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Latest Videos

Round 9

Look back at all the action in Round 9 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from Round 9

Look back at all the action from Round 9 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Every competitor wants a career full of titles. Cassius Winston is no different, and he hopes to finally get a league crown in Europe with Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem – especially now that the team can play the BKT EuroCup at home. 

Cassius Winston wants to finish job with Jerusalem, now with home fans 

Every competitor wants a career full of titles. [Cassius Winston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/cassius-winston/011940/) is no different, and he hopes to finally get a league crown in Europe with [Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-midtown-jerusalem/jer/) – especially now that the team can play the BKT EuroCup at home. 

Jerusalem has found its groove in the EuroCup with a five-game winning streak going into the national team break. And Winston has been a big part of the Israeli side racing out to a 6-2 mark, good for a three-way tie atop Group A. 

“We like our position. It’s a long season, but I feel like we're getting better as a team and hitting a pretty good stride right now. So it's just about being consistent and just keeping at it,” Winston told David Hein. “There is still got a lot more season to go, but I like our chances.”

The 27-year-old point guard has shined in his first season in the EuroCup, averaging 15.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists. And it shouldn’t be a surprise that the 1.85-meter guard is playing well. 

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After a stellar college career which included winning a Big Ten Conference championship with Michigan State University, Winston spent the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons trying to make the NBA, playing predominantly in the G League. 

He left the United States for Europe and made his continental debut in the EuroLeague with FC Bayern Munich in 2022-23, where he averaged 11.0 points and 3.4 assists. Winston moved onto Tofas Bursa in Turkiye the following season and spent the 2024-25 campaign in Italy playing for Reggio Emilia. 

Winston played internationally the last two seasons in the Basketball Champions League – both times losing in the quarterfinals of the playoffs to a Spanish club. 

This off-season he was attracted to the move to Israel and Jerusalem. 

“It was just a great opportunity, a legendary club. I knew they were trying to do some really special things. And I just wanted to be a part of that; I wanted to be a part of something that can be that major,” he said. “I definitely wanted to come and play with all this talent and just see where I could impact the game and help the team out.”

Jerusalem would love to get to the EuroLeague, and Winston wouldn’t mind being there again, too. Each season since leaving Bayern, he has been able to measure himself against two EuroLeague teams in his domestic leagues: Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in Turkiye, and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and Virtus Bologna in Italy. 

“It's always the goal to play at the highest level possible and go there and contribute, and show that you can compete at that level, too. So, it's a great opportunity and a great situation to help this team and help myself in the process,” he said. 

When asked how motivated he feels to get back to the EuroLeague, Winston answered: “It's up there. I just want to play at the highest level and whatever is best for me. I know the EuroLeague is filled with really good players and really good competition. So if I get an opportunity, I would love to challenge myself against the best, always.”

Through his time in Europe, this season with Jerusalem is the first opportunity for Winston to play with someone for a second time. Winston and [Austin Wiley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/austin-wiley/013278/) played together at Tofas and really provided a strong point guard-big man combo. 

“We had a really good year in Tofas – just our chemistry and how we played together. And it carried over into this year, just reading each other, knowing each other's spots, just going out there playing with somebody that dominant. It always helps make the game easier on us as guards,” Winston said.

The top plays of Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem guard Cassius Winston through the first eight rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Cassius Winston's best plays this season

Wiley had joined Jerusalem after that year at Tofas while Winston went to Italy. And Winston said he talked to Wiley about a move to Israel.

“I talked to him just to see how things were, how he liked the coaches and the game and the play style. And he loved it. He told me I would enjoy it and that I would do well here, so it was nothing but good things to say.”

While things have gone well with Wiley and the rest of the team, one thing Winston hasn’t experienced yet is the home crowd for a Jerusalem game in the EuroCup. Games in the EuroCup have not been played in Israel since October 2023, but that will change on December 9 when Jerusalem hosts Veolia Towers Hamburg. 

"Oh, man. It's super exciting. I've seen how the fans get here for our \[Israeli League\] home games, so I know they're going to show up for those games too, and it's going to be cool to add that environment to the EuroCup games,” he said. 

“It's kind of hard going out there and playing in empty gyms with no fans. So to have that extra support, an extra teammate with us, it's going to be a huge lift for us.”

Jerusalem has already shown it can challenge for the EuroCup title, but Winston believes EuroCup games at home in Israel will make a major difference. 

“I think it changes the whole dynamic. You don’t have to travel. You can be at home, prepare for the games on a more normal normal schedule. I can only imagine how much this will help us as a team from top to bottom,” he said. 

Winston captured a Big Ten regular season crown and Big Ten Tournament title with Michigan State. And he helped Bayern win the German Cup and Jerusalem secure the 2025 Israeli Super Cup. But there is still that elusive league crown on the European continent, as well as a possible EuroCup championship, to fight for. And that push will become stronger now that Jerusalem's home fans are back at EuroCup games. 

More Hapoel Jerusalem News

The guard is still looking for his first league title in Europe

Joseph Girard III remembers the 2011 NCAA Tournament like it was yesterday. Brigham Young University stormed into the Sweet 16 with one of the most thrilling players in the country, Jimmer Fredette, who had captivated the United States. And Girard was one of his biggest fans. 

Joseph Girard carrying on tradition from Jimmer Fredette 

[Joseph Girard III](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/joseph-girard-iii/013856/) remembers the 2011 NCAA Tournament like it was yesterday. Brigham Young University stormed into the Sweet 16 with one of the most thrilling players in the country, [Jimmer Fredette](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jimmer-fredette/009842/), who had captivated the United States. And Girard was one of his biggest fans. 

Fifteen years later, Girard is playing for [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/) in the BKT EuroCup and carrying on the tradition of Fredette, as they are the only two players to have their numbers retired from Glen Falls High School in New York. 

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGHOD17x7v6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Joseph Girard III (@jg3____)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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Girard has had his moments in his first EuroCup season, most notably his 16-point outburst in Cedevita’s Round 3 home victory over Aris Thessaloniki Betsson. The 25-year-old is averaging 7.8 points while shooting 38.9% on three-pointers to go with 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists.  

“Obviously this is a big jump and I knew that,” Girard told David Hein when asked about his move from Nevezis Kedainiai last season in Lithuania to Cedevita in the EuroCup and Adriatic League. “No matter if it's the EuroCup or ABA League, it's always going to be a tough opponent. So each game brings something different, but it'll always be a tough game. And you have to be mentally ready each and every night.”

Girard scoring 16 points in a EuroCup game shouldn’t be a surprise given his past of putting the ball in the basket. 

Last season with Nevezis, he led the Lithuanian League in scoring with 21.0 points per game while shooting 54% on two-pointers, 41.5% on threes and 90.8% on free throws, in addition averaging to 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists, in his first professional season. 

“I was confident in what I was doing. My coaches were confident in me. My teammates were confident in me. And we had a really good team. It just didn't show up in the record,” said Girard, referring to the team’s 11-25 mark last season. 

Girard was a deadly scorer in college too, averaging at least 12.4 points in four of his five years while contributing at least 2.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game as well. And in two seasons he knocked down at least 40% of his three-pointers. 

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His scoring goes back to high school, where he averaged 48.5 points per game his senior season – winning the New York state high school championship with Glen Falls on a buzzer-beater in the final. Girard even averaged 50.0 points in his junior season. 

The 1.85-meter guard ended up being the all-time leading scorer in the state of New York, no small feat when you consider all the great players who have come from the state, including those from New York City. 

“It's huge. Just talking about it, it still doesn't really hit me yet because I'm still playing,” he said. “To have that happen and to see where all the hard work went and how it all played out, it was just magical. And I'm blessed to have that kind of record.”

Girard even being the leading scorer in his high school history is a feat considering Jimmer Fredette starred in the upstate school from 2003 to 2007 and scored more than 2,400 points. Fredette then had a successful college career at Brigham Young University before spending parts of six seasons in the NBA and ultimately finishing abroad, including the 2019-20 season with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in the EuroLeague. 

Girard was born in 2000 and was four or five years old when he was around Fredette’s high school team, because his father was the head coach of the girl’s basketball team. A young Joseph followed Jimmer’s entire career, with his biggest memory coming on March 24, 2011 – BYU facing Florida in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. 

“Third grade. I just have it vividly in my memory. The whole school shut down to watch his game. Every room had the game on their TV. Just watching it with my friends. Everybody rooting for them,” Girard said of Fredette scoring 32 points but losing to Florida in overtime, 83-74, in his last game for BYU. 

A couple of months later, Girard was at the Glen Falls Civic Center for the NBA Draft party for Fredette, who was in attendance at the draft itself down state in New York City. He said basically the whole city of Glen Falls came to the party to root for Jimmer, who was selected No. 10 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks but traded to the Sacramento Kings. 

Another big Jimmer memory for Girard was when he, most of his family and much of Glen Falls travelled down to New York to see Fredette play against the New York Knicks. 

The best plays of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana guard Joseph Girard through the first eight rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Joseph Girard's top plays this season

Girard has been lucky to still have a close relationship with Fredette over the years. 

“It was a fortunate thing. It's something that you can only dream about,” he remembered. “That's the guy who, when I was running around the gym and could barely reach the hoop, I was watching and trying to be like. And then, there's a time where I got pretty good at the game and he started helping me. So we would work out. He'd come home to Glens Falls for like two weeks, maybe a summer, and during that time he would help me out and go to the gym with me.” 

Fredette showed Girard what made him successful at college and then later what made him successful as a pro. 

Fredette retired from the game in April 2025 and Girard still has contact with him, in addition to seeing his parents, who still live in Glen Falls. 

“I still talk to Jimmer. He still reaches out. He'll slide up sometimes on Instagram, congratulating me on a big game or something. It's a great relationship. He's just a great guy overall, and it's helped me out a lot.”

Girard is also a sneaker head with a room full of shoes back home at his parents’ place. Among them are two pairs of Fredette’s shoes – neither of them having ever been worn. 

They will always be a reminder of how great Jimmer was and how he helped Girard become the next big thing from Glen Falls, New York.

More Cedevita Olimpija News

The Cedevita Olimpija guard went to the same high school as the former NBA star

Veolia Towers Hamburg has announced that forward Justin Edler-Davis is leaving the club after both sides agreed to terminate the contract

Hamburg releases forward Edler-Davis 

[Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/veolia-towers-hamburg/ham/) has announced that forward [Justin Edler-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/justin-edler-davis/013933/) is leaving the club after both sides agreed to terminate the contract. The 27-year-old American played 16 official games for Hamburg during the 2025–26 season, including 8 in the BKT EuroCup. Edler-Davis averaged 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in those EuroCup games.

“Justin was always exemplary as a person and brought great energy in practice,” said Towers sporting director Marvin Willoughby. “However, he was unable to reach the performance level and role we had envisioned. We thank him for his efforts and wish him all the best for his future.”

Edler-Davis becomes the third player to leave Hamburg within the first third of the season, joining Eric Reed and Carlos Stewart.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">📢 In beiderseitigem Einvernehmen haben wir an diesem Wochenende die Zusammenarbeit mit Forward Justin Edler-Davis beendet.<br>ℹ️ <a href="https://t.co/jRTrQT8e4X">https://t.co/jRTrQT8e4X</a><br><br>Thank you Justin, we wish you all the best for your future! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeoliaTowersHamburg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeoliaTowersHamburg</a></p>&mdash; Veolia Towers Hamburg (@hamburgtowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers/status/1994738000086061359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

The latest Hamburg news

The American forward averaged 8.5 points in the EuroCup before agreeing to leave the club

Hamburg releases forward Edler-Davis

Lietkabelis Panevezys has bolstered its frontline by signing veteran Lithuanian forward Justas Furmanavicius for the remainder of the season

Justas Furmanavicius strengthens Lietkabelis’s frontcourt depth

Lietkabelis Panevezys has bolstered its frontline by signing veteran Lithuanian forward Justas Furmanavicius for the remainder of the season. Furmanavicius (2.01 meters, 31 years old) will help fill the void left by Vytenis Lipkevicius, who could miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.

He arrives from Polish side Anwil Wloclawek, where he averaged 4.0 points per game across six Polish Basketball League appearances this season. Last season Furmanavicius played in Serbia, where he averaged 11.8 points and 3.3 rebounds over 22 Adriatic League games for Borac Cacak.

Furmanavicius last played in Lithuania during the 2023-24 campaign with Gargzdai and Jonava. He previously suited up for Lithuanian sides Siauliai, Dzukija, Pieno Zvaigzdes and Pasvalys as well as for Greece’s Kastoria. Furmanavicius is expected to make his EuroCup debut on Thursday against the London Lions.

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The veteran forward brings scoring, versatility, and experience to Panevezys

Venice has provided inspiration to many in the art world over thousands of years. Given that, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one day Denzel Valentine writes a song about the Italian city. Yes, Denzel Valentine of Umana Reyer Venice – the former NBA guard who has released three full-length albums in the last five years.

Denzel Valentine living his evolution through “The Journey” and other music 

Venice has provided inspiration to many in the art world over thousands of years. Given that, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one day [Denzel Valentine](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/denzel-valentine-/013930/) writes a song about the Italian city. Yes, Denzel Valentine of [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) – the former NBA guard who has released three full-length albums in the last five years.

Valentine released his latest single “Like McGrady” on September 25 of this year, a year which also saw him bring out the “Plead the 5th” single in late July, the seven-track album “Part-Time” in mid-May and even the 12-track album “The Journey” in late January. 

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The album cover for “The Journey” features Valentine in a collage of photos over the years, including wearing jerseys of the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA, the NBA G League’s Windy City Bulls and Maine Celtics, Michigan State Spartans from college, as well as his high school J.W. Sexton and Italian club Trieste from last season. 

“I like to separate music and basketball, but also at the same time intertwine them,” Valentine told David Hein. “So, because I'm a realist and don’t like to lie and exaggerate stuff. ‘The Journey’ is just about my life experiences, what I've experienced to this point. And I just wanted to share that through music with everybody who wants to choose to listen to it. 

“Also, I feel like I've gotten better as well. So I just had fun with it. I just made some songs, just kind of went in the studio and did my thing and it came out. It was a great turnout.”

“The Journey” was recorded in the summer of 2024 in Chicago with his producer and engineer Kylann Griffin, with whom he has worked since 2017.

The “Part-Time” cover, meanwhile, features two pictures of Valentine in a Trieste uniform. And that was actually recorded last season in Italy. Jayce Johnson, his teammate from last season, is listed as co-writer for all seven songs. 

“Jayce actually came up with the name,” said Valentine. “We were trying to figure out a name for the project, and he was like, ‘Part-Time,’ because literally that’s what we are. We’re basketball players, but you have a life outside of it, so we’re part-time artists. So that’s why we named it ‘Part-Time.’”

He said Johnson would always be singing in the locker room and was pretty good. 

“I’m like, ‘Bro, I've got to get you in the studio.’ We went in there our first time in February, maybe. And the first song on the album is called ‘Loose’. That was his first time ever doing a song, and he was so good from day one. I said you’re a natural. And that’s how we hit it off,” Valentine remembered. 

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJwK_0msKut/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Denzel Valentine (@denzelvalentine)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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Valentine has three albums, two EPs and 15 singles listed on Spotify.

The other album, “517: Made Me”, includes 11 songs and references the 517 area code in the United States, designated for the area around his home city of Lansing, Michigan. And the EPs are the four-track “It’s Bout Time” from June 2024 and the November 2022 release “Life Is What You Make It” with five songs from November 2022. 

Valentine said his favorite songs are “Wreck” from “The Journey”, “Come Vibe” from “It’s Bout Time”, and “On Sight” from “517 : Made Me”.

The song that probably means the most to him, he said, is “Blackout” from “The Journey”. 

“I’ve listened to that song multiple times and shed tears to it. It’s about my journey, how I grew up, and the struggles I’ve dealt with. It’s about all the hard work and sacrifice my parents made to get me here,” he said.

Valentine started off with straight rap music but then did some R&B and the pop music. Then the influence of Johnson showed he could do some alternative, borderline rock songs.

Even though basketball is his true love, Valentine said music provides an important release as a hobby. 

“I feel like I am able to express my true feelings when I’m in the studio, and it kind of releases a dopamine,” he admitted. “I feel mentally better. It’s crazy. I always feel so much better after I go in the studio. And then the songs, they last a lifetime.”

Valentines listens to his songs and that gives him a great vibe, too. 

“It reminds you of a great time that you had and how you were feeling at the time. It kind of motivates you to succeed and keep going,” he said. “It also gives me confidence too, because I’m like,  ‘Dang, I actually made that.’ It’s kind of mixed emotions with it, but it’s all positive.”

Valentine is currently helping Reyer in the fight to make the BKT EuroCup Playoffs, with holding a 4-4 record in the national team break. And the 32-year-old is playing a strong role, averaging 7.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and a team-high 4.9 assists while shooting 34.1% on three-pointers. 

That comes after a very solid campaign last year in Trieste, his first full season in Europe. 

“I was playing for something, playing for the pride of a city, playing for the pride of the league, trying to get a championship. It felt really good to improve and reinvent myself in year nine. And I wanted to take that energy into this year and have another great year,” he said. 

He now wants to leave a footprint in Europe.

“I feel like the new challenge is to show Europe and the world who Denzel Valentine is and what I can bring to an organization and a team. And that's winning, good vibes, and just the joy of basketball. And I think I have a platform to do that now with the opportunity that this team has given me,” he said.

And the added bonus of making music on top. 

When asked if Venice has inspired him, he answered: “Oh, definitely. Music videos are coming: water taxis, gondolas, all that. I’ve got some stuff planned, for sure.”

The top plays of Umana Reyer Venice guard Denzel Valentine through the first eight rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Denzel Valentine's best plays this season

More Reyer News

Reyer’s former NBA guard has released three full-length albums since 2020

Things in Europe are very new for Malachi Flynn, who is spending his first season on the Old Continent. Shifting his focus from an NBA career, the Bahcesehir College Istanbul point guard will always know that he can score. He proved that by scoring 50 points in an NBA game. 

From 50 in the NBA to leading Bahcesehir: Malachi Flynn’s journey

Things in Europe are very new for Malachi Flynn, who is spending his first season on the Old Continent. Shifting his focus from an NBA career, the Bahcesehir College Istanbul point guard will always know that he can score. He proved that by scoring 50 points in an NBA game.

Flynn has already made a strong transition to the European game as he is averaging 18.6 points for the first-place team in Group A in the BKT EuroCup. The 27-year-old made 223 appearances in the NBA, and none left as big an impression as the game on April 3, 2024.

Flynn started the 2023-24 season with the Toronto Raptors and around the New Year was moved to the New York Knicks. Then, in early February 2024, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons. The 1.85-meter-tall guard totaled just 41 points in his first 12 games with the Pistons. He averaged 11.4 points over the next five and then came the road game against the Atlanta Hawks.

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Flynn was given the starting nod and he started on fire. The Pistons were trailing the entire game and Flynn was just trying to keep the team close. He hit shot after shot and got one pass after the next and in the end, he poured in 50 points - albeit in a 121-113 loss. Flynn made 18 of 25 shots - including 5 of 9 from long range - to go with 9 of 12 free throws. He added 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.

“The biggest thing is I wish we would have won the game. It would have felt a lot better if we won and not had 50, but at the end of the day, it was a good performance,” said Flynn.

“It was just an ordinary day, honestly. I didn't know if I was going to play or not that day. I found out a couple of minutes before game time that I would. And the hoop just got bigger and bigger. I got some easy buckets, and before I knew it, it was there.”

He became the third player in NBA history to score 50 points as a reserve, joining Nick Anderson and Jamal Crawford.

“It was definitely something cool to look back on. And coming off the bench and doing it with Jamal Crawford was real cool because he's someone who I've looked up to in the area of Tacoma and Seattle,” said the Tacoma native.

Flynn, who was born and raised in Tacoma, said he had scored 46 points in a high school game but otherwise nothing close. He said it’s not a shock that he scored 50 points with players pouring in 60 and 70 points nowadays, and he knowing his scoring and shooting abilities.

But the performance does give him the confidence to know that he can do as much scoring as his team needs.

“I'm not saying I'm gonna just go out and score 50 all the time, but I think I'm capable of putting the ball in the hole or making plays for others. It's just sometimes about situation, opportunity, and I feel like I'm a player that can have those type of games.”

That was the best performance in his five-year career, which saw him bounce between the NBA and G League. After half a decade of going back and forth, Flynn was ready to give Europe a try. And he had those lessons of the unknown to help him be prepared for his season with Bahcesehir.

“I'd never been in Europe, so I am just kind of going with the flow, seeing how it is out here. The games are a little different and I am just going game by game and trying to learn the game, see the differences and then just continuing to be open to new things because it's a different league and a different style,” said Flynn, who has also averaged 4.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.9 steals through his first seven EuroCup games.

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One teammate who has helped his adjustment is Matthew Mitchell, who Flynn played alongside in his final season at San Diego State University.

“It’s great. Even just off the court, being around Matt, being around him from San Diego State to now, nothing’s changed. He’s a great person to be around. And for me, my first year coming overseas, it made it a little easier just kind of knowing, being familiar with someone that I was already around and someone that I trust to give me the feel on things,” Flynn said.

Flynn’s first game in European competition was already a special one as Bahceshir was taking on U-BT Cluj-Napoca. And playing at the other end was Nathan Mensah, who played with Mitchell and Flynn at SDSU in 2019-20 and helped the team put together a 30-2 record.

“That year in San Diego was all special for us. We got to know each other really well. And then it’s crazy how life works. I end up teaming up with Matt five years later, and then our first game, we play Nate. So it’s just funny to see how life works,” Flynn said.

It’s all part of a new life experience like the one he is experiencing with Bahcesehir.

More Bahcesehir News

Flynn reflects on his record-setting NBA performance and his smooth transition to European basketball

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Feature Stories

Latest transactions

If you want to succeed in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge, you need to find the hot players at the right prices. Here are five to consider this week.

Round 11 fantasy tips: Uncovering value

The secret to success in the [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) is maximizing value. That means getting points from your cheapest players, picking up others when they are hot and getting the superstars that you can afford. As we head into Round 11, there are players who fit those criteria available. Before you finalize your team, consider these options.  

[Kamar Baldwin, Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kamar-baldwin/012597/) (11.0 credits) – It looks like Kamar Baldwin has found his groove. The combo-guard, who in playing his first EuroCup season, missed a pair of games early in the season and only posted a PIR of double figures once in his first five appearances. Since then, however, Baldwin has averaged 14.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.0 steals for a PIR of 19.7 over his last three games. He is now the go-to guy in the Trento backcourt. 

[Sam Dekker, London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/) (15.1 credits) – This is a calculated risk. When healthy, Dekker is a dominant fantasy – and real life – force. Since his return from injury, Dekker has played limited minutes (12:44 per game) and as a result, his fantasy price has dropped by 0.7 credits. He played nearly double that in the British League on Friday and was in uniform for 14 more minutes in domestic action on Sunday. This week London plays Hamburg, which has allowed the most points in the EuroCup this season (96.9 ppg.). This may be the time to invest in Dekker. 

EuroCup Round 11 Fantasy tips

[L.J. Figueroa, ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/lj-figueroa/012603/) (11.8 credits) – Here are three encouraging facts about LJ Figueroa. He is coming off his best game (20 points, 23 PIR). His previous best game came against this week’s opponent, Dreamland Gran Canaria, in Round 2 (19 points, 20 PIR). His last three games have been his best three-game stretch of the season with averages of 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals, PIR 17.3. Is it Figueroa time? 

[Marvin Jones, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/marvin-jones/010248/) (9.4 credits) – Marvin Jones’s role in the Buducnost offense has grown in recent weeks. He has averaged 18.5 points and 4.0 rebounds for a PIR of 22.5 over his last two appearances. Jones has taken at least 10 shots in both of those games after not attempting more than 7 in any previous game this season. Jones struggled against this week’s opponent, Turk Telekom Ankara, in Round 2 with a PIR of -2, however, this is a home game and Jones, Buducnost and Turk Telekom are in different places today than they were in early October. 

[Jovan Kljajic, Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jovan-kljajic/007560/) (4.6 credits) – One of the best cheap options in the game is Jovan Kljajic, who has continued to offer very good production for his price in recent weeks. Since Round 8, he has averaged 7.7 points and a PIR of 8.3. The outside shots have not been falling; Kljajic is shooting just 17.4% from downtown. Imagine what might happen if he heats up? Plus, Kljajic plays on Tuesday this week, so there is little risk. 

EuroCup Round 9: Top 10 plays

Check out the best plays of Round 9 and see who made the best of them

A dominant individual performance in a big home win allowed [Ante Zizic](http://euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-zizic/004554/) of Besiktas GAIN Istanbul to earn Round 9 MVP honors with a PIR of 36.

Zizic led Besiktas to a 101-83 home victory over Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens with a career-high 18 points on 6-of-8 two-pointers and 6-of-9 free throws, 13 rebounds, 2 steals and 9 fouls drawn for a personal-best PIR of 36. Zizic earned MVP of the Round honors for the first time in his career, becoming the fifth Besiktas player to do so after Kaya Peker, Preston Shumpert, Mire Chatman (twice) and Angel Delgado, the last player to secure this individual award in the 2023-24 season.

Mitch Creek of U-BT Cluj-Napoca had a PIR of 35 in his team's 88-98 road win over Aris Thessaloniki Betsson. He had 27 points on 8-of-9 two-pointers, 1-of-4 three-pointers and 8-of-10 free throws, adding 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 7 fouls drawn.

Tarik Phillip of the London Lions reached a PIR of 32 in his team's 61-74 road victory over Lietkabelis Panevezys. Phillip finished the game with 15 points on 3-of-6 two-pointers, 1-of-4 three-pointers and 6-of-6 free throws, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 8 fouls drawn.

Both Gach of Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse, with a PIR of 30, and Giorgos Tsalmpouris of Panionios, who reached a PIR of 29, complete the top individual performances in Round 9. Gach posted 22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 fouls drawn in Bourg’s 88-73 win over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, while Tsalmpouris had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 fouls drawn as Panionios lost to Besiktas.

### Individual highs: Balsa Koprivica, Besiktas, 6 blocks

Mitch Creek of Cluj was this round's top scorer with 27 points. His teammate Fatts Russell is the competition's top scorer with 22.0 points per game.

Ante Zizic of Besiktas led all rebounders by pulling down 13 in Round 9. Zacharie Perrin of Veolia Towers Hamburg ranks first overall with 8.2 rebounds per night.

Hugo Benitez of BAXI Manresa was the only player to reach double digits in assists in Round 9, dishing 10. Arnas Velicka of Neptunas Klaipeda ranks first in assists with 8.0 per night.

As many as nine players collected 3 steals apiece in this round: Fatts Russell of Cluj, Jonah Mathews of Besiktas, Juwan Morgan of Buducnost, Michael Devoe of Turk Telekom Ankara, Cassius Winston of Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem, Kadre Gray of Slask Wroclaw, Miha Cerkvenik of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Malachi Flynn of Bahcesehir College Istanbul, and Jordan Parks of Umana Reyer Venice. Dogus Ozdemiroglu of Turk Telekom remains atop the steals' standings with 2.7 per game.

Balsa Koprivica of Besiktas had 6 blocks, the most of any player. It is a new season high and the most since Kyle Alexander of Turk Telekom also had 6 blocks in a 74-80 road victory against Cedevita Olimpija on December 18, 2024. Koprivica is also first overall with 1.8 blocks per night.

Tarik Phillip (15 points, 12 rebounds), Ante Zizic (18 points, 13 rebounds), Hugo Benitez (17 points, 10 assists) and his Manresa teammate Alex Reyes (13 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded a double-double in this round.

Round 9 MVP: Ante Zizic, Besiktas GAIN Istanbul

In a rare BKT EuroCup home game on a Friday night, BAXI Manresa pleased its fans with a comfortable 99-72 home win over bottom-of-the-table Veolia Towers Hamburg at Nou Congost. It was Pierre Oriola's first EuroCup home game of the season and he made sure he was noticed with an all-around performance off the bench.

Pierre Oriola becomes Manresa's X-factor in Round 9

In a rare BKT EuroCup home game on a Friday night, [BAXI Manresa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/baxi-manresa/man/) pleased its fans with a comfortable 99-72 home win over bottom-of-the-table [Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/veolia-towers-hamburg/ham/) at Nou Congost. It was [Pierre Oriola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/pierre-oriola/005917/)'s first EuroCup home game of the season and he made sure he was noticed with an all-around performance off the bench.

After a solid season with Hiopos Lleida, Oriola opted to start the 2025-26 campaign overseas, joining Fuerza Regia Monterrey. It was a unconventional move that paid off as Oriola led Monterrey win the Mexican League title, posting solid numbers: 5.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 27 games. Oriola had 7 points and 10 rebounds in the title clinching game against Diablos Rojos del Mexico. Immediately after lifting the trophy, Oriola quickly reached an agreement with Manresa, which would see him work again with Diego Ocampo, having previously been together as player and assistant coach in Sevilla.

In his first EuroCup home game of the season, Oriola showed what he can bring to the team, especially in the second quarter, in which Manresa took off to get a double-digit lead, 50-39. He returned to the floor midway through the second quarter and made things happen with seven quick points, an offensive rebound and a block. At halftime, Oriola had seven points, three rebounds, two blocks, three fouls drawn and a PIR of 11, offering his trademark intangibles such as character, fighting spirit and experience to get Manresa fans into the game with his hustle.

He was far from done, however. Oriola was all over the place after the break, hustling for rebounds, drawing fouls, getting hard-fought buckets and igniting the crowd with his overall energy and commitment. When he left for the bench late in the third quarter, Oriola had 16 points on 4-of-4 two-pointers and 8-of-8 free throws, seven rebounds, two blocks, six fouls drawn and a PIR of 26, receiving a standing ovation at Nou Congost. Manresa was up by 20, 72-52. He did not return to the game in the fourth quarter.

"I think we grew up and stepped up in the game. We controlled the rebounds and ran to get easy baskets. It was a good victory," Oriola said after the game. "It is a good victory to get another feeling in the team and show that we are here to compete against everybody, especially here at home. I am happy to be here, to help the team, to help the guys. For me, the most important is the win, it doesn't matter if I score or not. I always try to help everybody, that's what's most important for me, but I am happy also for my performance. I was to stay in this line and help the team."

Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu of BAXI Manresa stopped the show with two huge dunks. 

Akobundu-Ehiogu's highlighr reel

As always, Manresa's backup center [Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kaodirichi-akobundu-ehiogu/013845/) provided the fireworks with three huge dunks, especially a one-handed alley-oop slam early in the game and a huge alley-oop throwdown late in the third quarter. All of a sudden, Manresa has great depth at center with three very different players: Oriola, Akobundu-Ehiogu and [Grant Golden](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/grant-golden/013849/).

[Hugo Benitez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/hugo-benitez/010449/) gave Manresa a perfect balance with his court sense and outside shooting. He finished the game with 17 points, 10 assists and a career-high PIR of 27. In his sixth EuroCup season and after reaching the 2024 EuroCup Finals with Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse, Benitez has a leading role in Manresa and is making the most of it. This was his third double-double in the last four games.

In short, Oriola has been the perfect addition for Manresa. He knows the club inside out and needs no adjustment, brings in a ton of experience, arrived in shape and with his trademark hustle and great attitude. By downing Hamburg, Manresa broke its four-game losing skid and can now look to the second half of the regular season with renewed optimism.

Game News

The 33-year-old forward is set to play a key role going forward 


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From 50 in the NBA to leading Bahcesehir: Malachi Flynn’s journey

Top 10 photos from Round 9

Cassius Winston wants to finish job with Jerusalem, now with home fans

Joseph Girard carrying on tradition from Jimmer Fredette

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