Dreamland Gran Canaria enters the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup as the competition's defending champion. This season will be Gran Canaria's 16th in the competition and only Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (17) has played more. By default, Gran Canaria is the team to beat, as it retained a core of backcourt players and fortified its frontcourt to be even more dangerous. Coach Jaka Lakovic leads a strong, balanced team, and everyone in the club, from management to staff and especially fans, know what it takes to be successful in the EuroCup. As always, winning in Gran Canaria should be tough for every team out there.
2023-24 Roster Rundown: Dreamland Gran Canaria
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5 mins read
BACKCOURT
Just like season, A.J. Slaughter, Andrew Albicy and Ferran Bassas are set to share the point guard duties. Albicy returns as the team's main floor general, a pass-first playmaker with great court sense who can also read the passing lanes to get steals. He ranks second on the EuroCup's all-time assists list (518) and is fourth in steals (144). Slaughter should see more playing time at shooting guard due to his deep shooting range and clutch mentality. He starts the season in third place in career EuroCup scoring with 1,418 points and has a good chance to reach the top spot. Bassas also has a high basketball IQ and is a career 42.9% three-point shooter.
Sylven Landesberg returns to the EuroCup after four season in China as a marquee addition. He is a veteran scorer with deep shooting range and outstanding one-on-one skills, which he uses to read his defender and find the best ways to score. Even at age 33, all signs point to the former EuroLeague champ being able to fill baskets everywhere. His backup should be up-and-coming homegrown talent Jovan Kljajic, a good shooter full of intensity and eager to make the most of any playing time at his disposal.
FRONTCOURT
Nico Brussino is Gran Canaria's main option at small forward due to his combination of size, ballhandling, quickness and range. An all-around player, Brussino should see more responsibilities on offense. Miquel Salvo is his team's swiss knife, a versatile forward who helps on the boards, plays hard defense, makes three-point shots and scores in the low post. His winning mentality and blue-collar attitude make him a very valuable player. Last season's EuroCup Finals MVP John Shurna brings in experience, deep range and leadership in crunch time. Shurna may be an unorthodox shooter but remains one of the best in the business. Roko Prkacin gives Coach Lakovic extra intensity and versatility at both forward spots.
Gran Canaria wanted talented big men to complete its roster and came back with Pierre Pelos, who is a very effective shooter from all angles with a high basketball IQ. He has two seasons of EuroCup experience with Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse, too. Ben Lammers is a shot blocking specialist and a smart player in pick-and-roll situations; he is effective from mid-range and in the low post. Ethan Happ is an old-school big man with strong posts skills who can also read the game like a point guard. His passing skills should make Gran Canaria an even better team.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Thirty-two different players from Argentina have competed in the EuroCup since the competition was born in 2002. Alejandro Montecchia, Fede Kammerichs and Fabricio Oberto helped Valencia Basket become the original champion in 2003. Two decades later, Brussino became the next Argentinean to win the EuroCup. At age 30, Brussino is right at the prime of his career and is a natural-born mismatch due to his versatility and size. Making the most our of it is a new challenge for a fully-established player who has all the skills needed to challenge for an All-EuroCup spot.
OUTLOOK
By deciding against playing in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Gran Canaria has a rare opportunity to win a second consecutive EuroCup title. As always, the team's main strength should be turning Gran Canaria Arena into a fortress. Last season, Gran Canaria was 13-0 at home to go all the way to its first EuroCup crown. Landesberg is a nice addition to an experienced core of backcourt players. If Happ, Pelos and Lammers fit into Coach Lakovic's system and are effective alongside the ever-reliable Shurna, Gran Canaria can safely be considered as one of the teams to beat in the 2023-24 EuroCup.