It's almost Halloween, and Valencia Basket treated its fans with a huge home win over Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, 92-79. 

Valencia used rhythm and energy to rout Fenerbahce

It's almost Halloween, and [Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/valencia-basket/pam/) treated its fans with a huge home win over [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/), 92-79. 

The final score doesn't do justice to how dominant Valencia was in this game, in which it led 27-13 at the end of the first quarter and extended its margin to 47-23. The hosts maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the play and only allowed Fenerbahce to get closer once the outcome was clear, when [Tarik Biberovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tarik-biberovic/006961/) scored his team's first 16 points of the fourth quarter.

What allowed Valencia to play with such flair and effectiveness? It looks simple, but it isn't. The team's strategy is that the first open shot is a good one, no matter if it is at the start of the 24-second possession, in the middle of it or to beat the shot clock. It is important to have fresh players on the court to put pressure on the ball and grab offensive rebounds. The more possessions, the better the chance to score. Behind all of that, however, lies a great defensive job that allows the team to run so much.

"We played three fantastic quarters with great rhythm, good defense, with intensity. The last quarter was a little bit worse because some players were tired and our rotations were different because we only had four inside \[frontcourt\] players today, and we had problems with the fouls," coach [Pedro Martinez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/valencia-basket/pam/martinez-pedro) said. "But I am happy because we beat a very good team."

"We never had a chance. We never started the game and never understood, and it's better not to talk even about tactics," Fenerbahce head coach [Sarunas Jasikevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/jasikevicius-saras) said. "They were one step faster, jumping higher, getting to the loose ball.... everything. There is nothing more to say. At halftime, Valencia had 51 points with just 8 assists, everything were one-on-one situations. It is very difficult to make your tactics work if they find advantages in one-on-one situations. They won all the 50-50 battles in the first half."

Valencia outrebounded Fenerbahce 42-35 and had more assists (17) than turnovers (13). The home team finished the game with 16 offensive rebounds from seven different players. Fenerbahce had more turnovers (15) than assists (14), too. There were intangibles like intensity, hustle and not giving up and [Brancou Badio](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/brancou-badio/007527/) was the perfect example of that, scoring 7 consecutive points in the second quarter to put Valencia in charge for good, and getting a huge block on [Mikael Jantunen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mikael-jantunen/012613/) in the third quarter that he was happy to discuss after the game.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What have we just seen?! Brancou Badio out of NOWHERE 🤯🛑<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MotorolaMagicMomnt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MotorolaMagicMomnt</a> I <a href="https://twitter.com/Moto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Moto</a> I <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@valenciabasket</a> <a href="https://t.co/gYsQVeJGvW">pic.twitter.com/gYsQVeJGvW</a></p>&mdash; EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1983287959232131560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

"Hopefully, I will have the picture of that block! We just came out ready and hopefully we are going to play like this every night," Badio said. "I think we can play this way in any game. We have to be calm, bring our game, bring energy and just keep playing our way."

Being unpredictable on offense is also great for Valencia this season. [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jean-montero/010042/) just played his first EuroLeague home game at Roig Arena and registered 12 points and 5 assists in 19 minutes. He is just getting started and should be the team's main scoring reference in the future. Valencia has plenty of other options. [Kameron Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kameron-taylor/011217/) finished the game with 17 points after averaging 7.0 in the previous six showdowns. [Darius Thompson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/darius-thompson/011078/) has scored in double digits in all seven games until now. Last season, he only reached double digits in scoring in 17 out of 39 EuroLeague games with Anadolu Efes Istanbul. With the right system and the right environment, good players get even better.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Descanso<br>Descans<br>Half time<br><br>🏀 11p Kam Taylor<br>🏀 9p Brancou Badio<br>🏀 7p Darius Thompson<br><br>🟠 <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@valenciabasket</a> 51<br>🟡 <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBBasketbol</a> 35<br><br>🏆 J7 <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a><br>⌚ 0s 2Q<br>📺 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vamos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Vamos</a> de <a href="https://twitter.com/MovistarPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@movistarplus</a><br>🤝 <a href="https://twitter.com/pamesaceramica?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pamesaceramica</a> <a href="https://t.co/oKLANnt9VH">pic.twitter.com/oKLANnt9VH</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1983276202036212072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>


"The game was good, we played together. We hope to keep improving from here. Hopefully, the ceiling is not close," Taylor said after the game. "They are a great team. We knew we had to come out with energy, and that's what we did, we got the win."

Taylor is surely right: the ceiling seems to be far away. Valencia still has more power in the paint to come with defensive specialists [Yankuba Sima](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/es/euroleague/news/valencia-adds-yankuba-sima-extends-millan-jimenez/) and [Braxton Key](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/es/euroleague/news/valencia-strengthens-frontcourt-with-braxton-key/), and it is just the start of the season. It is still too early to know definitively how playing at Roig Arena will impact the team's performance, too. So far, everything looks good for Valencia, which hosts Dubai Basketball on Thursday.

Game News

Coach Pedro Martinez's team dominated the EuroLeague's reigning champions


Valencia Basket v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-10-28T20:00:00.000Z)

Chima Moneke made Crvena Zvezda kept its winning streak alive, leading it to a 79-65 victory over ASVEL with one of the best games of his EuroLeague career.

Moneke's great first half inspires Zvezda past ASVEL

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade showed up for its Round 7 game against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne without top scorer Jordan Nwora, who joined a long list of injured players that already featured Devonte' Graham, Isaiah Canaan, Jasiel Rivero, Tyson Carter and Joel Bolomboy. Its most recent signing, Jared Butler, was not yet registered. The remaining Zvezda players turned the game into an opportunity and Chima Moneke made sure his team kept its winning streak alive, leading it to a 79-65 victory with one of the best games of his EuroLeague career.

Moneke stepped up early, finding Donatas Motiejunas for an easy layup and then scoring his first points. By the end of the first quarter, Moneke had the highest PIR in the game (8) and the best was still to come.

When ASVEL got within 29-25, Moneke scored in transition and got a quick defensive stop at the other end, which allowed Stefan Miljenovic to score a fastbreak layup and prompted the visitors to call timeout at 33-25. Moneke followed with a coast-to-coast layup, a pair of free throws and a wild, off-balance basket to give Zvezda a 39-25 lead at halftime.

Moneke had an impact in all the points in a 10-0 run, an on-fire moment that allowed his team to break the game open right before the break. At halftime, Moneke had a near-perfect stat line: 14 points on 5-of-5 two-point shooting and 4-of-5 on free throws, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 3 fouls drawn for a PIR of 24.

"Defense. Eight points \[allowed\] in the second quarter, that's pretty f---ing good," Moneke said at the break.

Moneke remained unstoppable after the break, hitting a highly contested jumper and adding a three-pointer off the dribble. By the time he cooled off a bit, Zvezda was well on its way to the win and its fans had been celebrating for many minutes. Semi Ojeleye and Ognjen Dobric each added 11 points. Moneke finished the game with a PIR of 35, close to his best-ever effort (37), with 24 points on 9-of-10 shooting, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">He is just feeling it tonight 🔥<br><br>🏀 <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kkcrvenazvezda</a> 4⃣5⃣ : 2⃣8⃣ <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LDLCASVEL</a><br>⏱️ 8:39 Q3<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/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/kiBGyhffBZ">pic.twitter.com/kiBGyhffBZ</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1983249470159557009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

"\[I'm\] happy. For us to be a serious team, these are the games you have to win. On to the next one," Moneke said after the game, before talking about Zvezda's fans and their support. "I think it's one of the best feelings any human being can feel, to be loved and wanted for who I am. I have no choice but to give my all. I love these fans to death and I don't want to be anywhere else."

Zvezda's longest winning streak in the EuroLeague is seven wins from December 2016 to January 2017. It will look for its sixth consecutive victory against Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade on Thursday.

Chima Moneke of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade amassed a PIR of 24 in the first half of his team's Round 7 game against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. 

Chima Moneke's big first half 

Zvezda added Jordan Nwora to a long list of injuries, but Moneke was ready to deliver

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-10-28T18:00:00.000Z)

A growing number of players have pursued their options in the EuroLeague, further growing the competition in Europe’s top-tier basketball league. This ongoing trend has attracted several former NBA players, including several who were well-established in North America.

Top 10 NBA signings of this decade in the EuroLeague

A growing number of players have pursued their options in the EuroLeague, further growing the competition in Europe’s top-tier basketball league. This ongoing trend has attracted several former NBA players, including several who were well-established in North America.

Scanning an extensive list of players who made the leap directly from the NBA to the EuroLeague over the past decade, and factoring in their international market value, Eurohoops presents the Top 10 NBA-to-EuroLeague signings of the decade.

We’ve excluded players like Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio, and Marco Belinelli. While they returned to their former teams after long and successful NBA careers, their situations were different from those on our list.

Read more [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1886402/top-10-nba-signings-of-this-decade-in-the-euroleague/).

A challenging task of narrowing down a long list of impressive NBA-to-EuroLeague moves is complete

It's time for Episode 5! There is little time to set your EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge lineups for Round 6 this week with eight games on Tuesday night! So tune in now to hear from Frankie Sachs of EuroLeague.net, Sport 24's Vasiliki Karamouza and special guard and expert Arela Weisberg for a special Eastern Mediterranean Episode.

Fantasy Challenge Podcast: Making picks with Arale

It's time for Episode 5! There is little time to set your EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge lineups for Round 6 this week with eight games on Tuesday night! So tune in now to hear from [Frankie Sachs](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FMrEuroleague&data=05%7C02%7Cgeoff.gillingham%40euroleague.net%7C8f23c17ba6e24a938a4c08ddff3a0ce8%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638947346960894891%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=qhPt96t3ngeIaZ%2FSU%2FA67vi5euxZ5OVn9QfMhhj343M%3D&reserved=0) of [EuroLeague.net](http://EuroLeague.net), Sport 24's [Vasiliki Karamouza](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fkaramouza_vas&data=05%7C02%7Cgeoff.gillingham%40euroleague.net%7C8f23c17ba6e24a938a4c08ddff3a0ce8%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638947346960937569%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RuVg%2FRj%2BbH%2FiJbU%2BYkpXVo6vX%2B39lXvvomI9gNtMJLs%3D&reserved=0) and special guard and expert Arale Weisberg for a special Eastern Mediterranean Episode.

The three of them take you through the latest injury news, from the questions surrounding Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, to how to handle Nigel Williams-Goss absence for Zalgiris Kaunas and what to make of Kendrick Nunn and Juancho Hernangomez sitting out Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens’s Greek league win on Sunday.

They also discuss strategy tips for both ends of the two-round week. Additional topics covered were how old Nando De Colo really is, the first-half scoring ability of Lonnie Walker, whether Donatas Motiejunas is the best-priced center in fantasy and if Vasiliki can be trusted to choose head coaches. As a bonus topic, Frankie is asked if Nadir Hifi iffy!

As always, Frankie, Vasiliki and Arale, reveal their teams for Round 7 and react to questions sent in by Fantasy Podcast viewers. Enjoy this episode and best of luck to our fantasy friends in this week's games.

More EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge News

Frankie and Vasiliki are joined by fantasy expert Arale Weisberg for a special Eastern Mediterranean Episode 

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v FC Barcelona (2025-10-31T19:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (2025-10-31T19:15:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-10-31T19:30:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-10-31T18:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-10-30T20:00:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket v Dubai Basketball (2025-10-30T19:30:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v Virtus Bologna (2025-10-30T19:30:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Paris Basketball (2025-10-30T19:30:00.000Z)

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2025-10-30T19:05:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-10-30T18:00:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v AS Monaco (2025-10-29T19:15:00.000Z)

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2025-10-29T18:00:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-10-28T19:45:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (2025-10-28T19:00:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-10-28T19:30:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Dubai Basketball (2025-10-28T19:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (2025-10-28T19:15:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Virtus Bologna (2025-10-28T18:00:00.000Z)

Welcome to this season's second edition of the EuroLeague Power Rankings. The following list is the brainchild of EuroLeague.net's team of experts, which is made up of Geoff Gillingham, Javier Gancedo, Frankie Sachs and Igor Petrinovic. 

Power rankings: Red teams on the rise

Welcome to this season's second edition of the EuroLeague Power Rankings. The following list is the brainchild of [EuroLeague.net](http://EuroLeague.net)'s team of experts, which is made up of Geoff Gillingham, Javier Gancedo, Frankie Sachs and Igor Petrinovic. The rankings are not a prediction of what the final standings will look like, but rather where all 20 teams stand – in their humble opinions – today, entering Round 7.

### 1. Olympiacos Piraeus (4-2)

The top team on all four ballots, Olympiacos has remained within striking distance of the top of the standings despite only six players appearing in all six games thus far. When fully healthy, the Reds are a force to be reckoned with.

**Pleasant surprise:** [Tyler Dorsey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyler-dorsey/009849/) is killing it with 17.2 points per game after averaging 3.3 points in 20 appearances last season.

### 2. Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (5-1)

Coach Dimitris Itoudis still has it. With an effective nine-man rotation, Hapoel is playing crisp and exciting offensive basketball with the right mix of blue-collar defenders to get under opponents’ skin. Its record speaks for itself.

**Pleasant surprise:** [Antonio Blakeney](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/antonio-blakeney/013402/) is making the EuroLeague look easier than the EuroCup. Having made 17-of-31 three-pointers (54.8%) and scored in double figures in every game, he is averaging more points (15.2 PPG) than he did as a EuroCup champ last season (13.4 PPG).

### 3. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (4-2)

The alarm bells have been rung with a home loss to Barca, a 17-point defeat at Virtus, and some inconsistent play. But the bottom line is Panathinaikos is stacked and it’s hard to believe the Greens won't catch fire soon.

**Pleasant surprise:** [Cedi Osman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/cedi-osman/004088/) was a big-time contributor in his first season with Panathinaikos and now in his second, he has taken a huge step forward increasing his scoring (9.6 to 16.4 PPG), three-point shooting (37.7% to 50%), assists (0.7 to 1.4 APG), and PIR (8.5 to 16.0). Even though he is playing more, his production has been beyond expectations.

### 4. AS Monaco (3-3)

Despite a stop-start beginning to this season, there’s no denying the quality Monaco possesses. Able to lean on a core of [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/), [Elie Okobo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/), [Jaron Blossomgame](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jaron-blossomgame/011231/), [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/) and [Matthew Strazel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/matthew-strazel/008099/), who are now in their fourth season together, the bumps should soon iron themselves out. The best of [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/) is still to come, too.

**Pleasant surprise:** [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) is back to his best. The center, who was playing catch-up last season after returning to Europe in mid-February, had a strong showing at EuroBasket 2025 and has carried that form into the new campaign. With Theis fully established in coach Vassilis Spanoulis’s system, he has become an even more important player for a Monaco side hoping to go all the way this year.

### 5. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (3-3)

The reigning champs are not playing good basketball, and that’s according to head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius. But after brutal back-to-back home losses, Fenerbahce put its championship experience on display, showed its teeth and proved it knows how to win.

**Pleasant surprise:** [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/scottie-wilbekin/006661/) was still recovering from last season’s ACL tear when this campaign opened, but he has returned to the floor and over the last three games has made 9-of-17 three-point attempts. Seeing Wilbekin finding his feet post-injury is great news for any basketball fan.

### 6. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (4-2)

Sporting a four-game winning streak, Zvezda is playing its brand of high-energy basketball. The team certainly benefited from a prolonged homestand, but winning each of the last three games by 9 points or more, including a 15-point beating of Real Madrid, cannot be overlooked.

**Pleasant surprise:** [Jordan Nwora](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jordan-nwora/013363/) came to the EuroLeague last season with Efes with a pedigree of a lethal scorer and he certainly looks the part so far this season, averaging 19.7 points and 5.7 rebounds through six games.

### 7. Zalgiris Kaunas (4-2)

It’s been a fantastic start for the Lithuanian giants, even though they have only played at home twice so far! The only team to win its first three games of the season, Zalgiris then dropped two before striking in Barcelona. There seems to be something special about coach Tomas Masulius's side.

**Pleasant surprise:** [Moses Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/moses-wright/012878/) is not just putting up fantastic numbers, he is doing so after a health scare cost him much of last season. The athletic big man seems as strong and hungry as ever, which has been a big boost for Zalgiris so far.

### 8. Paris Basketball (4-2)

Since Round 2, Paris is 4-1 – and its only loss came by one point. First-year coach Francesco Tabellini has already instilled his methods at the capital club, while [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nadir-hifi/012640/) has done an incredible job of filling the TJ Shorts-sized hole on offense. It’s hard to believe that Paris is playing maybe even faster than it did last season.

**Pleasant surprise:** It has to be Hifi. We already knew how talented he was last season as a sidekick to Shorts, but he is now *the* man. Leading the EuroLeague in scoring (22.8 PPG) and steals (2.3 SPG), as well as being third in PIR (21.5), says it all. Forget the Prince of Paris nickname; he’s the King of Paris.

### 9. Real Madrid (3-3)

Saying that Real Madrid has been like Jekyll and Hyde might be an understatement, but its perfect 3-0 record at home and 0-3 record on the road says it all. Once coach Sergio Scariolo finds the consistency that he has been demanding, *Los Blancos* could be a problem.

**Pleasant surprise:** How well the NBA guys – [Trey Lyles](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/trey-lyles/014117/) and [Chuma Okeke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chuma-okeke/014006/) – have adjusted to the EuroLeague. They are the team’s two leaders in both PIR and rebounding, while they are second and fourth respectively in scoring. Lyles and Okeke seem to be going from strength to strength.

### 10. Virtus Bologna (4-2)

Home wins over Real Madrid, Monaco and Panathinaikos – three of the last four EuroLeague finalists – to start the season have brought a renewed energy into the PalaDozza. [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/) has already become an icon among the Virtus fans and is second in the EuroLeague in scoring (20.3 PPG). If he can keep scoring 20-plus points like he has in the last three rounds, Virtus’s three-game winning streak should continue.

**Pleasant surprise:** Making the jump from the EuroCup to the EuroLeague is always a challenge, but 21-year-old forward [Saliou Niang](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/saliou-niang/012687/) has made it look easy. His non-stop energy on both ends of the floor – particularly on the boards (he averages a team-high 5.5 RPG) – has already made him an important part of Virtus’s rotation.

### 11. FC Barcelona (3-3)

Inconsistency has plagued Barcelona for the last few years, and that shows no sign of changing. Capable of beating the best teams in the league on one night and losing unexpectedly the next, Barcelona needs to get more out of its veteran-heavy roster if it is to return to the Final Four for the first time since 2023.

**Pleasant surprise:** [Toko Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/) adapting quickly to Barcelona isn’t much of a surprise, so let's go with [Joel Parra](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/joel-parra/007464/). The forward is on pace for a career year across the board – in points, rebounds, assists and steals – and is coming off two impressive performances in Rounds 5 and 6, albeit in defeats.

### 12. Valencia Basket (3-3)

One of the most enjoyable teams to watch this season, and with a brand-new arena to boot, Valencia has looked right at home at the EuroLeague level. The return of [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jean-montero/010042/) from injury has given Valencia an even greater threat on offense in particular, as shown with his game-winning three-pointer in a shootout at Milan in Round 6.

**Pleasant surprise:** [Omari Moore](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/omari-moore/014115/) didn’t take long to catch people’s attention. In his just second season in Europe, the EuroLeague rookie has shown remarkable consistency through his first six games, Round 5 aside. Being two rebounds away from a triple-double on his EuroLeague debut (12-8-10) says everything you need to know about Moore’s play.

### 13. Dubai Basketball (3-3)

The EuroLeague debutants have had some major highs, but also as many big lows in this early going. Dubai could not avoid its share of injuries and faces a travel challenge greater than any other team in competition history. It also has to prove that those flashes of brilliant play can become more than just flashes.

**Pleasant surprise:** It is great to see [Dwayne Bacon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dwayne-bacon/011286/) continue where he left off. After two years away from the competition, Bacon is back and averaging 15.7 points, just above his career average, and also delivering 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals.

### 14. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2-4)

Efes showed how high its ceiling is by beating Olympiacos in Piraeus, but since then entered frontcourt troubles with injuries to its big men, including losing Georgios Papagiannis for the season. And the offense is clearly not clicking as only one team averages fewer than Efes’s 80.8 points per game.

**Pleasant surprise:** [Ercan Osmani](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ercan-osmani/012710/) showed out for Turkiye at EuroBasket 2025 in September and carried the momentum into this season. Despite playing only 2:30 in Round 5 before sustaining a shoulder injury, which significantly lowered his averages, he is still posting 12.2 points and 3.5 rebounds, and playing 23 minutes per game.

### 15. Partizan Mozzartbet Belgrade (3-3)

This position is not just a recency bias, due to its 18-point home loss against hot-shooting Paris, but that game served as a reality-check of what Partizan is facing with playmaker Carlik Jones sidelined with a foot injury until at least mid-January. None of the team's next four opponents have a losing record.

**Pleasant surprise:** Scoring guard [Duane Washington](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/duane-washington/013370/) caught fire late in Round 4 and cleared any doubts that he can be a go-to option when Partizan needs points. His next step, in the absence of Carlik Jones, is also successfully creating for his teammates.

### 16. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (2-4)

Maccabi is a work in progress and when it has flashed its best self, it has been very impressive. Of course, when it has struggled, things have looked bad. That said, there is plenty of room for optimism as the newcomers seem to fit better from week to week and home games are set to return to Tel Aviv in December.

**Pleasant surprise:** Of all the new additions, [Oshae Brissett](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/o-shae-j-brissett/014127/) has posted the best numbers and coach Oded Kattash left him on the floor for all but 108 seconds of the Round 6 win over Real Madrid. He may not be the go-to scorer, but Brissett has been a great find for Maccabi.

### 17. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2-4)

It’s the same old problem for Milan: injuries. [Zach LeDay](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/zach-leday/008987/), [Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/) and [Josh Nebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/josh-nebo/011199/) have all missed time so far this season and it’s unclear when they’ll be back, with the timetables shifting. Still, Milan has shown incredible fight in its last two games to come back from sizeable deficits, even if it ended up on the losing side in Round 6. There’s talent on this team, Milan just needs to get more luck from the injury gods.

**Pleasant surprise:** [Quinn Ellis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/quinn-ellis/012593/) entered this season with the goal of trying to force his way into the rotation, but the injury to Brown has seen him handed the keys far earlier than he would have expected. The 22-year-old English guard took his game to another level in Rounds 5 and 6, which can only spell good news for coach Ettore Messina.

### 18. FC Bayern Munich (2-4)

This was not how Bayern management saw things going this season, but injuries have kept the team from playing with the envisioned lineups. Bayern is last in the league in scoring (75.7 PPG) with a league-average defense. That is not a good recipe for success.

**Pleasant surprise:** [Andreas Obst](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/andreas-obst/004508/) has shown that he is no longer a role player. Over the last five games, he has been worth 17.6 points on 21-for-45 three-point shooting (46.7%), while drawing fouls and getting to the line at the best rate in his career.

### 19. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2-4)

There have been good signs by ASVEL through the first six games, but it has already dropped two games at home and is winless on the road. [Nando De Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nando-de-colo/002100/) is still capable of moments of brilliance at 38 years old, while first-year players [Zac Seljaas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/zachary-seljaas/014088/) and [Glynn Watson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/glynn-watson/014013/) have impressed together with third-year big man [Mbaye Ndiaye](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mbaye-ndiaye/012731/), yet it looks like it's going to be a long season for the French side.

**Pleasant surprise:** Watson is in his seventh season in Europe, but only this year did he get an opportunity to play in the EuroLeague. It’s safe to say he has seized the opportunity with both hands, showing that he belongs at this level and ranking second at ASVEL in scoring (14.8 PPG) and PIR (12.7).

### 20. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (0-6)

Injuries, inconsistency, players coming and going… There are no shortage of problems for Baskonia, which is not only the only winless team in the league, but has now lost three straight by double figures. Would things be different if they hadn’t lost to Panathinaikos on Kendrick Nunn's buzzer-beater in Round 3?

**Pleasant surprise:** Whether this is a hot stretch or a remarkable shooting improvement, [Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/timothe-luwawu-cabarrot/012080/) is simply scoring like never before. After only averaging 10.0 points per game last season because of rounding up, he is third in the league with 20.0 points per game now and more accurate than ever before.

Check out where your team ranks as we head into Round 7

The EuroLeague Round 11 matchup between Anadolu Efes Istanbul and FC Bayern Munich will be played in Antalya, at Antalya Sports Hall, on Friday, November 14, with tipoff scheduled for 20:00 local time.

Anadolu Efes to host Round 11 EuroLeague game vs. FC Bayern Munich in Antalya

The EuroLeague Round 11 matchup between [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/) and [FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/mun/) will be played in Antalya, at Antalya Sports Hall, on Friday, November 14, with tipoff scheduled for 20:00 local time.

This game, featuring the two-time EuroLeague champion Anadolu Efes and German powerhouse FC Bayern Munich, will be played at Antalya as part of Anadolu Efes’ wider strategic initiative to expand the club’s reach beyond Istanbul. By bringing elite-level EuroLeague basketball to Antalya, Anadolu Efes aims to strengthen the League’s national footprint, enhance fan accessibility, and create new touchpoints for supporters across Turkey.

The initiative reflects the club’s commitment to:

- Increasing the visibility of both the EuroLeague and Anadolu Efes in regions that do not host regular-season games,
- Enabling local fans to experience a EuroLeague game live,
- Fostering fan engagement and community connection,
- Unlocking new commercial opportunities.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v FC Bayern Munich (2025-11-14T17:30:00.000Z)

Filling out your fantasy rosters in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge can be rewarding. This week, Igor Petrinovic helps you find those cheap players.

Fantasy tips, Rounds 7-8: No-risk, high-reward gems

When putting together our EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge rosters, we often zero in on picking players like Sasha Vezenkov, Kendrick Nunn, or Jordan Nwora – your likely captain selection, the one you’re counting on to carry the team.

Often, to make room for the stars, we all have to select a few of the cheap options, those players often worth minimum of credits that we use to fill out our roster and plan to keep on the bench. And more often than not, those guys are not even included on the 12-man game-day roster.

However, for me personally, there is nothing as rewarding as unearthing those hidden gems, and getting double-digit fantasy points from cheap players.

Strategically, a good performance from a player below 6 or 7 credits might not be as important as making a good choice of a team captain, however cheap players can be true life-savers. Especially when your choice of an expensive player flops, or if you are forced to put those guys in your lineup on the final night of the round and they unexpectedly deliver.

The good thing about these, there is very low risk and potentially a big reward. These guys playing well are just a bonus. However, finding those who are in better position to succeed is not an easy task.

So, with another double-round week upon us, here are a few choices for you to consider when it comes to players who might get your money's worth this week.

### Arijan Lakic, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, 4.0 credits

Losing Carlik Jones and having Shake Milton injured has once again put guard [Arijan Lakic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/arijan-lakic/007736/) in a position to get significant minutes. Lakic already played more than 20 minutes last week against Paris, and he is probably set to get the same workload this week. Likely getting 15-20 minutes on the floor from a player worth 4 credits is a great start. Another Partizan player to consider is forward [Aleksej Pokusevski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/aleksej-pokusevski/008232/) (5.3 credits).

### Stefan Miljenovic, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, 4.1 credits

Zvezda is playing well, but is still heavily depleted by injury. Which could mean an opportunity for guard [Stefan Miljenovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/stefan-miljenovic/014094/), who is averaging 26 minutes in domestic league action and this past Saturday dropped 18 points and 5 assists. The team, and the coach, love what the 24-year-old brings. Another Zvezda player to keep in mind is its team captain, forward [Ognjen Dobric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ognjen-dobric/004007/) (4.3 credits), who has returned from injury and will certainly have a role in the rotation.

### Sebastian Herrera, Paris Basketball, 4.9 credits

Speaking of life-savers, enter Paris team captain [Sebastian Herrera](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sebastian-herrera/012611/) who exploded for a career-high 17.6 fps last week. And that was on the road in Belgrade, in one of the toughest EuroLeague environments to play. The Paris guard is averaging 18 minutes and 5.5 three-point attempts per game. So, the volume is there. This week, Paris faces Efes and Milan.

### Giampaolo Ricci, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, 5.2 credits

There seems to be a theme here, because sweet-shooting forward [Giampaolo Ricci](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/giampaolo-ricci/001518/) is also a team captain. He is arguably the hottest cheap player because with Zack LeDay out, in the last two games he averaged north of 25 minutes, delivering 13.2 and 12.0 fps, respectively, while shooting 8-of-9 from three-point range. Given that LeDay is out for Round 7 at least, I think Ricci will keep rolling.

### Kosta Kondic, Dubai Basketball, 5.8 credits

This is one of the most expensive players in this group, and another one who got his chance due to injuries on the team. But that’s how things work every season in any sport. [Kosta Kondic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kosta-kondic/014031/) seized the opportunity last week with 12 fps, and he led the team in minutes played this past weekend in the Adriatic League. Playing two road games in a double-round week, Kondic should get his minutes, and he is cheap enough for him to be a risk-free shot.

Filling out your fantasy rosters can be rewarding. This week, Igor Petrinovic helps you find those cheap players

The latest double-round week takes flight on Tuesday and Wednesday, headlined by a rematch from last season’s Final Four. Let’s take a look ahead to the upcoming action in Round 7.

At a glance: Round 7 marks the start of another double-round week

The latest double-round week takes flight on Tuesday and Wednesday, headlined by a rematch from last season’s Final Four. Let’s take a look ahead to the upcoming action in Round 7.

## Tuesday, October 28

### Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Virtus Bologna (19:00 CET)

Two of the six teams tied for second place will battle for another victory as Zalgiris (4-2) welcomes dangerous Virtus (4-2). The Lithuanian team bounced back into winning ways with an impressive road win at Barcelona last week, powered by the backcourt as Maodo Lo and Sylvain Francisco combined for 34 points and 9 assists. Another strength for Zalgiris is the rebounding power of Moses Wright, who averages 2.2 offensive boards per night. Virtus will be confident after winning three in a row, including a comfortable victory over Panathinaikos last time out, and will lean on former Zalgiris big man Alen Smailagic to compete hard in the paint. And Carsen Edwards will attempt to maintain his hot streak after averaging 27.3 points in the winning run.

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (19:00 CET)

Red-hot Zvezda (4-2) will attempt to extend its impressive four-game winning run against unpredictable ASVEL (2-4). A pair of do-it-all guards will take central roles, with Zvezda dynamo Codi Miller-McIntyre (14 points and 5.8 assists per night) going up against the EuroLeague’s all-time PIR leader Nando De Colo, who showed he can still dominate by combining 24 points with 5 assists to inspire last week’s win over Dubai. In the paint, Jordan Nwora has become a leading candidate for October’s MVP award by compiling an average PIR of 23.6, and his versatility will present a major challenge to ASVEL powerhouse Mbaye Ndiaye, who has averaged 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in the last two games.

### FC Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid (20:00 CET)

A return to winning ways is on the menu as Bayern (2-4) welcomes Real Madrid (3-3). Bayern has lost three of its last four due to a struggling offense which ranks last in the league with just 75.7 points per game, while Real is seeking a first road victory. Both teams need to improve their long-range accuracy, with the Spanish team ranked last in the league with 30.5% three-point shooting while Bayern is little better at 31.8%. The battle of the boards will be crucial, with Trey Lyles (5.0 rpg) and Chuma Okeke (4.8) helping make Real the third-best rebounding unit in the competition (38.2 per night), whereas the host has struggled in that category with an average of just 30.5 so needs Wenyen Gabriel to step up from his current 4.0 rebounds per night.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">⏩ PRÓXIMO PARTIDO<br>🆚 <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCBBasketball</a><br>🗓️ 28/10 | 20:00 CET <a href="https://t.co/oaTSMOj8Rv">pic.twitter.com/oaTSMOj8Rv</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1982785137893933351?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (20:15 CET)

Maccabi (2-4) will attempt to claim a second straight high-profile scalp as it travels to inconsistent Panathinaikos (4-2). Last week’s dramatic win over Real Madrid, courtesy of Tamir Blatt’s late three-pointer, gave the Israeli team confidence in its ability to compete with anyone, and the visiting team will hope that sharpshooting Lonnie Walker stays hot after netting 27 points in that win. Panathinaikos needs to bounce back after losing at Virtus, where the silver lining was TJ Shorts finally looking comfortable in green by netting 15 points. Panathinaikos was heavily outrebounded last week so needs more from the likes of Omer Yurtseven (7.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game), while Maccabi will look for another big physical effort from forward O’Shea Brissett after he scored 18 points in 38 minutes in the win over Real.

### FC Barcelona vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (20:30 CET)

A pair of teams in recovery mode meet at Palau Blaugrana with Barcelona (3-3) welcoming Milan (2-4). Barca has slipped down the standings with consecutive losses, struggling to find offensive production in last week’s home loss to Zalgiris despite 17 points from Joel Parra. Milan also lost its last game despite almost overturning a huge deficit against Valencia, and will be anxious to make a better start after allowing 54 first half points in that game. The Italian team will look for more leadership from former Barca guard Leandro Bolmaro, who delivered a career night last time out with 31 points. Against him, home team star Kevin Punter is looking for a similar scoring explosion after going 0-of-5 for three-pointers in the last two games.

### Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Dubai Basketball (20:30 CET)

Two teams aiming to bounce back meet as winless Baskonia (0-6) aim to change that statistic with a visit from Dubai (4-2). Baskonia’s backcourt injury problems were somewhat offset by a decent debut from Kobi Simmons in last week’s loss at Zvezda, but he must to do more to support the consistent scoring of Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (20 points per game). In the paint, Dubai boasts two of the league’s top rebounders in Filip Petrusev (7.3 boards per night) and Mfiondu Kabengele (6.7), so Baskonia’s Tadas Sedekerskis needs a return to form after only scoring 2 and 5 points in the last two games. Above all, the home team must tighten up defensively after allowing at least 86 points in every game for a league-high average of 96 per night.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Road continues with Baskonia ✈️🏀🇪🇸<br><br>🏀 EuroLeague - Round 7<br>🆚 Baskonia<br>📍 Buesa Arena, Vitoria-Gasteiz<br>📅 October 28th<br>⏰ 11:30 PM UAE Time<br>📺 EuroLeague Tv | Dubai Sports Tv <a href="https://t.co/JhQx7SkjpK">pic.twitter.com/JhQx7SkjpK</a></p>&mdash; Dubai Basketball (@dubaibasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/dubaibasket/status/1982775550843506867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Paris Basketball vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:45 CET)

Free-scoring Paris (4-2) is targeting another triumph as its welcomes struggling Efes (2-4). The game presents a shootout between two of the league’s deadliest long-range shooters, as Paris star Nadir Hifi leads the league with 3.7 three-point conversions per game while Efes legend Shane Larkin averages 15.3 points on 46.2% from beyond the arc. Efes needs to play for the full 40 minutes after running out of steam in the final quarters of home losses to Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce, and needs to be ready for Paris’s fast-paced style which has yielded more than 100 points in three of the last five games. Efes also need Rolands Smits (5.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game) to step up in the paint against Momo Faye, who averages 8.5 rebounds in the last two games.

### Valencia Basket vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (21:00 CET)

Reigning champ Fenerbahce (3-3) faces a tough road trip to Valencia (3-3) in a real contrast of styles. The Spanish team's free-scoring offense struck treble figures for the third time this season to overcome Milan last week, whereas Fenerbahce demonstrated its ability to grind out tough wins by taking a low-scoring local derby against Efes. The Turkish team will look to control the tempo through the backcourt knowhow of Devon Hall and Wade Baldwin, while Valencia will look to push the pace through Darius Thompson (14.3 points and 4.5 assists per game). Both teams also possess big men who can stretch the floor, with Nate Reuvers averaging 10.5 points on 52.6% three-point shooting, and Bonzie Colson (9.5 points, 47.1% for three) doing the same job for a Fener team looking for a third straight win.

## Wednesday, October 29

### Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (19:00 CET)

Standings leader Hapoel (5-1) will aim for a fourth straight win as Partizan (3-3) targets a return to the win column. The Israeli team’s hot streak has been propelled by the excellence of Vasilije Micic, who netted 22 points on 8-of-9 field goal shooting in last week’s win over Monaco, and he will look to exploit the injury absence of Carlik Jones, with Partizan needing another strong performance from Duane Washington after he combined 16 points with 5 assists in the Round 6 loss to Paris. In the paint, Johnathan Motley showcased his mid-range shooting by netting 11 points in the final quarter of Hapoel’s win over Monaco, and the visiting team need to counter his physical prowess through Tyrique Jones (9 points and 5 rebounds per game).

### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. AS Monaco (20:15 CET)

A repeat of last season's semifinal will see Olympiacos (4-2) target a third straight win with a visit from Monaco (3-3). The return to fitness of Thomas Walkup, Evan Fournier and Shaquielle McKissic has seriously strengthened the Reds’ backcourt options, with Walkup in particularly making a smooth return to action as he dished 8 assists in last week’s win at Bayern. Monaco has struggled for offensive output on the road, scoring just 77 and 73 points in recent losses at Hapoel and Virtus. Visiting coach (and Olympiacos legend) Vassilis Spanoulis needs Nikola Mirotic to perform at his very best against Sasha Vezenkov in a crucial battle between arguably the league’s best two power forwards, with Vezenkov averaging 19.2 points and 9.2 rebounds so far this season.

There are eight games on Tuesday, then two on Wednesday, including a repeat of last year's EuroLeague Semifinal

Sportradar examines the widening gap between how teams are utilizing the post offensively, with Real Madrid and FC Barcelona among those who go into the post the most  

Stats review: The growing divide in the post

On top of the competitive action on the floor, there are several very intriguing league-wide trends already gaining traction through the first month of the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season. While it is still a little early for some of them to crystallize, there are a few that seem to have real staying power, including the widening gap between how teams are utilizing the post offensively. 

The decline in post usage over the last decade is well-documented. During the 2015-16 regular season, nine of 23 teams generated over 10 possessions per game, either looking to their big men to score or finding the open man operating with their backs to the basket, with no team falling below 5 possessions per game. This season, only 2 teams are generating over 10 possessions per game, with 10 teams falling under 5 possessions per game. Much of that decline in post play - from roughly 11% of all possessions to 7%, was a natural evolution. 

As three-point rates and percentages propelled a rise in overall offensive efficiency, the bar for back-to-the-basket scorers rose to a height that was difficult for all but the league’s top offensive big men to clear. That is reflected vividly in post efficiency rates that have risen from 0.86 points per possession a decade ago to 1.00 - nearly identical to the league’s record pace - this one as touches dried up for all put the most effective weapons.

All of that puts what [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/statistics/mad/) has done to this point in perspective. Not only are *Los Blancos* creating through the post as often as any team in the last two decades of the EuroLeague basketball, but the team has done so with staggering efficiency. Only one team over that period has generated over 15 points playing through the post: the [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/statistics/bar/?season=2021-22&phase=All%20phases) team that put up 15.6 per game relying on [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/) and [Brandon Davies](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/brandon-davies/007870/) during the 2021-22 season. 

Madrid has not built its success on the interior with a pair of interior weapons like that team, it has done it almost entirely by committee. With no single player getting over a quarter of their post touches, [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) has been a matchup problem for opposing wings inside, [Gabriel Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/gabriel-deck/009005/) has done a great job finding the open man from the block, newcomer [Trey Lyles](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/trey-lyles/014117/) has been extremely patient trying to get defenders off the ground to draw fouls, and [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) remains one of the sport’s most imposing physical presences. At a point where post play has never been less prominent across the top levels of basketball, Madrid has found a way to do much of its best work offensively with a group effort on the block

It is worth noting how efficient teams like Barcelona, [Dubai Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/dubai-basketball/statistics/dub/?season=2021-22&phase=All%20phases), and [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/statistics/oly/?season=2021-22&phase=All%20phases) have been playing through the post as well since, at least early on, it seems as though the EuroLeague has reached a tipping point where post play has become perhaps more refined than it has been marginalized. Even with the league’s overall efficiency rising to record heights, post touches have been a key source of very efficient offense for several teams - something that has not been as apparent in recent years.

Though personnel plays a significant role in which teams can punish opposing defenses from the post, the number of teams finding real success there is notable given how many offenses in recent seasons have eschewed establishing any real presence on the block and figures to be a trend to keep an eye on as season rolls along.

Sportradar looks at Real Madrid, which is one of the few teams still posting up players regularly 