The new EuroLeague season: A to Z

There are more intriguing angles and protagonists to the new Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season than letters in the alphabet, but here are 26 of them to keep in mind as we head to the opening round of pure devotion.

A is for Achille, Amath and Ante. Anadolu Efes Istanbul lined up a new triple-A frontcourt cohort in its quest for a three-peat, getting Achille Polonara from archrival Fenerbahce and Ante Zizic from Maccabi while bringing Amath M'Baye back to the EuroLeague after five seasons.
B is for Brown. Defensive ace John Brown, who snared 69 steals last season, breaking a record held by Manu Ginobili, brings his all-action style to AS Monaco, which enjoyed a stunning debut last season and aims to compete strongly for another top eight finish.
C is for Czechs. FC Barcelona boasts a potentially explosive new Czech connection with floor leader Tomas Satoransky back to the club following a six-year absence, joined by one of this century's greatest EuroLeague stars, Jan Vesely.
D is for Debutants. A plethora of players and coaches will taste the ultra-competitive Turkish Airlines EuroLeague environment for the very first time, including two head coaches who will face off in Round 1, Alex Mumbru of Valencia Basket and Joan Penarroya of Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz. Some will become instant stars; others will keep striving to match the demands.
E is for Enoch. One of last season's breakout performer, center Steven Enoch, averaged 9.5 points and 5.6 rebounds for Baskonia, whose fans hope that he can continue his rapid rise to become an even more dominant force this season.
F is for Final Four. The ultimate goal of all players, coaches and fans is to be part of the title-deciding weekend that brings together the continent's top teams for all-or-nothing showdowns. The road to the Final Four is long and the maxim that every game matters will never be truer than during what looks to be one of the most competitive seasons ever.
G is for Gonzalez. Then-rookie coach Israel Gonzalez led ALBA to 10th place place last season, but he and his young, hungry and largely unchanged roster will be shooting higher. The German champs three years running could prove a dark horse in the coming campaign.
H is Higgins. Two-time champion Cory Higgins was limited to 15 games scattered across last season due to injuries. Barca fans will be wishing great health this season upon the player who fired them into the championship game with a semifinals buzzer-beater two years ago.
I is for Itoudis. After winning two titles over eight years at CSKA Moscow, Dimitris Itoudis has followed in the footsteps of his mentor Zeljko Obradovic by taking over the bench at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. His presence automatically makes Fenerbahce a team to watch.
J is for Jackson-Cartwright. Among many intriguing players to follow this season is new LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright. From the British League two years ago he became the German League MVP last season. If he maintains that upward trajectory, he could be an x-factor for ASVEL.
K is for Kattash. After ending a seven-year playoffs drought, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv assigned the task of building on that success to Oded Kattash, a former playing legend who fully understands the club's expectations and ambitions and knows what it takes from having won the EuroLeague as a player.
L is for Lo. The player with the EuroLeague's shortest surname, Maodo Lo, exploded into a top-15 score last season, his second in his hometown. His play is infectious and on the cusp of turning 30 years old, he is poised to be ALBA's backcourt leader going forward.
M is for Mateo. A new era dawns for Real Madrid, last season's runner-up, as Chus Mateo takes the coaching reins held by Pablo Laso for 11 years. Mateo spent eight of those at Laso's side and is now poised to meet the opportunity of leading Europe's most successful club ever.
N is for Nedovic. Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade fans will cheer a returning hero, with veteran guard Nemanja Nedovic back at his boyhood club after a 10-year absence. His experience and scoring skills will be vital to Vladimir Jovanovic, who becomes the EuroLeague's second-youngest head coach.
O is for Olympiacos. After a last-second semifinal lost last season to eventual champ Efes, Olympiacos Piraeus fans have faith that the Reds will contend for the title again after head coach Georgios Bartzokas retained the bulk of last season's roster, with Kostas Sloukas and Sasha Vezenkov as leaders.
P is for Papagiannis. The definitive new face of Panathinaikos Athens is 2.20-meter center Georgios Papagiannis, who was just the second player in EuroLeague history last season to lead the league in rebounds and blocks. At 25, Papagiannis is poised to lead the Greens back to the promised land.
Q is for Shaquielle. Using a letter from the middle of his name is worth the exception for Olympiacos guard Shaquielle McKissic, who overcame homelessness and jail time in his youth, didn't turn pro until age 25, but found a way to bring his infectious energy and spirit to the EuroLeague and become a big part of the Reds family.
R is for Rodriguez. A quintessential EuroLeague star, former MVP Sergio "El Chacho" Rodriguez, is back in Real Madrid, which means that the fans of the most successful club in continental history are in for an entertaining trip down memory lane with one of the greatest passers in the game. Cue the highlight reels.
S is for Scariolo. A golden 2022 has seen head coach Sergio Scariolo lead Virtus Segafredo Bologna to the 7DAYS EuroCup title and then claimed a gold medal with Spain at EuroBasket. His next challenge is to help a strong Virtus roster challenge for the playoffs in the club's first EuroLeague season since 2008.
T is for Three-peat. Anadolu Efes Istanbul has the chance to be the first teams since KK Split in 1991 to win the continental crown three years in a row. Confidence won't be short on a roster featuring a returning core of six players and five experienced newcomers brought in to enhance their three-peat chances.
U is for Ulanovas. The retirement of long-time lead Paulius Jankunas at Zalgiris has meant that the torch of leadership has been passed to new team captain Edgaras Ulanovas, another forward who like his predecessor has played his entire EuroLeague career except one season with Zalgiris. He, too, bleeds green.
V is for Voigtmann. The summer arrival of Johannes Voigtmann may have gone under the radar compared to EA7 Emporio Armani Milan's other big signings, but he may prove to be a linchpin as a rare 2.10-plus-meter floor-opener who will give Milan the versatility to match its lofty ambitions.
W is for Weiler-Babb. Since he put on an FC Bayern Munich uniform two seasons ago, combo guard Nick Weiler-Babb has been the defensive heart of a team that has been one victory from the Final Four twice. His offensive numbers may remain modest, but this Best Defender candidate is already a difference-maker
X is for Xabi. Having played a central role in Spain's EuroBasket triumph last month, Xabi Lopez-Arostegui of Valencia Basket is likely one of the most promising debutants this season. The 25-year-old arrives on the cusp of his prime after averaging double-digits over three 7DAYS EuroCup seasons.
Y is for Yannick. It's not every day that New Zealand sends a player to the EuroLeague. In fact, Yannick Wetzel of ALBA Berlin will be just the fourth Kiwi in the competition this century and just the second in the last 15 years after Tai Webster played for Zalgiris two seasons ago.
Z is Zeljko. The most-crowned individual in EuroLeague history, nine-time title-winning coach Zeljko Obradovic, is back in the saddle at the club he led to the first of those, Partizan Belgrade, exactly 30 years ago. More than 10,000 season ticket holders are hoping for another Partizan miracle in the club's EuroLeague return.