Olimpia Milano has signed combo-guard Leandro Bolmaro to a multi-year deal. 

Olimpia Milano seals move for Leandro Bolmaro

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan has signed combo-guard [Leandro Bolmaro](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/leandro-bolmaro/008985/) to a multi-year deal, the club announced on Monday morning. 

Bolmaro (23 years old, 1.98 meters) arrives from FC Bayern Munich, where he started 28 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season and averaged 8.4 points, 3.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He also produced 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists in the German League to help Bayern take the crown.

“I’m really excited about the challenge that awaits me; I’m incredibly happy to join a big club like Olimpia Milan," Bolmaro said. "I will try to do my best to help the team and this great organization reach the peaks that they deserve. I can’t wait to start the new season and play with my new teammates and for Coach Ettore Messina.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Bolmaro: &quot;Felice di questa sfida, l&#39;Olimpia è un grande club&quot;<br><br>La Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano comunica di aver raggiunto un accordo pluriennale con Leandro Bolmaro, playmaker-guardia di 1.98, nato l’11 settembre del 2000 a Las Varillas in Argentina e proveniente dal Bayern… <a href="https://t.co/JQOoZMNAHo">pic.twitter.com/JQOoZMNAHo</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1810222984151306694?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Bolmaro was just 17 when he began his professional career with Estudiantes de Bahia Blanca of his native Argentina. FC Barcelona brought him to Europe the following season and after a season with the B team, he debuted in the EuroLeague in 2019-20. 

The 23rd overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Bolmaro headed Stateside in 2021 to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He also spent time the next season with the Utah Jazz as well as the two teams’ respective G League affiliates, the Iowa Wolves and Salt Lake City Stars. He returned to Europe in March 2023 with Spain’s CB Canarias before joining Bayern last season.

Best of Leandro Bolmaro: 2023-24

His trophy case includes league and cup doubles in both Spain and Germany. Bolmaro has also been a regular with the Argentinian national team. He represented his country at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and helped Argentina to a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup.  

More Milan News

New EA7 Emporio Armani Milan addition Leandro Bolmaro in action for FC Bayern Munich in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

The guard helped Bayern win the German League last season

Milan seals move for Leandro Bolmaro

Greece, Spain and Brazil advance to Olympic Games

With nine players from the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four on the roster – another who was a VIP guest in Berlin for the championship games - Greece claimed a spot at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with a 69-80 victory over Croatia in the final of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus. Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo shined with 23 points and 8 rebounds to lead Greece, while Nick Calathes, who moved from Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul to AS Monaco this summer, added 14 points and 11 assists. Fenerbahce center Georgios Papagiannis scored 19 for the winners.

Four freshly crowned EuroLeague champions – Kostantinos Mitoglou, Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, Kostas Antetokounmpo and Dimitris Moraitis – will have a chance to fight for a medal on another global stage in Paris.

The game was tied, 22-22, after 10 minutes and Croatia was within 39-40 late in the second quarter, but a three-pointer by Olympiacos Piraeus’s Kostas Papanikolaou gave Greece a 39-45 halftime lead. Calathes keyed a 0-9 run in the middle of the third quarter to make it 50-64 and Croatia never got closer than 10 the rest of the way.

Ivica Zubac posted 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead Croatia. Mario Hezonja of Real Madrid and Mateo Dreznjak scored 15 points each in defeat.

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hellas are back in the <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Olympics</a> for the first time since 2008! 🇬🇷<br><br>How far can they go in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a>?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAOQT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAOQT</a> <a href="https://t.co/v7NO3Az6I0">pic.twitter.com/v7NO3Az6I0</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1810036399225102359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Spain overpowers the Bahamas

Spain triumphed in Valencia over the Bahamas 86-78 with a player who just joined Panathinaikos this summer, Lorenzo Brown, leading the way. Another member of the Greens, Juancho Hernangomez, is on the Spain roster, but did not play due to injury. Brown scored 18 points for the winners and Willy Hernangomez of FC Barcelona tallied 15 points and 7 rebounds.

The Bahamas led 17-23 early in the second quarter, before Real Madrid’s Rudy Fernandez and Usman Garuba highlighted a 13-3 run that gave Spain the lead for good. It was 42-34 at halftime and the lead reached double figures in the third quarter. The Bahamas rallied to within 71-64 in the fourth quarter, but back-to-back threes by Santiago Aldama and Brown kept Spain in charge and later Rudy helped fend off another run to steer Spain to victory.

Buddy Hield scored 19 to lead the Bahamas, Deandre Ayton posted 17 points and 14 rebounds and Eric Gordon added 15 points in defeat.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">La Familia embark on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> journey ✈️<br><br>Spain 🇪🇸 are going to the Olympic games for the 7th time in a row 🤩<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAOQT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAOQT</a> <a href="https://t.co/LGWxfKBD5I">pic.twitter.com/LGWxfKBD5I</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1810045694599704647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Brazil advances in Riga

Brazil blasted Latvia in the final game in Riga 69-94. Bruno Caboclo of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade led the way with 21 points and Leo Meindl added 20 for the winners, who lost Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade playmaker Yago Dos Santos to injury in the second quarter.

Rihards Lomazs, who played for Virtus Segafredo Bologna last season, scored 15 to lead Latvia and Rolands Smits of Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Arturs Zagars of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul each scored 14.

Brazil scored the first 8 points of the game and then finished the first quarter with 19 unanswered points to lead 11-34 after 10 minutes. From that point, the rout was on.

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🕺 Brazil are going to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> 🕺<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAOQT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAOQT</a> <a href="https://t.co/9cG1WwpL0s">pic.twitter.com/9cG1WwpL0s</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1810019447425417463?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Puerto Rico prevails at home

Puerto Rico pulled away in the third quarter and held a double-digit lead for most of the fourth in defeating Lithuania 68-79 in San Juan. The result sends Puerto Rico to the Olympics in basketball for the first time since 2004.

Jose Alvarado produced 23 points and 6 rebounds and Tremont Waters netted 18 for the winners. FC Barcelona’s Rokas Jokubaitis led Lithuania with 16 points and Marius Grigonis of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens tallied 8 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in defeat.

Five reigning EuroLeague champs were among Sunday's winners

EuroLeague champs help Greece, Spain advance to Olympic Games

Rolands Smits helped take Latvia to Olympic Qualifying final

Rolands Smits rarely gets a chance to play in his home country. The forward, who signed with Anadolu Efes Istanbul last month, embraced the fact that Latvia is host of one of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments by leading his country to the final on Saturday with a 59-72 victory over Cameroon.

Smith scored 7 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter as Latvia pulled away down the stretch after only leading by 3 with 10 minutes remaining. He added 6 rebounds for Latvia, which will face Brazil on Sunday for a ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Smits was just 16 years old when he left his native Latvia to play professionally. The former EuroCup Rising Star Award winner spent a full decade in Spain and the last two seasons in nearby Lithuania with Zalgiris Kaunas. Now that a move to Türkiye is next, Smits came up big in what will likely be his penultimate game in Latvia for some time.

Rihards Lomazs, who played for Virtus Segafredo Bologna last season, paced Latvia with 20 points, while Davis Bertans contributed 12. Williams Narace led Cameroon with 14 points.

Brazil advanced by knocking out the Philippines 71-60. After trailing by as many as 12 in the first half and 27-33 at the break, Brazil turned things around with a 24-6 third quarter and never looked back. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade big man led the way with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🇱🇻 Latvia get one step closer to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAOQT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAOQT</a> <a href="https://t.co/uNXA7QOjLw">pic.twitter.com/uNXA7QOjLw</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1809649463285149726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Anadolu Efes forward played a big role in Riga

Umana Reyer Venice and forward Aamir Simms will remain together after they agreed to terms on a multi-year deal

Reyer re-signs Aamir Simms to multi-year deal

Umana Reyer Venice and forward [Aamir Simms](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aamir-simms/011928/) will remain together after they agreed to terms on a multi-year deal, the club announced on Saturday. Simms (2.03 meters, 25 years old) averaged 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 17 BKT EuroCup games last season, which was his first with Reyer and second in the EuroCup. He was also worth 10.6 points on 40.6% three-point shooting and 4.5 rebounds in the Italian League.  

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">L’Umana Reyer comunica con soddisfazione di aver trovato l’accordo per il prolungamento pluriennale del contratto con Aamir Simms 🤝<br><br>Il comunicato 👉 <a href="https://t.co/Op42lihmem">https://t.co/Op42lihmem</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uniti?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uniti</a> <a href="https://t.co/zXuaZSbgmi">pic.twitter.com/zXuaZSbgmi</a></p>&mdash; Reyer Venezia (@REYER1872) <a href="https://twitter.com/REYER1872/status/1809557663195246952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After a standout college basketball career at Clemson University, Simms began his professional career with the Westchester Knicks in the G-League before joining Paris Basketball in 2022. He averaged 12.9 points on solid shooting percentages (61.8% 2FG, 40.3% 3FG, 85.3% FT) and 4.6 rebounds in 15 EuroCup games in helping Paris reach the quarterfinals in his first European season. Simms was also a member of the USA national team that won a gold medal at the 2019 World University Games.

“I am really happy to continue playing with Reyer and I thank the club for the trust it places in me. This is an ambitious club and I am convinced that last season we put together a solid foundation on which to build our near future. I am happy that most of the team has been reconfirmed, I think the front office has done a great job, like last year,” Simms said. “We have a lot of work to do and we are eager to give ourselves and give great satisfaction. I can't wait to start. We want to do something important for this club.”

Best of Aamir Simms: 2023-24

This season will be his third in the EuroCup

Keenan Evans has completed his long-awaited move to Olympiacos BC, penning a three-year deal at SEF.

Olympiacos signs Keenan Evans

Olympiacos Piraeus has pushed ahead with its plan to sign [Keenan Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/keenan-evans/011218/), despite him having to [undergo surgery for a knee injury in late May](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-star-keenan-evans-out-long-term-after-knee-surgery/). 

Evans (1.91 meters, 27 years old) has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at Peace and Friendship Stadium.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="el" dir="ltr">💻✍️🏾 Η ΚΑΕ Ολυμπιακός ανακοινώνει την απόκτηση του <a href="https://twitter.com/K3vans12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@K3vans12</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/4ymojyeiuj">https://t.co/4ymojyeiuj</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1809562124747698678?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After going under the knife, it was announced that Evans would be out for between six and eight months. His injury came during Game 3 of Zalgiris Kaunas’s Lithuanian League semifinal series against 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys.

The American guard Evans had his best season to date in the EuroLeague in 2023-24, averaging 17.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals and an 18.3 PIR in 34 games, all of which were as a starter. 

The best plays of Zalgiris Kaunas guard Keenan Evans in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Keenan Evans' top plays in 2023-24

He also had a very impressive debut campaign with Zalgiris in 2022-23, posting 15.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steal and a 17.4 PIR across 17 games before an Achilles injury brought his season to a premature end.

Evans's EuroLeague career got underway in 2021-22 as he suited up for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, making 33 appearances and averaging 8.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals and a 10.2 PIR.

More Olympiacos News

New Olympiacos Piraeus signing Keenan Evans in action for Zalgiris Kaunas in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

The American guard is recovering from knee surgery

Last season's BKT EuroCup finalist Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse inked a one-year deal with veteran scorer Brandon Paul, the club announced Friday afternoon.

Bourg adds veteran swingman Brandon Paul

Last season's BKT EuroCup finalist Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse inked a one-year deal with veteran scorer [Brandon Paul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/paul-brandon/004945/), the club announced Friday afternoon. Paul (1.93 meters, 33 years old) played with Buducnost VOLI Podgorica last season, averaging 7.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 18 EuroCup appearances. He also posted 8.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in the ABA League games.

Paul is a veteran of four EuroCup and a pair of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague seasons. He began his professional career with Nizhny Novgorod, where he posted 6.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 12 EuroCup appearances in the 2013-14 season. Later, the American guard suited up for Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2016-17) and Olympiacos Piraeus (2019-20) in the EuroLeague, before returning to the EuroCup in 2021-22 with Joventut Badalona, and midway through the 2022-23 season with ratiopharm Ulm. That was also his best seasons in the competition, when he posted 11.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists. With Ulm, Paul also became a German League champion.

He has also played for the Canton Charge and the Austin Spurs in the G League, the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls and the Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin in China, and the Adelaide 36ers in Australia.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">🇺🇸 La JL Bourg a le plaisir d’annoncer la signature de Brandon Paul pour boucler l’effectif Rouge et Blanc<br><br>Poste 2-3 américain de 33 ans, avec une grande expérience, Brandon apportera son leadership et ses qualités de shoot à l&#39;équipe⚔️<br><br>📝 <a href="https://t.co/N36Ylsjp9v">https://t.co/N36Ylsjp9v</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeRedy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeRedy</a> <a href="https://t.co/CK5T1t2Ods">pic.twitter.com/CK5T1t2Ods</a></p>&mdash; JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket/status/1809272780682326159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

A veteran of four EuroCup seasons joins Bourg

Kostas Sloukas poses with the EuroLeague Trophy and his Final Four MVP Trophy

Marius Grigonis plays catch with the trophy

Aleksander Balcerowski embraces the trophy

Jerian Grant and Mathias Lessort smile with the trophy

Jerian Grant plants a kiss on the trophy

Luca Vildoza points to the big prize

Thumb's up from Ioannis Papapetrou

Coach Ergin Ataman poses with his third EuroLeague Trophy

Panagiotis Kalaitzakis kisses the trophy

Kostas Sloukas poses with the Final Four MVP Trophy

Konstantinos Mitoglou hugs the trophy

Mathias Lessort with the trophy

Dimitris Moraitis points to the trophy

Kendrick Nunn and his son pose with the EuroLeague Trophy

Kostas Antetokounmpo kisses the EuroLeague Trophy

Juancho Nernangomez embraces the EuroLeague Trophy

Eleftherios Mantzoukas smiles with the EuroLeague trophy

Dimitris Moraitis and Panagiotis Kalaitzakis celebrate with the trophy

Youngsters Alexandros Samotourov and Neoklis Avdalas pose with the EuroLeague Trophy

Selection of the best photos from the photo shoot after Panathinaikos triumphed in the 2024 championship game.

2024 Final Four photos: Panathinaikos Trophy Photo Shoot

Love him or hate him, Ergin Ataman knows how to win the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague championship. After leading Anadolu Efes Istanbul to back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022, the Turkish tactician brought his talents to Greece as he looked to revive a Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens side that finished 17th in the 2022-23 season. One year on, Ataman guided the Greens to a seventh EuroLeague trophy.

Tribute to the Champs: Ergin Ataman

<center><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C7ci6lQNTVR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C7ci6lQNTVR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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That is not to say that it was all plain sailing, especially at the beginning of the season. Panathinaikos, which made a plethora of new signings last summer, started the campaign with a 2-4 record and doubts started to be raised. Four straight wins followed to improve the Greens to a 6-4 mark, but then came three consecutive defeats as Panathinaikos dropped to 6-7 and was struggling to find consistency.

From Round 14 onwards, though, Ataman’s magic started to shine through. Panathinaikos went 8-1 over the next nine games to move to 14-8, which provided an even bigger boost in confidence for Ataman, who declared at every possible moment that Greens fans should book their tickets for Berlin.

One of the keys to Ataman’s success with Panathinaikos was an incredible home record, with his team winning their last nine games at OAKA. Even on the road, the Greens were able to become the first team to beat Real Madrid at WiZink Center in 2023-24, winning 86-97 in Round 27, and also had a crucial triumph at Virtus Segafredo Bologna, 79-81 in Round 32, on Kendrick Nunn’s game-winner to put themselves in a position to secure the second seed.

<center>
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The confidence that Ataman instilled in Panathinaikos allowed the Greek team to get over the line and finish second in the standings. Even when the Greens lost Game 1 at home to Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the playoffs, Ataman used his motivational techniques to try and get his troops back on track, saying he would leave Panathinaikos if it did not reach the Final Four. It took until Game 5, but Ataman had done it again. Another Final Four trip was imminent.

Ataman had made the championship game in three out of the last four editions, so confidence was high. Then, once Panathinaikos had knocked off Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in the semifinals, 73-57, the inevitable seemed on the cards. Despite Real Madrid having a historic season in the EuroLeague, setting a new record for regular-season wins with 27, sweeping Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the playoffs and advancing past Olympiacos Piraeus in the semifinals, facing Ataman’s Greens would be a different proposition altogether.

For the first time since the current competition format was introduced in 2016, the top two teams from the regular season meet in the final. Real Madrid topped the standings after winning its first 10 games and finished with a 27-7 mark, while Panathinaikos soared late to place second at 23-11.

Real-Panathinaikos | Championshp Game Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Real Madrid was able to take a 54-49 lead into the halftime break of the championship game, but Ataman stayed calm. As he always does. In the second half, the reigning EuroLeague champions were restricted to just 26 points compared to 46 for Panathinaikos as the Greens went on to win 80-95 and secure a seventh star. Afterward, Ataman recalled how Kostas Sloukas had told his teammates to follow Ataman and they would get to the Final Four, and what did they do? They reached the Final Four and won the whole thing.

Much like marmite, Ataman divides opinion. But what can’t be denied is the fact that he is a winning machine. After turning 16th-placed Efes into a Final Four team the next year back in 2019, he’s gone and done the same at Panathinaikos. For that, Ataman – now a three-time EuroLeague champion – deserves enormous credit.

Tribute to the Champs

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head coach Ergin Ataman poses with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague trophy.

The Turkish coach achieved exactly what he said he was going to do… again

Lietkabelis finds a familiar face by signing Georgios Kalaitzakis

7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys brought a familiar face to the team by signing [Georgios Kalaitzakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/georgios-kalaitzakis/006586/) for the coming season, the club announced Friday. Georgios Kalaitzakis (2.01 meters, 25 years old) is the twin brother of Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, a freshly crowned Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion, who spent a season and a half with Lietkabelis in 2021 and 2022.

Kalaitzakis arrives from German side Tuebingen where he averaged 10.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 16 German League games last season. For him, this will be the second time playing in Lithuania; he was a member of Nevezis in the 2019-20 season.

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Georgios Kalaitzakis has spent most of his career with Panathinaikos, where he had three stints. First at the start of his career, when he joined the club in 2015 coming as a talented teenager from Aris Thessaloniki. He remained there until 2019 and returned again for the 2020-21 campaign.

In 2021, Kalaitzakis was selected in the second round of the NBA Draft and spent the 2021-22 season between four teams in the NBA and G-League. He played nine games with the Milwaukee Bucks and four games with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA and also combined for 34 appearances in the G-League between those teams' respective affiliates Wisconsin Heard and Oklahoma City Blue.

He then returned to Panathinaikos, where he played the 2022-23 campaign. During all his years in Athens, Kalaitzakis made a total of 42 appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. He is now set to make his BKT EuroCup debut.

Georgios's twin brother Panagiotis is a former Lietkabelis player

### Enric Carbonell, Valencia Basket general manager

"We have to respect the EuroCup a lot and each of the rivals we will have, and this is how we will go out there to fight for every game, trying to be competitive in every game and then whatever happens, happens, but always respecting the competition. The EuroCup is a competition that always brings back good memories. We won the EuroCup four times but fortunately or not, that doesn't mean anything next season.

"The past belongs to the past and we have to look forward to the future, focus on this competition and give our best. Taking into account the budgets and the off-season movement, Jerusalem will go out there with a very competitive team. I see a lot of historical basketball names and a lot of cities we are looking forward to visiting and seeing basketball the way they see it."

### Alon Kremer, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem CEO

"We are back to the EuroCup exactly 20 years after winning the ULEB Cup, the current EuroCup. It's very exciting. Jerusalem has reached history, but we have a new ownership and new management, and we see ourselves as an up-and-coming club. We have a lot of value to offer the EuroCup and the EuroLeague, the city of Jerusalem, Israel, and we hope peace will come to the region very soon and that clubs can come back to play in Jerusalem.

"It's not easy to play away from home, but we were able to keep eight players from last year. So from a roster standpoint, we have great continuity. We brought some new and exciting players. Austin \[Wiley\] from Turkey and Justin Smith from Holon. So we are building a very competitive team. We are aiming high and have a very tough group, but I think it's going to be exciting. And we're aiming to win all titles possible."

### Adnan Onder Kulcebas, Turk Telekom Ankara general manager

"That's why we are here. We have an unfinished story from two years ago. I hope we can do it this season and try to get the trophy and reach the EuroLeague. This is our main target. As a city, we have only a team to represent Ankara, and people expect us to take the team to the EuroLeague level, so this is why we are here. Both groups are really balanced. I wish all the teams a healthy and successful season. It's going to be tough, but for our fans, it's going to be great to watch."

### Alexandros Gkantonas, Aris Midea Thessaloniki general manager

"It's very important for us, for our club and for our fans also. It's something that our fans want it a lot. Thanks to EuroCup for a second year for trusting us and helping us participate in this great league. All the teams are good. We know some of these teams, as we faced them the previous year. We will see what happens!"

### Martynas Purlys, 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys sports director 

"It's very important to play in EuroCup for the fans, for the club, for the city. So we are happy to be here. We are happy to participate again in the draw and to see our opponents in the upcoming season. It is an exciting moment in Lithuanian basketball with two teams in the EuroCup. That's very good, having two teams representing Lithuania for the second year in a row, so we are happy to be here again. 

"It's very difficult to predict the strength of our opponents at the beginning of July. But in a way, if you can compare the last season's teams with this upcoming season, I would say that EuroCup is much stronger. Valencia and Hapoel Jerusalem came back and the clubs from past seasons are really good, so it will be an exciting season." 

### Chechu Mulero, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana sports director 

"We are very happy to take part in the EuroCup. It is obvious that this is competition we can aspire to play right now, and the fact of being able to play against all these teams and welcome them in Ljubljana is, for us, a matter of satisfaction. We will try to give our best. We are currently putting together our team, as everybody else, but we obviously want to improve last season's results. We will see what we are able to do but for us, like I said, it is a matter of pride to be back to this competition, to play this competition. We knew \[before the draw\] we would play against Valencia and I am sure it will be special for me to be back to La Fonteta. I hope that a lot of Valencia Basket fans will come to Ljubljana when they play there. They will be well received, know a wonderful city and feel like home."

 

### Marvin Willoughby, Veolia Towers Hamburg president

"For us, it's a great honor to play and this year, with the situation with \[Turk Telekom\] Ankara, with a player who was built in Hamburg, a guy who plays in Ankara, \[Ismet\] Akpinar, it's a special game for us, obviously, so we are looking forward to that one. I think it's a bigger chance \[to reach the post-season\] than last year.

"Last year the group was a little bit uneven and we were in a tough group. But this year I think it's a little bit more realistic. We know where we are, we know that we have to fight to make the playoffs, but I think it's a realistic chance. So we are motivated. I think people in Hamburg appreciate us playing in this great competition."

Here's what some of the team representatives said after the draw in Barcelona

Group B reactions after the EuroCup Draw

### Ofer Yannay, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv owner

“In sports, you always want to be a bit better than last year. In the first year, we ended in the quarterfinals against Joventut Badalona – they scored 26 out of 26 from the line. Last season, it was a sporting tragedy. Our point guard, J’Covan Brown, got injured while we were leading by 18 points against Besiktas and we lost the game. This year, we signed senior imports – Johnathan Motley, Joe Ragland, Ben Bentil and Marcus Foster, and we will sign a few more. We also brought back Noam Yaacov, a brilliant, young Israeli point guard who played for ASVEL. We have a very good roster. For the fans, for the community, it is extremely important for Hapoel to win some titles this year and I hope this year we will do it. As an ownership group, we are doing everything because we are very competitive and we want to make the fans happy.”

### Juan Ramon Marrero, Dreamland Gran Canaria general manager

“We have a lot of hope and desire for the competition to get underway. Fortunately we are veterans in this competition and therefore we have a lot of enthusiasm \[to play in the EuroCup\] every season. We hope to go far. September will come around quickly, so we need to prepare ourselves for the competition and aim to advance from the group phase, with the goal of going as far as possible.”

### Juan Antonio Morales, Joventut Badalona president

“In this part of the season, what we are more concerned about are the trips. Most of the teams are not closed \[roster-wise\] yet, so there can be changes in the potential of the teams. What we have to do is be prepared as much as possible for the last week of September and be ready to compete with anyone. I would love to say that we learn every season, but probably there will be new lessons to learn. We are confident in the team we are going to have, we are really confident in the work that \[head coach\] Dani Miret can do for us.

"I am sure that our fans will support us because our expectation is to have a really nice-to-see game. Now there are two really important months – one to rest, one to be prepared. In professional sports, dynamics are very important. If you start playing good and winning games, everything is easy that season. If you start with problems, then you have to make changes and things become more difficult. Let’s see, there’s a lot of time yet.”

### Nedim Yucel, Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul general manager

“Our goal is to be at the same level \[as last year\], but this year it seems that the EuroCup is much more competitive. Now we have Valencia, the two Israeli teams are investing, also Bahcesehir is putting together a good roster. That’s why it will be more competitive. As a club, we are more or less keeping our basic chemistry and we believe that we have made good additions. Our goal is to be in the EuroLeague soon, that’s why we want to do our best to win the trophy.”

 

### Nemanja Bjelica, Bahcesehir College Istanbul head of basketball operations

“It’s good to be back in this competition. Of course, like every team here, we have big ambition. I don’t know how many people around Europe are familiar with Bahcesehir, but Bahcesehir is more than basketball. We have great stability, are very organized, we have communities and universities of 200,000 students, so our philosophy is to spread the word that we are more than a basketball team, a basketball organization. This is a great opportunity for Turkish basketball. You never know what is going to happen.

"Sport is a relative thing; we are super excited. Me personally, I am proud to be here in a new role. This is our first year back in the EuroCup, we want to promote our team. But like I said, Bahcesehir is more than basketball. We want to keep growing as an organization and as a team. We want to compete and we want to win, but sometimes winning is not just winning a trophy. We want to be consistent to develop the players, especially Turkish players, and to win. I think it’s going to be a great year for every team in our group. Also, this is a really big day for Bahcesehir as an entire club and community and organization, so let’s just stay humble and see what we’re going to do.”

### Rimantas Kaukenas, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius president

“The EuroCup is a very good competition, very strong. The format where six teams make it from each group to the playoffs makes it very demanding for the teams, so it’s extremely important that the teams remain healthy, that they do well because every win during the regular season matters. That does reflect on the outcome.

"This format makes you play every game like it is almost a playoff game, so you cannot afford to lose any games that you should be winning per se. But if you see the teams in the EuroCup, there’s a lot of very good teams. The budgets have increased by 15%, 16%, so that shows that the teams are really striving to play better, have better results and do much better.”

### Andrea Nardelli, Dolomiti Energia Trento general manager

“We’re going to try to \[take a step forward\], but it won’t be easy. The groups are always tough. We are trying to build a different team again; to compete, we need to be more athletic. But then you have to play. The season is going to be hard for all of us. It is going to be long, starting one week before. We hope that we are going to have the players in good shape, not many injuries like last season, which took away our possibility to go to the playoffs again after a few years. So we’ll try to work hard and have a bit more luck.”

Group A reactions after the EuroCup Draw

The BKT EuroCup Draw for the 2024-25 regular season was completed on Friday afternoon at Mediapro headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, where the 20 teams were divided into two groups.

Group A will consist of:

- Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv
- Dreamland Gran Canaria
- Joventut Badalona
- ratiopharm Ulm
- Buducnost VOLI Podgorica
- Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul
- Bahcesehir College Istanbul
- Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius
- Dolomiti Energia Trento
- Trefl Sopot

Group B is made up of:

- Valencia Basket
- Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem
- Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse
- Turk Telekom Ankara
- Umana Reyer Venice
- Aris Midea Thessaloniki
- 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys
- Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana
- Veolia Towers Hamburg
- U-BT Cluj-Napoca

The schedule for the BKT EuroCup Regular Season can be downloaded [here](https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/de3a5b0e-c3f4-4556-8a63-f7005714b556.pdf).

Each group will feature 18 rounds, with every team playing the other nine twice. The top six teams will advance to the playoffs, with the top two earning berths in the first round and going directly to the quarterfinals. Opening night of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup is set for Tuesday, September 24.

The 20 teams competing in the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup have been divided into two groups

EuroCup Draw complete, regular season schedule set

Real Madrid locked up the anchor of its frontcourt by signing Walter Tavares to a three-year contract extension. 

Real Madrid locks up star center Walter Tavares

Real Madrid locked up the anchor of its frontcourt by signing [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) to a five-year contract extension. 

Tavares (2.20 meters, 32 years old) originally joined *Los Blancos* in 2017. Over their seven seasons together, he has been one of the most dominant players in the league. 

The Cape Verdean center has been named to the All-EuroLeague team in five of the six possible seasons – there were no awards issued after the COVID-19 shortened 2019-20 season – and won the EuroLeague Best Defender Trophy in three of those. 

He also led Real Madrid to five Final Four appearances, the 2018 and 2023 EuroLeague championships and was the Final Four MVP in the latter of those titles.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pt" dir="ltr">Comunicado Oficial: Tavares<a href="
https://twitter.com/hashtag/RMBaloncesto?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RMBaloncesto</a>
| <a href="
https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tavares2029?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tavares2029</a></p>&mdash;
Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="
https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1809170156746080477?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July
5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="
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charset="utf-8"></script>

This season, Tavares averaged 9.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over 34 games for a PIR of 14.9. He led the league in blocks and ranked sixth in rebounds on the season. 

He is the EuroLeague’s all-time leader with 424 blocked shots. Tavares also ranks fifth all-time in rebounds (1,614), sixth in two-point shooting (67.7%) and 18th in PIR (3,690).

Walter Tavares | Final Four MVP | 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Tavares was discovered as a teenager in his native Cape Verde and joined Gran Canaria in 2009. He spent six seasons there and with its affiliated teams and led Granca to the 2015 EuroCup Finals as a EuroCup First Team selection. 

'Sergeant Swat' then spent two seasons in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers and with G League sides the Austin Spurs, Cleveland Charge, Bakersfield Jam and Raptors 905. 

He was chosen as the G League Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 before returning to Europe and signing with Real Madrid. Tavares has added four Spanish League championships and two Spanish Cups to his trophy case since he arrived in Madrid.

More Real Madrid News

The competition's all-time shots blocked king is a five-time All-EuroLeague selection

Real Madrid locks up star center Walter Tavares for five more years

Doctors, media, marketing and ticketing executives get the ball rolling for next season

The off-season is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the previous campaign and to look ahead to the next. Over the course of the last week, club executives came together in Barcelona, Spain, to take part in a series of meetings as part of the Euroleague Basketball Annual Workshops.

First to get around the table were the doctors, who had a chance to see each other at the Euroleague offices in Barcelona on Wednesday, June 26. There, the new database to be utilized by all teams was presented, which will enable optimization of injury statistics and improve the standardization of data sharing. The availability of players, the relationship between the competition calendar and injuries, and the use of new technologies by the medical department were all analyzed, among other topics.

Six days later, it was the turn of the media directors. Once again at the Euroleague offices, Euroleague Basketball staff members put on a presentation for the executives that reflected on the incredible numbers achieved last season and the goals for the coming campaign. In between, the directors offered their opinions on certain topics, leading to a fascinating debate.

As Euroleague Basketball continues to try and get even more people interested in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, the different initiatives proposed – such as having a greater social media presence at games, the introduction of more podcasts and vodcasts, and new all-access documentary-style series – hope to do just that.

"The Euroleague meeting between Media Directors certainly represents one of the most important and, at the same time, most enjoyable moments of the year,” said Jacopo Cavalli, Head of Press and Communications at Virtus Segafredo Bologna. “Talking about communication strategies, confronting each other on the various issues that have emerged during the very long and demanding season, and looking together for new ways of interaction between the EuroLeague, its clubs and fans are an integral and fundamental part of our work. I would like to thank Euroleague Basketball for the excellent organization, timely preparation of the meeting and logistical management."

The following day, Wednesday, July 3, the marketing and ticketing executives listened to a number of presentations by Euroleague Basketball staff members. After the first part of the session, in which the importance of the Euroleague’s different target audiences was explained the clubs’ representatives from marketing and ticketing had to put on their thinking caps as they were put into groups with their fellow compatriots, with at least two Euroleague Basketball staff members assigned to each country. Then, following a discussion about how to target one of these target audiences, one person from each group gave a presentation to those in attendance.

"Meeting the other marketing executives from the Euroleague teams was invaluable for putting faces to names and discussing how we can elevate the basketball industry in our respective countries and across Europe,” commented Victor Alvarez Esteban, Head of Marketing and Communications at AS Monaco. “AS Monaco Basket has ambitious plans for the marketing and commercial sides of the business, with the Euroleague providing key support for their implementation. At the start of the next season, we will launch a new website and an app. By mid-2025, we will have renewed our brand and visual identity to strengthen AS Monaco's presence as a global brand."

Ticketing took centre stage afterwards with a talk on the data found regarding ticketing and how this affects all 18 EuroLeague clubs, with the digital team going on to point  to the success of the ‘Buy tickets’ feature on the EuroLeague’s official website. The marketing and branding executives from the clubs also got to hear, about the plans for the 2024-25 season activations and campaigns, among many other topics.

Veolia Hamburg Towers and head coach Benka Barloschky have agreed to terms on a contract extension that will keep him on the team’s bench for three more seasons. 

Hamburg, Coach Barloschky pen extension through 2027

Veolia Hamburg Towers and head coach [Benka Barloschky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/veolia-towers-hamburg/ham/barloschky-benka/?season=U2022) have agreed to terms on a contract extension that will keep him on the team’s bench for three more seasons. Coach Barloschky, 36, has already been Hamburg’s head coach for a season and a half. He signed a two-year contract last season and still had a year remaining before re-pledging his future to the club for two more years.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">📝 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣7️⃣ ✅ Die einfachste Entscheidung des Sommers!<br><br>🔗 <a href="https://t.co/kDlFSQ9k8n">https://t.co/kDlFSQ9k8n</a><br><br>Head Coach Benka Barloschky hat seinen Vertrag vorzeitig um zwei weitere Jahre verlängert. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeoliaTowersHamburg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeoliaTowersHamburg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/easyCreditBBL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#easyCreditBBL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadtoGreatnes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadtoGreatnes</a> <a href="https://t.co/KKZhPPsn0R">pic.twitter.com/KKZhPPsn0R</a></p>&mdash; Veolia Towers Hamburg (@hamburgtowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers/status/1809150457132073184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Barloschky was promoted from assistant coach to head coach at the beginning of 2023 and led Hamburg to the EuroCup Playoffs. He had first joined Hamburg in 2015 as an assistant coach.

“I identify 100 percent with the Towers, both sporting-wise and culturally. So I am very happy to continue on the common path beyond the coming season. I thank you for the trust you have placed in me and look forward to the upcoming tasks,” Barloschky said.

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The deal tacks 2 seasons onto his already existing contract

FC Bayern Munich announced on Friday that it has signed German big man Kevin Yebo for the next two seasons. 

Bayern inks power forward Kevin Yebo 

FC Bayern Munich announced on Friday that it has signed German big man Kevin Yebo for the next two seasons. Yebo (2.07 meters, 28 years old) arrives from Niners Chemnitz, where he averaged 15.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season. Yebo played in the youth system of SG Sechtem and then joined TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen. He also played for VfR Limburg, Team Ehingen Urspring, Hamburg Towers and Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. He will make his EuroLeague debut with Bayern. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄, 𝐊𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐍 👋<br><br>Didn&#39;t see that one coming, right? 😉 Power Forward Kevin Yebo signs with us until 2027! 🙌 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yebo2027?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Yebo2027</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kaderupdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kaderupdate</a></p>&mdash; 🏆 Deutscher Meister 🏆 (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1809139984479224231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The German big man arrives on a two-year deal

ratiopharm Ulm announced the signing of Alfonso Plummer for the coming season on Friday. 

Ulm adds combo-guard Alfonso Plummer

ratiopharm Ulm announced the signing of [Alfonso Plummer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/alfonso-plummer/012077/) for the coming season on Friday. Plummer (1.84 meters, 26 years old) is a Puerto Rico national team player and is currently staring for first-placed Capitanes de Arecibo in the Puerto Rico League. He is fifth in the league with 19.9 points per game and also averaging 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds so far this season.

"I was able to watch Alfonso at the highest level of college basketball, and now his success in Puerto Rico - that made him a clear candidate for us," Coach Ty Harrelson said. "He has the ability to create three-point shots and shoot with a high percentage. We are convinced that he will fit in well with the group of players we have already signed."

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">𝗔𝗟𝗙𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢 𝗣𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥 𝘄𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝘂𝘂𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗿!🧡<br>Der 26-jährige Scharfschütze Alfonso verstärkt das Team deiner Uuulmer.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uuulmer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uuulmer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/weareone?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#weareone</a> | 📸FIBA <a href="https://t.co/wxOpo7A8J9">pic.twitter.com/wxOpo7A8J9</a></p>&mdash; ratiopharm ulm (@ratiopharmulm) <a href="https://twitter.com/ratiopharmulm/status/1809120276137062648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Plummer has previously played briefly in the EuroCup with Paris Basketball during the 2022-23 season. Plummer has also played professionally for Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico in the G-League. Before that he played college basketball at Arizona Western College, the University of Utah and the University of Illinois.

"First of all, I would like to thank God for keeping me healthy and enabling me to do what I love," Plummer said. "I'm excited about the challenge and more than grateful to be able to wear the Ulm jersey next season; I will wear it with pride and dedication. Losing is not an option, winning is all that matters to me. I'm also really looking forward to getting to know the fantastic team, the fans, the city and the culture better. *Vamos pa encima*!" 