FC Bayern Basketball has confirmed that Elias Harris has signed a two-year contract extension at the club.

Elias Harris signs new two-year deal at Bayern

FC Bayern Munich has confirmed that [Elias Harris](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elias-harris/005460/) has agreed a new two-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2025-26 season.

Harris (2.03 meters, 35 years old) averaged 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds in 14 EuroLeague games last season as a bench player. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐈𝐁𝐓 ✍️<a href="https://twitter.com/EliasJMHarris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@eliasjmharris</a> bleibt zwei weitere Jahre bei uns! 🙌 <br><br>Alle Infos gibt&#39;s unter <a href="https://t.co/qqkVhysVpB">https://t.co/qqkVhysVpB</a><a href="https://twitter.com/freelanceDE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@freelancede</a> wünscht weiterhin viel Spaß beim Job!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Harris2026?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Harris2026</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kaderupdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kaderupdate</a> <a href="https://t.co/TN83eogotD">pic.twitter.com/TN83eogotD</a></p>&mdash; 🏆 Deutscher Meister 🏆 (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1810588657016783260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The German center returned to the EuroLeague with Bayern in the summer of 2022 and has appeared in 29 games over the last two seasons. His previous two campaigns in the EuroLeague came with Brose Bamberg in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

More Bayern News

Elias Harris in action for FC Bayern Munich in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

The veteran will remain at the club until 2026

Andrej Kostic has signed a four-year contract – his first as a professional – with KK Crvena zvezda.

Crvena zvezda shows its faith in Andrej Kostic

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade has secured the future of [Andrej Kostic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/players/andrej-kostic/012443/), who has signed a four-year contract – his first as a professional – with the Serbian club.

Kostic (1.98 meters, 17 years old) featured for Zvezda at the 2024 edition of the Adidas Next Generation Tournament in Belgrade, posting 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 steals and a 22.0 PIR in four games as his team reached the final.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sr" dir="ltr">КК Црвена звезда Меридианбет обавештава јавност да је наш талентовани јуниор Андреј Костић потписао уговор са клубом на четири сезоне!<br><br>Andrej Kostić signs first professional 4 year contract with Crvena zvezda Meridianbet! 🔴⚪️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CrvenoBelaPorodica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CrvenoBelaPorodica</a> <a href="https://t.co/WLCt6v7mW3">pic.twitter.com/WLCt6v7mW3</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1810283905238339784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The promising guard made two appearances for Zvezda's first team in the Serbian League this season, averaging 5.0 points in three minutes on the floor.

More Crvena Zvezda News

Andrej Kostic in action for U18 Crvena Zvezda Belgrade at the ANGT Belgrade 2024 tournament.

The 17-year-old has signed his first professional contract

Crvena Zvezda shows its faith in Andrej Kostic

Real Madrid forward Dzanan Musa has agreed to a one-year contract extension at the club.

Dzanan Musa pens one-year extension at Real Madrid

Real Madrid has announced that [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/) has agreed to a one-year contract extension, which will keep him at the club for the 2024-25 season.

Musa (2.05 meters, 25 years old) is heading into his third campaign as a Real player. In his first year in the Spanish capital, he lifted the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague trophy and was selected to the All-EuroLeague First Team. 

Last season, Musa averaged 13.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 38 EuroLeague appearances as *Los Blancos* made it to the championship game.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Comunicado Oficial: Musa. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RMBaloncesto?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RMBaloncesto</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Musa2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Musa2025</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1810271288822538626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Since joining Real in the summer of 2022, following a year in which he became the Spanish League MVP while playing for Rio Breogan, Musa has taken his game to another and established himself as one of the best scorers in the EuroLeague.

With Real, Musa has won one Spanish League title (2023-24), in which he earned Finals MVP honors, as well as two Spanish Super Cups (2021-22, 2022-23).

The best plays of Real Madrid forward Dzanan Musa in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Musa's top plays in 2023-24

Back in 2020-21, he was on the Anadolu Efes Istanbul roster that won the EuroLeague championship, but he played just four regular-season games that season.

Next year, Musa – together with [Facundo Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/), [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/), [Guerschon Yabusele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/guerschon-yabusele/010357/) and [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) – will be looking to help Real win its 12th EuroLeague trophy.

More Real Madrid News

Dzanan Musa in action for Real Madrid at the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin, Germany.

The Bosnian forward will remain at WiZink Center for the coming season

Olimpia Milano has signed combo-guard Leandro Bolmaro to a multi-year deal. 

Olimpia Milano seals move for Leandro Bolmaro

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan has signed combo-guard [Leandro Bolmaro](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/leandro-bolmaro/008985/) to a multi-year deal, the club announced on Monday morning. 

Bolmaro (23 years old, 1.98 meters) arrives from FC Bayern Munich, where he started 28 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season and averaged 8.4 points, 3.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He also produced 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists in the German League to help Bayern take the crown.

“I’m really excited about the challenge that awaits me; I’m incredibly happy to join a big club like Olimpia Milan," Bolmaro said. "I will try to do my best to help the team and this great organization reach the peaks that they deserve. I can’t wait to start the new season and play with my new teammates and for Coach Ettore Messina.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Bolmaro: &quot;Felice di questa sfida, l&#39;Olimpia è un grande club&quot;<br><br>La Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano comunica di aver raggiunto un accordo pluriennale con Leandro Bolmaro, playmaker-guardia di 1.98, nato l’11 settembre del 2000 a Las Varillas in Argentina e proveniente dal Bayern… <a href="https://t.co/JQOoZMNAHo">pic.twitter.com/JQOoZMNAHo</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1810222984151306694?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Bolmaro was just 17 when he began his professional career with Estudiantes de Bahia Blanca of his native Argentina. FC Barcelona brought him to Europe the following season and after a season with the B team, he debuted in the EuroLeague in 2019-20. 

The 23rd overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Bolmaro headed Stateside in 2021 to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He also spent time the next season with the Utah Jazz as well as the two teams’ respective G League affiliates, the Iowa Wolves and Salt Lake City Stars. He returned to Europe in March 2023 with Spain’s CB Canarias before joining Bayern last season.

Best of Leandro Bolmaro: 2023-24

His trophy case includes league and cup doubles in both Spain and Germany. Bolmaro has also been a regular with the Argentinian national team. He represented his country at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and helped Argentina to a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup.  

More Milan News

New EA7 Emporio Armani Milan addition Leandro Bolmaro in action for FC Bayern Munich in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

The guard helped Bayern win the German League last season

Milan seals move for Leandro Bolmaro

Greece, Spain and Brazil advance to Olympic Games

With nine players from the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four on the roster – another who was a VIP guest in Berlin for the championship games - Greece claimed a spot at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with a 69-80 victory over Croatia in the final of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus. Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo shined with 23 points and 8 rebounds to lead Greece, while Nick Calathes, who moved from Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul to AS Monaco this summer, added 14 points and 11 assists. Fenerbahce center Georgios Papagiannis scored 19 for the winners.

Four freshly crowned EuroLeague champions – Kostantinos Mitoglou, Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, Kostas Antetokounmpo and Dimitris Moraitis – will have a chance to fight for a medal on another global stage in Paris.

The game was tied, 22-22, after 10 minutes and Croatia was within 39-40 late in the second quarter, but a three-pointer by Olympiacos Piraeus’s Kostas Papanikolaou gave Greece a 39-45 halftime lead. Calathes keyed a 0-9 run in the middle of the third quarter to make it 50-64 and Croatia never got closer than 10 the rest of the way.

Ivica Zubac posted 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead Croatia. Mario Hezonja of Real Madrid and Mateo Dreznjak scored 15 points each in defeat.

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hellas are back in the <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Olympics</a> for the first time since 2008! 🇬🇷<br><br>How far can they go in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a>?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAOQT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAOQT</a> <a href="https://t.co/v7NO3Az6I0">pic.twitter.com/v7NO3Az6I0</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1810036399225102359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Spain overpowers the Bahamas

Spain triumphed in Valencia over the Bahamas 86-78 with a player who just joined Panathinaikos this summer, Lorenzo Brown, leading the way. Another member of the Greens, Juancho Hernangomez, is on the Spain roster, but did not play due to injury. Brown scored 18 points for the winners and Willy Hernangomez of FC Barcelona tallied 15 points and 7 rebounds.

The Bahamas led 17-23 early in the second quarter, before Real Madrid’s Rudy Fernandez and Usman Garuba highlighted a 13-3 run that gave Spain the lead for good. It was 42-34 at halftime and the lead reached double figures in the third quarter. The Bahamas rallied to within 71-64 in the fourth quarter, but back-to-back threes by Santiago Aldama and Brown kept Spain in charge and later Rudy helped fend off another run to steer Spain to victory.

Buddy Hield scored 19 to lead the Bahamas, Deandre Ayton posted 17 points and 14 rebounds and Eric Gordon added 15 points in defeat.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">La Familia embark on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> journey ✈️<br><br>Spain 🇪🇸 are going to the Olympic games for the 7th time in a row 🤩<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAOQT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAOQT</a> <a href="https://t.co/LGWxfKBD5I">pic.twitter.com/LGWxfKBD5I</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1810045694599704647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Brazil advances in Riga

Brazil blasted Latvia in the final game in Riga 69-94. Bruno Caboclo of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade led the way with 21 points and Leo Meindl added 20 for the winners, who lost Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade playmaker Yago Dos Santos to injury in the second quarter.

Rihards Lomazs, who played for Virtus Segafredo Bologna last season, scored 15 to lead Latvia and Rolands Smits of Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Arturs Zagars of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul each scored 14.

Brazil scored the first 8 points of the game and then finished the first quarter with 19 unanswered points to lead 11-34 after 10 minutes. From that point, the rout was on.

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🕺 Brazil are going to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> 🕺<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAOQT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAOQT</a> <a href="https://t.co/9cG1WwpL0s">pic.twitter.com/9cG1WwpL0s</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1810019447425417463?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Puerto Rico prevails at home

Puerto Rico pulled away in the third quarter and held a double-digit lead for most of the fourth in defeating Lithuania 68-79 in San Juan. The result sends Puerto Rico to the Olympics in basketball for the first time since 2004.

Jose Alvarado produced 23 points and 6 rebounds and Tremont Waters netted 18 for the winners. FC Barcelona’s Rokas Jokubaitis led Lithuania with 16 points and Marius Grigonis of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens tallied 8 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in defeat.

Five reigning EuroLeague champs were among Sunday's winners

EuroLeague champs help Greece, Spain advance to Olympic Games

Rolands Smits helped take Latvia to Olympic Qualifying final

Rolands Smits rarely gets a chance to play in his home country. The forward, who signed with Anadolu Efes Istanbul last month, embraced the fact that Latvia is host of one of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments by leading his country to the final on Saturday with a 59-72 victory over Cameroon.

Smith scored 7 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter as Latvia pulled away down the stretch after only leading by 3 with 10 minutes remaining. He added 6 rebounds for Latvia, which will face Brazil on Sunday for a ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Smits was just 16 years old when he left his native Latvia to play professionally. The former EuroCup Rising Star Award winner spent a full decade in Spain and the last two seasons in nearby Lithuania with Zalgiris Kaunas. Now that a move to Türkiye is next, Smits came up big in what will likely be his penultimate game in Latvia for some time.

Rihards Lomazs, who played for Virtus Segafredo Bologna last season, paced Latvia with 20 points, while Davis Bertans contributed 12. Williams Narace led Cameroon with 14 points.

Brazil advanced by knocking out the Philippines 71-60. After trailing by as many as 12 in the first half and 27-33 at the break, Brazil turned things around with a 24-6 third quarter and never looked back. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade big man led the way with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🇱🇻 Latvia get one step closer to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAOQT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAOQT</a> <a href="https://t.co/uNXA7QOjLw">pic.twitter.com/uNXA7QOjLw</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1809649463285149726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Anadolu Efes forward played a big role in Riga

Keenan Evans has completed his long-awaited move to Olympiacos BC, penning a three-year deal at SEF.

Olympiacos signs Keenan Evans

Olympiacos Piraeus has pushed ahead with its plan to sign [Keenan Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/keenan-evans/011218/), despite him having to [undergo surgery for a knee injury in late May](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-star-keenan-evans-out-long-term-after-knee-surgery/). 

Evans (1.91 meters, 27 years old) has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at Peace and Friendship Stadium.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="el" dir="ltr">💻✍️🏾 Η ΚΑΕ Ολυμπιακός ανακοινώνει την απόκτηση του <a href="https://twitter.com/K3vans12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@K3vans12</a> . <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a><a href="https://t.co/4ymojyeiuj">https://t.co/4ymojyeiuj</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1809562124747698678?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After going under the knife, it was announced that Evans would be out for between six and eight months. His injury came during Game 3 of Zalgiris Kaunas’s Lithuanian League semifinal series against 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys.

The American guard Evans had his best season to date in the EuroLeague in 2023-24, averaging 17.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals and an 18.3 PIR in 34 games, all of which were as a starter. 

The best plays of Zalgiris Kaunas guard Keenan Evans in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Keenan Evans' top plays in 2023-24

He also had a very impressive debut campaign with Zalgiris in 2022-23, posting 15.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steal and a 17.4 PIR across 17 games before an Achilles injury brought his season to a premature end.

Evans's EuroLeague career got underway in 2021-22 as he suited up for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, making 33 appearances and averaging 8.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals and a 10.2 PIR.

More Olympiacos News

New Olympiacos Piraeus signing Keenan Evans in action for Zalgiris Kaunas in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

The American guard is recovering from knee surgery

Love him or hate him, Ergin Ataman knows how to win the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague championship. After leading Anadolu Efes Istanbul to back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022, the Turkish tactician brought his talents to Greece as he looked to revive a Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens side that finished 17th in the 2022-23 season. One year on, Ataman guided the Greens to a seventh EuroLeague trophy.

Tribute to the Champs: Ergin Ataman

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That is not to say that it was all plain sailing, especially at the beginning of the season. Panathinaikos, which made a plethora of new signings last summer, started the campaign with a 2-4 record and doubts started to be raised. Four straight wins followed to improve the Greens to a 6-4 mark, but then came three consecutive defeats as Panathinaikos dropped to 6-7 and was struggling to find consistency.

From Round 14 onwards, though, Ataman’s magic started to shine through. Panathinaikos went 8-1 over the next nine games to move to 14-8, which provided an even bigger boost in confidence for Ataman, who declared at every possible moment that Greens fans should book their tickets for Berlin.

One of the keys to Ataman’s success with Panathinaikos was an incredible home record, with his team winning their last nine games at OAKA. Even on the road, the Greens were able to become the first team to beat Real Madrid at WiZink Center in 2023-24, winning 86-97 in Round 27, and also had a crucial triumph at Virtus Segafredo Bologna, 79-81 in Round 32, on Kendrick Nunn’s game-winner to put themselves in a position to secure the second seed.

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The confidence that Ataman instilled in Panathinaikos allowed the Greek team to get over the line and finish second in the standings. Even when the Greens lost Game 1 at home to Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the playoffs, Ataman used his motivational techniques to try and get his troops back on track, saying he would leave Panathinaikos if it did not reach the Final Four. It took until Game 5, but Ataman had done it again. Another Final Four trip was imminent.

Ataman had made the championship game in three out of the last four editions, so confidence was high. Then, once Panathinaikos had knocked off Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in the semifinals, 73-57, the inevitable seemed on the cards. Despite Real Madrid having a historic season in the EuroLeague, setting a new record for regular-season wins with 27, sweeping Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the playoffs and advancing past Olympiacos Piraeus in the semifinals, facing Ataman’s Greens would be a different proposition altogether.

For the first time since the current competition format was introduced in 2016, the top two teams from the regular season meet in the final. Real Madrid topped the standings after winning its first 10 games and finished with a 27-7 mark, while Panathinaikos soared late to place second at 23-11.

Real-Panathinaikos | Championshp Game Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Real Madrid was able to take a 54-49 lead into the halftime break of the championship game, but Ataman stayed calm. As he always does. In the second half, the reigning EuroLeague champions were restricted to just 26 points compared to 46 for Panathinaikos as the Greens went on to win 80-95 and secure a seventh star. Afterward, Ataman recalled how Kostas Sloukas had told his teammates to follow Ataman and they would get to the Final Four, and what did they do? They reached the Final Four and won the whole thing.

Much like marmite, Ataman divides opinion. But what can’t be denied is the fact that he is a winning machine. After turning 16th-placed Efes into a Final Four team the next year back in 2019, he’s gone and done the same at Panathinaikos. For that, Ataman – now a three-time EuroLeague champion – deserves enormous credit.

Tribute to the Champs

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head coach Ergin Ataman poses with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague trophy.

The Turkish coach achieved exactly what he said he was going to do… again

Real Madrid locked up the anchor of its frontcourt by signing Walter Tavares to a three-year contract extension. 

Real Madrid locks up star center Walter Tavares

Real Madrid locked up the anchor of its frontcourt by signing [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) to a five-year contract extension. 

Tavares (2.20 meters, 32 years old) originally joined *Los Blancos* in 2017. Over their seven seasons together, he has been one of the most dominant players in the league. 

The Cape Verdean center has been named to the All-EuroLeague team in five of the six possible seasons – there were no awards issued after the COVID-19 shortened 2019-20 season – and won the EuroLeague Best Defender Trophy in three of those. 

He also led Real Madrid to five Final Four appearances, the 2018 and 2023 EuroLeague championships and was the Final Four MVP in the latter of those titles.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pt" dir="ltr">Comunicado Oficial: Tavares<a href="
https://twitter.com/hashtag/RMBaloncesto?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RMBaloncesto</a>
| <a href="
https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tavares2029?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tavares2029</a></p>&mdash;
Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="
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5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="
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This season, Tavares averaged 9.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over 34 games for a PIR of 14.9. He led the league in blocks and ranked sixth in rebounds on the season. 

He is the EuroLeague’s all-time leader with 424 blocked shots. Tavares also ranks fifth all-time in rebounds (1,614), sixth in two-point shooting (67.7%) and 18th in PIR (3,690).

Walter Tavares | Final Four MVP | 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Tavares was discovered as a teenager in his native Cape Verde and joined Gran Canaria in 2009. He spent six seasons there and with its affiliated teams and led Granca to the 2015 EuroCup Finals as a EuroCup First Team selection. 

'Sergeant Swat' then spent two seasons in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers and with G League sides the Austin Spurs, Cleveland Charge, Bakersfield Jam and Raptors 905. 

He was chosen as the G League Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 before returning to Europe and signing with Real Madrid. Tavares has added four Spanish League championships and two Spanish Cups to his trophy case since he arrived in Madrid.

The competition's all-time shots blocked king is a five-time All-EuroLeague selection