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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More news from Lietkabelis

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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border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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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/reel/DRM-jIZDXX5/?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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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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border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; 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

Tarik Phillip is just like any other player in that he wants success. And once you taste it, the yearning for more only grows. That is one of the main reasons he is playing with the London Lions: Phillip wants another chance to win the BKT EuroCup.

Tarik Phillip on return to London Lions: 'I wanted another run at the EuroCup title'

[Tarik Phillip](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tarik-phillip/009649/) is just like any other player in that he wants success. And once you taste it, the yearning for more only grows. That is one of the main reasons he is playing with the [London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/london-lions/lli/): Phillip wants another chance to win the BKT EuroCup. 

Another chance because Phillip was part of one of the most exciting teams in the EuroCup in 2023-24 – a talent-laden side that ran into the buzz saw that was eventual champion Paris Basketball.

“It was electric, man,” Phillip told David Hein when recalling the 2-0 series loss to Paris in the semifinals. “Just the fact that we played against Paris and we're neighboring cities in a sense, it was very dope to experience that.”

Among Phillip’s teammates were Sam Dekker, Gabe Olaseni, David Nwaba, Conor Morgan, Matt Morgan and Jordan Taylor. London that season defended its British League championship and lost only six games in the EuroCup before going into the semis against Paris, which had beaten Lions twice during the regular season. 

Despite falling in the EuroCup Semifinals, Phillip said the 2023-24 campaign was one to remember for the ages. And that London team had the makings of greatness. 

“It's definitely up there. I'll say number one,” the 32-year-old said. “We lost to a great team. We had a heck of a team. That team was so much fun to watch. That Paris team has been together for probably three years. So I felt if we had kept that team and built chemistry from the year after that, there was no telling where we could have done. We had so much talent.”

Phillip said one of the biggest keys was adding Nwaba before Round 14 in January 2024. 

“That just took us to a whole other level as well, despite the players that we already had. We literally had two starting fives, the same way Paris did. It was fun. It was a heck of a series. And I definitely have to rank that number one in my playing career so far.”

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border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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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/C0VHnEZx9lE/?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 TARIK PHILLIP (@t_r.e.x)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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Phillip spent two seasons with London, arriving in 2022 after having played in Hungary, Spain, Türkiye, Israel and Italy. He played in the EuroCup in 2021-22 with Umana Reyer Venice and then mid-season moved to San Pablo Burgos in the Spanish top flight. 

Then it was off to the home country of his mother, England, to play for London. But the Brooklyn-born New York native had to wait quite a while before he could finally play for the club. On the first day of the 2022-23 pre-season, he fractured his patella. The broken kneecap kept him out until April 21, 2023 – a full 254 days after signing with London. 

He averaged 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists in seven games that season, which ended with a domestic league crown. 

When deciding if he would return the following campaign, Phillip said his relationship with management and its commitment to him steered his decision, as well as them saying they will build a strong team for 2023-24. 

“I'm like, you know what? I'm coming off an injury. They’ve given me the opportunity to come back and play with a guaranteed contract again with the same role and the same aspirations. It's something to honor you at the end of the day. They’re believing in me despite my injury and everything like that,” Phillip said. 

Phillip only started playing with London in 2022 but he has been with the British national team since 2019 and is excited to see the following built up in the city. 

“I went from seeing the Copper Box having hundreds of people maybe to having full arenas. So it's surreal when you see stuff like that and you see the community buying into what we're doing because we're going in every day and putting in the work to get to where we need to get to, to put our good performances and show that UK basketball has basketball players and we can really compete.”

The best plays of London Lions guard Tarik Phillip through the first eight rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Tarik Phillip's top plays this season

Phillip left London in 2024 and started last season in Poland with Trefl Sopot before moving to Hapoel Jerusalem in November, helping the Israeli side reach the EuroCup Quarterfinals in his second stint with the club.

When looking for a spot for this season, Phillip said he talked to new head coach Tautvydas Sabonis as well as club president Lenz Balan and liked what he heard.

“Just the trajectory of where they want London basketball to go, where they want the team to go, their aspirations as well as my aspirations. Obviously, everybody wants to play at the highest level here in Europe. I never really got a chance to play in the EuroLeague. They still have aspirations. Everybody in Europe wants a EuroLeague team in London. They still have the same plan to do big things here with basketball in London, and I wanted to be a part of it. So I said, why not come back and try to make another run at the EuroCup title?”

Phillip has a slightly different role this time around. More of one as a grizzled veteran and leader.

“It's kind of a new position for me because I've never really been the oldest or one of the older guys on the team. So it was definitely an adjustment in the beginning. But slowly I’m embracing it,” he said. “It kind of makes you tap into yourself a little more, knowing that you're leading and eyes are watching you. You have to set the example at all times, despite the moments where it's not going good for you. You still have to keep the team on track and keep the team together even in those 20-point losses or whatever the case may be, because we got another game next week.”

Another week closer to the success that Phillip hopes to find again in London.

More London Lions News

After one year away, the guard rejoined the British team this past summer

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana has announced the signing of Ognjen Jaramaz for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

Cedevita Olimpija brings Ognjen Jaramaz aboard

[Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/) has announced the signing of [Ognjen Jaramaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ognjen-jaramaz/004058/) for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

Jaramaz (1.92 meters, 30 years old) started the campaign with Ilirija, where he averaged 11.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.0 steal across four ABA League games.

He is a veteran of 105 EuroLeague games and 26 BKT EuroCup appearances, Jaramaz offers experience and high-level play to a Cedevita side that is currently top of Group A with a 6-2 record.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sl" dir="ltr">Na zunanjih igralnih položajih bo Cedevito Olimpijo okrepil 30-letni in 192 centimetrov visoki Ognjen Jaramaz! 🐉<br><br>Jaramaz v Zmajevo gnezdo s seboj prinaša izkušnje z igranjem v Evroligi, EuroCupu in Ligi ABA, v sezoni 2025/26 pa je v regionalni ligi odigral štiri tekme v dresu… <a href="https://t.co/oeOcQ0fzKT">pic.twitter.com/oeOcQ0fzKT</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL/status/1993703965687500832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Through his career, Jaramaz played for FC Bayern Munich (2021-23), Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2023-24) and Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-25) in the EuroLeague, while he also suited up for Partizan (2019-21) in the EuroCup.

More Cedevita Olimpija News

ratiopharm ulm has brought back a familiar face to strengthen its roster: versatile swingman Justin Simon has signed a contract through the end of the 2025–26 season

Former champ Justin Simon reunites with ratiopharm ulm 

[ratiopharm ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/roster/ulm/) has brought back a familiar face to strengthen its roster: versatile swingman [Justin Simon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/justin-simon/011232/) has signed a contract through the end of the 2025–26 season. Simon (1.96 meters, 29 years old) returns for a second stint at Ulm, which he played briefly for in the German League during the 2021-22 season, and a second run in the BKT EuroCup, which he won with Paris Basketball in 2024.

Simon was an injury replacement for [Karim Jallow](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/karim-jallow/005422/) at the start of the 2021-22 season and scored 11 points in 32 minutes in a season-opening win over FC Bayern Munich and followed that up with 15 points and 4 rebounds against Telekom Bonn. His time with the club ended when Jallow returned, and Simon moved to fellow German side MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.

Since then, Simon’s résumé has grown. He won the Australian championship in 2023 with the Sydney Kings and enjoyed a majestic season with Paris, where in addition to the EuroCup crown he captured the French Cup and helped the team reach French League finals for the first time. Simon averaged 7.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in 14 EuroCup appearances. He ranked ninth in the competition in steals.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Rückkehrer für ratiopharm ulm 💪<br><br>Allrounder Justin Simon ist zurück am OrangeCampus. Bereits vor vier Jahren sprang er für den verletzten Karim Jallow ein – jetzt hat er einen Vertrag bis Saisonende unterschrieben.<br><br>Zur kompletten News👉 <a href="https://t.co/VbS8tU27VR">https://t.co/VbS8tU27VR</a><br><br>📷 Stefan Matzke <a href="https://t.co/vhqBhW93sd">pic.twitter.com/vhqBhW93sd</a></p>&mdash; ratiopharm ulm (@ratiopharmulm) <a href="https://twitter.com/ratiopharmulm/status/1992931484639141964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Last season, Simon returned to Ludwigsburg and posted 10.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and a league-leading 2.3 steals per game. He signed to play in China this season with the Shanxi Loongs, but a delay to the season allowed Simon to leave the club and join Ulm. Simon has also played for the Windy City Bulls in the G League, Illawara in Australia, Bnei Herzeliya in Israel and Verona in Italy since playing college basketball at the University of Arizona and at St. John's.

“We are very happy that Justin will wear our jersey again,” said Ulm sporting director Thorsten Leibenath. “In our eyes, he is one of the most versatile BBL players of recent years. His energy, speed, toughness, and experience will enrich our game on many levels. The fact that he can play almost any position gives us flexibility in a challenging situation.”

More ratiopharm ulm news

The versatile swingman won the EuroCup with Paris in 2024 

ratiopharm ulm v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2025-12-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Stats review: A look at the EuroCup's best three-point defenses

The BKT EuroCup saw a big shakeup in Group A when [Slask Wroclaw](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/slask-wroclaw/wro/) handed [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/) its [second loss of the season](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/slask-stays-hot-at-home-to-take-down-bahcesehir/).  In a competitive matchup at Hala Orbita that saw Bahcesehir jump out to a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter, the Polish club stayed attached before taking over in the fourth quarter to score a comeback victory against the previous group leader. 

Slask did a lot of little things to score the win, pounding the glass and moving the ball unselfishly, but its three-point defense was ultimately key to its success. 

That is nothing new for coach Ainars Bagatskis’s team, as his group has done a good job in rotation and an excellent one at getting a hand up on pull-up three-point shooters over the first months of the season.

Around 40% of all shot attempts have come from beyond the arc in the EuroCup this season, with teams converting them at a 34% rate that falls between the 29% players are shooting off the dribble and the 36% they are shooting off the catch. With only 31% of all three-point attempts coming off the dribble and teams knocking down 40% of their open spot-up jumpers, there’s real value in a defense that can speed an offense up and alter their shot selection, whether that be forcing them into contested shots, challenging them to beat them off the dribble, or funneling everything into the three-point line.

Slask has done a good job fitting into the second of those molds. While it does not force a high volume of midrange attempts, it has done a great job at extending its defense and then recovering in time to get a hand up when shooters step into pull-up threes. Allowing just 20% from beyond the arc on those attempts has been an important factor in its top-seven overall defensive performance thus far.

Slask is unsurprisingly joined by [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/), which continues to lead the EuroCup in defensive efficiency by a wide margin, allowing only 0.84 points per possession. Its efforts on the ball and in transition have been especially impressive, but Bourg has done a stellar job in rotation as well, despite how often its big men are switched onto the perimeter. While it has faced the second-highest volume of spot-up three-point attempts of any team this season, Bourg ranks second in efficiency defending them. [NINERS Chemnitz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/niners-chemnitz/nin/) has excelled with a similar approach.

[Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-gain-istanbul/bes/) stands out on this list by doing the best job to take away the three and open catch-and-shoot jumpers in particular, not only facing a low volume, but contesting a well-above-average 61% of the attempts it does face. Besiktas has often managed to disrupt the rhythm of opposing shooters this season. The [London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/london-lions/lli/) fall into a similar category, with most of their wins this season resulting from significant efforts on the defensive side to contest the high volume of two-point attempts they force teams to beat them with.

While offense has been the separator for a lot of elite EuroCup teams in recent history, several of the league's notable overachievers in the current format have excelled at guarding the three-point line.

Look back at all the action in Round 8 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from Round 8

Look back at all the action from Round 8 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Stefan Djordjevic loves basketball but the action on the hardcourt is not the only interest in the Slask Wroclaw big man’s life. Ask the Serbian about his passion for old-time Mercedes-Benz cars and fishing and he will talk for a while.

What Stefan Djordjevic knows about 90kg burgers, Marc Gasol, old-time Mercedes-Benzes and fishing

[Stefan Djordjevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/stefan-dordevic/006977/) loves basketball but the action on the hardcourt is not the only interest in the [Slask Wroclaw](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/slask-wroclaw/wro/) big man’s life. Ask the Serbian about his passion for old-time Mercedes-Benz cars and fishing and he will talk for a while.

It’s all part of Slask’s main man in the middle, who already has helped the Polish club reach unheard-of heights in the BKT EuroCup.

Djordjevic is averaging 10.9 points and 5.4 rebounds for a Slask team that is 4-4 in Group A, including an impressive 4-1 record at home.

“We are proud of this, but we need to continue, practicing good and playing good. I think it's really good for the club and for us as players to show that we can play the high level of the EuroCup,” the 26-year-old center told David Hein.

Just how surprising is the 4-4 mark after eight rounds? Consider that Slask had a combined record of 6-47 in its three previous seasons, from 2021 to 2024.

Djordjevic joined the club this off-season from within Poland. He had put together a strong 2024-25 season with Arka Gdynia, finishing second in the league in scoring (19.0 ppg) and rebounding (8.9 rpg). And a chance to play in the EuroCup was a major reason for coming to Slask.

“That was a big thing and a big satisfaction to play in the EuroCup because we play against some of the best teams in Europe in every country,” said Djordjevic, who played two seasons in the Basketball Champions League with Bosnia and Herzegovina side Igokea in 2022 and 2023.

The top plays of Slask Wroclaw big man Stefan Djordjevic through the first eight rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Stefan Djordjevic's best plays this season

For the 2023-24 season, Djordjevic made the jump to Spain and played for Basquet Girona. The club near Barcelona is owned by former Spanish great Marc Gasol. And the former NBA champion and two-time world and European champion had a very hands-on approach with the club.

“I talked with him many times. With his great experience, his advice was very important for me at that moment,” Djordjevic said.

The Serbian said Gasol really helped him improve his passing game – something the Spaniard really excelled at during his long career.

“I felt before that season, I wasn't that good of passer. But after I talked with him, I saw the court differently. Now I think I can find passes easier, better and more automatic,” he said.

One of the things about being away from his homeland during the season is Djordjevic missing out on some of his biggest hobbies.

He fondly remembers his time in Leskovac in southern Serbia. One of the reasons the city of about 70,000 people is actually world-famous is the annual Leskovac Barbecue Festival. The locals regularly set a Guinness world record for the biggest burger. This August, at the 35th edition, the mammoth “pljeskavica” weighed in at 90 kilograms.

Djordjevic would regularly attend the event as a youngster and try the burger as the barbecue masters cut up the meat and gave it to the thousands of attendees.

“You want to be part of it because television is there and everybody wants to be on TV when you’re young. Plus it’s free food,” he remembered.

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Djordjevic now lives in Belgrade in the off-season, and one of his biggest hobbies is working on his old-timer cars.

“I really like vintage old Mercedes-Benzes. I have a few of them, and I really like taking care of them – cleaning them and everything. I'm trying to do some mechanic work too, what I can do by myself – changing some parts and stuff. And I really enjoy driving them,” Djordjevic said of his Mercedes-Benz W124 – the same model his grandfather used to drive when Stefan was young.

Djordjevic has three of them – the same car but different engines. Big engine cars.

An even bigger hobby for the big man is fishing, an obsession he had long before basketball entered his life. He used to go with his father and then with his friends from his home village – and quite often.

“We would go almost every day before school. That was a big passion of ourselves,” he remembered.

Djordjevic learned pretty early from his parents that it is better to release the fish he caught.

“They said I will feel better. Just take a photo and release it. So I started doing that. And I can say it's a better feeling than when you take it home,” he said.

Djordjevic actually considers himself a sports fishermen.

And he still has fishing friends. One of them is a fellow EuroCup player – [Nikola Tanaskovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nikola-tanaskovic/005637/) from [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/bud/), someone who he camps with for three or four days at a time.

“I often go fishing in the summer. Most of the time I go carp fishing. I go camping with Nikola. He really likes it too. Every time I have time, I try to use it to go fishing,” he said.

Djordjevic now lives about a 10-minute walk from the Sava River in Belgrade and would go there almost every night after practice in the summer to fish for about an hour.

Djordjevic doesn’t have his fishing gear with him in Wroclaw, which is actually okay because there is not much time for it.

“Maybe when we finish the EuroCup season, because now almost every day we are on a trip or somewhere because we play twice a week. But I would like to try fishing here because Poland is a good country for fishing with a lot of rivers,” he said.

Djordjevic said he will eventually buy some new gear in Poland. He has already done some scouting and found some good places to go.

Now it’s just about finding the time when he’s not helping Slask reach new heights.

More Slask News

The Slask big man has been thriving on the court, but there is more than meets the eye