Being Saliou’s younger brother is not a problem for Cheickh Niang

It will take a while before [Cheickh Niang](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/cheickh-niang/013756/) is not asked about his older brother. But the [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/trn/) guard does not mind talking about Virtus Bologna’s [Saliou Niang](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saliou-niang/012687/). Cheickh is proud of what Saliou has done.

Cheickh Niang is well on his way to making his own name as the 17-year-old has become an integral part of Trento’s rotation in his first full season with the pro team. Cheickh is averaging 6.8 points and 1.6 rebounds through his first 10 games in the BKT EuroCup.

The 1.95-meter guard started the EuroCup season like a house on fire with 9.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in the first five games, including 15 points against London Lions and 14 points versus Buducnost VOLI Podgorica. Niang was limited to a combined 5 points and 3 rebounds in the following three games from rounds 6 to 8.

“At the beginning, opponents didn’t know me, so it was easier. Now teams are scouting me more, which makes things more difficult. But I feel I’m growing and improving in the way I’m playing,” he said.

Niang sounded like a seasoned vet when talking about those other three games.

“I was trying to do other useful things on the court - not just scoring. Now that teams know me, I’m focusing on helping in other ways: passing the ball, getting rebounds, defending, doing all the little things instead of relying only on scoring.”

3 minutes of magic from Cheickh Niang

Niang came out of the national team break similar to the beginning of the season with 6 points in Round 10 against Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse and 11 points with 3 of 3 on three-pointers in Round 11 versus Buducnost.

Cheickh says he has received quite a bit of help and advice from his brother Saliou, who made his EuroCup debut in 2023-24 with Trento and then played a much bigger role in the team last season.

“He gives me a lot of suggestions,” Cheickh said of his brother, who is four years older. “He tells me to stay focused on defense and to get more rebounds — because he knows I can do more. And to give 100 percent on both ends of the court, staying fully focused.”

Saliou was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 58th pick of the 2025 NBA Draft and this season, joined Virtus Bologna. In his EuroLeague debut season with Virtus, Saliou is averaging 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

Cheickh said he still has a great relationship with his brother.

“The relationship is the same; nothing has changed. We still talk, but of course a bit less than before because we no longer live together,” he said “When we talk, it’s more about life in general. He still gives me suggestions about basketball, but most conversations are about life.”

Cheickh said it was tough seeing his brother leave for Bologna, but they still play Fortnite online together.

"It was a dream come true. I was really excited to play against my brother."

One of the biggest dates for the Niang family was November 1, 2025 when Trento hosted Virtus. The brothers’ parents - who arrived in Italy from Senegal about 20 years ago looking for work - were in the stands watching.

Saliou collected 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 18 minutes while Cheickh tallied 2 points and 3 rebounds in 17 minutes.

"It was a dream come true. I was really excited to play against him,” Cheickh said. “Before the game, I felt anxious and nervous. But once the game started, I just wanted to go at my brother and compete.”

The two were on the court at the same time for about 5 minutes and they got to defend one another multiple times.

“It was for sure emotional,” Cheickh said.

There really wasn’t much trash-talking though, according to Cheickh.

“I said: ‘Now we see what we can do.’ And I was asking if he was going to play short roll or post-up or something like that. And he didn’t answer.”

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This season has been like a dream altogether for Cheickh, who only played with Trento’s youth teams last season. He had a spectacular Italian League debut on October 5, hitting 2 three-pointers and scoring 15 points to go with 6 rebounds and 1 steal against Cantu.

“I didn’t expect it at all, but I was really happy. During the pre-season, I realized I was playing a lot of minutes. It was unexpected, but I worked really hard for it, so I’m definitely happy,” said Niang, who is averaging 4.2 points on 39.1% three-point shooting and 1.7 rebounds in the Italian League.

“I expected a big gap. The biggest challenge has been the physicality. I’m still trying to figure out what I need to compete at this level.”

Cheickh also knows he landed in the right spot at Trento when he arrived from Vis 2008 Ferrara in 2023.

“Trento is one of the few clubs that lets young players play in the first league or in Europe. I believe there are many young players with talent who just need a chance to show it, and Trento gives that chance early,” Niang said.

Cheickh knows that part of the attention he gets comes from being Saliou’s younger brother.

“It doesn’t change anything. Being Saliou’s brother is not a problem,” he said. “I’m really happy to see my brother playing at this level.”

But that is where Cheickh’s allegiance stops. “I don’t support Virtus - only my brother.”

More Trento news

The teenage Trento guard is already making a name for himself

NINERS Chemnitz said farewell to 2025 with a 97-95 statement win over Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on Tuesday night, delighting its fans and moving to 6-6 in Group B. Chemnitz led most of the way, but the closing minutes turned tense before the hosts held on for the victory.

Chemnitz holds off Besiktas to close out the year in style

[NINERS Chemnitz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/niners-chemnitz/nin/) said farewell to 2025 with a 97-95 statement win over [Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-gain-istanbul/bes/) on Tuesday night, delighting its fans and moving to 6-6 in Group B. Chemnitz led most of the way, but the closing minutes turned tense before the hosts held on for the victory.

[Amadou Sow](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/amadou-sow/012598/) set the tone for Chemnitz, delivering a career night with a game-high 27 points. The Malian center dominated the paint for most of the night and provided plenty of offensive energy when the game reached its decisive moments.

‘‘It feels great. It was a collective work,” said Sow after the game. ‘‘We keep staying strong, we keep believing in each other, in the coaching staff and the things that we work on. We just gotta keep doing what we are doing and keep believing and trusting each other. Everything is gonna work out. The season is up and downs, peaks and valleys, and we are making the best out of it right now.’’

NINERS Chemnitz-Besiktas GAIN Istanbul | Round 12 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Chemnitz leaned on its perimeter shooting throughout the night, finishing 53.6% from beyond the arc, well above its season average of 30.2%. Drawing on their depth, the hosts received three-point contributions from eight different players over the course of the game.

The offensive rhythm carried over into a season-best home performance, as the German side reached 97 points in front of its fans for the first time this season.

''Our fans were exceptional. They pushed us from the first minute to the last. They were the sixth man on the floor today,'' said head coach Rodrigo Pastore after the win.

"This team already went through adversity. We know what it is like to be down, and we made a strength out of that. We've come from a long way, I am very excited about what is in front of us, with everybody healthy and playing the second part of season hopefully with a complete team.’’

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The home side opened the game with aggressive defense and controlled the first-half momentum with efficient scoring both inside and from the perimeter. Chemnitz struggled at times in the third quarter, particularly in containing [Ante Zizic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-zizic/004554/) around the basket, but timely outside shooting allowed the hosts to enter the final minutes of the fourth quarter with the lead.

[Nike Sibande](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nike-sibande/013889/) emerged as a key contributor for the hosts after the break, scoring 13 of his points in the second half and knocking down 3 crucial three-pointers. [Kevin Yebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kevin-yebo/013368/) was another important presence, finishing with 11 points and 3 triples while providing energy on the offensive end.

Besiktas pushed back in the second half behind Zizic, who posted 23 points and 10 rebounds, with [Jonah Mathews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jonah-mathews/011936/) and [Vitto Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vitto-brown/013365/) adding 20 points each. The visitors tied the game at 95-95 in the final quarter, but it was not enough.

Next up in Round 13, Chemnitz will hit the road to face the London Lions in their first game of the new year, while Besiktas will host ratiopharm ulm at home.

Game News

Amadou Sow led his team with a career-high 27 points to secure the win

NINERS Chemnitz v Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (2025-12-23T18:00:00.000Z)

Turk Telekom Ankara has one of the most exciting players in the BKT EuroCup in Kris Bankston. And the center loves energizing his team and its fans. But he’s really only taken the game seriously for a few years, promising for plenty of upside in the future.

Turk Telekom energizer Kris Bankston didn’t take basketball seriously until fifth year of college

[Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/ttk/) has one of the most exciting players in the BKT EuroCup in [Kris Bankston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kris-bankston/012760/). And the center loves energizing his team and its fans. But he’s really only taken the game seriously for a few years, promising for plenty of upside in the future.

Bankston has been a major part of Turk Telekom’s success this season, averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.9 blocks in 11 games as the team ranks third in Group B with a 7-4 record after losing its first two games.

“I feel like at the beginning of the year, we didn't really have an identity as a team and our chemistry wasn't all the way there,” the 26-year-old big man told David Hein. “So we built up that chemistry and we started learning our roles and what we can bring to the team as individual players. I feel like that really helped us a lot into building us to what we are now.”

The best plays of Turk Telekom Ankara center Kris Bankston through the first 11 rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Kris Bankston's top plays this season

Bankston is in his second season in the EuroCup after he contributed 6.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 16 games in 2023-24 for [Aris Thessaloniki Betsson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-thessaloniki-betsson/ari/).

That was an eventful season for Bankston. He started the campaign on the roster of Israeli side Hapoel Be'er Sheva, but then left the team in October due to the political turmoil in the country. For his rookie professional campaign, he landed at Aris.

“It was an eye-opener,” he said. “The fans were completely different from what I was used to in America. I had to get used to that and also the way the game was played – the different rules. But I really enjoyed it.

“Some things I used to do in college are taught differently overseas, and it actually works better for how the game is played.”

Aris ended up having too many foreigners and Bankston was the odd man out late in the season, so for the final month of the season he returned to Israel and finished the campaign with Be'er Sheva.

Bankston then moved to Turkiye last season and signed with Tofas Bursa, with the team losing to eventual champion Bilbao Basket in the Basketball Champions League Quarterfinals. He averaged 11.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in the competition.

Bankston had come quite far in the game already, especially considering he was a late starter to the game.

The Arkansas native started his sports journey with baseball, playing the important positions on the diamond of shortstop, center field and sometimes pitcher. Then in the summer after ninth grade, when he was 13 years old, he had a major growth spurt from 1.75 meters (5-foot-9) to 1.98 meters (6-foot-6).

“After that, that's when I realized I should try to play basketball,” he admitted.

<center>
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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/DRuPVYNjPLA/?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 Kris Bankston 🏀🎈 (@kristhefuture)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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Bankston really never played much organized basketball so he had his beginning at age 14. And while he started playing the game, he never really watched much basketball on his own. In essence, he wasn’t really interested in basketball.

“It took me a while to really understand that I actually have to watch basketball and understand it to learn and get better at it,” he said.

It was only when he was a freshman at college at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock that he picked up on studying the game more because he saw some of the team’s star players doing so.

But it took even longer for him to really know the game and understand and appreciate it. That came when he left his home state of Arkansas to attend Norfolk State University in Virginia.

“I was away from home and everything about my life was basketball at that point. I feel like that’s when I really started to appreciate the game more,” he said of his two seasons at NSU from 2021 to 2023.

A big part of his game already back in college was his powerful dunking. And it remains one of his favorite things about the game.

“I like playing for the crowd. The crowd reacts to dunks, and I like getting everyone hyped,” said Bankston, who finished off the Round 10 win over ratiopharm ulm with a windmill reverse slam just before the final buzzer.

<center>
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It really shouldn’t be a surprise who Bankston’s player was: Blake Griffin, a dunking machine in his own right.

“Watching him during the \[Los Angeles Clippers'\] Lob City era really got me into dunking,” he said.

But Bankston enjoys playing defense, too. And he plays a big part in Turk Telekom’s defense, which is ranked second in the league in fewest points allowed at 74.8 per game and is top in lowest opponent’s index rating at 68.5 PIR.

The team had a great run of defense coming out of the national team break, allowing only 63, 61 and 53 points in a span of three road games – including Rounds 9 and 10 in the EuroCup.

“\[Coach Erdem Can\] actually loved the way we played defense. He was saying our defense is really good, and that's the reason why we've been winning games. I agree. Because if a team can't score, then they can't win,” Bankston said.

He really prides himself on his defense, saying: “Defense to me is one of the most important things of the game. Everybody can score, everybody can put the ball in the hoop, but can you stop your man from doing that? I understand that there are pros who get paid to score, but if you can stop that guy, it'll give you a better chance of winning.”

When asked which he would rather have: a dunk to win the game or a block to secure the win, Bankston’s answer was: “A block. It means you’re playing defense, hustling, working harder.”

And if that game-winning block comes at home or on the road: “At home – to hype the crowd up.”

There it is, that energetic Kris Bankston who is really still new to the game.

More Turk Telekom News

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Look back at all the action in Round 11 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from Round 11

Look back at all the action from Round 11 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Jordan Parks has seen plenty in his decade-long Italian basketball journey, but Umana Reyer Venice’s stunning comeback against Bahcesehir College Istanbul will stand out forever. Down at halftime and facing one of the EuroCup’s top teams, Reyer erupted for 65 second-half points — nearly a competition record — with Parks leading the charge with a career-high 30-point performance. In this interview with Javier Gancedo, Parks reflects on the turning point, his growth as a player, and why Venice feels like home as he sets his sights on a championship in 2026.

Jordan Parks: ‘We showed who we are’ in historic comeback 

Jordan Parks has seen plenty in his decade-long Italian basketball journey, but Umana Reyer Venice’s stunning comeback against Bahcesehir College Istanbul will stand out forever. 

Down at halftime and facing one of the EuroCup’s top teams, Reyer erupted for 65 second-half points — nearly a competition record — with Parks leading the charge with a career-high 30-point performance. 

In this interview with Javier Gancedo, Parks reflects on the turning point, his growth as a player, and why Venice feels like home as he sets his sights on a championship in 2026.

**What an incredible win against Bahcesehir! Things were not looking good at halftime but you did something historic, scoring 65 points in the second half. What did you talk about at halftime to turn things around?**

"Thanks a lot. The first half was definitely tough and I think the atmosphere in the building kind of made things feel like we were in a worse position than we actually were. I spoke up and just told guys to kind of really understand the moment and just see that there was a lot going on in the first half, where we were playing really good defense, Malachi Flynn made some really tough shots and those can be deflating, but it doesn't really define exactly what our first half was. So I thought we did a lot of good things. I told the team just to keep pushing and playing the way we are and let's see if he's going to come out and do the same thing in the second half in the same way, and we know what type of second-half team we are as far as offensively and just trying to limit second-chance points."

**It was a character win. Those 65 second-half points were almost a EuroCup record. Could this be a season-changing moment for you?**

"I think moments like that could always be a season-changer, but I think what's really working for us right now is our attitude and the approach that we have had in practice over the last few weeks. Whether it's translated to wins or losses, I think it's been something that's been pushing us in the right direction, and then obviously playing against a team that was number two in the EuroCup, we knew what type of game it was when we played in Istanbul on the road. So I think that has some motivating factors in the game. Guys knew the importance of it and just wanting to play better than we did our first time around and show that we are one of the top teams in EuroCup."

<center><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DScpyhkjOsx/?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/DScpyhkjOsx/?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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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DScpyhkjOsx/?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 BKT EuroCup (@eurocup)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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**You mentioned road games. Reyer is 4-1 at home, winning the last four, and 1-5 on the road. What does it take to be as competitive on the road as you are at home?** 

"For us, I think having consistent effort has been our Achilles heel this year, and that's something that we have pointed out. We are trying to be more accountable individually and as a collective team. We have what we need and I think we just have to figure out. It's still a work in progress. Luckily, we still have some games to get it right. We just got to figure out exactly what it is that each person can give. Just what little bit more can each player give that will really help this team get to what we can be."

**You had a career game against Bahcesehir with 30 points. Seeing the experience, physicality and overall game knowledge you have, is this the best moment of your career?**

"Yeah, I guess I can say that. Individually, I have just been feeling over the years, each year I have been better at something, whether it be shooting, defense, being vocal, being a better teammate. Honestly, I just feel each day moving forward, I am in my best moment. Obviously, having a big game kind of shines a light on that, but I feel good. This year, God willing, I can complete the season with no injuries, but that's been one of the most important things on my mind, just availability. Being available, being healthy and being able to contribute the things I bring to this team."

Jordan Parks had a career-high 30 points against Bahcesehir College Istanbul in Round 11 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup Regular Season. 

Jordan Parks. Rounds 1-11

**It is rare to see an American player on the same team for four seasons, but Reyer is no ordinary team. What do you like so much about Reyer? What has kept you there for so long?**

"I have been playing in Italy for 10 years. Obviously, growing through the Italian league, I kind of had my sights set on where I would have liked to see myself. And Reyer was one of the places, and then just being here... I think the best thing about being here is the consistency. I know what I'm going to get. Obviously, this club is a very important one for Italy and also playing European competitions over the years and being able to be a pivotal part of something. And people appreciate you for who you are. I don't need to hide who I am or dim my light around here. I can just show up as Jordan Parks every day. I think that alone is something that has kept me here and made it easy for me to stay here. I'm not sure if you get that in many places in Europe or just in the world in general. I don't want to say it's comfort or being content, but it's nice to have consistency in being able just to continue to build and fight for a goal and not have to restart every year."

**As you said, you have played in Italy for over a decade, for several teams. I am sure there are many things you like other than the pasta and the culture. What is it?**

"I think it's a total package of things. I definitely consider not just things on the court but off the court as well. I'm obviously here for 10 months of the year, so being able to take my mind off basketball and being able to do things, eat well, and enjoy culture is important to me. I have been fortunate enough to play all around Italy in basically every region there is, and the people are inviting. I have just grown a liking to the country. It's not something where I can every year say to myself, 'I'm staying in Italy', but it's definitely something where Italy is definitely going to have the advantage when it comes to me, to my choosing. Also, just the competition in the league, being here and seeing where it was and where it's going, as far as just the style of basketball and the caliber of players that've been in the league for me, is great. I just think that my brand of basketball, my style, fits perfectly for Italian basketball. Now, could that be in other countries as well? Possibly, but I know what I know. Right now, once you spend some time in one place, you kind of want to see it through. I would love to be able to win a championship here in Italy, whether that be the Italian League or EuroCup or both. That's pretty much something that's just been set in my mind and in my goals."

**After so many years, you must be seen as a domestic player by everyone in Italy. Your kids probably speak Italian, too. How comfortable is Italy for you compared to anywhere else in the world?**

"It's definitely more comfortable than anywhere else right now. It's kind of like a second home. Unfortunately, this season, my kids are not with me. They are staying at home. We have turned the chapter in our lives in the States as well, purchasing a new home and stuff. My daughter was kind of getting to that age in school where we wanted to make sure she was caught up and able to be capable in the American school system. They stayed back this year. That's why the game was a little more emotional for me because this year I was without them and they actually arrived here maybe two days before the game. It was the first game. My son loves basketball. It was the first game he actually was able to attend with him kind of knowing what was going on. That made it pretty cool. But being able to be here without them, yeah, it helps. It's like a second home because I'm familiar with a lot of people here. I have a lot of friends and people that I consider family who live here in Italy, so it kind of fills that void when my family's not here with me."

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**In Round 12, Reyer will face Neptunas Klaipeda in Lithuania. You played with Arnas Velicka in Napoli Basket four years ago, in the 2021-22 season. How much are you looking forward to visiting a new city and facing a former teammate who is doing so well this season?**

"Honestly, I always look forward to playing in new cities. I just love to be able to say I've visited somewhere and I try to walk outside and see some things before the games and just being able to experience what that country's culture is with sports. And maybe that organization might be better than another and being able to play against a former teammate and somebody like Arnas, who when I played with him, he was really young and you could see the potential he had. And now, being able to fast forward, it seems like I am an old guy. I'm just 31! But fast forward four or five years and watching him be a leader on his team and some of the things that you saw in him as a young player is actually shining through now. And yeah, I kind of spoke to him about that the first time we played and I'm looking forward. I'm sure he's going to play with a different kind of confidence while he's at home, so it's always fun to compete against peers."

**How great is it for a basketball fan to play for Reyer and listen to Coach Spahija and Coach Molin's stories?**

"Oh man, it's an amazing combination because you kind of have a mix of old and new. I think Reyer has an old traditional feel, so you kind of get to see what the people before you experienced and why they loved it and why they played so hard and the passion they have. And then you have kind of the new, where you mix in someone like Coach Neven, who's seen it all. He's been at every level. He knows so much. And just listening to him sometimes and him telling his stories... he has some incredible stories and just things that you can only dream of experiencing. And so he likes to share those stories. And that's amazing because it kind of also motivates you. It lets you know you are around somebody who is extremely successful, somebody who knows what they are talking about. And it just gives you a bit more confidence. And then with Coach Lele, being as tenured as he is as an assistant coach, he has success as a head coach in Trento. We actually played against them a few years ago. So just bringing that kind of competitiveness and jokingness about who was better and what he has from the game, and what he saw from his view, not just as a head coach, but as an assistant. It's a good combination. It works well. I think sometimes it takes a bit of adjusting to, but everybody always ends up coming along. But around this time of the year, the guys start to get it."

**The game in Klaipeda will be the first EuroCup showdown in 2026. What do you wish for your fans and the team in 2026?**

"My wish for the team obviously is a championship. I mean, I know it takes steps. The first thing I would like to do is take the next step forward. We have been to two EuroCup Playoffs in my years here and both ended in the first round. So the next goal would be to get out of the first round and ultimately play the next round. Hopefully, that can end with us in a championship. And for the fans, I hope that they can continue to support and rally behind us, even through the struggles and the times where things aren't necessarily going as great as they would like. But knowing that, we are there each and every single day and we are fighting for the team. This team is completely, completely unselfish and one of the most non-egotistical teams that I have played for. And the guys in our team could really use the strongest support and being able to see this go through, because we all want the same thing, and that's the championship."

More Umana Reyer news

From a 30-point game to a decade in Italy, Parks shares insights on leadership, consistency, and chasing titles

Neptunas Klaipeda v Umana Reyer Venice (2026-01-02T16:00:00.000Z)

Several teams scored important wins in both groups during Round 11 of the BKT EuroCup, but none was quite as impressive as the 118-point effort from U-BT Cluj Napoca as they cruised to a comfortable win to keep pace with the playoff hunt in Group A. Scoring 68 points in the first half against Neptunas Klaipeda – the third-highest mark all-time – Mihai Silvasan’s team got off to a spectacular start, scoring 15 points in the first 3 minutes as they came away with points on their first seven trips down the floor, including a pair of run-out dunks.

Stats review: Cluj's red-hot offense bludgeoned Neptunas on the interior

Several teams scored important wins in both groups during Round 11 of the BKT EuroCup, but none was quite as impressive as the 118-point effort from [U-BT Cluj Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/) as they cruised to a comfortable win to keep pace with the playoff hunt in Group A. Scoring 68 points in the first half [against Neptunas Klaipeda](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/creeks-night-for-the-ages-highlights-record-breaking-cluj-win-over-neptunas/) – the third-highest mark all-time – Mihai Silvasan’s team got off to a spectacular start, scoring 15 points in the first 3 minutes as they came away with points on their first seven trips down the floor, including a pair of run-out dunks.

As explosive as that early run was, perhaps it was not entirely surprising. Cluj and Neptunas rank first and second in pace on the year respectively, are both in the top seven in offensive efficiency, and both went into triple digits in their matchup in Round 2. Scoring has not been an issue for either team most nights this season.

Nonetheless, Cluj’s performance was somewhat unique among high point totals. Unlike so many of the league’s most explosive performances over the last several years, three-pointers were not a very significant factor as they shot a modest 9 for 24 from beyond the arc. With only 7 offensive rebounds, 14 turnovers, and 25 free-throw attempts, they did not dominate the possession battle or win in the margins.

They built the signature offensive effort of the season with the way they attacked the rim, something they have done as well as any team in the EuroCup all year. Finishing six and-ones and earning opportunities for two others, throwing down seven dunks, and shooting 22 for 26 on layups, they were not just prolific scoring above average 23 points in transition, but incredibly effective in the half court. Generating 79 points in the paint on the night overall – well above their league-best 42 points per game average – and shooting 83% in the restricted area, they imposed their will on the interior. 

Among individuals, [Nighael Ceaser](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nighael-ceaser/014185/) and [Dusan Miletic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dusan-miletic/009896/) combined to score a productive 31 inside, but [Mitch Creek](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mitchell-creek/013927/) notched 26 of his 40 in the paint, tallying five and-one opportunities in a truly exceptional showing of physicality and assertiveness. The 33-year-old has been very efficient all season, but punished the defense relentlessly in the second-highest scoring game of his professional career and one of the signature efforts of the 2025-26 EuroCup regular season.

Staying above the playoff cut line in Group A notching their sixth win and boosting their point differential, there’s a pretty good chance this offensive explosion pays dividends down the stretch for Cluj – important for a team that may have the toughest four games to close the year of any team in the EuroCup. 

Sportradar's Matt Kamalsky looks back on last Wednesday's high-scoring clash between the two teams

The host has won two in a row, while Besiktas saw a four-game winning run ended with last week’s narrow loss at London. A key battle will take place in the paint between two of the competition’s best centers, as Kevin Yebo (19.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game) attempts to get the better of visiting Ante Zizic (12.6, 7.3 boards per night). Chemnitz also knows it has to handle the long-range shooting of Yigit Arslan, who drained five triples to lead Besiktas to victory when the teams met in Round 3.

### NINERS Chemnitz

**Player Records against Opponent**

Kevin Yebo posted his career high in 2-pointers made with 10 for NINERS Chemnitz against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on october 15, 2025.

Kevin Yebo posted his career high in Offensive rebounds with 5 for NINERS Chemnitz against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on october 15, 2025.

Nike Sibande posted his career high in Total rebounds with 11 for NINERS Chemnitz against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on october 15, 2025.

Nike Sibande posted his career high in Defensive rebounds with 10 for NINERS Chemnitz against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on october 15, 2025.

Corey Davis Jr. posted his career high in Assists with 11 for NINERS Chemnitz against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on october 15, 2025.

Corey Davis Jr. posted his career high in Free throws made with 6 for NINERS Chemnitz against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on october 15, 2025.

Yordan Minchev posted his career high in Points with 15 for NINERS Chemnitz against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on october 15, 2025.

Yordan Minchev posted his career high in 2-pointers made with 7 for NINERS Chemnitz against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on october 15, 2025.

Corey Davis Jr. posted his career high in Index Rating with 32 for NINERS Chemnitz against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on october 15, 2025.

Kaza Kajami-Keane posted his career high in Points with 9 for NINERS Chemnitz against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on october 15, 2025.

**Team Record**

NINERS Chemnitz individual single-game club record of 11 Assists was set by Corey Davis Jr., against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on october 15, 2025.

NINERS Chemnitz individual single-game club record of 10 2-pointers made was set by Kevin Yebo, against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on october 15, 2025.

NINERS Chemnitz recorded its highest team Assists total in EuroCup play this season, 27, against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on october 15, 2025.

NINERS Chemnitz recorded its highest team 2-pointers made total in EuroCup play this season, 27, against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on october 15, 2025.

**Season Rankings**

Kevin Yebo is ranked third among qualified EuroCup players this season in average index rating with 21,9 per game.

Kevin Yebo is ranked second among qualified EuroCup players this season in average points with 19,7 per game.

Kevin Yebo is ranked 10th among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Total Rebounds with 6,6 per game.

Kevin Yebo is ranked second among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Defensive Rebounds with 5 per game.

Corey Davis Jr. is ranked seventh among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Assists with 5,3 per game.

Ty Brewer is ranked 10th among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Steals with 1,5 per game.

Kevin Yebo is ranked fourth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Free Throws Made with 5,7 per game.

Kevin Yebo is ranked sixth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average 2-pointers made with 4,9 per game.

Kostja Mushidi is ranked sixth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average 2-pointers % with 76,5% per game.

Corey Davis Jr. is ranked sixth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average 3-pointers made with 2,3 per game.

John Newman Iii is ranked second among qualified EuroCup players this season in average 3-pointers % with 57,1% per game.

Kevin Yebo is ranked third among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Field goals made with 6,3 per game.

Game Videos

### Besiktas GAIN Istanbul

**Player Records against Opponent**

Berk Ugurlu posted his career high in Assists with 12 for Besiktas GAIN Istanbul against NINERS Chemnitz on october 15, 2025.

Conor Morgan posted his career high in Blocks with 3 for Besiktas GAIN Istanbul against NINERS Chemnitz on october 15, 2025.

**Team Record**

Besiktas GAIN Istanbul recorded its highest team Blocks total in EuroCup play this season, 6, against NINERS Chemnitz on october 15, 2025.

**Season Rankings**

Ante Zizic is ranked fourth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average index rating with 21 per game.

Ante Zizic is ranked fourth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Total Rebounds with 7,3 per game.

Ante Zizic is ranked sixth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Offensive Rebounds with 2,5 per game.

Ante Zizic is ranked fourth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Defensive Rebounds with 4,8 per game.

Ante Zizic is ranked ninth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average 2-pointers made with 4,6 per game.

Ismael Kamagate is ranked fourth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average 2-pointers % with 77,8% per game.

Berk Ugurlu is ranked ninth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average 2-pointers % with 74,3% per game.

Jonah Mathews is ranked fifth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average 3-pointers made with 2,4 per game.

Ismael Kamagate is ranked second among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Field goals % with 77,8% per game.

Ante Zizic is ranked fourth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Field goals % with 69,9% per game.

Ismael Kamagate is ranked fifth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average True Shooting % with 73,1% per game.

Ante Zizic is ranked sixth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average True Shooting % with 70,5% per game.

Berk Ugurlu is ranked fourth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Assist-Turnover ratio with 490% per game.

Devon Dotson is ranked 10th among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Assist-Turnover ratio with 287% per game.

**All-time Rankings**

Berk Ugurlu is ranked third on the all-time EuroCup charts with 286,57% assists-turnovers ratio % for his career.

Chemnitz (5-6) will attempt to continue its push for the playoffs against a Besiktas team (8-3) eager to get its challenge for a top two finish back on track.

Game Facts: NINERS vs. Besiktas

Ask Giorgos Tsalmpouris where his favorite place to play basketball has been in his career and the Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens big man will answer without hesitation: Spain. And it all goes back to Ricky Rubio.

Panionios’s Giorgos Tsalmpouris: Spain will always have 'a special place in my heart'

Ask [Giorgos Tsalmpouris](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/giorgos-tsalmpouris/006548/) where his favorite place to play basketball has been in his career and the [Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/panionios-cosmorama-travel-athens/nio/) big man will answer without hesitation: Spain. And it all goes back to Ricky Rubio.

The 29-year-old Tsalmpouris has etched out a strong career in Greece with Panionios as a 2.17-meter power forward who can hit the three-point shot. He is currently averaging 11.5 points per game while connecting on 34.9% from long range while also contributing 3.4 rebounds.

This is Tsalmpouris’s second season back in his native Greece with the Athens club and he is pleased with his current situation – playing in the BKT EuroCup for a team on the rise.

“Every year, my goals change. Being 29, I don’t have very specific goals. My ultimate goal is to enjoy the most of the years I have left on the court playing at a high level,” he told David Hein.

The top plays of Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens big man Giorgos Tsalmpouris through the first 11 rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Giorgos Tsalmpouris's best plays this season

Before Tsalmpouris’s professional career started, the Thessaloniki native had a life-changing experience as he attended Iowa State University for the 2014-15 season.

“Going to Iowa State is to this day one of the nicest experiences I’ve had in my career so far. Imagine an 18-year-old from a Greek town experiencing college basketball. I met great people my year there, I played with and against great players, and generally that experience improved me as a player and as a person,” said Tsalmpouris, who averaged 1.4 points that season.

He returned to Greece after that year and played for a series of Greek teams – AEK Athens, Kolossos Rodou, PAOK Thessaloniki and Apollon Patras – over the first seven years of his career.

Then came 2022 when he moved to Spain and signed with Real Betis. And Tsalmpouris came into a team that had the feeling of a United Nations meeting with players from Ukraine, Latvia, Serbia, Senegal, Dominican Republic, Hungary and Congo.

"In general, what we do gives us the chance not to only travel and meet people all over the world but fight with them too. Especially in Spain, I was in squads with 13-14 people from 9-10 different nationalities. You know we have our differences in style of life or culture, but at the end of the day we’re all there for the love of the game and that’s more than enough to make such a diverse team a unit,” he said.

Tsalmpouris said he got a chance to go to Betis because head coach Luis Casimiro faced his team the year before as the play-caller at Promitheas Patras in Greece.

“He knew me already and it made it easier to happen and I’m grateful for it,” the big man said of the move to Spain.

The move to his place of dreams.

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“Playing in Spain was a childhood dream of mine because I grew up idolizing Ricky Rubio and watching the ACB's early Sunday games on Greek TV,” he admitted.

Tsalmpouris played with Betis until the February 2023 national team window.

“It was a weird situation in Seville because I didn’t have a guaranteed contract for the whole season, but I had consecutive monthly contracts so it put a lot of pressure on me to prove myself valuable enough to stay the next month and the next,” Tsalmpouris said.

“Towards February the team needed to make changes and given my contract situation I was let go, although I believe I did a pretty good job my time in Seville.”

He ended up collecting 8.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game over 16 contests while shooting 40% from long range. He was then picked up by Bilbao Basket in February to cover for an injury. In his new team, he averaged 6.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 14 Spanish League games.

“When I moved to Bilbao, I quickly fell in love with it. I finished the season on a high and my priority was to stay there, so once the team wanted too it was an easy decision,” Tsalmpouris said.

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He stayed the whole 2023-24 season in Bilbao, though he rarely played in February and March with just two appearances. He didn’t have a major injury at all, but the team had five bigs for the rotation and the coach decided to cut it to four, leaving Tsalmpouris as the odd man out.

“It’s obviously tough not being able to perform and watch from the bench most of the games but it’s part of the game,” said Tsalmpouris, who ended up averaging 3.0 points and 1.1 rebounds for the season.

That production didn’t exactly leave Tsalmpouris with loads of options for last season, though he wanted to continue his journey abroad. He ended up going to Panionios, which had just earned promotion back to the top flight from the second division.

“When Panionios approached me I was hesitant because although it’s a historic club, it was a new team at the time having just made it up to the first division. But I quickly figured that it’s a situation I want to be involved and I made the decision to sign with the team and I obviously am proud of that,” he said.

Staying at Panionios for this season then offered him a chance to play in the EuroCup for the first time. And he is doing well there. But there will always be his time in Spain.

“My two years in Spain were hands down the best of my career with their ups and downs obviously. The ACB is the best domestic league for a reason and being part of it and competing at that level is pretty amazing,” he said.

“I also was lucky enough to be in two great cities, and especially Bilbao to this day has a special place in my heart. I was the happiest I’ve been for the most part of my time there. It’s a home away from home for me.”

More Panionios News

Round 11 MVP: Mitchell Creek, U-BT Cluj-Napoca

A stellar performance in a convincing home victory allowed [Mitchell Creek](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mitchell-creek/013927/) of U-BT Cluj-Napoca to earn Regular Season Round 11 MVP honors with a PIR of 43.

Creek led Cluj to a 118-97 home win over Neptunas Klaiepda with 40 points, a new club record, on near-perfect shooting: 10-of-11 two-pointers, 4-of-4 three-pointers and 8-of-10 free throws. He added 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 7 fouls drawn for a career-high PIR of 43, which is also a Cluj record. Creek earned MVP of the Round honors for the first time in his BKT EuroCup career and became the second Cluj player to do so this season, after Dusan Miletic in Round 4.

[Jordan Parks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jordan-parks/011909/) of Umana Reyer Venice and [Aleksej Nikolic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/aleksej-nikolic/003703/) of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana each had a PIR of 34. Parks led Reyer to a 94-85 comeback win against Bahcesehir College Istanbul with 30 points on 8-of-13 two-pointers, 2-of-2 three-pointers and 8-of-9 free throws, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 5 fouls drawn. Nikolic did it in his team's 81-84 home loss against Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem. Nikolic had 27 points on 5-of-7 two-pointers, 3-of-9 three-pointers and 8-of-8 free throws, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 10 fouls drawn.

[Malachi Flynn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/malachi-flynn/013908/) of Bahcesehir, who reached a PIR of 22, and [Kyle Alexander](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-alexander/011973/) of Turk Telekom Ankara, who amassed a PIR of 32, complete the top individual performances in Round 11. Flynn posted 31 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 5 fouls drawn in Bahcesehir’s victory, while Alexander finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks and 6 fouls drawn in Turk Telekom’s 76-80 defeat to Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse.

### Individual highs: Austin Wiley, Jerusalem, 6 blocks

Mitchell Creek of Cluj led all scorers in Round 11 with 40 points. He became the first player to score 40 points or more in a EuroCup game, and the first to reach the mark since Scottie Wilbekin of Darussafaka Istanbul got 41 in Game 2 of the 2018 semifinals against FC Bayern Munich. His teammate Fatts Russell is the competition's top scorer with 21.4 points per game.

Austin Wiley of Jerusalem topped all rebounders in Round 11 by pulling down 13. He is also first overall with 8.6 boards per night.

RJ Cole of Reyer dished 9 assists in Round 11, more than anyone else. Arnas Velicka of Neptunas ranks first overall with 7.2 assists per night.

Nine different players collected 3 steals apiece in this round. Dogus Ozdemiroglu of Turk Telekom is the steals leader with 2.7 per game.

Wiley had a round-high 6 blocks against Cedevita. He climbed to first place overall with 1.9 blocks per game.

Zacharie Perrin of Veolia Towers Hamburg (11 points, 12 rebounds), Amine Noua of Aris Thessaloniki Betsson (14 points, 10 rebounds), Stefan Djordjevic of Slask Wroclaw (12 points, 12 rebounds), Fardaws Aimaq of Lietkabelis Panevezys (13 points, 12 rebounds) and Kyle Alexander of Turk Telekom (21 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded a double-double in Round 11.