Zalgiris Kaunas has announced the signing of promising guard Mantas Rubstavicius to a long-term deal of which he will spend the first season on loan at BKT EuroCup side 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys. 

Mantas Rubstavicius signs long-term deal with Zalgiris

Zalgiris Kaunas has announced the signing of promising guard [Mantas Rubstavicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mantas-rubstavicius/009299/) to a long-term deal of which he will spend the first season on loan at BKT EuroCup side [7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/lietkabelis-panevezys/roster/lkb/?season=2024-25). Rubstavicius (1.98 meters, 22 years old) has previous experience at both clubs and comes off a season in the Australian National Basketball League with the New Zealnd Breakers. He averaged 9.4 points on 43.3% three-point shooting and 61.1% two-point shooting plus 2.1 rebounds in 25 NBL games last season.

Rubstavicius began his professional career in Lietkabelis before joining Zalgiris as a 17-year-old in 2019. He spent three seasons there, playing for the club’s junior team, B team and senior team and made his EuroLeague debut in April 2021. Rubstavicius returned to Lietkabelis for the 2022-23 season before moving to New Zealand last season. He has also played for the Lithuanian national team at the junior levels and helped it win the silver medal at the 2022 European U20 Championship.

Best of Mantas Rubstavicius: 2022-23

The club will loan him to EuroCup side Lietkabelis in the first season

Here are the games EuroLeague.net staff members are most excited about in March. 

Games I am looking forward to in March 

Here are the games staff members are most excited about in March. They already selected their must-see games for [Round 1](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-round-1/), [October](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-october/), [November](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-november/), [December](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-december/), [January ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-january/)and [February](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-february/).

Round 28: A new derby that is capable of fireworks

*Geoff Gillingham*

In what could be the beginnings of a budding rivalry, Paris Basketball takes on AS Monaco in early March. They are France’s two most aspirational clubs and met in last year’s French League Finals, with Monaco coming out on top 3-1. Monaco has been an example to follow after winning the BKT EuroCup in the 2020-21 season and going on to make the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs in each of its three seasons in the competition.

Should Paris achieve a similar level of success, this matchup could easily become France’s answer to *El Clásico*, the Derby d’Italia or the Eternal Derby. Looking more short term, it is always a lot of fun to see Paris’s TJ Shorts and Monaco’s Mike James face off – last season’s EuroCup MVP and EuroLeague MVP, respectively – while Paris’s Nadir Hifi and Monaco’s Elie Okobo are both capable of putting on a show, too. This Round 28 contest should be a lot of fun.

Paris Basketball star playmaker TJ Shorts averaged 18.5 points and a PIR of 24.0 in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Finals against Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse.

TJ Shorts, Paris: 2024 EuroCup Finals highlights

### Round 28: A championship game rematch in Athens

*Frankie Sachs*

Whenever the last two champions meet, it is always interesting. And when it’s a rematch of the previous year’s championship game, all the more so. Add to that the fact that both Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Real Madrid have kept the cores of their teams together with strategic additions and it’s even spicier. In Round 28, with just one month remaining in the regular season and the top teams jockeying for position and home-court advantage in the playoffs… We have some must-see basketball on our hands.

*Los Blancos* are 7-1 in their last eight trips to OAKA, so you can count on the Greens faithful to create a wild atmosphere to change that trend. That said, will Real’s veteran roster be intimidated? Probably not, which for me solidifies this game as appointment viewing.

 

### Round 29: A pivotal derby in Greece

*Javier Gancedo*

This is a must-watch game: Olympiacos Piraeus hosts Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens on March 14, 2025. After this game, there will be just five regular season games to be played, and that should be enough reason to set your alarm clock, clear your agenda and find a way to watch TV (on EuroLeague TV, preferably).

There's nothing like an archrivalry to inspire super plays by Turkish Airlines EuroLeague stars – and the Greek Derby is no exception. Re-live some of the top plays from recent EuroLeague battles between Olympiacos Piraeus and Panathinaikos OPAP Athens!

Inspired plays from recent Greek Derby games!

Kostas Sloukas returns to the Peace and Friendship Stadum for the first time in a EuroLeague game since winning the championship last season. He won EuroLeague crowns with the Reds in 2012 and 2013. Ioannis Papapetrou also played a couple of championship games with Olympiacos in 2015 and 2017. Luca Vildoza played for Panathinaikos last season and is wearing the red jersey now. Two of the best centers in the competition, Mathias Lessort of Panathinaikos and Nikola Milutinov of Olympiacos, are set to go against each other. Masterminds? You have Georgios Bartzokas on one side of the court and Ergin Ataman on the other. Fans? Believe me, the arena will be packed and the whole country will be watching.

### James, Calathes visit the Reds

*Igor Petrinovic*

Despite never meeting before November 2021, the games between Olympiacos and Monaco have quickly become EuroLeague's modern day rivalry. That's in great part thanks to their five-game playoff series in 2022 which Olympiacos won in a memorable Piraeus atmosphere. Then came their Final Four semifinals clash in Kaunas in 2023, when Olympiacos erased a 12-point halftime deficit, allowing just 2 third-quarter points. Over the past three seasons, Olympiacos and Monaco have each won six of their 12 head-to-head games, but meeting in such important games in a short period of time is what will catapult a rivalry into the sphere of derbies, and among the most anticipated duels each season. But so will the teams' ambitions.

Olympiacos Piraeus - AS Monaco | Semifinals | Highlights

Olympiacos and Monaco are perennial EuroLeague contenders, both because of their roster constructions and on-court performances. Then there is also something about the reigning EuroLeague MVP and the EuroLeague all-time leading scorer Mike James playing against a club that is responsible for depriving him of winning the EuroLeague crown – twice. And now, James has former Panathinaikos stars Nick Calathes and Georgios Papagiannis alongside him in Monaco uniforms. With the playoff and home-court places usually not decided until April, a collision between these two teams in Round 32, in Piraeus, with the playoff races peaking, is one I am looking forward to in the month of March.

Now that the schedule for the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season has been unveiled, EuroLeague.net's staff is eyeing all the mouth-watering action.

South Sudan was victorious in its first-ever game at the Olympic basketball tournament, defeating Puerto Rico 90-79.

Tremont Waters drained a pair of three-pointers as Puerto Rico jumped out to a 0-8 lead. After a South Sudan used a timeout, Nuni Omot scored his first points with free throws. The pace quickened with baskets falling at both ends as a Carlik Jones jumper narrowed the gap to 14-17 midway through the opening quarter. Puerto Rico regrouped behind Jose Alvarado to lead 20-28 after 10 minutes. South Sudan opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run to tie the game on a Peter Jok layup. Puerto Rico heated up to lead by as much as 31-40 and the score settled at 48-54 at the halftime break.

South Sudan came out of the locker room for the second half with more energy – with Wenyen Gabriel of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv making plays at both ends – and scored the first 11 points. A three by Omot gave South Sudan its first lead, 56-54. A pair of threes by Bul Kuol made it 62-56. The margin grew to 8 before Dreamland Gran Canaria center George Conditt scored 6 quick points, including a jaw-dropping dunk, to rally Puerto Rico within 71-69 at the end of the third quarter. The physicality of the game picked up in the final frame as South Sudan restored a comfortable lead, which reached 83-73 on JT Thor free throws with less than 4 minutes remaining. And Puerto Rico was unable to threaten again.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Olympics</a> game, first W 🔥<br><br>Bright Stars 🇸🇸 are here to battle and win 🌟<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/otQJHpCX3V">pic.twitter.com/otQJHpCX3V</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1817517105622737225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The key stats for the game were South Sudan’s 55-37 rebounding advantage, which included a 24-2 different in second-chance points. Jones, who has been linked to Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade for next season, led South Sudan with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Former Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul player Marial Shayok added 15 points, Omot and Kuol netted 12 each and Gabriel collected 9 rebounds and blocked 2 shots.

Alvarado, who injured his leg in the final seconds of the second quarter after scoring 19 first-half points, finished with 26 points. Waters added 18 points an Conditt posted 13 points and 6 rebounds in defeat.

### USA overpowers Serbia

The United States of America blasted Serbia 84-110 in the afternoon game on Sunday behind 23 points on near-perfect shooting by Kevin Durant in less than 17 minutes. LeBron James posted 21 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists and Jrue Holliday added 15 points for the winners. Nikola Jokic paced Serbia with 20 points, 8 assists and 4 steals, Bogdan Boganovic netted 14 points, Ognjen Dobric of Crvena Zvezda Merdianbet Belgrade had 13 and former EuroLeague MVP Vasa Micic 11.  

Ognjen Dobric of Serbia shoots over Steph Curry in their Olympic showdown. (Photo: FIBA)

Aleksa Avramovic scored the game’s first two baskets as Serbia set the tone. Dobric’s steal and layup made it 10-2 and prompted an early timeout by the Americans. Threes by Devin Booker got USA back on track and James gave them their first lead, 12-14. Four different players scored for Serbia in an 8-0 run before USA answered with 3 straight three-pointers to lead 20-25 after 10 minutes. Durant heated up to keep USA in control and Serbia called timeout when it fell behind 23-32. After the margin reached double figures, Jokic stepped up for Serbia to bring his side within 36-40. Durrant completed a perfect shooting half with a jumper on the buzzer to make it 49-58 at the break.  

USA scored the first 5 points of the second half, but Serbia refused to go away and a Dobric floater made it 57-65. However, when the Americans scored 6 straight points to end the third quarter, the margin was 65-84. Bam Adebayo’s dunk pushed the lead into the 20s at the start of the fourth quarter. Jokic and Micic led a final Serbia push to get within 73-86, but USA took over after that and raced to the victory.

The games were played on the second day of the tournament in Lille, France 

South Sudan triumphs in Olympic debut; USA blasts Serbia

South Sudan big man Wenyen Gabriel showed he is ready for the spotlight by helping his country defeat Puerto Rico 90-79

Maccabi’s Wenyen Gabriel impressed with South Sudan

The basketball tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games is a chance for many Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans to get a read on new players they may not be familiar with. South Sudan big man Wenyen Gabriel, who Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv signed last month to step into the shoes of star center Josh Nebo, is one such player. And Gabriel showed he is ready for the spotlight in Sunday’s first game, helping his country defeat Puerto Rico 90-79.

Wenyen Gabriel and his South Sudan teammates celebrate after defeating Puerto Rico (Photo: FIBA)

Gabriel displayed his versatility as someone who can handle the ball and make crisp passes as well as crash the boards and block shots. Even though he fouled out in the game’s final minute, with the game all but wrapped up, Gabriel was the game’s top rebounder with 9 boards. He was also the only player with multiple blocked shots. Gabriel also scored 6 points, dished 2 assists and collected 1 steal, though he also committed a game-high 6 turnovers, which left his PIR at 9.

The stat the showed Gabriel’s impact the most was +/-; his 12 in 21 minutes played led South Sudan and the only other players with at least 10 played several minutes more than Gabriel.

It won’t get easier for South Sudan as a date with Team USA awaits on Wednesday, but Gabriel already showed EuroLeague fans that he is able to produce on one of the grandest stages in the world of sports.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wenyen Gabriel in South Sudan&#39;s historic 90:79 win over Puerto Rico:<br><br>6 PTS (3/7 FG)<br>9 REB<br>2 AST<br>2 BLK<br>1 STL<br>12+ with him on the court <a href="https://t.co/qmZAsTwQs6">pic.twitter.com/qmZAsTwQs6</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱 (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1817518020102656057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The soon-to-be EuroLeague rookie left his mark in his and his country’s Olympic debut 

In the opening game of the Olympics Tournament, Australia beat Spain 92-80 in Group A action. In Group B, Germany beat Japan 97-77 leading from start to finish, while France topped Brazil 78-66 in come-from-behind fashion.

France, Germany, Australia open Olympic tourney with victories

In the opening game of the 2024 Olympic Tournament, Australia beat Spain 92-80 in Group A action. Jock Landale, who played in the EuroLeague for Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Zalgiris Kaunas, starred with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists, while Patty Mills scored 19 for Australia, which had five scorers in double figures. Spain's Santi Aldama was top scorer with 27 points, while Real Madrid's Sergio Llull scored 17 points on 5-of-15 three-point shooting.

Australia opened a double-digit lead after only 5 minutes of play and Josh Giddey strung together 8 points to keep Spain at bay. *The Boomers* opened a 31-17 lead early in the second, but Spain put together a 0-10 run capped by back-to-back threes from Llull.

Australia kept the lead safe and took 49-42 into halftime before Willy Hernangomez of FC Barcelona scored 5 points and Aldama's back-to-back threes gave Spain 54-56 lead in the third quarter, capping a 3-14 run. However, Australia responded with 8 straight points, and a 15-3 run of its own to restore a double-digit lead. In the fourth, Llull strung together 8 more points, including back-to-back threes to cut it to 73-68, but Australia pulled away again through Mills, Landale and Jack McVeigh and held on for victory.

Sergio Llull of Spain hit 5 three-pointers and scored 17 points in a loss against Australia (photo credit: FIBA)

Giddey flirted with a triple-double with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. For Spain, Hernangomez finished the game with 14 points, while Lorenzo Brown of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens had 7 points and a team high 7 assist.

### Germany runs past Japan

In the second game of the day, Germany beat Japan 97-77 in Group B by leading from start to finish. Isaac Bonga scored 10 first-half points and helped the reigning World Champions open a 47-31 lead in the second quarter, but Japan cut it to 52-44 at halftime.

After the break, Germany maintained its lead through Daniel Theis, Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner, while Johannes Thiemann, last season's top scorer for ALBA Berlin, and FC Bayern Munich's Nick Weiler-Babb made it 83-64 with 7 minutes to go and Japan never rallied back.

Franz Wagner had 22 points, Theis 18 points and Schroder 13 points and 12 assists. Bonga finished with 11 points and 6 rebounds in the victory. Weiler-Babb finished with 5 points and was one of our German players with a double digit +/-; his was 10 in 19 minutes on the floor.

Rui Hachimura led Japan with 20 points plus 10 rebounds.

Nick Weiler-Babb of FC Bayern Munich in action for Germany in a 97-77 win over Japan at the 2024 Olympic Games.  (photo credit: FIBA)

### France comes from behind against Brazil

In the second game of Group B, host France rallied from a first-half double-digit deficit to beat Brazil 78-66.

Brazil led by 12 points in the second quarter but Victor Wembanyama turned on the jets, scored 14 points before halftime, and with the help of Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier and reigning EuroLeague champion Mathias Lessort of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, France turned things around and was up 39-36 at halftime.

Early in the second half, Frank Ntilikina of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade hit a triple and ignited another France run, capped by a baskets from Dreamland Gran Canaria guard Andrew Albicy and Real Madrid forward Guerschon Yabusele for a 54-41 margin. France kept the lead, but back-to-back threes from Lucas Dias and Marchelinho Huertas help cut it to 62-58.

But Virtus Segafredo Bologna's Isaia Cordinier and Ntilikina with another three-pointer sparked a 7-0 run, and France was on its way to victory. Wembanyama had 19 points and 9 rebounds, and Batum also scored 19 in a victory. Ntilikina was the next best scorer for France with 9 points, and also had 3 assists and 2 steals. Cristiano Felicio and Leo Meindl scored 14 apiece for Brazil.

Thomas Walkup of Olympiacos Piraeus attacks the basket for Greece. (photo credit: FIBA)

### Canada survives late Greece rally

The final game of the opening day in basketball saw Canada prevail over Greece 79-86 despite a valiant late effort from the losing team.

Canada scored the game’s first 6 points and led 7-19 midway through the opening quarter. Olympiacos Piraeus forward Kostas Papanikolaou drilled a pair of three-pointers in a 10-0 Greece run to trim the margin to 2 before Jamal Murray free throws made it 22-26 after 10 minutes. R.J. Barrett had a strong finish to the second quarter to give Canada a 38-48 halftime advantage.

A hot start to the second half saw Canada go ahead by 16. Giannis Antetokounmpo and AS Monaco’s Nick Calathes helped Greece halve the deficit. The margin stood at 60-68 with 10 minutes remaining. Greece rallied in the fourth and several times had possession while trailing by 4, but back-to-back three-pointers by Luguentz Dort and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander restored a double-digit lead for Canada. Greece made one last charge as a floater by Aris Midea Thessaloniki guard Vassilis Toliopoulos was followed by a Thomas Walkup steal, which led to a Antetokounmpo slam that made it 78-80 inside the final minute. Gilgeous-Alexander answered for Canada and free throws by Murray with 15.2 seconds left put the game on ice.  

Barrett paced the Canadian attack with 23 points and Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 21 points and 7 assists for the winners. Antetokounmpo netted 34 points to match his jersey number for Greece and Papanikolaou added 17 points in defeat.

Nick Weiler-Babb of FC Bayern Munich in action for Germany in a 97-77 win over Japan at the 2024 Olympic Games.

The basketball competition at the 2024 Olympic Games started on Saturday in Lille, France.

Olympics: France, Germany among Day 1 winners

When Rudy Fernandez entered the game with 5:18 left on the clock in the first quarter of the opening game of the 2024 Olympic tournament, he made Olympic history. His Spain might have been down 18-7 at that point, officially becaming the first-ever basketball player to compete in six Olympic Games.

Rudy Fernandez re-wrote Olympic history books

When [Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rudy-fernandez/bmt/) entered the game with 5:18 left on the clock in the first quarter of the opening game of the 2024 Olympic tournament, he made Olympic history. His Spain might have been down 18-7 at that point, but Fernandez officially became the first-ever basketball player to compete in six Olympic Games.

Spanish forward, the three-time Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (2015, 2018, 2023) and one-time BKT EuroCup (2008) champion has made his Olympic debut in 2004 in Athens as a 19-year old. During his illustrious career has won Olympic silver medals in 2008 in Beijing and in 2012 in London, and has won a bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Now, 20 years later, he has re-written Olympic record books at the age of 39 and at what he hinted will be the final basketball tournament of his career. Fernandez might have finished scoreless during his 17 minutes in the floor, while picking up a steal and a rebound, but in what ended up a 12-point loss, he had a 0 in +/- column.

Meanwhile, his long-time Real Madrid teammate, a fellow three-time EuroLeague champ and a former EuroLeague MVP [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/records/tgb/) appeared in his fourth Olympics.

Llull's back-to-back triples in the second quarter cut Spain's deficit to 31-27, and his run of eight points early in the fourth helped cut the margin to 75-71. But Spain never came closer than that the rest of the way.

Llull finished with 17 points as his team's second-best scorer in 24 minutes on the floor.

Next for Spain is a clash against Greece on Tuesday.

The three-time EuroLeague champion has now appeared in six consecutive Olympic tournaments, which has never been done before.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna added another fresh face to the mix for the upcoming season, signing guard Rayjon Tucker, the club announced Saturday.

Virtus gets explosive guard Rayjon Tucker

Virtus Segafredo Bologna added another fresh face to the mix for the upcoming season, signing guard [Rayjon Tucker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/rayjon-tucker/012591/), the club announced Saturday. Tucker (1.91 meters, 26 years old) arrives from a fellow Italian side Umana Reyer Venice, where he averaged 14.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists last season in BKT EuroCup action. He also averaged 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals in the Italian League.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FLYING TO BOLOGNA ✈️<br>𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑹𝒂𝒚𝒋𝒐𝒏 <a href="https://t.co/GjkMbFSV1W">pic.twitter.com/GjkMbFSV1W</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1817137874904449371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Last season was Tucker's first in Europe. He came to Reyer from Melbourne United in the Australian League. Prior to that, after playing college basketball at Florida Gulf Coast University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Tucker spend three seasons in the NBA and the G-League. He suited up for the Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA and appeared in playoff games with Utah, Philadelphia and Milwaukee. Tucker also played for their G-League affiliates, the Wisconsin Herd, Salt Lake City Stars and Delaware Blue Coats.

Tucker is now set to make his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut.

Rayjon Tucker, the new signing of Virtus Segafredo Bologna, averaged 14.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in BKT EuroCup action last season.

Rayjon Tucker's best dunks of the 2023-24 EuroCup season

He played in the BKT EuroCup with Umana Reyer Venice last season.

The basketball tournament is one of the most anticipated events of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and the 12-man tournament will be filled with the EuroLeague, and EuroCup, stars of present and past.

Olympic tournament is filled with EuroLeague, EuroCup stars

The basketball tournament is one of the most anticipated events of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, and the 12-team showpiece will be filled with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup stars from the past and present.

The men's Olympic basketball tournament features 42 players currently under contract with teams set to compete in the 2024-25 campaigns and a half-dozen more who played on EuroLeague and EuroCup floors last season.

The event will feature five reigning EuroLeague champs – [Konstantinos Mitoglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/konstantinos-mitoglou/007866/), [Panagiotis Kalaitzakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/panagiotis-kalaitzakis/011209/) and [Dimitris Moraitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dimitris-moraitis/006544/) of Greece, [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) of Spain, and [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) of France – who lifted the trophy this past May with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens. The Greens nearly had a sixth, but center [Kostas Antetokounmpo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-antetokounmpo/011221/) was a late scratch due to injury.

There are also 11 more players who competed at the 2024 Final Four wearing the jerseys of Real Madrid, Olympiacos Piraeus or Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in Berlin.

Konstantinos Mitoglou (left) and Juancho Hernangomez (right) celebrate after Panathinaikos won the 2023-24 EuroLeague championship.

Of the 12 national teams in the French capital, Greece is the team that leads the way with a total of 10 players who are currently on EuroLeague (eight) or EuroCup (two) rosters. Spain comes next with nine such players, followed by Serbia and France, each with seven.

Among those teams, there are also four former EuroLeague MVPs: France's [Nando De Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nando-de-colo/002100/) (2016), Spain's [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/) (2017) and Serbia's [Vasilije Micic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vasilije-micic/002580/) (2022) will be playing, while 2013 EuroLeague MVP and EuroLeague Legend [Vassilis Spanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vassilis-spanoulis/juo/) is the head coach of Greece.

Spanoulis is one of six head coaches – representing half of the teams in the Olympic tournament – who have left a significant mark in either the EuroLeague, EuroCup or both. Serbia's Svetislav Pesic led FC Barcelona to the EuroLeague crown in 2003, while another coaching mastermind, Spain head coach Sergio Scariolo, won the 2022 EuroCup with Virtus Segafredo Bologna.

Brazil tactician Aleksandar Petrovic was the 2010-11 EuroCup Coach of the Year, while France's Vincent Collet and Germany's and FC Bayern Munich's Gordon Herbert have a combined eight seasons coaching in the EuroLeague and 13 in the EuroCup.

Below is a country-by-country look at the current and former EuroLeague and EuroCup players expected to compete.

### Australia

[Dante Exum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dante-exum/profile/011302/) (formerly of Barcelona, Partizan)

[Joe Ingles](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/joe-ingles/profile/003062/) (formerly of Barcelona, Maccabi)

[Jock Landale](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jock-landale/008820/) (formerly of Partizan, Zalgiris)

[Duop Reath ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/duop-reath/profile/010603/)(formerly of Crvena Zvezda)

### Brazil

[Vitor Benite](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vitor-benite/007128/) (formerly of Murcia, Cedevita, Gran Canaria)

[Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/) (Partizan)

[Yago Dos Santos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/yago-dos-santos/012044/) (Crvena Zvezda)

[Cristiano Felicio](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/cristiano-felicio/profile/011230/) (formerly of ratiopharm Ulm)

[Marcelinho Huertas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marcelinho-huertas/profile/juj/) (formerly of Joventut, Fortitudo, Baskonia, Barcelona)

[Leo Meindl](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/leonardo-meindl/profile/011800/) (formerly of U-BT Cluj-Napoca)

[Georginho de Paula](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/georginho-de-paula-/profile/012703/) (formerly of Ulm)

### Canada

[Khem Birch](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/khem-birch/007182/) (formerly of Olympiacos)

[Melvin Ejim](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/melvin-ejim/profile/005896/) (formerly of Roma, UNICS, Unicaja, Buducnost, Cedevita)

### France

[Andrew Albicy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andrew-albicy/003425/) (Gran Canaria)

[Nicolas Batum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nicolas-batum/KOH/) (formerly of Le Mans, SLUC Nancy)

[Isaia Cordinier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/isaia-cordinier/009549/) (Virtus)

[Nando De Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nando-de-colo/002100/) (ASVEL)

[Rudy Gobert](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/-/002859/) (formerly of Cholet)

[Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) (Panathinaikos)

[Frank Ntilikina](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/frank-ntilikina/006591/) (Partizan)

[Matthew Strazel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matthew-strazel/008099/) (AS Monaco)

[Guerschon Yabusele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/guerschon-yabusele/010357/) (Real Madrid)

[Victor Wembanyama](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/victor-wembanyama/009553/) (formerly of Nanterre, ASVEL)

Mathias Lessort (Panathinaikos) and Isaia Cordinier (Virtus) are two of seven EuroLeague players who will represent France. (photo: FIBA)

### Germany

[Isaac Bonga](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/isaac-bonga/006760/) (last played for Bayern)

[Oscar da Silva](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/oscar-da-silva/011244/) (Bayern)

[Niels Giffey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/niels-giffey/001557/) (Bayern)

[Maodo Lo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/maodo-lo/007032/) (Milan)

[Andreas Obst](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/andreas-obst/004508/) (Bayern)

[Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) (formerly of ratiopharm Ulm, Bamberg)

[Johannes Thiemann](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/johannes-thiemann/003958/) (formerly of Bamberg, ALBA)

[Johannes Voigtmann](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/johannes-voigtmann/007201/) (last played for Milan)

[Franz Wagner](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/franz-wagner/007543/) (formerly of ALBA)

[Mo Wagner](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/moritz-wagner/005758/) (formerly of ALBA)

[Nick Weiler-Babb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nick-weiler-babb/010391/) (Bayern)

### Greece

[Kostas Papanikolaou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-papanikolaou/001255/) (Olympiacos)

[Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) (AS Monaco)

[Nikos Chougkaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikos-chougkaz/011396/) (formerly of Panathinaikos)

[Giannoulis Larentzakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/giannoulis-larentzakis/010392/) (Olympiacos)

[Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) (AS Monaco)

[Konstantinos Mitoglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/konstantinos-mitoglou/007866/) (Panathinaikos)

[Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/) (Olympiacos)

[Vassilis Charalampopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vasilis-charalampopoulos/004218/) (Turk Telekom)

[Dimitris Moraitis ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dimitris-moraitis/006544/)(Panathinaikos)

[Panagiotis Kalaitzakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/panagiotis-kalaitzakis/011209/) (Panathinaikos)

[Vassilis Toliopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vassilis-toliopoulos/004292/) (Aris)

### Puerto Rico

[Gian Clavell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/gian-clavell/011942/) (last played for Prometey)

[George Conditt IV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/george-conditt-iv/012016/) (Gran Canaria)

[Davon Reed](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/davon-reed/012599/) (formerly of Prometey)

### Serbia

[Aleksa Avramovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/aleksa-avramovic/003983/) (formerly of Unicaja, Partizan)

[Bogdan Bogdanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bogdan-bogdanovic/002821/) (formerly of Partizan, Fenerbahce)

[Dejan Davidovac](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dejan-davidovac/007960/) (Crvena Zvezda)

[Ognjen Dobric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ognjen-dobric/004007/) (Crvena Zvezda)

[Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/) (Fenerbahce)

[Vanja Marinkovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vanja-marinkovic/004761/) (Partizan)

[Vasilije Micic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vasilije-micic/002580/) (formerly of Bayern, Crvena Zvezda, Zalgiris, Efes)

[Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/) (Olympiacos)

[Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/) (Olympiacos)

[Uros Plavsic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/uros-plavsic/006240/) (Crvena Zvezda)

Dejan Davidovac (Crvena Zvezda) and Filip Petrusev (Olympiacos) will be representing Serbia at the Olympics. (photo: FIBA)

### South Sudan

Wenyen Gabriel (Maccabi)

[Marial Shayok](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marial-shayok/011202/) (formerly of Fenerbahce)

### Spain

[Alex Abrines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alex-abrines/003478/) (Barcelona)

[Dario Brizuela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dario-brizuela/009992/) (Barcelona)

[Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/) (Panathinaikos)

[Alberto Diaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alberto-diaz/004213/) (formerly of Unicaja)

[Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rudy-fernandez/bmt/) (Real Madrid)

[Usman Garuba](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/usman-garuba/007630/) (formerly of Real Madrid)

[Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) (Panathinaikos)

[Willy Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/willy-hernangomez/003196/) (Barcelona)

[Sergio Llull ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/)(Real Madrid)

[Xabi Lopez-Arostegui](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/xabi-lopez-arostegui/005356/) (Valencia)

[Jaime Pradilla](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jaime-pradilla/010393/) (Valencia)

*(Top photo: FIBA)*

The main basketball event of the summer will tip off on Saturday at 11:00 CEST when Spain and Australia lock horns

Real Madrid Baloncsto has fortified its frontcourt by signing Serge Ibaka, who returns to the Spanish capital after spending part of the 2011-12 season there. 

Real Madrid and Serge Ibaka reunite

Real Madrid has fortified its frontcourt by signing [Serge Ibaka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/serge-ibaka/003583/), who returns to the Spanish capital after spending part of the 2011-12 season there. He signed a one-year deal with *Los Blancos*. 

Ibaka (2.08 meters, 34 years old) was a force in the paint last season for FC Bayern Munich, for which he averaged 12.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game for a PIR of 15.8. Ibaka made 62.8% of his two-pointers and 48.0% of his threes. He was second in the league in rebounding, third in blocks and 13th in PIR. Ibaka also won the German League and Cup double with Bayern.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pt" dir="ltr">Comunicado Oficial: Ibaka.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RMBaloncesto?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RMBaloncesto</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WelcomeIbaka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WelcomeIbaka</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1816779568289841385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

### A former NBA champion

Born in the People's Republic of the Congo, Ibaka made a name for himself during his 14 seasons in the NBA. In that time, he won the championship in 2019 and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team on three occasions. Ibaka started his career in his native Brazzaville and played for ES Prisse Macon of France as well as for L'Hospitalet and Manresa of Spain before joining the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA in 2009. After seven seasons in Oklahoma, Ibaka went on to play for the Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks. He helped Toronto win the title and reached the finals with Oklahoma City in 2012.

### An accomplished defender

Ibaka was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in three consecutive seasons from 2011-12 to 2013-14. He led the NBA in blocks twice: in the 2011-12 (3.7 bpg.) and 2012-13 campaigns (3.0 bpg.).

Best of Serge Ibaka from 2023-24

Ibaka ranks 26th in the NBA's all-time blocked shots standings (1,759). In 919 NBA regular-season career games, Ibaka amassed 11,028 points (12.0 ppg.) and 6,513 rebounds (7.1 rpg.). He averaged 10.6 points, 6.3 playoffs and 1.9 blocks in 152 NBA playoff games, too. Ibaka ranks eighth all-time in NBA playoff blocked shots with 292.

### Returning to Madrid

Ibaka briefly played for Real Madrid in the EuroLeague during the 2010-11 season during the NBA lockout. He averaged 5.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in six EuroLeague games. Ibaka's best game for Real came against Belgacom Spirou Charleroi when he had 12 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks in a 93-89 victory.

He has also been a member of the Spanish national team, which he helped to a gold medal at EuroBasket 2011 and a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Before that, Ibaka represented the Republic of the Congo at the youth level.

More Real Madrid News

New Real Madrid signing Serge Ibaka in action for FC Bayern Munich in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague last season.

The big man suited up for Los Blancos in 2011-12