Check out all injuries and absences expected in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague before Round 26:

**ALBA Berlin**

Marcus Eriksson is out indefinitely due to a leg injury.

Yoval Zoosman missed his team's Round 25 game due to a shoulder injury.

Ben Lammers (ankle problem) is not expected to play in Round 26.

Tim Schneider (knee) is questionable to play in Round 26.

**Anadolu Efes Istanbul**

Vasilije Micic is unavailable due to an injury. His status is uncertain.

Dogus Balbay is out after undergoing surgery on his left hip.

Efes registered Karahan Efeoglu and Furkan Altali before Round 26.

**AS Monaco**

Monaco registered Mohammad Amini.

**Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz**

Tadas Sedekerskis missed Round 25 due to muscular discomfort in his left thigh.

[Pierria Henry](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/baskonia-henry-suspend-their-agreement/) is unavailable until further notice.

**Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade**

Facundo Campazzo has been registered in the EuroLeague and is ready to play in Round 26.

Branko Lazic is unavailable for Round 26 due to an injury.

**EA7 Emporio Armani Milan**

[Devon Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/milan-devon-hall-out-at-least-four-weeks-with-injury/) and Paul Biligha have been deactivated from Milan's roster.

Luigi Datome sprained his ankle in Round 25 and did not return to the game.

[Shavon Shields ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/milan-loses-shields-at-least-6-8-weeks/)has not played since Round 4 due to a foot injury.

[Kevin Pangos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/milans-pangos-out-at-least-six-weeks/) has been out since Round 10 with a knee injury.

Tommaso Baldasso is unavailable to play in Round 26.

**FC Barcelona**

Barca reported no injuries before its Round 26 game against Zalgiris.

**FC Bayern Munich**

January MVP [Augustine Rubit](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/bayerns-rubit-out-indefinitely/) is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for an Achilles injury.

Elias Harris suffered a foot injury in Round 21 that has kept him out since then.

Vladimir Lucic missed Round 25 due to a hamstring injury. His status is uncertain. He has not played since Round 10.

Bayern signed forward Zylan Cheatham and registering him in time to play in Round 26.

Zan Mark Sisko has been deregistered.

**Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul**

Fenerbahce [signed Tyler Dorsey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-brings-tyler-dorsey-aboard/) on Wednesday but he is not expected to play in Round 26.

Nemanja Bjelica (calf) is available to play in Round 26.

Samet Geyik and Ismet Akpinar are deactivated due to coach's decision.

**LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne**

[Joffrey Lauvergne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/asvels-lauvergne-suffers-torn-acl/) is out indefinitely due to a torn ACL, but club announced all other players are available.

**Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv**

Austin Hollins has not played since Round 21 due to a knee injury.

[Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/maccabi-star-lorenzo-brown-to-miss-2-3-weeks-with-sprained-ankle) returned to EuroLeague action in Round 25.

[Alex Poythress ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/maccabi-loses-poythress-for-at-least-four-months/?pageTitle=Maccabi%20Playtika%20Tel%20Aviv&historyUrl=/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/tel/)remains sidelined since Round 11 with a broken hand.

**Olympiacos Piraeus**

Olympiacos reported no injuries before its Round 26 game against Milan.

**Panathinaikos Athens**

Arturas Gudaitis (Achilles tendon), Lefteris Bochoridis (ankle), Georgios Kalaitzakis (back), Dimitris Agravanis (abdominal discomfort) are not expected to play in Round 26.

Panagiotis Kalaitzakis is unavailable to play in Round 26.

Panathinaikos registered Nikos Pappas, who joined the Greens earlier this season.

**Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade**

[Balsa Koprivica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/partizan-announces-injuries-to-exum-koprivica/) has been diagnosed with mononucleosis and is expected to be out indefinitely.

**Real Madrid**

[Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/real-madrid-sergio-llull-out-indefinitely-with-knee-injury/?pageTitle=Real%20Madrid&historyUrl=/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) is out indefinitely with a knee injury.

Rudy Fernandez (flu) has not travelled with the team for its Round 26 game.

Adam Hanga missed practice with fever and is questionable for Round 26.

Carlos Alocen (knee) is out indefinitely.

Alberto Abalde (ankle) missed the last four games, having last played in Round 19.

Anthony Randolph (knee) has not played this season and is out indefinitely.

**Valencia Basket**

[Sam Van Rossom](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/valencias-van-rossom-to-undergo-knee-surgery/) is out indefinitely due to a knee injury.

[Martin Hermannsson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/valencia-re-signs-guard-hermannsson/) is out with a knee injury. He has been practicing with the team for several weeks already.

Millan Jimenez is sidelined due to an ankle problem.

[Kyle Alexander](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/valencias-kyle-alexander-out-one-month/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/euroleague/) is expected to be back in late March due to an ankle sprain.

**Virtus Segafredo Bologna**

Isaia Cordinier missed his team's Round 25 game due to a foot injury. His status is uncertain.

Iffe Lundberg is doubtful to play in Round 26 due to an injury.

**Zalgiris Kaunas**

[Keenan Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/zalgiris-evans-suffers-torn-achilles/) will miss the rest of the season after suffering an Achilles injury.

[Tyler Cavanaugh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/zalgiriss-tyler-cavanaugh-out-more-three-months/) (back) has been sidelined since Round 14, and will remain out until late April after undergoing back surgery.

Isaiah Taylor returned from injury and is ready to face Barca.

Liutauras Lelevicius is sidelined with a leg injury.

EuroLeague injury report, Round 26

Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Valencia Basket (2023-03-03T19:30:00.000Z)

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v ALBA Berlin (2023-03-02T20:00:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Olympiacos Piraeus (2023-03-03T19:30:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Real Madrid (2023-03-03T19:00:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2023-03-03T17:45:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2023-03-02T18:00:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v Zalgiris Kaunas (2023-03-02T18:00:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos Athens v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2023-03-02T19:00:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2023-03-02T20:00:00.000Z)

March is always a pivotal month in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and in this, the most competitive season ever, it should have an even bigger impact on the overall standings. There are seven rounds scheduled in March: some teams also have a postponed showdown, so they will play eight games in the current month. Of course, that gives all of us plenty of chances to win in the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/es/home?_ga=2.82989782.175998181.1677483523-884385655.1669721726). With seven rounds in March, being consistent is the key. One bad round and a lead that you built for months can easily disappear. One good round and you can be in contention to win your private league or improve your situation in the overall standings. It should be a really fun month, too!

My team, Gancedato, had another good week. My player with the best score, Mathias Lessort of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, was my team captain. All starters and my sixth man got at least 14.3 points, and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan won, so Coach Ettore Messina added 10 points. All things considered, I scored 166.1 points to rank 3,032nd in Round 26. That allowed my team to move up around 200 spots in the overall standings to 2,124th. If I am solid enough, I can crack the top 2,000 soon and then look for higher goals. 

Unless another game is postponed, three trades will be allowed before each round until the end of the regular season. I am selling Coach Messina because his team plays Olympiacos Piraeus, which is on a seven-game winning streak. Instead, I am going for the cheapest head coach whose team I think will win, and that's Andrea Trinchieri of FC Bayern Munich. I am selling three relatively expensive players to look for better options at all spots: guard, forward and center. Having an expensive center like Moustapha Fall of Olympiacos is a luxury I couldn't afford for a long time. I am also selling Shane Larkin of Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Mario Hezonja of Real Madrid, looking for more consistency, particularily at guard.

My first choice is [Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/) of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. I like his matchup against a score-first squad like AS Monaco, and am looking forward to his matchup against Mike James. I am also buying [Rokas Giedraitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rokas-giedraitis/006436/) of Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz because he usually plays well against Valencia Basket, his team's Round 26 opponent. Finally, I am getting [Ben Lammers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ben-lammers/010385/) of ALBA Berlin. Lammers plays against Lessort, so I will start with a 2-1-2 lineup and my guess is that at least one of them will play really well. And if not, I can always change the lineup and add the many good forwards I have on the bench. 

You can take a look at my team here:

As you can see, my team features seven players taking the court on Thursday, with Brown as provisional team captain, and three more, all forwards, on Friday. I have two other players going against each other, Rokas Jokubaitis of FC Barcelona and Lukas Lekavicius of Zalgiris Kaunas, so I am keeping the latter on the bench. As always when he plays in the second tier, Sasha Vezenkov of Olympiacos is a solid backup choice as team captain. We will see!

Remember, the 2022-23 EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime features better prizes than ever, so get your game on now!

And don't forget to use #fantasychallenge on social media all season long. Good luck!

Fantasy Challenge, Round 26: Back to three trades

March 1 was the final day to register new players for the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season and a number of teams were active with moves before the deadline dropped. Here is a roundup of all the players added to team rosters this week ahead of Round 26.

### **AS Monaco**

Monaco registered 17-year-old [Mohammad Amini](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mohammad-amini/012378/). The swingman from Iran joined the club this season and has averaged 17.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists for Monaco in France's Espoirs Elite junior league. Although he has not yet played for Monaco's senior team, he is now eligible to play in the EuroLeague if called upon.

### **Anadolu Efes Istanbul**

Efes registered 20-year-old center [Furkan Haltali](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/efes-acquires-young-center-haltali-in-trade/), whom it acquired from Besiktas Istanbul in December, and 18-year-old forward [Karahan Efeoglu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/karahan-efeoglu/010807/). Both players have been playing for Efes in the Turkish League.

### **Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade**

Zvezda signed two-time EuroLeague champion [Facu Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) in [December](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/zvezda-inks-two-time-euroleague-champ-campazzo/), but was unable to register him in the EuroLeague until now. In the meantime, he has averaged 13.4 points, 6.9 assists and 2.3 steals in the ABA League and should plug right into Dusko Ivanovic’s EuroLeague lineup.

### **FC Bayern Munich**

Bayern has agreed to terms with big man [Zylan Cheatham](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/zylan-anthony-cheatham/012406/) on a deal for the remainder of the season. Cheatham, 27, arrives from Birmingham of the G League. His deal is pending the completion of medical exams.

### **Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul**

[Tyler Dorsey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tyler-dorsey/009849/)'s return to the EuroLeague was one of the biggest [moves of the day](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-brings-tyler-dorsey-aboard/). A veteran of three seasons in the competition with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and Olympiacos Piraeus, Dorsey will bring an immediate scoring punch to Fenerbahce.

### **Panathinaikos Athens**

Veteran guard [Nikos Pappas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikos-pappas/000464/) spent seven seasons with the Greens and returned earlier this season to finish his career there. He debuted in December, though he has not played since. However, the 32-year-old Pappas will now be eligible to suit up in the EuroLeague again. His next appearance will be his 131st in Europe's premier club basketball competition.

### **Real Madrid**

*Los Blancos* registered two well-known players who are injured and not fit to play yet, but hopefully they will be able to contribute later in the season. [Anthony Randolph](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/anthony-randolph/005757/), 33, has been with Real since 2016 and has made 137 EuroLeague appearances with the club, including 17 last season. [Carlos Alocen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/carlos-alocen/010623/), 22, is in his third season with Real. A part-time starter in 2020-21, he played in 28 EuroLeague games that season and nine last season. Both players are recovering from ACL injuries.

Transfer deadline roundup

Sasha Vezenkov, Olympiacos: 'We have 13 players ready to play'

Playoff picture: The races within the race

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague is entering its busiest and most exciting stretch of the regular season. The month of March will feature seven rounds and a pair of make-up games for a total of 65 fixtures over the next 30 days.

All that takes place amid the tightest-ever playoff race where entering Round 26 no team has yet secured a playoff spot and that will be the case for at least another week. Ten different teams have winning records. In addition, there are seven teams within one game of each other between sixth and 12th place, the spot where Virtus Segafredo Bologna (12-13) currently sits.

What makes it even more special is that the tight-as-ever playoff race guarantees multiple clashes with major playoff implications between direct rivals each round. Such is this coming round, and among those games are Thursday's [matchup between AS Monaco (15-10) and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (13-12)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/as-monaco-maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/E2022/226/) and Friday's [pitting Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (15-9) against guest Virtus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul-virtus-segafredo-bologna/E2022/230/).

Monaco enters the clash with a two-game lead over Maccabi. A win would be another step towards its attempt to return to the EuroLeague Playoffs, while a victory by more than 8 points, which is the margin Maccabi beat Monaco by in come-from-behind fashion in Round 3, would essentially give Monaco a four-game edge over Maccabi.

In addition, a victory over Maccabi, which is only 3-10 on the road this season, would allow Monaco to keep up with Fenerbahce - and the rest of the top-ranked teams - in the race for the home-court advantage in the playoffs, too.

On the other hand, that Round 3 triumph over Monaco is the only win Maccabi has managed in games against these three opponents, but Maccabi still has to play at home against Fenerbahce (Round 27) and Virtus (Round 31). And Maccabi is an impressive 10-2 in front of its fans. If it pulls out a win in Monaco, Maccabi would be in a great position ahead of the final stretch.

Meanwhile, Fenerbahce currently occupies fourth place, the final spot carrying that precious home-court advantage, but just like Monaco, Coach Dimitris Itoudis's team is well aware of the pressure coming from the bottom up.

Fenerbahce and Monaco both have 15 wins, and there are five teams right behind, each with a 13-12 record, Maccabi being one of them. And Fenerbahce, Monaco and Maccabi are each 5-5 over the last 10 games, while the 12th-placed Virtus is 6-4 in that span and has been trending up with victories in three of its last four.

Virtus will have a chance to continue its push while playing the role of spoiler on the road against Fenerbahce, a team it edged 92-88 at the end of December. But what Virtus will also do is keep an eye on what Monaco does a day earlier.

Virtus has an interest in finishing above Monaco to guarantee its return as the best of the last two EuroCup qualifiers. Monaco is the 2021 EuroCup champion and earned its place in the competition this season by reaching the playoffs last year. Virtus, last season's EuroCup champ, hopes to do the same this year, but needs to be ahead of Monaco because if both clubs coming from the EuroCup reach the playoffs, only the better of the two earns the EuroCup runner-up spot, guaranteeing next season´s EuroLeague participation.

In this race within a race, Monaco not only has a three-game lead but also defeated Virtus by 17 points in their Round 1 clash.

Virtus has plenty of making up to do, but with so many games with such high stakes, any outcome is possible.

EuroLeague TV subscribers are in for some truly revolutionary and exclusive content, as a pair of one-time Turkish Airlines EuroLeague teammates will co-commentate select games together throughout the remainder of the season on the competition's official OTT platform.

The Players' View, which debuts in Round 26, will see Jake Cohen – center for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv – and Michael Roll – a former EuroLeague player with Maccabi, Baskonia and Milan – offer fans the kind of insights and anecdotes that only the pros can provide.

EuroLeague TV subscribers will not only be able to follow Jake and Michael's conversation about what's happening on screen, but also hear their stories about the personalities of the game and the feeling on the court in the heat of the battle.

Jake Cohen and Michael Roll join EuroLeague TV as commentators

***The Players' View debuts with ASVEL vs. Real Madrid in Round 26!***

EuroLeague TV subscribers are in for some truly revolutionary and exclusive content, as a pair of one-time Turkish Airlines EuroLeague teammates will co-commentate select games together throughout the remainder of the season on the competition's official OTT platform.

The Players' View, which debuts in Round 26, will see Jake Cohen – center for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv – and Michael Roll – a former EuroLeague player with Maccabi, Baskonia and Milan – offer fans the kind of insights and anecdotes that only the pros can provide.

EuroLeague TV subscribers will not only be able to follow Jake and Michael's conversation about what's happening on screen, but also hear their stories about the personalities of the game and the feeling on the court in the heat of the battle.

What's it like to face Walter Tavares? How do the hottest arenas affect a player's performance? Who can defend Vasilije Micic with the game on the line? Jake and Michael will deliver such insights in this new content that puts players in the commentary booth with the freedom to use their voices and share their experiences directly with the fans.

The Players' View is the last added-value content available to EuroLeague TV subscribers, following the [recently launched VR streaming service](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.euroleaguebasketball.net%2Feuroleague%2Fnews%2Feuroleague-basketball-and-ybvr-to-stream-euroleague-games-in-vr%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cedu.roca%40euroleague.net%7Ceb241b89bd3046b8452508db196af7e5%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638131719441463179%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=0JZSwALTih6o9Qyz8Q0tGK%2FBmP3XGtU%2Fl3q3xR42Jg0%3D&reserved=0), which brings an immersive experience to viewers as they view selected games produced with the latest VR technology.

Jake and Michael will officially debut The Players' View in Round 26, when LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne hosts Real Madrid. They will be back on the microphones together in Round 27 with a blockbuster, Olympiacos Piraeus vs. FC Barcelona, and then in Round 29 for the German derby between FC Bayern Munich and ALBA Berlin. You can see their commentary partnership at work already [**HERE**](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.euroleaguebasketball.net%2Feuroleague%2Fnews%2Freal-madrids-walter-tavares-making-history-and-taking-names%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cedu.roca%40euroleague.net%7Ceb241b89bd3046b8452508db196af7e5%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638131719441463179%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zAiCJlvxDCuyzNOsiW4CQYOu4NyO6mu1hKDvsTsFtcE%3D&reserved=0)**.**

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul has signed Tyler Dorsey until the end of the 2023-24 season, the club announced Tuesday. Dorsey (1.96 meters, 26 years old) arrives from Dallas’s G League affiliate, Texas Legends, where he averaged 18.9 points on 37.0% three-point shooting, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 12 games, eight of them as a starter, since the start of the year. He also played with the Mavericks this season before being cut in December.

Fenerbahce brings Tyler Dorsey aboard

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul has signed [Tyler Dorsey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tyler-dorsey/009849/) until the end of the 2024-25 season, the club announced on Wednesday. Dorsey (1.96 meters, 26 years old) arrives from Dallas’s G League affiliate, Texas Legends, where he averaged 18.9 points on 37.0% three-point shooting, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 12 games, eight of them as a starter, since the start of the year. He also played with the Mavericks this season before being cut in December.

Dorsey returns to the EuroLeague, where he played the previous three seasons. He averaged 12.8 points and 2.0 assists per game last season with Olympiacos Piraeus, which he helped reach the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four. Together, Olympiacos and Dorsey also captured the Greek League and Cup double.

Dorsey made his EuroLeague debut with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, where he played the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. He helped Maccabi win a pair of Israeli League crowns in that time. Dorsey played college basketball at the University of Oregon and for Atlanta and Memphis in the NBA before he joined Maccabi. He has also played for the Greek national team.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Tyler Dorsey Fenerbahçe Beko&#39;da! ✍️<br><br>🔗 <a href="https://t.co/WmyZ9ifkxC">https://t.co/WmyZ9ifkxC</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZP8X9SPedC">pic.twitter.com/ZP8X9SPedC</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1630856481695227904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague heads into a busy March and EuroLeague Pick 'Em, Powered by @ArduPrime, is here to keep you abreast of all the latest trends and to look ahead to key matchups. This week, Dora Panteli shines a light on a few red-hot players and looks ahead to the matchups between high-scoring Spanish clubs Baskonia and Valencia and a defensive showdown between top-ranked Olympiacos and Milan. Stay tuned for a new episode every week!

EuroLeague Pick 'Em: Offensive and defensive showdowns are on tap

In this edition of the "one-word interview", Virtus Segafredo Bologna forward Semi Ojeleye takes specific words and explains what they mean to him. From ‘home’ to ‘mentality’ to ‘gratitude’, we find out what makes him tick both as a person and as a player.

 "The reason I started playing basketball is because of my brother," Ojeleye explains. "I remember many a night I’d run back into the house crying because he beat me again… The first time I beat him, it felt like I just beat Michael Jordan one on one."

 Only 28 years of age, Ojeleye is well-traveled despite this being his first season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, and he has come to appreciate the blessings the game of basketball has bestowed upon him.

 "I'm so grateful that this opportunity presented itself, that God put me here and that I'm on this team," he says. "Believe it or not, it's been one of the best experiences of my life."

Semi Ojeleye, Virtus: 'One of the best experiences of my life'

In this edition of the "one-word interview", Virtus Segafredo Bologna forward Semi Ojeleye takes specific words and explains what they mean to him. From ‘home’ to ‘mentality’ to ‘gratitude’, we find out what makes him tick both as a person and as a player.

 

"The reason I started playing basketball is because of my brother," Ojeleye explains. "I remember many a night I’d run back into the house crying because he beat me again… The first time I beat him, it felt like I just beat Michael Jordan one on one."

 

Only 28 years of age, Ojeleye is well-traveled despite this being his first season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, and he has come to appreciate the blessings the game of basketball has bestowed upon him.

 

"I'm so grateful that this opportunity presented itself, that God put me here and that I'm on this team," he says. "Believe it or not, it's been one of the best experiences of my life."