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Top signings: EuroLeague returnees

Top signings: EuroLeague returnees

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14 September 20228 Mins read

After spending some time away from the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, these 10 players are all ready to make an immediate impact upon their return to the competition. The list includes all sorts of players, arriving from many different players at different stages in their careers. What they all have in common is great ambition to leave their marks as they return to Europe's premier basketball competition after some time away.

Ismael Bako, Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Ismael Bako previously spent two seasons in the EuroLeague, suiting up for LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in 2019-20 and 2020-21. He increased his scoring and rebounding numbers from the first year to the second. Last season he went over to the Spanish League and left his mark with Manresa. The 26-year-old's performances proved to many, including the folks at Virtus Segafredo Bologna, that he is prime for a key role on a promising EuroLeague side and together they will look to make some noise this season.

Laurynas Birutis, Zalgiris Kaunas

Laurynas Birutis returns home to Zalgiris Kaunas, where he played his only EuroLeague campaign in 2018-19. He had a bit-part role during that season, averaging just 6.8 minutes on the floor during his 16 EuroLeague appearances. In the time since, Birutis's experiences with BC Prienai and in the Spanish League with Obradoiro, as well as with the Lithuanian national team, showed that he is more than ready for a second shot in the EuroLeague. Only 25 years of age, all signs point to Birutis making an impact this season under Coach Kazys Maksvytis.

Nemanja Bjelica, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Fresh off winning an NBA championship with Golden State, Nemanja Bjelica decided to return to Fenerbahce. After seven years in the NBA, the 2015 EuroLeague MVP and All-EuroLeague First Team selection returned from whence he came to become an integral part of new head coach Dimitris Itoudis's plans. Bjelica previously played for Fenerbahce between 2013 and 2015, so the fans at Ulker Sports and Event Hall are thrilled to have their former hero back. With Bjelica and the team's other arrivals, there are high hopes on the yellow side of Istanbul.

Tarik Black, Olympiacos Piraeus

Following one season away from the competition, Tarik Black returns to the EuroLeague with Olympiacos Piraeus. He has previously played for two clubs in the EuroLeague – Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in 2018-19 and 2019-20, as well as Zenit St Petersburg in 2020-21. During the 2021-22 campaign, Black played for Grand Rapids of the G League until February and then in March, he joined Bahcesehir of Turkey. At every stop so far, Black has been equally lauded for his physicality in the paint, basketball smarts and leadership skills, all of which the 30-year-old will try to put to good use with the Reds.

Dani Diez, Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

An appendicitis operation has temporarily sidelined new Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz arrival Dani Diez following his move from San Pablo Burgos, but he is expected to return before the end of the preseason. Diez has the opportunity to remind EuroLeague fans of what he offers on the court, having last featured in the competition in a reserve role with Unicaja Malaga in 2018-19. Diez, 29, has collected trophies at many stops in his career and his winning tradition and do-it-all style of play should fit in well in Vitoria-Gasteiz, where displaying Baskonia Character is a must.

Georgios Kalaitzakis, Panathinaikos Athens

Georgios Kalaitzakis returns to Panathinaikos Athens a different player than the one who left a year earlier. His time in America, where Kalaitzakis played for Milwaukee and Oklahoma City, as well as their respective affiliated G-League clubs, helped Kalaitzakis grow through experiences on and off the court. Only 23 years of age, the path to a major role, alongside his twin brother Panos Kalaitzakis, is there for the taking. The Greens' faithful will throw their support behind the young shooting guard, who previously appeared in 16 EuroLeague games over parts of three seasons with Panathinaikos.

Amath M’Baye, Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Anadolu Efes Istanbul has made a splash with some of its signings in the offseason, but one new addition that has perhaps gone under the radar for casual fans is 32-year-old forward Amath M’Baye. The France international joined the back-to-back EuroLeague champs after shining with Pinar Karsiyaka in the Turkish League. M'Baye, who last featured in the EuroLeague in 2017-18 with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, has the experience necessary to quickly find his role with Efes as it goes in search of a three-peat and the skills needed to help it get there.

Dzanan Musa, Real Madrid

No player on this list has seen his career skyrocket over the past 12 months quite like Dzanan Musa, who took the bold step of joining a small club in the Spanish League, Rio Breogan, last summer after failing to carve out a role with Anadolu Efes Istanbul the season before. Musa earned MVP honors in the Spanish League MVP, was among the top scorers at EuroBasket 2022 with Bosnia and Herzegovina and topped the 30-point mark in his first preseason game with Real. Musa was just 16 years old when he made his EuroLeague debut with Cedevita Zagreb and also played for Brooklyn in the NBA before his time with Efes. New Real head coach Chus Mateo could have big things in mind for Musa in Madrid.

Kevin Pangos, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

Basketball fans in the city of Milan were able to rejoice this summer with the news that EA7 Emporio Armani Milan has secured the services of 2021 All-EuroLeague First Team selection Kevin Pangos. The Canadian point guard comes in to replace Sergio Rodriguez. Pangos began the previous season in the NBA with Cleveland and had signed with CSKA Moscow during the season, but that move never came to fruition. Entering his fifth season in the EuroLeague, Pangos will be looking to replicate his performances from his campaign at Zenit in 2020-21, when he ranked this in the league in assists and led his team to the playoffs. The combination of Pangos and Coach Ettore Messina could spell trouble for opposing teams this season.

Tomas Satoransky, FC Barcelona

After six years in the NBA, Tomas Satoransky is back in Barcelona, where he played in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, his only two in the EuroLeague to date. He spent time in the NBA with four franchises as a part-time starter and reached the playoffs twice. In Barcelona, the 30-year-old will get the chance to share the floor with Czech teammate Jan Vesely, who has arrived from Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, and their potential connection on the floor already has Barca fans salivating at the mouth. Under the tutelage of Coach Sarunas Jasikevicus, Satoransky could put together some special performances for Barcelona.