Plenty of thrills and spills are to be expected during the 2023-24 EuroCup season
At a glance: Round 1 is here!
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It’s time for action! Twenty teams are gunning for glory as the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup gets underway this week, with new signings and returning stars aiming to secure opening night victories. Here’s your overview of the action.
Tuesday, September 24
Turk Telekom Ankara vs. 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (18:30 CEST)
The new EuroCup season tips off on Tuesday in the Turkish capital, where Turk Telekom is reunited with coach Erdem Can, who led the team to the 2023 title decider. The hosts have a drastically rebuilt roster including big men Yoan Makoundou and Kyle Alexander, with Olivier Hanlan and Max Heidegger set for key roles in the backcourt. Lietkabelis will have to cope without star man Deividas Srvydis – last season’s EuroCup scoring leader – following his summer departure to Zalgiris Kaunas, and the Lithuanian team will hope for an instant impact from new signing Georgios Kalaitzakis.
Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (19:30 CEST)
Last season’s runner-up, Bourg, begins another challenge with a trip to Hamburg, which is desperate to improve on last year’s 2-16 record. Bourg coach Frederic Fauthoux can still call upon exciting guard Hugo Benitez and offensive rebounding ace Kevin Kokila, and a raft of new arrivals will look for leadership from experienced three-point shooting specialist Brandon Paul. Hamburg play-caller Benka Barloschky has to find the right formula with no less than 11 new signings, with point guard Jaizec Lottie hoping to take the reins in the backcourt to overcome the loss of Niklas Wimberg due to a broken leg.
Joventut Badalona vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (20:30 CEST)
In one of the week’s standout showdowns, Spanish heavyweight Joventut will aim for a strong start at home as it hosts Hapoel, which has landed a series of major summer signings, including former EuroCup MVP Patrick Beverley along with powerful big man combo Johnathan Motley and Bruno Caboclo. Joventut coach Dani Miret has a vastly experienced core with Ante Tomic, Guillem Vives and Pau Ribas continuing, joined by former EuroLeague title winner Adam Hanga and big man Artem Pustovyi. Both teams were knocked out in the quarterfinals last season, and have high hopes of mounting another serious title challenge.
Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (21:00 CEST)
After winning the title in 2023 but suffering an elimination in the eighthfinals last season, Gran Canaria is aiming to kickstart another strong campaign with a visit from Trento, which just missed out on the playoffs last time around. Granca’s summer signings are headlined by 2021-22 All-EuroCup Second Team selection Caleb Homesley and big man Mike Tobey, while Trento needs Toto Forray and Quinn Ellis to provide continuity amid nine new signings. Coach Paolo Galbiati is particularly excited by the arrival of forward Anthony Lamb, who averaged 19.4 points in the Australian NBL last season and is now making his European debut.
Wednesday, September 25
U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (18:00 CEST)
Following last season’s march to the quarterfinals, Cluj will aim for a strong start with a visit from Cedevita. Long-serving coach Mihai Silvasan has reinforced an exciting looking roster with half a dozen new signings, including three-point shooting expertise from Sasu Salin and former Memphis Grizzlies guard Zavier Simpson. New Cedevita boss Zvezdan Mitrovic is hoping to reverse his club’s fortunes after a tough couple of years (4-32), and will look for ongoing leadership from veteran guard Jaka Blazic along with an instant impact from all-action frontcourt signing Devin Robinson.
Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (18:00 CEST)
A first-ever meeting between Wolves and Bahcesehir will see new home team coach Alessandro Magro look to make a strong start against the impressively rebuilt visitors. Wolves, which just missed out on the playoffs last season, will hope Andrew Andrews can make an immediate impact after his summer arrival, and the addition of Arnoldas Kulboka following a long injury lay-off is a big plus. Bahcesehir is returning to the competition after a three-year absence and has high ambitions after a summer of exciting signings, including all-round threat Mateusz Ponitka, big man Marko Simonovic and scoring star Jaleen Smith.
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs. Valencia Basket (19:00 CEST)
EuroCup giant Valencia returns to the competition with a road trip to face Hapoel. The four-time winner has Pedro Martinez back on the bench, and will aim to dominate the boards through new arrivals Matt Costello and Ethan Happ. It will have to do without backcourt leader Chris Jones, however, as he is injured. The task of overcoming Valencia’s deep roster will be led by Las Taronjas' former guard Jared Harper, while Jeremy Morgan is another important new signing after an excellent season with Bourg. Hapoel, which is returning to the competition for the first time since 2018, will also hope for backcourt inspiration from Speedy Smith.
Besitkas Fibabank Istanbul vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (19:00 CEST)
After reaching last season’s semifinal, Besiktas coach Dusan Alimpijevic will look for another fast start, despite losing several key players in the summer. Forward Conor Morgan is among the new arrivals for the Turkish team after an impressive campaign with the London Lions, while the backcourt will continue to be led by Jonah Mathews and Derek Needham, who averaged a combined 26.8 points per game last season. Visiting Buducnost boasts an impressive backcourt rotations, with new arrival Rasheed Sulaimon joining Yogi Ferrell and McKinley Wright IV. Another newcomer is center Udoka Azubuike, who should get plenty of minutes after joining from the Phoenix Suns.
Trefl Sopot vs. ratiopharm Ulm (19:00 CEST)
In its first EuroCup appearance since 2013, Trefl is aiming to start fast by overcoming an Ulm side hoping to build on last season’s last-16 finish. The German team has retained the majority of its roster and added some top-level young talents in Ben Saraf and Marcio Santos. Trefl has knowhow on the bench in the form of Zan Tabak, and the Polish team will hope for fireworks from new signing Tarik Phillip. That allows him to reunite with former London Lions teammate Aaron Best, and their partnership will be crucial for a team largely lacking experience at this level.
Umana Reyer Venice vs. Aris Midea Thessaloniki (20:00 CEST)
The opening round of action concludes with Reyer hosting Aris, with the Greek team looking to replicate the league-best defense which led to a playoff place last season. Aris only has three players remaining from last season – including star man Vassilis Toliopoulos – and will hope that new recruits such as Eleftherios Mantzoukas and former LA Laker D’Moi Hodge can quickly adapt. Reyer’s big summer signing is Xavier Munford, who averaged 15.4 points per game for Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv last season, while the frontcourt will again be powered by Amedeo Tessitori (12.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in 2023-24).