-in. 

Admittedly, Paris has played a game more than the rest, aside from Milan, but Shorts is feeling as confident as ever.

"I wouldn't say it's back, it never left," Shorts said of Paris's mojo. "Even in our down times, the flow is still the same. We've still got energy, we've still got the vibes. I know people are watching, so nothing has changed. Win, lose or draw, we're going to be ourselves. We're going to be authentically us."

That message is going to have to be stressed even more so over the next three rounds. One big positive for Paris is that it already has experience this season of winning on the road against elite opposition, having stolen wins at AS Monaco, FC Barcelona and Olympiacos Piraeus.

This has been a magical first season in the EuroLeague for Paris, but the job's not done yet. The mission continues, starting in Istanbul next Tuesday night.

Game News

Back in the top six and feeling good about itself, the French club still has a long way to go if it is to secure an automatic place in the playoffs

Paris Basketball v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-03-18T19:30:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Paris Basketball (2025-03-25T17:45:00.000Z)

TJ Shorts had another MVP-level performance for Paris Basketball in Round 30, this time against Olimpia Milano as the French side took a big step forward in the race to make the EuroLeague Playoffs.

Mr. Inevitable does it again: TJ Shorts keeps adding weight to his MVP case

Another win for [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) and another day in the office for [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/). It sure has been a special rookie season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the 27-year-old.

On Tuesday night, Shorts was central to everything good for Paris [as it defeated EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 92-79](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tj-shorts-stars-as-paris-comes-out-on-top-against-milan-92-79/), a result that gave the French team the tiebreaker after previously [losing by five points (79-74)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olimpia-milano-grinds-out-tough-home-win-over-paris-basketball-79-74/) in Italy back in Round 2. 

Given that both Paris and Milan entered their Round 30 clash with an identical record, and both firmly in the race for the top six, the head-to-head advantage may end up proving crucial.

Now back to Shorts. What he has done this season really is marvelous, with his latest masterpiece seeing him finish with a 24-point, 10-assist double-double, as well as 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block (his second block of the season) and a 37 PIR. It's not just the stats with him, though. It's much more than that.

Few players in the EuroLeague orchestrate things in the way that Shorts does at Paris; he is the heartbeat of this team and the one who makes everything tick. Nor did many, if any, people expect Paris to be where it currently is in the standings before the season got underway, yet that is a testament to the way in which Shorts had led the team.

The discussion around what makes an MVP is heard in all corners of the globe, but strip it down and what does it come down to: If you take X player off Y team, is there a noticeable difference? In the case of Paris and Shorts, that is 100% true. He has elevated this team to new heights, as he reminded everyone once more in Tuesday's must-win game against Milan.

"This was a very important win," Shorts told EuroLeague TV. "We know what the standings look like, we know how tight it is. To win like this at home, it's huge in this league. We'll carry this momentum for the rest of the season."

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ici c&#39;est Paris! 🇫🇷 <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParisBasketball</a> <br><br>TJ Shorts leading the fans in the post game celebrations 🥳🎉 <a href="https://t.co/68IONhWbRN">pic.twitter.com/68IONhWbRN</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1902112870432706990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Whenever Shorts went to the free-throw line, chants of "MVP" echoed down from the stands at Adidas Arena – a regular occurrence this season. Yet, particularly after three straight defeats in the EuroLeague, Paris needed an MVP-level display from its star man and that's exactly what it got. 

Not only did Round 30 see Shorts post his fourth double-double in the EuroLeague, but it is the 13th time he has scored 20 points or more. For those keeping count, fellow MVP candidates [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) of [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) and [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) of [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) have reached 20 points on 14 and 12 occasions, respectively, this season, while neither player has dished 10 assists in a game. 

For now, Shorts won't care about any of that. He was able to let his hair down after the final buzzer against Milan by celebrating with the Kop of Paname fan group, but he will be well aware that a tough stretch awaits. 

Next up for Paris, it faces three straight road games at [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/), Panathinaikos and [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) before seeing out the regular season at home to ALBA Berlin. Should Paris come through that spell of games unscathed and still sitting in the top six, Shorts is going to be a huge reason why. 

Who knows, perhaps that could be enough to see Shorts take home the MVP trophy, too.

The EuroLeague rookie had another exceptional performance in Round 30 as Paris beat Milan

Paris Basketball guard TJ Shorts spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat Olimpia Milano in Round 30 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

TJ Shorts: 'We will carry this momentum for the rest of the season'

Paris Basketball guard TJ Shorts spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Round 30 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Paris Basketball-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 30 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

TJ Shorts finished with a 24-point, 10-assist double-double as Paris Basketball beat Olimpia Milano 92-79 to secure the tiebreaker between the two teams.

TJ Shorts stars as Paris comes out on top against Milan, 92-79

Paris Basketball downed EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 92-79 in Round 30 to grab the tiebreaker between these two sides, which could be crucial come the end of the regular season. Ettore Messina's men won by five points back in Round 2, but Tuesday night's 13-point victory gave Tiago Splitter's squad the head-to-head advantage. Both Paris and Milan entered this clash with an identical 16-13 record, but Paris now improved to 17-13 while Milan dropped to 16-14. 

TJ Shorts was outstanding for the hosts, posting a 24-point, 10-assist double-double in addition to 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. Sebastian Herrera and Maodo Lo both added 13 points, and Tyson Ward poured in 11. Milan's leading scorer was Fabien Causeur with 18 points, followed by Nico Mannion with 17, Zach LeDay with 14 and Shavon Shields with 10.

Game Videos

It was a perfect start for Paris, which opened the game with a 12-0 run that included threes by Mikael Jantunen, Ward and Yakuba Ouattara. Paris debutant Mathis Dossou-Yovo entered the contest and made a near-instant impression with a dunk to give Paris a 14-6 edge. Milan was starting to get some momentum thanks to the threeball, and Mannion knocked down two in quick succession – his second and third triples of the game – before Stefano Tonut’s pull-up three made it 16-15. Shorts then scored four points in the remainder of the period as Paris led 22-18 after 10 minutes, with all of Milan’s points coming on three-pointers.

Shorts and Ward combined for five points as Paris went up 27-18 to start the period, but Tonut hit back with four points of his own, 27-22. Mannion moved to 11 points as Milan kept up with Paris, 30-24, but the hosts continued to find ways to score, first through Doussou-Yovo and then Nadir Hifi, 35-24. Nikola Mirotic got his first points of the game from the line, 35-26 before a layup by Giampaolo Ricci and back-to-back scores by Mannion, with a Lo three-pointer in between, made it a six-point ballgame, 38-32. A strong finish to the half by Paris, however, saw Tiago Splitter’s side go on an 11-0 run, featuring five points from Shorts and a pair of threes by Herrera and Jantunen as the lead swelled to 48-37 at the break.

Things only got worse for Milan after halftime, with Paris going on an 8-2 stretch to lead by 17 points, 56-39. Shorts responded to a Shavon Shields score to retain that 17-point advantage at 58-41 before Causeur took over. The Frenchman scored 15 points for Milan as the momentum began to swing the way of the visitors, who trailed by just four points at 69-65. Yet, Ward, Herrera and Shorts stepped up in the latter stages of the period in a 7-2 run, which made it 76-67 entering the final frame.

Mannion took his tally to 17 points with a mid-range jumper at the start of the fourth, 76-69, but Herrera continued his impressive night with a deep three, 79-69, then Shorts recorded just his second block of the season by rejecting Mannion. Some bad news befell Paris as Jantunen went down with a lower leg injury and had to make his way back to the locker room, but Ward and Shorts kept Paris in control at 84-71. LeDay tried his best to breathe fire into Milan’s comeback attempt, scoring all eight of his team’s points in a three-and-a-half-minute stretch, but Paris still led 87-77. The game was effectively put to bed when, following a pair of Lo free throws, the German point guard had all the time in the world to knock down a three-pointer, which gave Paris a 92-77 lead. Shields’s layup with 1:27 proved to be the final points scored in the contest.

The guard finished with a double-double in yet another MVP-level performance

Shorts with a rare block! Motorola Magic Moment

Caruso comes across to block Ward! Motorola Magic Moment

Causeur sends up a prayer… and it drops! Motorola Magic Moment

Mathis Dossou-Yovo opens his EuroLeague account in style! Motorola Magic Moment

Valencia Basket forward Xabi Lopez-Arostegui spoke with Javier Gancedo of the EuroCup's official website to discuss the club's upcoming semifinal series with Hapoel Tel Aviv BC.

Xabi Lopez-Arostegui, Valencia: 'We have to focus on ourselves'

[Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/pam/) will play in the BKT EuroCup Semifinals next week for the first time since 2022 when it faces [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) in a three-game playoff series. One of the players who remains on the team that lost to Virtus Segafredo Bologna in the single-game semifinal in 2022 is [Xabi Lopez-Arostegui](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/xabi-lopez-arostegui/005356/), who has been one of the team's pillars this season. 

In 17 EuroCup games, Lopez-Arostegui has averaged 11.4 points with great shooting (60.0% 2FG, 39.2% 3FG, 87.3% FT), 3.9 rebounds and 3.7 fouls drawn for a PIR of 14.6. He helped Valencia finish the regular season with the best overall record, which gives his team the home-court advantage in all potential playoff scenarios. Lopez-Arostegui told Javier Gancedo of the official EuroCup website that Game 1 of the series is the time to prove why having the home-court advantage is so important.

**Congratulations on a great season in the EuroCup. Not only personally, but also as a team. You have won 17 games and despite having injuries, you have been very consistent. What has allowed you to have that consistency throughout the season?**

"I think it's a bit of a team job from the beginning of the season with the goal of competing in all games. And as a result of that work and that mentality of going game by game, focusing on each game as the most important, we have achieved that goal. As you said, we have had injuries in some games, guards, centers... but I think the great thing about this year is that we have a very complete team, without any dependence on any player. Because whenever there was an injury, there was another player who played in that position and covered it for the rest of the team, and we got through it. So I think that speaks very well of the whole team, players and staff, that they have been able to prepare the games. The players have a good adaptability to different scenarios and situations. And well, we have been trying to win as many games as possible, and now we want to finish the season well, improve and use the home-court advantage in the playoffs. So far, we are happy."

In 17 BKT EuroCup games so far this season, Lopez-Arostegui averages 11.4 points on really solid shooting (60.0% 2FG, 39.2% 3FG, 87.3% FT), 3.9 rebounds, 3.7 fouls drawn and a PIR of 14.6.

2024-25 EuroCup highlights: Xabi Lopez-Arostegui, Valencia

**In fact, you scored 100 points or more in 11 games out of 19 so far. There is no precedent for that in the EuroCup. How much fun is it to be a part of this team?**

"It's fun, without a doubt. That's the good thing. In the same way that we don't depend on anyone, the game we have is very busy, the ball is moving a lot, there is a lot of intensity, there are more possessions, more opportunities for everyone to feel involved in the game on offense. And the truth is that in the end, that also helps everyone to have more fluidity, more confidence and everything comes out a little easier.

 

**This is your second time in the EuroCup Semifinals. You lost against Virtus in 2022 and also against the same team with Joventut in the 2021 quarterfinals. Do you have more motivation after those losses?**

"Yes, without a doubt. I have played in the EuroCup for several seasons and as you said, I had the opportunity to play in the quarterfinals with Joventut and then that semifinal game at La Fonteta in my first season with Valencia. It was a painful loss and I will try to be as well prepared as possible. I am looking forward to a series against a strong rival, and let's see if we do a good job."

 

**You have had a strong season. You've rebounded very well and scored many important shots, playing as well as ever. How important has self-confidence been for you this season?**

"I spoke to Pedro \[Valencia head coach Pedro Martinez\] at the beginning of the year, I told him that I also wanted to bring back this more aggressive version of myself, attacking the rim more often because I had been in a position for a few years in which I had wait a little longer for the ball. We had to play the style of play we had, we didn't have many opportunities, and I wanted to try to recover that aspect of my game, because I also wanted to help the team. So, I have been working on it since the preseason, with that mentality. I also have very good teammates, competing with them helps me to improve in that area. It is something that I think I have discovered again. I am happy about it and enjoying it. In the end, when you are loose on the court and play with confidence, I think everything goes full circle. I am happy to have been able to enjoy it and I hope to be able to enjoy in the playoffs."

Xabi Lopez-Arostegui: "When you are loose on the court and play with confidence, I think everything goes full circle."

**We have to talk about Hapoel, which also had a great season. What do you like about the team?**

"I think that since Itoudis arrived, he gave them a lot of knowledge and solidity. I think that in the last 12 or 13 games they have won 10 or 11, I think it's something like that. They have a lot of experience at that level. They also have a lot of first-level players, not just in EuroCup, but also at the EuroLeague level. They have powerful centers and they could be stronger than our bigs, but we also want to focus on ourselves, to be loyal to our style, and we also know that if we play at a high pace, they won't feel as comfortable as we do. So, we want to try to implement our style, and as I said before, try to make up for the weaknesses we may have. We have to focus on ourselves and do things well so that they don't feel comfortable."

 

**As you mentioned, the game pace seems to be one of the biggest keys to the series. They seem to be more comfortable playing half-court basketball. Is that the case?**

"Yes, I think that, because of the style of their players, they look for more half-court situations. They run when they see a situation in which they can punish you. They don't have an automatic way to always run after defending and rebounding or even after scoring, which is what we do. I think that's something very important, doing that not just for a few minutes, but for all 40 minutes. During the season, there have been teams that have held us off for 10, 15, 20, 25 minutes, but when you get to the last quarter, and you are not used to playing at this rhythm, that can affect you. You can lose concentration and stop taking care of details on defense, and that's when we can go on a run. We have to know that it is a 40-minute game and be calm in that sense, because there will be good moments, bad moments. We have to stick to our playing style."

 

**I wanted to ask you about the two youngest players in the team. Jean Montero and Sergio De Larrea. From your point of view, how do you see their potential?**

"I think they are both very good players. Jean has been playing for a few years at the highest level in the ACB. In Europe, I think this is his first EuroCup season and he has shown that he has a very good level, even though he's young. And De Larrea also had his good moments, dominating the game, being calm on the court, being a high-level player, capable of generating and scoring. I'm very happy to see him grow, because he has been practicing with the squad for a year now, and seeing that progression also makes us happy. They are two very important players for us, different, but very important, and I'm happy to have them on the team, because they are very talented players, and I'm sure they will have an important weight this season and in the future."

Xabi Lopez-Arostegui: ""If we play at a high pace, they won't feel as comfortable as we do."

**We have been told that your first official game when you were little was against your brother. Can you tell us a little bit about how it went?**

"I started playing basketball at school because of him. When I lived in Bilbao, I would watch him play. He was three years older than me and I would go to see his practices and games. I really liked it and I always played with them. And it turns out that once, in the school league, it wasn't very serious, but the opponent was missing a player to fill the scoresheet, I don't know if the minimum were seven or eight players. They put me to play against my brother's team and that's when I played my first game when I was little. I remember that my brother didn't want to defend me when we were playing against each other, so it was funny, really."

 

**This is Valencia's last season at La Fonteta, the most historic court in EuroCup history. Now that the end of the season gets closer, how much would you like to leave the building with some memorable wins?**

"Well, a lot, really. I think people, as you said, have been enjoying La Fonteta for many years, many magical nights, very good games, and we also know the value of the arena, of La Fonteta, of our fans, when there are important moments, of how they focus and how they push us to try to achieve the maximum goals. So I'm happy to be here as a player, and now we have a great end of the season ahead of us, so let's see if we can enjoy it and push hard so that we have historic nights."

 

**You've worked hard all season to get the home-court advantage. Is it that important in these situations?**

"It always is. We have earned the advantage of playing at home, and I think we have to be aware of it, us and our fans, because we can try to turn La Fonteta into a fortress so that Hapoel doesn't feel comfortable. We also have to play on the road, of course, and before that, make the most out of that first game at home. I think it's important to just focus on Game 1, which is the only important thing right now, and then we will think about the future, but we have to try to get that first victory, be the team that strikes first, and go for the series."

The Valencia swingman spoke to the EuroCup's Javier Gancedo ahead of the semifinal showdown with Hapoel

Xabi Lopez-Arostegui: 'We have to focus on ourselves'

Valencia Basket v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2025-03-25T19:30:00.000Z)

EuroLeague Weekly, Round 30: This week's can’t miss battles

AS Monaco v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-03-20T18:00:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2025-03-20T18:00:00.000Z)

The fourth grouping of All-25 EuroLeague Team members is now official with Mike Batiste, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kyle Hines, Juan Carlos Navarro and Theo Papaloukas taking center stage

Meet the next 5 players honored as members of the All-25 EuroLeague Team

The fourth grouping of All-25 EuroLeague Team members is now official with [Mike Batiste](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-batiste/ajv/), [Bogdan Bogdanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/bogdan-bogdanovic/002821/), [Kyle Hines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kyle-hines/002812/), [Juan Carlos Navarro](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juan-carlos-navarro/adi/) and [Theo Papaloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theodoros-papaloukas/atw/) taking center stage. These all-time greats join the previously honored Luka Doncic, Milos Teodosic, Dejan Bodiroga, Georgios Printezis, Walter Tavares, Dimitris Diamantidis, Mike James, Vasilije Micic, Anthony Parker, Sergio Rodriguez, Nando De Colo, Sergio Llull, Ramunas Siskauskas, Vassilis Spanoulis and Nikola Vujcic. Only five spots remain on the All-25 EuroLeague Team and they will be announced next week.

The selection process for the All-25 EuroLeague Team combined the votes of EuroLeague head coaches who had won a championship, past All-Decade Team members and MVPs, media representatives and fans. The coaches and playing greats each made up 40% of the final vote, and the media and fans were 10% each.

 

### Mike Batiste

[Mike Batiste](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-batiste/ajv/) is synonymous with Panathinaikos's glory days in the late 2000s. Having made his EuroLeague debut with Spirou Charleroi in the 2000-01 season, coach Zeljko Obradovic recruited him to Panathinaikos two years later. He became a staple of the Greens' frontcourt for the best part of the next nine seasons, helping Panathinaikos reach another golden age. Batiste’s partnership with playmaker Dimitris Diamantidis remains unmatched, as the American won three EuroLeague titles with Panathinaikos.

In 2007, he had 12 points in the championship game against CSKA Moscow, including a key basket in the final minute. In 2009, Batiste had 19 points in 21 minutes in the semifinal against archrival Olympiacos Piraeus, paving the way to another shot at the title. In 2011, Batiste led Panathinaikos to its sixth star, getting 18 points and 6 rebounds in the championship game against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Batiste was chosen to the 2010-11 All-EuroLeague First Team and the 2011-12 All-EuroLeague Second Team. After a year with Fenerbahce Istanbul, Batiste returned to Athens for a 10th and final campaign with Panathinaikos, where he remains one of the biggest legends in club history.

From the archive: Mike Batiste highlights

### Bogdan Bogdanovic

One of the best shooters in competition history, [Bogdan Bogdanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/bogdan-bogdanovic/002821/) needed just five seasons to write his name into legend. He made his EuroLeague debut with Partizan Belgrade in the 2012-13 season and one year later was named the 2013-14 EuroLeague Rising Star after averaging 14.8 points per game. Bogdanovic then joined Fenerbahce Istanbul to play under Coach Zeljko Obradovic. In 2015, he helped Fenerbahce reach the Final Four for the first time in club history. Bogdanovic added a second consecutive Rising Star Trophy in 2015, something only two other players have achieved in EuroLeague history: Nikola Mirotic and, later, Luka Doncic.

One year after a championship game defeat to CSKA Moscow, Bogdanovic shined in Games 1 and 2 of the 2017 playoffs against Panathinaikos Athens in the Greek capital, getting a 35 PIR in each contest. At the Final Four, he had 14 points in the semifinal against Real Madrid and 17 in the title decider – again against CSKA – to help Fenerbahce lift its first EuroLeague trophy. Bogdanovic was chosen to the 2016-17 All-EuroLeague First Team and to the 2010-20 EuroLeague All-Decade Team.

From the archive: Bogdan Bogdanovic highlights

### Kyle Hines

Having helped change the way EuroLeague fans view size in the paint and open the doors for undersized big men, [Kyle Hines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kyle-hines/002812/) has left a huge mark on Europe’s elite basketball competition. Officially listed at 1.98 meters, Hines is a center who won four EuroLeague championships, matching the record in the Final Four era. He holds another record by appearing in nine consecutive Final Fours.

A member of the EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team, Hines was renowned for his play on the defensive end of the floor as a three-time EuroLeague Best Defender (2016, 2018, 2022). He played for four clubs across a 14-season stretch in the EuroLeague, starting with Brose Bamberg in 2010-11, followed by championship-winning seasons at Olympiacos Piraeus in 2012 and 2013. He continued at CSKA Moscow, where in seven campaigns between 2013 and 2020 he lifted the EuroLeague trophy in 2016 and 2019. Hines finished his career in 2024 after four years with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, finally accumulating 425 appearances, 3,339 points, 1,855 rebounds, 510 assists, 287 steals and 320 blocks.

### Juan Carlos Navarro 

One of the most iconic figures in the history of the competition, [Juan Carlos Navarro](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juan-carlos-navarro/adi/)'s illustrious career with FC Barcelona saw him win EuroLeague championships in 2003 and 2010 and the EuroLeague MVP award in 2009. A deadly shooter with a signature one-legged floater dubbed “La Bomba”, Navarro revolutionized the European guard position with his scoring prowess and leadership.

When he retired in 2018, Navarro was the EuroLeague's career leader in scoring and three-pointers made. In his 17 EuroLeague seasons – all with Barcelona – Navarro was named to the All-EuroLeague First Team a record five times and he earned two Second Team nods, too. He led the league in scoring in the 2006-07 season and Navarro's trophy case also includes the 2010 Final Four MVP and three MVP of the Month honors. One of only two players to have earned a spot on both the 2000-10 and the 2010-20 EuroLeague All-Decade Teams, Navarro's clutch performances and longevity made him a club legend and a symbol of EuroLeague excellence.

From the archive: Juan Carlos Navarro highlights

### Theo Papaloukas

[Theo Papaloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theodoros-papaloukas/atw/)'s presence forever impacted European basketball as he introduced the concept of game-changing sixth-men. The clever playmaker started in only 20 of his 252 appearances in the EuroLeague, however, that did not stop him from earning EuroLeague MVP honors in the 2006-07 season, nor leading CSKA Moscow to EuroLeague championships in 2006 and 2008.

Papaloukas was the Final Four MVP in the first of those two, which memorably ended CSKA’s 35-year title drought. And as much as he has cemented his status as a legend in Moscow, where he spent a total of seven seasons, Papaloukas is even more so a legend with Olympiacos Piraeus, the club where he made his EuroLeague debut and later led to Final Four appearances in 2009 and 2010. A member of the EuroLeague 2000-2010 All-Decade Team, Papaloukas was also selected to All-EuroLeague teams in three of his 12 seasons in the competition and he twice led the EuroLeague in assists.

From the archive: Theo Papaloukas highlights

Batiste, Bogdanovic, Hines, Navarro and Papaloukas see their names etched into the history books among the EuroLeague's 25 greatest players 

Regular co-hosts Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs of Euroleague.net joined forced again to discuss which centers you should select in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge this week.

Centers are the centers of attention in this week's Fantasy Challenge Podcast

Episode No. 23 of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast is destined to be a great one in honor of greats of the game of basketball like Michael Jordan and Sergio Llull who have donned that number in their legendary career. Regular co-hosts [Javier Gancedo](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fganchetto&data=05%7C02%7Cgeoff.gillingham%40euroleague.net%7Cff2a7b4fdb8942bff95208dd654005c4%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638778047824882217%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=sVGmeHZVSTZXEoK1dfvl8YTvEa6Toa04F3Qok%2FuiEr8%3D&reserved=0) and [Frankie Sachs](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FMrEuroleague&data=05%7C02%7Cgeoff.gillingham%40euroleague.net%7Cff2a7b4fdb8942bff95208dd654005c4%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638778047824901897%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=OsbA2cH%2Fonzp6wHTixlMtT0Z7Z56BNvCYzb4CalbbaI%3D&reserved=0) of [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net) joined forced again this week, with Vasiliki Karamouza experiencing technical difficulties.

The name of the fantasy game for Round 30 is centers, with [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade sidelined and [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) of AS Monaco questionable. Moreover, a Tuesday night fixture between Paris Basketball and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan means that a decision must be made by Tuesday evening, so waiting on player updates can be risky.

Javi and Frankie discussed alternatives at center as well as how to build your teams in this three-turn round. If you are – like Frankie – among those who lost both of your centers to injuries, you have come to the right place for help! See what moves Javi and Frankie advise – as well as what they actually do – this week. And make sure your lineups are set by 20:30 CET on Tuesday when Paris vs. Milan tips off in the French capital. Good luck, fantasy fans!

Centers are the center of attention in this week's Fantasy Challenge Podcast

With injuries decimating frontcourts, decisions must be made

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-03-21T19:45:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v Zalgiris Kaunas (2025-03-21T19:30:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-03-20T19:45:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v ALBA Berlin (2025-03-21T19:15:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v FC Bayern Munich (2025-03-20T19:30:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2025-03-20T19:15:00.000Z)

In the second episode of the EuroLeague 25 Moments series, listen to coach David Blatt, Rice, Sofoklis Schortsanitis, as well as Real Madrid's Pablo Laso and Ioannis Bourousis, as they relive some highlights from Maccabi Tel Aviv's magical run to the championship title.

EuroLeague 25 Moments: Maccabi and its magical run to the 2014 title

The city of Milan will always bring back fond memories for fans of [Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/tel/).

In 2014, David Blatt's Maccabi made it to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four having beaten EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 3-1 in the playoffs. Now, they would return to the Italian city for a semifinal clash against Russian powerhouse CSKA Moscow.

What transpired was one of the most epic games in EuroLeague history. After being down by 15 points, Maccabi roared back to win 67-68 after [Tyrese Rice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyrese-rice/003367/)'s tough layup with five seconds remaining in regulation, a victory that set up a meeting with Real Madrid in the championship game.

Real Madrid was the overwhelming favorite after beating FC Barcelona by 38 points in the semifinals, yet Maccabi had a chance to win in overtime, only for Rice's three-pointer to be off the mark. Then, in overtime, Maccabi stepped up to come away with an 86-94 victory, the club's sixth EuroLeague title to date.

In the second episode of the EuroLeague 25 Moments series, listen to coach David Blatt, Rice, [Sofoklis Schortsanitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sofoklis-schortsanitis/jxx/), as well as Real Madrid's Pablo Laso and [Ioannis Bourousis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ioannis-bourousis/aqu/), as they relive some highlights from Maccabi's magical run to the championship title.

More Maccabi News

CSKA Moscow v Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv (2014-05-16T16:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv (2014-05-18T18:00:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz has confirmed that guard Kamar Baldwin will undergo surgery after suffering an injury to his right hand during a Spanish League game this past weekend.

Kamar Baldwin to undergo surgery for hand fracture

[Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/bas/) has confirmed that guard [Kamar Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kamar-baldwin/012597/) will undergo surgery after suffering an injury to his right hand during a Spanish League game this past weekend.

Baldwin, playing in his rookie Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, has made 25 appearances for Baskonia so far, posting 7.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 0.9 steals, but he now faces a spell on the sidelines.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Parte médico: Kamar Baldwin<br><br>📰<a href="https://t.co/YQLMsSSHBY">https://t.co/YQLMsSSHBY</a><br><br>¡Ánimo, Kamar! <a href="https://t.co/tffJ2tdVhK">pic.twitter.com/tffJ2tdVhK</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1901676732958040330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"Baskonia's playmaker has suffered a fracture in the first phalanx of his right hand and will have to undergo surgery," read Baskonia's statement on Monday.

"The medical tests performed to Kamar Baldwin in recent hours by the club's medical services, after suffering a collision in this past Sunday's game against Real Madrid, confirm an unstable fracture in the first phalanx of his right hand, which requires surgical treatment for stabilization.

"Baldwin will undergo surgery and the evolution after the operation will mark his return to the team's dynamic."

More Baskonia News

The injury occurred in a domestic game over the weekend

Begüm Yücel and Pinar Çiler Çağlayan are two women helping take Bahçeşehir College Istanbul to new heights in European basketball.

Begüm Yücel and Pinar Çiler Çağlayan: Inspiring Bahçeşehir College's journey

Begüm Yücel and Pinar Çiler Çağlayan are not focused on the history they are making. They understand being in the positions they are in sets them up to be role models and inspirations for others like them.

But they want something bigger: namely to turn [Bahçeşehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/bud/) into an established powerhouse in European basketball – ideally starting next season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Yücel and Çiler Çağlayan have guided their Turkish club to just four victories from winning the BKT EuroCup and earning the right to play next season in the EuroLeague.

What makes Yücel and Çiler Çağlayan special, you might ask? Both the Club President Yücel and General Manager Çiler Çağlayan are women. Strong-willed and ambitious women doing their part in breaking down the gender barrier in European basketball.

Begüm Yücel, Club President at Bahçeşehir College Istanbul.

### A story unfortunately needing to be told

The disappointing aspect of telling this story is that Yücel and Çiler Çağlayan should not be anything special because they are women. It should not need to be highlighted that these two are women in a men’s game. It should not even be a side note.

Yücel and Çiler Çağlayan should just be seen as two basketball leaders looking to do something rarely seen in European basketball: taking a club from its founding in 2017 and winning the FIBA Europe Cup before now attempting to lift the EuroCup in a matter of eight seasons, which would book a spot in the second-best club competition in the world.

“We want to stay humble and go step by step," Yücel told David Hein via [his Taking The Charge Substack page](https://takingthecharge.substack.com/p/begum-yucel-and-pinar-ciler-caglayan) ahead of Bahcesehir's quarterfinal clash with Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, [a game the team won 85-81](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-rallies-past-cedevita-85-81/). "We are still far from the \[EuroCup\] Final and we should focus on every game without thinking of the championship. This is basketball, anything can happen and it is impossible to control everything.

“With that being said, I can say that the target is seeing our name in the EuroLeague starting from next season, and it would mean the world to me personally since I was there in every step this club ever took.”

Çiler Çağlayan added: “Being just a few games from achieving our exact goal is incredibly exciting. Of course, it brings not only motivation but also pressure as it is unique to be this close to making history and knowing that every decision, every game could just define the whole season.”

Having beaten Cedevita, if Bahcesehir wins both of its best-of-three series in the semifinals and finals, it would become just the third Turkish club to win the EuroCup following Galatasaray Istanbul in 2016 and Darüşşafaka Istanbul in 2018. Frutti Extra Bursaspor and Türk Telekom Ankara reached the final in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and Besiktas Istanbul advanced to the semifinals last season.

“Turkish teams have made strong cases for the EuroLeague and it is pretty common to see EuroCup contenders from our country, which is very important," Yücel said. "Darüşşafaka were a great team with many future EuroLeague players; Bursaspor’s amazing final run was like a fairytale story; and Türk Telekom were one of the most successful teams that whole season both in the Turkish Super League and the EuroCup.

“The question we should ask ourselves might be if this is sustainable, and how many Turkish teams managed to stay competitive in Europe consistently besides Fenerbahçe Beko and Anadolu Efes. We want to stay competitive and be consistent which would be even more impressive than making it to the \[EuroCup\] Finals in my opinion.”

Bahçeşehir has been one of the best teams in the EuroCup this season, finishing the regular season atop Group A with a 14-4 record and securing a direct bye to the quarterfinals. Things have not gone quite as smoothly in the Turkish domestic league, where they have a 12-9 record in sixth place.

The team has essentially a EuroLeague-caliber roster with former EuroLeague play-caller Dejan Radonjic as head coach, as well as players such as [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/), [Mateusz Ponitka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mateusz-ponitka/004172/), [Tyler Cavanaugh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-cavanaugh/009601/), [Sehmus Hazer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sehmus-hazer/011201/) and [Marko Simonovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marko-simonovic/012711/) all having played EuroLeague in the past. Bahcesehir added even more experienced depth in January by signing [Kenan Sipahi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kenan-sipahi/005275/) – a veteran of 57 EuroLeague games – and former NBA star [Furkan Korkmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/furkan-korkmaz/005763/).

“In the beginning, our goal was to make a name for ourselves, at least reach the playoffs and make it to the EuroLeague in at worst a couple of seasons," Yücel said. "When you overachieve any of your goals, you unavoidably want more. This season, we saw the light."

### From Turkish second division to FIBA Europe Cup champs and runners-up

And the light is certainly shining bright as the basketball club has seen a meteroic rise through first the Turkish ranks and then the European ranks. After being founded in 2017, Bahçeşehir started its journey in the Turkish second division and finished as runners-up in its first campaign. It played in the Turkish top flight, the Basketbol Süper Ligi, in its second season and finished ninth in 2018-19.

Bahçeşehir was given a spot in the FIBA Europe Cup in 2019-20 season and the team stormed to the semifinals before the remainder of the competition was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020-21 season saw Bahçeşehir debut in the EuroCup and register a 2-8 record, grabbing wins over Joventut Badalona and Umana Reyer Venice.

In 2021-22, the club took part in the FIBA Europe Cup for a second time. Head coach Erhan Ernak guided a team including established players such as Sam Dekker, Jamar Smith, Langston Hall and Oguz Savas to the title, beating Italian side Reggio Emilia 162-143 over a two-leg aggregate.

In the Turkish BSL, Bahçeşehir College was swept 2-0 by Galatasaray Istanbul in the first-round quarterfinals and the club missed the playoffs in 2022-23 with a ninth-placed finish.

The 2022 FIBA Europe Cup title gave Bahçeşehir College the right to play in the Basketball Champions League in 2022-23. And the team went 3-3 in the group stage before being eliminated by Filou Oostende 2-1 in the play-in. The Round of 16 group proved too much as the club went 0-6 to bow out.

Bahçeşehir Collegemoved back down to the FIBA Europe Cup for 2023-24 and won its first-round group, then went undefeated in the second round as well. The Turkish side had a coaching change in December 2023, releasing Sinan Atalay in favor of Dejan Radonjic. The former EuroLeague play-caller guided Bahcesehir past FC Porto and Varese in the first two rounds of the FIBA Europe Cup playoffs.

In the finals, the Turkish side had a thrilling battle with NINERS Chemnitz. The Germans won the opening leg 85-74 at home. Bahçeşehir took the victory in the return leg in Türkiye but it was only a 105-95 overtime victory, meaning Chemnitz took the crown with a 180-179 aggregate victory.

## Bahçeşehir College a place of higher education

This seems like a good time to take a step back. Bahçeşehir has already established itself as a club to take seriously. But who or what is Bahçeşehir?

Bahçeşehir College belongs to the Bahçeşehir Uğur Educational Institutions family, which has been operating in the field of education for nearly half a century. Bahçeşehir College started education in its first campus in 1994 in the western Istanbul district of Bahçeşehir.

Bahçeşehir College had the mission of bringing quality education to every corner of Türkiye and began to open branches in Istanbul and throughout Türkiye.

According to the club, Bahçeşehir College serves nearly 100,000 students on 153 campuses in 63 provinces across Türkiye. It considers itself a “pioneer in world-class, contemporary and high-quality education in Türkiye” since 1994 with its practices that make a difference in foreign language education and educational models that set an example for the world.

Bahçeşehir College, the private Bahçeşehir University and Uğur Schools are part of the BAU Global Education Network, an international education network with institutions across three continents and 11 countries.

Bahçeşehir College has a total of 15,425 employees and 11,096 of them are women, making up 70 percent of the workforce.

“For me, gender equality isn't just about numbers or quotas but creating an environment of respect, fairness, and inclusivity," Yücel said. "Ensuring that women feel equally empowered to take on leadership roles and be confident in their abilities is crucial."

And bringing Bahçeşehir back to Begüm Yücel, the Bahçeşehir College itself was founded in 1994 by Enver Yücel, Begum’s father.

On top of that, Begüm’s brother Hüseyin founded the basketball club in 2017 – transferring the rights from Turkish second division side Acıbadem Üniversitesi SK – and served as its president until December 2023, when he moved to Beşiktaş to take over a second time as that basketball club’s president. And Begüm filled the presidency vacancy at Bahçeşehir.

<center>
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In addition to the senior men’s team, Bahçeşehir College have been working tirelessly to help develop young talent, with nearly 40 youth teams across the country. The club’s teams won the Turkish U16 and U18 championships in 2023, and in 2024 they won the Turkish U14 national title.

## Family love of Beşiktaş

While father Enver Yücel has been involved with Bahçeşehir since 1994, the basketball team has only existed since 2017. And the Yücel family’s rooting interests in the heated battle for fans’ hearts in the Istanbul sports landscape have always been with Beşiktaş.

“Yes, we were Beşiktaş fans growing up, and I have only good memories about Beşiktaş," Begüm Yücel admitted. "Supporting a club, it makes you feel like you are part of a huge community. In Türkiye, it is no different than having a family legacy.

“Of course, most of the fanbases in our country are football-oriented. As I grew up, I started to lose interest in football. I am the biggest fan of the Bahçeşehir College basketball team and my love for basketball dictates my life.”

Her brother Hüseyin had previously worked with Beşiktaş as well, so when he answered the call to the Black and Whites in December 2023, it was not a surprise for Begüm, especially given his love for the club.

And given her own love of the Bahçeşehir College, taking over as club president was also a no-brainer.

“I was the biggest fan of Bahçeşehir College from the very beginning and I was involved in a lot of business decisions with my family. It was a natural move for both sides, and it felt like the right thing to do,” she said. “The whole organization knew my passion for the game and the club. I was confident once I saw their support. After the decision was made, we talked about some general details. I wanted to learn from his experiences but I always knew I wanted to run things my way.”

## History being made – inspiration in the works

By taking over the reins, Yücel was also making history. Four years earlier in 2019, Berna Gözbasi became the first female president in Turkish football history at Kayserispor. Now it was Yücel’s turn. She had become the first female president at a men’s Turkish professional basketball club.

“I believe women should always have greater presence in management roles in professional sports clubs and, of course, in business as well," Yücel said. "I am happy to have taken on this role but I do not want to overthink it. I hope I can set a good example and one day we can eliminate terms like ‘female president’ and ‘female manager’ from our vocabulary."

When seeking inspiration, she always looked to her parents.

“My parents are and always have been my biggest role models. Their road to success is very inspiring and what they have been able to do for the children in Türkiye, how they manage to adapt to all the drastic changes in the system is impressive to me even as their daughter,” she said.

Yücel is aware that many eyes are looking at her. Most notably, those of young women and girls in the country.

“I am just trying to be the best version of myself while doing my job," she said. "If it inspires other women and especially young girls who want to be successful in sports business, it means I am doing my job right. I hope more and more women succeed on their business journeys.

“Having women in leadership roles shows young girls that they belong in this space, too. When they see women making decisions, running teams, and succeeding in sports management, it breaks down the idea that this is a man’s world. It gives them the confidence to believe in themselves and take the leap into this career, knowing that there’s a place for them to lead.”

Çiler Çağlayan has been impressed with Begüm Yücel since taking over for her brother.

“Begüm Yücel has not only carried forward the club’s success but with her vision, our club remains a competitive, well-run and respected organization," Çiler Çağlayan said. "Having a president like Begüm Yücel not only breaks down the barriers but reshapes the culture, broadens opportunities and drives the long-term growth.

“Begüm Yücel represents a modern, strategic and sustainable vision to club management and always focusing long-term development rather than just short-term results. I strongly believe that having Begüm Yücel as the president of Bahçeşehir College, a club now just a few wins away from reaching the EuroLeague, is not only a remarkable moment for our club but also for both Turkish and European basketball.”

## Çiler Çağlayan taking her own historic journey

Pinar Çiler Çağlayan, for her part, has been with Bahçeşehir from the very beginning. She worked with the club from its founding in 2017 as Executive Manager and remained in that post until February 2024, when Mehmet Alpaslan Aydın became a board member and she moved into the position.

That made Çiler Çağlayan the first female general manager in Turkish men’s basketball history.

“I can say it is a personal milestone and with the right approach women can lead and succeed in men’s professional sports," she said. "It also challenges the mindset that only men can lead and succeed in men’s professional sports.

“It is essential to create a structure where women take on significant roles not only in traditionally male-dominated fields but in every branch, department and position within the sports to ensure this equality.”

When asked how other leaders in the European basketball community responded to her becoming general manager of the club and making history, Çiler Çağlayan said: “I received messages of support and positive reactions from many people I have had the opportunity to work with or compete against. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank everyone who has written, called and supported me.”

Just like for Yücel, the hope for Çiler Çağlayan is that evaluation of individuals can be done on merit and not be highlighted by exclusion out of tradition or unawareness.

“While emphasizing equality, it is also crucial not to highlight discrimination even further," she said. "When we evaluate individuals not as male or female executives, but simply as executives, and the primary criterion becomes the work itself, I believe that gender equality in sports can be naturally balanced without reinforcing division."

And again just like Yücel, Çiler Çağlayan knows the eyes of inspiration are cast upon her from young women and girls dreaming of doing similar great things.

“With this role being entrusted to me, I can confidently say that I will do my best to create a positive impact and show the path exists for them in sports management. I truly believe that the hard work will be recognized, regardless of gender,” she said.

It should not be a shock that Çiler Çağlayan is helping bring Bahçeşehir to lofty heights. She already helped two Turkish clubs rise further than ever before. She hails from Ankara but grew up in Izmir and played basketball recreationally there. She returned to the Turkish capital in 2009 to study philosophy at Bilkent University.

She was taking some online courses from FIBA and had a certificate for team management, but before planning on moving to to Netherlands to participate in the Erasmus program wanted some experience.

Çiler Çağlayan wrote to Ankara-based Süper Liga teams Hacettepe Universitesi Basketbol Kulübü, TED College, Türk Telekom Ankara and only Mutlu Hayran from Hacettepe responded. She then joined the club as administrative manager.

“Mutlu Hayran was the person who taught me everything when I first started in this field. I was 18 years old, and as the first female administrative manager, he believed in me. His trust and support at such an early stage in my career gave me the confidence to pursue my goals and prove myself in male-dominated industry,” she said of Hayran, who was the club’s general manager. “His mentorship, guidance, and leadership style helped me understand and handle challenges, make strategic decisions, and build strong teams.”

The team had been promoted from the Turkish third division to the second flight in 2009 and finished first in the then TB2L regular season but just missed out on promotion. With Çiler Çağlayan on board, Hacettepe finished second in the regular season before taking second place in the postseason to earn promotion to the Turkish first division.

Hacettepe ended up staying there two seasons, being relegated back to the second division in 2013, and Çiler Çağlayan returned to her studies in Ankara.

She would later reunite with former Hacettepe head coach Alp Bayramoğlu at Acıbadem Üniversitesi SK, a newly founded club Istanbul-based club in 2014.

Acıbadem started in the third division and immediately won the league, gaining promotion to the second flight in 2015. They finished second in the regular season in 2015-16 but lost 3-1 to Balıkesir in the Semi-Finals.

In 2016-17, Acıbadem finished sixth in the league and beat Socar Petkim in the quarterfinals but then finished last in the Final Four, which was a round-robin style group with each team playing the other three teams home and away.

Acıbadem was unable to reach the top flight and team owner Mehmet Ali Aydınlar decided to give up the club’s rights to Bahçeşehir Koleji Sports Club.

Çiler Çağlayan moved over to Bahçeşehir in 2017 and started taking the new club to another level. And one of her role modes was Alper Tunca Yılmaz, who served as sports director and general manager at Anadolu Efes Istanbul from 2009 to 2024 and guided the club to back-to-back Turkish Airlines EuroLeague crowns in 2021 and 2022.

“I didn’t get the chance to work with Alper Tunca Yılmaz, but his work ethic and dedication have always been an inspiration to me. Watching his approach to hard work, discipline, and professionalism has influenced the way I approach my own career,” she said of Yılmaz, who in November 2024 left Efes to become sports director of the Turkish Basketball Federation.

Pinar Çiler Çağlayan, General Manager at Bahçeşehir College Istanbul.

## Not easy being a woman in a man’s world

Look at Çiler Çağlayan’s résumé and you have to think the general manager has really climbed the basketball ladder and deserves to be on the brink of something fantastic with the club.

Look at Çiler Çağlayan herself and if you don’t know who see is and her standing in the basketball landscape, all that hard work, sweat, dedication and grind often has been for naught.

“At the beginning, outsiders never assumed I was a manager. Many thought I was a nutritionist or part of the medical team. Some team representatives even assumed I was a TV presenter rather than a basketball executive. And on a few occasions, at the passport controls in airports, I was even asked if I was a cheerleader!”

Let that sink in. The general manager of a club with a European club title as well as a runners-up finish in a second season was being asked if she was a cheerleader for the team.

Still, Çiler Çağlayan took the high road, saying: “These moments both funny and eye-opening, showing just how deeply gender stereotypes are ingrained in sports. However, over time, through hard work and persistence, perceptions changed, and now people recognize me for what I am, a manager in basketball.”

She continued: “I never had an ambition for titles. For me, the most important thing has always been hard work, enjoying the journey, and learning as much as possible. I was really young when I started this job, and to be taken seriously took time, let’s say at least 10 years.”

She finished that statement with a smile. But her president knows exactly what she has with Çiler Çağlayan on her side.

“Pınar has always been amazing. She was our administrative manager for years and she has been killing it as the GM as well. She is one of the most respected professionals in Turkish basketball community and deserves it,” Yücel said. “It is of course important for a woman to be in this position and it sets an example, but our intention was never to hire or promote her because of her gender.”

Yücel herself says she really didn’t face many barriers being a woman in the game.

“I’ve been fortunate to receive strong support from everyone at the club and from those around me. This support has made it possible to focus on my goals and continue growing as a leader without being held back. I believe having a supportive environment is key to overcoming any challenge,” she said.

## Not the only women in European men’s basketball

What Yücel and Çiler Çağlayan are doing it not entirely unpredecented. There have been and are other women leading clubs in European basketball.

Natalia Furaeva serves as Vice President of eight-time EuroLeague champions CSKA Moscow while Natalia Kuznetsova is the Executive Director of the club. Both have been with the Russian giants since 2002 and in their posts since 2009, being part of two of those EuroLeague successes.

Natalia Furaeva, Vice President at CSKA Moscow.

Graziella Bragaglio is the president and co-owner of Pallacanestro Brescia, which won the Italian Cup in 2023.

Veronica Bartoli has served as the president of Reggio Emilia since 2020 and took over from another female president, Maria Licia Ferrarini.

In Greece, Vasiliki Belekou was the president of the club Charilaos Trikoupis, based in a small city called Mesologi, which played in the first division during the 2020-21 season but is now in the amateur divisions.

Audrey Sauret – a former FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2001 champion with France and two-time Women’s EuroLeague winner – has been the General Manager of French club Élan Béarnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez since September 2022.

In addition, Defne Patir has been the Director of Basketball Operations and Media Relations Manager with Fenerbahçe Istanbul’s men’s team since 2010.

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## What do leading male figures in Europe think?

With the cases being so few, women holding leadership positions in men’s basketball remains a highly uncommon occurrence. That begs the question: what do some leading male figures in the European game think about Yücel and Çiler Çağlayan and what they are doing with Bahçeşehir College?

“I had a lot of talks with them, especially negotiating the deal for their current coach Radonjic. Everything was at a very high level, especially their professionalism,” said Misko Ražnatović, one of the leading agents in European basketball.

“Those two are smart and educated with vision and passion. And it made them successful.”

When asked what barriers he thinks women aspiring to leadership roles face, Ražnatović added: “A lot. Their starting position is low because generally people believe women don’t know the sport, and especially basketball. More or less, nobody has experience in negotiating anything in the sport with women. They had to have a lot of patience and self-confidence to ignore all of that and prove that they are capable of leading their club.”

Himar Ojeda, the sports director of the German EuroLeague club ALBA Berlin, is confident in saying women are qualified to be taking leadership positions.

“It's about time that we all correct that. I definitely think that they have all the necessary skills to be effective leaders,” Ojeda said.

“I think it means a lot for European basketball to have a big club with two powerful women. It will give a good impulse and I really hope that the things go well there because it will open up possibilities and appreciation in different places for young women that might be coming up into the organizations.”

And while it may not be hiring a female executive, Ojeda still showed with ALBA how much he values women’s basketball. Before the 2019-20 season, he and the club dedicated themselves to professionalizing women’s basketball in their club and lead it to the national peak. ALBA’s women’s team reached the German first division in 2022 and won the German title in 2024.

“We have some women in our organization and we're trying to empower them and trying to open up situations for them. And Bahçeşehir College is definitely a good example. It will be very, very powerful. I would love to envision a time when women will be leading clubs not as an exception.”

Ojeda urged that not all men are the same and not all women are the same. But there are some traits that women tend to have, he believes.

“I don't think there will be big differences that they're women and the others are men. Still, as a general idea, I think women are less tempted to go into overpowered situations that historically we as men have been done,” he said.

Nemanja Bjelica, for his part, doesn’t know why it’s such a big deal to have two powerful women leading the club. The former EuroLeague MVP with Fenerbahçe and former NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors experienced that in the United States during his seven years in the NBA.

Bjelica witnessed Greek-American Matina Kolokotronis as Chief Operating Officer with the Sacramento Kings. Kolokotronis is serving her 27th season with the Kings.

“She was doing the same stuff. So I don't know why it's strange when you see some female running the club or being on the top of the club,” Bjelica said.

There was also Nanea McGuigan, who has been Senior Manager, Executive Assistant to the General Manager, and Basketball Operations Coordinator at Golden State since 2004.

“I think maybe women are more organized than us,” Bjelica said, adding: “Sometimes women do things better than we do and it maybe helps make it a little more equal.”

Yücel once said in an interview that when a woman touches something, everything becomes more organized and more professional. She talked more about that women’s touch.

“Mostly the intangible things and little details matter to me in this case. I do not want to differentiate anyone, but I believe having a diversed environment in the work place leads to success. Most of the sports teams do not have that and I think it gives us an edge.”

Çiler Çağlayan added: “Having a woman in the management brings a unique and positive impact on a club’s culture and values. Women in leadership roles often emphasize communication, collaboration, relationship-building, fostering a healthy and structured work environment. This approach encourages stronger teamwork between departments, improving efficiency and creating a more connected organization. A well-organized and communicative culture directly benefits team performance, morale, and long-term stability.”

One of Bahçeşehir’s players, Jaleen Smith, loves the idea of having women at the head of the club.

“That's amazing. I tell everybody: my president, she's a woman, because you never hear anything about that in European basketball. You could say she's like Jeanie Buss (the Los Angeles Lakers' controlling owner and president). But it's great to have leadership like that because she treats herself as a professional as well. She comes in, talks to us before the games. She's taking care of everybody, like the true professional that she is,” Smith said.

“And having her and Pinar is really nice to have. And it also shows growth in the basketball world that more women could be in that position and have successful basketball teams under their leadership.”

When asked how important it would be for this club with this dynamic to reach the EuroLeague, Smith added: “If we go to EuroLeague, then it's going to be… it's going to be f\*\*\*ing amazing to have a woman president in the EuroLeague with a team. That's going to be awesome to say and also to be a part of. She has her team in EuroLeague and brought it up from basically nothing to now this.”

## Former NBA champ and EuroLeague MVP as sports director

Nemanja Bjelica has had a front-row seat to watch Yücel and Çiler Çağlayan. After playing the game for 20 years, Bjelica, who calls himself "just a kid from Block 70 in New Belgrade", joined forces with Bahçeşehir College in April 2024, taking the spot as sports director.

During the 2023-24 season, Bjelica was with Fenerbahçe but unable to play due to injury. Bahçeşehir College was playing a game in the city and he decided to use his free time to check it out.

“I learned more and I met with the people of Bahçeşehir College and it just happened," Bjelica said. "I never expected it, I never counted on this. I was never thinking in this direction. My goal was always to go back to NBA, to stay there, to live in USA. But now I'm here, I'm very happy."

The 36-year-old announced his retirement from the game on March 23, 2024 and only about four weeks later on April 21, Bahçeşehir College announced that he had been hired as sports director.

“What Begüm Yücel has done is unbelievable. I never seen such a club organization in Europe. I'm not putting Bahçeşehir College into the top 10 teams in the EuroLeague. I know where we are now. But potential-wise, I'm just talking about big picture, it's beautiful, it's unbelievable.”

Bjelica played from 2010 to 2015 in the EuroLeague, the last of those two years were in Türkiye with Fenerbahçe, winning the league MVP in 2014-15. And he understands the pressure that teams in the country face, having lost to Real Madrid in the EuroLeague Semifinals at the Final Four.

“Türkiye is very tough place to work because you need to win every day. You need to win yesterday,” he said. “I'm competitor and I want to win, but I'm very aware, even though what we did so far, it was really great accomplishment.

"But what about next year? So we've got to have consistency. We've got to be professional and a philosophy or a family, like this team is completely different than other team. We want to be gentlemen, we want to behave well. It's all other small things what can help you to build some big organization. Of course, it takes time but it's a different culture.”

And all that is a testament to the work of the president and general manager.

“It's great that females are working in some sports organization. Because I believe that all of us, we are equal. So she's the best,” Bjelica said of Yücel. “We are lucky that the family loves basketball, that our president loves basketball. It's easier to talk, to explain.

"I believe what I learned most in this job, you've got to be honest. You've got to be honest. Even if you make mistakes, you've just got to say what you think, what you feel. Because otherwise, a big company or a big sports organization with more than 30, 50 people who you see every day, then you're going to lose the edge. You're going to lose the trust. So everybody's got to be on the same page. You need to treat everybody the same. You need to respect, first of all, yourself. You need to respect your employees. And, of course, I've always got to say you've got to win.”

Nemanja Bjelica, Head of Basketball Operations at Bahçeşehir College Istanbul, alongside Club President Begüm Yücel.

Bjelica has been in the game of basketball for some two decades, and what Çiler Çağlayan is doing with the club just thrills him.

“Without Pinar, I wouldn't be able to do anything," he said. "For me, it’s a privilege, and I’m really grateful working with her, and I can learn a lot of stuff from her because I was so lucky to be in the best team in the world, like the Golden State Warriors, and I saw the best from the best. And what Pinar is doing here – like her skills, her job – it's the same with the top NBA teams.

“Pinar is special and she's a hard worker. And she's like the top people from the NBA. So we are a very professional team and organized. And without her, we wouldn't be here today.”

Bjelica was asked to further explain what he meant in terms of Çiler Çağlayan and being at a similar level as NBA executives – not being asked to compare.

“What she's doing is the same way as top NBA teams," he said. "She's always on time. She comes first to the office. Always leaving last. She's so focused, she always prepares everything on time and always thinks ahead."

Çiler Çağlayan, meanwhile, believes that adding Bjelica adds instant credibility to Bahçeşehir College and its reputation.

“It was a crucial decision for the future of our club. Nemanja’s experience and deep understanding of the game instantly elevated the club’s credibility, professionalism, and basketball operations,” she said. “His experience as a EuroLeague MVP and NBA champion brings a unique perspective on team building, player development, and competitive culture.”

She continued: “His presence makes Bahçeşehir College a more attractive destination for top players, as they know they will be working together someone with proven success at the highest levels. From the start, we have had a strong and open communication, and it is very important to build the culture together also with the same vision.”

## Is Bahçeşehir College ready for the EuroLeague?

Once Yücel took over as club president, one of the first trips she made was to Belgrade to speak to Dejan Bodiroga, the president of Euroleague Basketball.

“I wanted to meet him mainly because he is in charge of the best basketball organization in Europe," Yücel said. "I wanted to learn from his experiences and we discussed the steps we could take to grow as a team. Also we talked about basketball and management."

Bahçeşehir College is just four EuroCup victories away from being in the EuroLeague and is able to boast a head coach with EuroLeague experience and many players who have played in the competition, but that doesn’t mean the club is ready for the EuroLeague.

“The EuroLeague is a different level of competition, with the teams having larger budgets and deeper rosters," Çiler Çağlayan said. "Bahçeşehir College is capable of following all kinds of requirements being a part of the EuroLeague. We have a great and consistent organization off the court also but with the help of Euroleague \[Basketball\], it will get better and better.

“We are trying to establish the right structure where everyone only focuses on their own responsibilities without taking on extra burdens. This allows each person to perform their job better and ensures that the system runs smoothly and consistently.

“There are no easy games in the EuroLeague, so also mentally we should be ready for the pressure of it and keep the winning mentality and consistency as a key.”

Let's hope that we no longer need to see cases like Begüm Yücel and Pinar Çiler Çağlayan as anything special just because they are women. Until then, let’s all realize just how special the situation at Bahçeşehir College is.

More Bahcesehir News

Begüm Yücel and Pinar Çiler Çağlayan are on the verge of making history at Bahçeşehir College Istanbul. The Turkish club is close to becoming a EuroLeague team - with two women at the helm.

Begüm Yücel and Pinar Çiler Çağlayan: Inspiring Bahçeşehir's journey

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2025-04-02T17:00:00.000Z)

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-03-28T20:00:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2025-03-25T17:00:00.000Z)

The Turkish team has won three straight thanks to a red-hot offense that has netted 98, 89 and 97 points in those victories, with superstar [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) hitting top form by scoring a season-high 25 points in last week’s impressive triumph at Bayern. Partizan has been less consistent, winning three and losing three of its last six games and needs a 10-point victory to claim the head-to-head advantage after losing [86-77 to Efes in December](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/ercan-osmani-leads-efes-past-partizan-86-77/). Former Efes big man [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) scored 23 points in that game and will be a key figure again, with his battle in the paint against visiting [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) sure to provide some highlight reel moments.

\- In Round 17, Efes beat Partizan 86-77 behind a career game from Ercan Osmani, who had career high in PIR (29) and points (25).

\- In that Round 17 loss, Partizan's Aleksej Pokusevski posted his career high and a club-record 6 blocks.

\- Efes beat Partizan 100-94 last season in Istanbul behind Shane Larkin, who scored 27 points and earned co-MVP honors with a PIR of 38.

\- When Partizan beat Efes 84-97 in Istanbul in March 2023, it set a club record by making 28 free throws without a miss, which is the second-best perfect total in EuroLeague history. Partizan was also a perfect 16 for 16 on free throws in an 82-79 home win over Efes in December 2022.

\- Partizan center Tyrique Jones spent last season with Efes, where he made his EuroLeague debut.

\- In that Round 17 loss, Tyrique Jones scored a career-high 23 points against Efes.

\- Efes guard PJ Dozier made his EuroLeague debut at Partizan last season.

\- Partizan guard Iffe Lundberg player under Efes head coach Luca Banchi at Virtus Segafredo Bologna last season.

\- Efes big man Rolands Smits was a teammate of Brandon Davies at FC Barcelona for three seasons, from 2019 through 2022.

\- Partizan guard Frank Ntilikina has been a teammate of Efes center Vincent Poirier on the French national team. Together, they won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

\- Partizan center Brandon Davies had a career-high 6 offensive rebounds while playing for FC Barcelona in the 2021 EuroLeague Championship Game loss against Efes.

\- Efes guard Rodrigue Beaubois scored a career-high 30 points in an 82-79 loss against Partizan in December 2022.

\- Iffe Lundberg tied his career high with 7 rebounds while playing for Virtus Segafredo Bologna in last season’s first-round Play-In Showdown road win over Efes.

Two teams with everything to play for conclude the round as Partizan (15-14) hosts Efes (15-14) to break their current tie for 10th place. 

Game Notes: Partizan vs. Efes

The Spanish side was delighted to welcome back [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) for [last week’s meeting with Partizan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-roars-back-to-sink-partizan-87-80/), especially when the sharpshooter promptly knocked down 25 points – including 5 triples on 9 attempts – to inspire a key triumph. Zalgiris grabbed an equally valuable victory the night before, with [Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/)’s thrilling game-winner completing[ a major comeback against Paris](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-edges-paris-83-81-on-franciscos-jumper/), which also saw forward [Ignas Brazdeikis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ignas-brazdeikis/011983/) continue his strong form with 16 points. [Zalgiris won 74-67](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-kaunas-powers-past-barcelona-74-67/) when the teams met in the opening round in Kaunas, and will need a similarly strong defensive performance after holding Barca to just 24 made field goals in that game.

\- Zalgiris beat Barcelona 74-67 in the season opener, ending a streak of six straight losses in this fixture.

\- Barcelona swept Zalgiris in their best-of-five 2023 playoff series, clinching the series with a 66-77 Game 3 win in Kaunas.

\- In Barcelona's 89-81 win in Game 2 of that series, Nicolas Laprovittola set his career high with 11 assists.

\- In a 91-69 Game 1 win, Barcelona set a new playoff record by making 21 free throws without a miss.

\- Barcelona beat Zalgiris in the 1985 Cup Winners' Cup final, 77-73, behind 29 points from Chicho Sibilio.

\- Barcelona's single-game record for blocks by a player is 5, which Daniel Santiago tied against Zalgiris on November 27, 2008.

\- Barcelona's single-game record for steals by a player is 6, which Michailis Kakiouzis tied against Zalgiris Kaunas on January 3, 2007.

\- The EuroLeague and Barcelona's record for the most two-point shots without a miss by a player, 11, was set by Ante Tomic against Zalgiris in December 2015.

\- Zalgiris big man Smailagic and Barcelona guard Kevin Punter were teammates at Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade for the past three seasons.

\- Last season in Kaunas, Zalgiris big man Laurynas Birutis scored a career-high 18 points, but it came in an 80-85 loss.

\- Barcelona big man Youssoupha Fall had a career-high 5 blocks while playing for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz against Zalgiris in October 2019.

\- When Zalgiris beat Barcelona 91-84 in Kaunas in March 2022 to end a streak of six consecutive losses against the Spanish side, Edgaras Ulanovas had a career-high PIR of 33 and a career-best 6 steals.

\- In Game 3 of the 2023 playoffs, Ulanovas posted a career-high 6 offensive rebounds in a 66-77 loss.

\- Ulanovas set his career high with 7 assists in a 90-74 win over Barcelona in March 2018.

\- Lukas Lekavicius made a career-high 8 two-point shots against Barcelona in February 2017.

\- Jan Vesely made a career-high 10 free throws while playing for Fenerbahce Istanbul against Zalgiris in December 2017.

Two teams riding high on the back of crucial victories last week will look to build more momentum as Barcelona (16-13) welcomes Zalgiris (14-15). 