The BKT EuroCup returns after the FIBA window, which means there are new opportunities to win in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge. 

Fantasy tips, Round 9: The mid-range edition

The BKT EuroCup returns after the FIBA window, which means there are new opportunities to win in the [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/11).

Managers will try to be first in the private leagues and beat the overall leader, our very own Frankie Sachs, who we keep protecting by not revealing his picks. So once again it's me, Javier Gancedo, ranking 287th overall, sharing my favorite players.

This time, I am focusing on players who are between 10.0 to 12.5 credits, because this is where good picks can give you the edge. Here we go.

Joel Scott, Adam Mokoka, Amine Noua, Rihards Lomazs and Jordan Usher are featured in this week's article. 

EuroCup Fantasy tips: Round 9

### Adam Mokoka, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (11.5 credits)

There are many good reasons to pick [Adam Mokoka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/adam-mokoka/012698/) this week. He is in a team that usually wins, is playing at home against high-scoring Buducnost, and has been sensational lately. In the last three games, Mokoka averaged 15.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and a PIR of 22.7. He should have a solid game in Round 9.

### Amine Noua, Aris Thessaloniki Betsson (11.4 credits)

[Amine Noua](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/amine-noua/006068/) comes off a really good season in the Spanish League and delivered right away. In his first two EuroCup games since 2022, Noua averaged 16.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.5 fouls drawn and a PIR of 20.5. Noua is set to keep bringing the energy, going to the foul line often and having solid numbers.

### Rihards Lomazs, Neptunas Klaipeda (11.1 credits)

I hear you: shooters gotta shoot, right? [Rihards Lomazs](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/rihards-lomazs/005553/) is a great shooter but has been doing a little bit of everything lately. In the last four games, Lomazs averaged 20.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals and a PIR of 21.0. So yes, Lomazs is hitting shots... but he's doing so much more than just that for Neptunas!

### Jordan Usher, Turk Telekom Ankara (10.4 credits)

[Jordan Usher](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jordan-usher/013265/) has been really effective lately, hitting 12 of his last 15 two-point shots to average 15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and a PIR of 17.7. After a five-winning streak, Turk Telekom lost against Besiktas and will wait to bounce back against a run-and-gun team like Chemnitz.

Javier Gancedo has some ideas to help your EuroCup Fantasy Challenge teams this week

BAXI Manresa v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2025-12-05T19:45:00.000Z)

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2025-12-05T18:30:00.000Z)

Besiktas GAIN Istanbul v Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (2025-12-05T17:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem v Umana Reyer Venice (2025-12-04T19:00:00.000Z)

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

NINERS Chemnitz v Turk Telekom Ankara (2025-12-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Lietkabelis Panevezys v London Lions (2025-12-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2025-12-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Slask Wroclaw (2025-12-04T17:30:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Neptunas Klaipeda (2025-12-04T16:00:00.000Z)

Neptunas Klaipeda has strengthened its frontcourt with the addition of Lithuanian center Egidijus Mockevicius, the club announced on Tuesday

Neptunas lands rebounding ace Egidijus Mockevicius

[Neptunas Klaipeda](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/neptunas-klaipeda/kla/) has strengthened its frontcourt with the addition of Lithuanian center [Egidijus Mockevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/egidijus-mockevicius/002333/), the club announced on Tuesday. Mockevicius (2.08 meters, 32 years old) returns to his home country after several seasons abroad and is expected to provide rebounding power and experience.

The veteran big man returns for a third stint in the EuroCup after debuting with Rytas Vilnius in 2017 and playing for Wolves Vilnius two seasons ago. Mockevicius is widely recognized for his elite rebounding ability and physical presence in the paint. He led the NCAA in rebounding during his senior year at the University of Evansville, before launching a professional career that has taken him across Europe. His résumé includes stops in Spain, Italy, Turkiye, France and Romania in addition to spells in the G League, Mexico, Uruguay and Taiwan.

Most recently, Mockevicius played for Club Atletico Aguada, where he averaged 7.1 points and 8.3 rebounds in seven games in Uruguay. He has also represented Lithuania at various youth levels and was part of the senior national team pool in previous years.


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The latest Neptunas news

The veteran center brings toughness and versatility to the Lithuanian side’s frontcourt

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

Joseph Girard carrying on tradition from Jimmer Fredette 

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

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

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Girard has had his moments in his first EuroCup season, most notably his 16-point outburst in Cedevita’s Round 3 home victory over Aris Thessaloniki Betsson. The 25-year-old is averaging 7.8 points while shooting 38.9% on three-pointers to go with 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joseph Girard's top plays this season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Cedevita Olimpija News

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

Following a short break, the midway point of the BKT EuroCup season arrives with 10 games on Thursday and Friday. Here’s your overview of all the action.

At a glance: The EuroCup returns with a bang

Following a short break, the midway point of the BKT EuroCup season arrives with 10 games on Thursday and Friday. Here’s your overview of all the action.

## Thursday, December 4

### Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Neptunas Kleipeda (17:00 CET)

The week begins in Istanbul as Bahcesehir (6-2) aims to protect first place in Group A with a visit from Neptunas (3-5). The Turkish team has lost two of its last three games and will look for improved defense after allowing 99 points to Slask last time out, but that won’t be easy against a Neptunas team which averages 90.9 points per night (fifth best in the competition). Two of the EuroCup’s best guards will go head to head for a key battle as Bahcesehir dynamo Malachi Flynn (17.9 points per night) attempts to overcome visiting Rihards Lomasz, who has scored at least 14 points in five games straight for a Neptunas team which lost its last two games.

### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Slask Wroclaw (18:30 CET)

Group A co-leader Cedevita (6-2) will attempt to maintain that status with a visit from playoff-chasing Slask (4-4). The Polish team is still looking for its first road win but has plenty of confidence after downing Bahcesehir in its last game, led by 20 points from big man Stefan Dordevic. Cedevita has rolled to three consecutive victories, helped by big man Thomas Kennedy delivering a series of strong performances in the paint, and takes better care of the basketball than any other team with just 10.6 turnovers per game. So Slask ball hawk Jakub Urbaniak – who has multiple steals in four games so far this season – will have to fight hard for extra possessions.

### ratiopharm ulm vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (19:00 CET)

Ulm (4-4) will attempt to maintain its position in Group B’s top six by overcoming one of the chasing pack, Trento (3-5). Both teams need to improve defensively after allowing more than 100 points in Round 8 defeats, and a key aspect will be three-point shooting: Ulm has the competition’s worst perimeter defense, allowing opponents to convert 40.5% of long-range strikes, but also boasts one of the most potent three-point offenses partly thanks to Tobias Jensen averaging 11.2 points on 47.2%. Trento, however, has the EuroCup’s worst three-point conversion rate (26.2%), so needs the otherwise excellent (17.7 points per game) to improve his shooting beyond the arc after going 3-of-15 in the last three games.

### NINERS Chemnitz vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (19:00 CET)

Chemnitz (3-5) will try to win consecutive games for the first time against a Turk Telekom (5-3) team aiming to recover winning ways. Both teams excel inside the paint, with Chemnitz ranked third in the competition with 61.5% two-pointers, while Turk Telekom is even better (61.9%). Ty Brewer was keys to Chemnitz’s Round 8 victory over Trento with 16 points and 7 rebounds, and he faces a good battle with Jordan Usher, who has scored at least 13 points in four of the last five. Another key battle will take place in the backcourt as Corey Davis (16 points and 5.6 assists per game) confronts Dogus Ozdemiroglu (9.2 points and 5.2 assists per night).

### Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. London Lions (19:00 CET)

Two teams on the fringes of Group B’s playoff race meet as Lietkabelis (2-6) welcomes London (3-5). The Lithuanian team ended a six-game winning run by overcoming Panionis with a strong defensive performance last time out, and the all-round strength of Augustine Rubit (15.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per night) will be an important building block for seeking another victory. He will be confronted by in-form Joel Scott, who has averaged 15.2 points in the last five games. But London has struggled for offensive consistency throughout the season, and taking better care of the basketball would help after committing more turnovers than any other team (16.4 per game).

### Aris Thessaloniki Betsson vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (19:00 CET)

Two of the four teams tied for Group A’s fourth place go into battle as Aris (4-4) welcomes Cluj (4-4). Cluj is the competition’s highest-scoring team with 96.8 points per game, but has one of the worst defenses with an average of 94 points allowed. So Aris’s recent signing Amine Noua will hope to continue the form that saw him net 24 points to defeat Neptunas last time out. That victory also saw guard Bryce Jones approach a triple-double with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, and he faces a great matchup with Cluj playmaker Fatts Russell. The visiting team will also look for another strong performance from forward Mitch Creek, who averages 16.9 points per game on 72.4% inside shooting.

### Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem vs. Umana Reyer Venice (20:00 CET)

Red-hot Group A co-leader Hapoel (6-2) will attempt to strengthen its position in the top four by overcoming dangerous Reyer (4-4). The Italian team has won three of the last four games, most recently overcoming Manresa thanks to the shooting skills of Kyle Wiltjer, who has made multiple three-pointers in five games already this season. Hapoel has won five straight and will look to maintain the explosive offense which has surpassed 100 points in three of the last four, with Cassius Winston (15.7 points and 4.7 assists per game) among those playing at a high level. Expect a big battle in the paint between the competition’s second and third-best rebounders, Austin Wiley (8.1 rebounds per night) and Chris Horton (7.9).

## Friday, December 5

### Besiktas GAIN Istanbul vs. Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (18:00 CET)

Besiktas (6-2) is aiming for a third straight victory as it welcomes a Panionios team (1-7) stuck in Group B’s last place. The home team’s outstanding offensive production (91.4 points per game) is based on the EuroCup’s second-most accurate three-point shooting (39.8%), with Brynton Lemar making 9 of his 13 attempts from deep in the last two games. In contrast, Panionios’s long losing run is the result of an offense which has only reached 80 points once in the last six games and ranks last in the competition with just 75.3 points per game, but an excellent start from newcomer Stedmon Lemon (20 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals against Lietkabelis last time out) provides some hope.

### Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (19:30 CET)

It’s first against second in Group A as Bourg (7-1) receives a visit from Buducnost (6-2). The French team, which is 3-0 at home, has relied on outstanding defense recently, allowing just 64 and 68 points in the last two games. That will definitely be needed against a confident Buducnost team which has won five straight and poured in 101 points – led by Rasheed Sulaimon with 19 – to overpower Ulm last time out. For Bourg, the versatile skills of guard Adam Mokoka (12.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game) are a key driving force, and he faces a good backcourt battle against Yogi Ferrell, who has reached double digits in scoring in five of the last six.

### BAXI Manresa vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (20:45 CET)

The week’s action concludes with Manresa (3-5) seeking a return to winning ways while Hamburg (0-8) targets its first victory. Manresa has lost four straight and needs to recover the defensive stability that delivered early-season success, while hoping that Alfonso Plummer can continue the long-range accuracy which has seen him average 4.5 triples in his last three games. Hamburg’s hopes of breaking into the win column require all-round improved shooting accuracy: the German team has made just 50.2% of two-point attempts and 26.2% from long-range so far, respectively, ranking 18th and 19th in the competition. One cause for optimism is the addition of Devon Daniels, who scored 19 points on debut last time out.

Andy West previews Round 9 of the 2025-26 EuroCup campaign

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

Hamburg releases forward Edler-Davis 

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

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

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

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

The latest Hamburg news

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

Hamburg releases forward Edler-Davis

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

Justas Furmanavicius strengthens Lietkabelis’s frontcourt depth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.