Name: Lonnie Walker responds to EuroLeague fans in ‘Everybody Loves Lonnie’
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Zalgiris Kaunas guard Lonnie Walker is the latest player to take part in the 'Everybody Loves...' series, which sees him read some tweets – good and bad – from EuroLeague fans.

Lonnie Walker responds to EuroLeague fans in ‘Everybody Loves Lonnie’

It’s fair to say that [Lonnie Walker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lonnie-walker-iv/013403/) has made quite the impact 12 games into his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague career. He has already become a fans’ favorite at [Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/zal/), and the former NBA guard is loving life in Europe’s premier club competition.

Walker received criticism after his debut, having finished with 0 points and a PIR of -9 [against FC Bayern Munich in Round 8](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/bayern-holds-off-zalgiris-77-74-to-climb-atop-the-table/), but he has quickly shown his talent and established himself as one of the EuroLeague’s best guards.

In the latest edition of ‘Everybody Loves…’, Walker takes center stage by reading some tweets – good and bad – from EuroLeague fans.

The Zalgiris star reads some tweets from fans

Euroleague Basketball | Hoop District

Welcome to Hoop District, a 3x3 basketball tournament that pits content creators against one another for a chance to win a big cash – but that’s not all! Hoop District blends entertainment with basketball culture, with nine teams across Europe and beyond going to battle for a chance to usurp the reigning Hoop District champ, Tresco. Ready to go to the next level in second season, this year’s Hoop District tournament features qualifying events in Bologna and Athens before the grand finale, which takes place in Barcelona.

HOOP DISTRICT IS BACK

REGISTER TO THE EVENT

#FFFFFF

<div class="rules-text">

Join us on April 12th and be part of an event that takes basketball culture to the next level. <br>
<br>
Get ready for a high-energy day packed with: <br>
-A thrilling 3x3 basketball tournament, where top European content creators battle for glory <br>
-A  dunk contest <br>
-Tons of surprises and activations you won’t want to miss! <br>
<br>
It’s completely FREE to attend! Click <a href=" https://euroleague.tbits.me/tb_app/518045"> HERE</a> to register. <br>📍Hivernacle - Poble Espanyol <br>⏰From 5:00PM to 10:00PM </br>
</div>

FINALS BRACKET

CITIES AND DATES

FORMAT 

 PLAYERS

Formerly a president in the Queens League, @espe has shown her talent on the football pitch, but how will the Team Sevilla captain cope on the basketball court in Hoop District? A content creator with a combined 2.2 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, she’ll be looking to express her creativity in her first Hoop District appearance.

ESPE - TEAM SEVILLA 

With a combined following of 1.1 million across Instagram and TikTok, @aledellagiusta brings some Italian flair to Hoop District. Famous for his documentary-style videos on YouTube, where he has 1.25 million subscribers, this will be the first year that the Team Bologna captain is competing in Hoop District – and he is here to create waves, just like he has online.

Alessandro - Team Bologna 

Ready to break down barriers, @margauxnonato – with a combined following of 1.2 million on Instagram and TikTok – is here to show why she is such a baller on the hardwood. The Team Manila captain lives for basketball and has a basketball-crazy country supporting her. She’s here to put on a show as she competes in Hoop District for the first time.

MARGAUX - TEAM MANILA 

An ex-footballer, @lukeytroytrotman is ready to showcase his skills beyond the pitch. A lover of all sports, his combined 2.1 million following across Instagram and TikTok are accustomed to his humorous side as well, but how will the Team London captain do on his first Hoop District appearance?

LUKE - TEAM LONDON 

He can do a bit of everything, be it presenting, playing hoops or competing in marathons, but will @george_lntz rise to the occasion at his first Hoop District tournament? The Team Athens captain commands a following of 108,000 followers on Instagram and has mixed with the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joakim Noah and Georgios Printezis, so he’ll be hoping to replicate their play when he gets onto the court.

GEORGE - TEAM ATHENS

When it comes to flow, @totochegang steps up. With two million followers across Instagram and TikTok, the Team Paris captain may come in at 1.73 meters, but he can still get up and show his bounce on the court. Away from the hardwood, his drip is undeniable, representing the modern French look.

ANTOINE - TEAM PARIS 

Someone with basketball in their heart, @alperbicen24 certainly knows how to put on a show. The Team Istanbul is known for putting on basketball events and creating content with the likes of Shane Larkin and Bryant Dunston, but his 161,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok will be backing him to show out when he competes at Hoop District for the first time.

ALPER - TEAM ISTANBUL

A Michigan guy living in Germany, @zacxcviii is representing Team Munich and will be eager to show what he can do in his first Hoop District appearance. Known for his funny videos on social media, where he has 720,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, he has the chance to show that he has a competitive side on the hardwood.

ZAC - TEAM MUNICH

The champ of the first-ever Hoop District Finals last year, @tresco_ball is back to try and retain his title. His 390,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok saw him take home glory in Berlin last year, and he’ll be patiently waiting for the four finalist teams to be decided from the two qualifying tournaments. The Team Barcelona remains hungry and is determined to go back-to-back.

TRESCO - TEAM BARCELONA 

RULES

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 2024 SEASON

Premium Partner

Local Partner - Athens

This is Hoop District page for Euroleague microsite. This contains custom person card components and theme options.

Configuration - Hoop District - Euroleague Microsite - EN

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade announced on Monday that it has signed a two-year extension with head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos. The new deal will keep the sides together through the 2026-27 season. 

Zvezda, Coach Sfairopoulos pen extension 

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade announced on Monday that it has signed a two-year extension with head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos. The new deal will keep the sides together through the 2026-27 season. 

The Greek tactician first joined the club in October 2023 on a two-year deal. Sfairopoulos, 57, has Zvezda currently in sixth place in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings with an 11-8 record.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sr" dir="ltr">КК Црвена звезда Меридианбет са великим задовољством и поносом објављује да је наш први тренер Јанис Сферопулос 06.01.2025. године продужио уговор са Клубом на још две године! 🔴⚪️<br><br>То значи да ће Јанис провести још најмање две и по године на клупи црвено-белих, односно до истека… <a href="https://t.co/RUGDHM9t6X">pic.twitter.com/RUGDHM9t6X</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1876328016306901045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

His career record in the EuroLeague is 153-124, which breaks down to 76-46 with Olympiacos Piraeus, 56-50 with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and 21-28 with Zvezda. Sfairopoulos's career 55.2% winning rate ranks 14th among head coaches with at least 100 EuroLeague games. 

He led Olympiacos to a pair of runner-up finishes in the EuroLeague. In his first season in the competition, the Reds reached the 2015 championship game but fell to host Real Madrid. Similarly, they reached the 2018 final together only to lose to Fenerbahce in Istanbul.

More on Coach Sfairopoulos 

The new deal will keep the sides together through the 2026-27 season

The Spanish team – which has only won twice on the road this season – has been weakened by the loss of influential forward [Tadas Sedekerskis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tadas-sedekerskis/007230/) to injury, and will hope that his absence can be covered by recent signing [Luka Samanic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/luka-samanic/007579/). Virtus will want to recover its defensive identity after [allowing 111 points](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-excels-on-offense-to-beat-virtus-111-90/) in last week’s mauling at Panathinaikos, where [Will Clyburn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/will-clyburn/004888/) gave a reminder of his offensive capabilities by netting 25 points. Clyburn also authored one of this season’s most memorable moments when the teams last met, sinking a four-point play to snatch [an 81-82 road win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/clyburn-saves-virtus-81-82-at-baskonia-to-give-ivanovic-victory-in-debut/) which Baskonia will be eager to avenge.

### Virtus Segafredo Bologna

 

Streaks

Will Clyburn has posted PIRs of at least 10 in 11 of his last 12 games.

Clyburn has made at least 1 three-point shot in seven of his last eight games.

Clyburn has at least 1 steal in seven of his last eight games.

Isaia Cordinier has made at least 1 three-point shot in four straight and 11 of his last 12 games.

Alessandro Pajola has made at least 1 three-pointer in six straight games.

Tornike Shengelia has pulled down 5 or more rebounds in seven of his last eight games.

Rayjon Tucker has made all 10 of his free throws in his EuroLeague career.

 

**Season rankings**

Ante Zizic ranks 10th in offensive rebounding with  2.1 per game.

Tornike Shengelia ranks 10th in scoring with 15.5 points per game.

Virtus ranks third in free-throw shooting at 79.1%.

Virtus has allowed a league-worst 12.5 offensive rebounds per game.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Ante Zizic ranks 16th all-time in two-point accuracy at 64.5%.

Tornike Shengelia ranks 14th all-time in scoring with 3,301 points. Kyle Hines is 13th with 3,339.

Will Clyburn is in 15th place all-time in scoring with 3,279 points.

Shengelia ranks 11th all-time with 736 free throws made. Paulius Jankunas is 10th with 748.

Daniel Hackett ranks 16th all-time in assists with 931. Theo Papaloukas ranks 15th with 977 assists.

Achille Polonara needs 16 points to reach 1,000 for his career.

Polonara needs 1 offensive rebound to reach 200 for his career.

Polonara needs 6 blocks to reach 100 for his career.

Alessandro Pajola ranks second all-time with a 3.0-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Game Videos

### Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

**Streaks**

Chima Moneke has double-digit PIRs in 13 straight games.

Moneke has pulled down at least 5 rebounds in 17 of his last 18 games.

Nikos Rogkavopoulos has made at least 1 three-pointer in 12 straight games.

Donta Hall has accumulated a double-digit PIR in seven of his last eight games.

Markus Howard has made at least 1 three-pointer in seven straight games.

Howard has scored at least 10 points in six of his last seven games.

 

**Season rankings**

Chima Moneke ranks eighth in average index rating with 19.8 per game.

Moneke ranks fifth in rebounding with 6.5 per game.

Moneke ranks eighth in offensive rebounding with 2.2 per game.

Donta Hall is tied for fifth in blocks with 1.3 per game.

Markus Howard ranks sixth in three-pointers made with 2.5 per game.

Tadas Sedekerskis ranks sixth in three-point shooting at 48.3%.

Baskonia leads the league in rebounding with 36.6 rebounds per game.

Baskonia ranks third in offensive rebounding with 12.2 per game.

Baskonia has held opponents to 51.9% two-point shooting, the second-lowest in the league.

Baskonia allows a league-high 38.4% three-point shooting.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Markus Howard made 148 triples last season to set the all-time single-season record.

Donta Hall leads the all-time charts in two-point accuracy at 73.9%.

Tadas Sedekerskis ranks 12th all-time in two-point accuracy at 64.9%.

Ognjen Jaramaz needs 15 points to reach 500 for his career.

Game News

Virtus (5-14) boss Dusko Ivanovic will attempt to boost his team’s fading playoffs hopes by overcoming his beloved former club Baskonia (8-11).

Game Facts: Virtus vs. Baskonia

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2025-01-10T19:45:00.000Z)

\- In Round 15, Virtus pulled out an improbable 81-82 win on Will Clyburn's game-winning four-point play with 1.9 seconds remaining.

\- Virtus head coach Dusko Ivanovic had four stints on the Baskonia bench, the last being last season when he guided the team to the EuroLeague Playoffs with a Play-In Showdown win over Virtus. Prior to last season, Ivanovic coached Baskonia for more than 10 years over three different terms. He led the team to Spanish League championships in 2002, 2010 and 2020 and guided Baskonia to within a victory of the EuroLeague title twice, first in the best-of-five finals in 2001 and then the 2005 championship game.

\- Last season, in the final Play-In Showdown game, Baskonia beat Virtus 89-77 as Markus Howard tied his career-high with 8 three-pointers made on a postseason record 19 attempts.

\- Last season in Round 34, Baskonia rallied to edge Virtus 91-95 in Bologna behind 34 points from Markus Howard who was co-MVP of the Round. That win allowed Baskonia to host a final play-in game.

\- In a regular-season game in Vitoria-Gasteiz last December, Virtus beat Baskonia 81-91 with Marco Belinielli scoring a career-high 27 points.

\- Virtus beat Baskonia, then called Tau Ceramica, 3-2 in the best-of-five final series in the inaugural 2000-01 EuroLeague season to win its second EuroLeague crown.

\- Virtus forward Tornike Shengelia spent six seasons with Baskonia, from 2014 to 2020. He was Baskonia's team captain and led the team to the 2020 Spanish championship and a 2016 EuroLeague Final Four berth. Shengelia played under current Zvezda head coach Dusko Ivanovic at Baskonia during the 2019-20 season.

\- Shengelia grabbed a career-high 6 offensive rebounds playing for CSKA Moscow against Baskonia in January 2021.

\- Virtus forward Achille Polonara spent two seasons with Baskonia, from 2019 to 2021. He helped the team win the 2020 Spanish championship.

\- Baskonia's Kamar Balwin and Virtus forward Andrejs Graziulis were teammates at Dolomiti Energia Trento last season.

\- Baskonia's Nikolaos Rogkavopoulos scored a career-high 19 points in a home loss against Virtus in Round 15.

\- Rogkavopoulos grabbed a career-high 7 rebounds against Virtus in last season's Play-In Showdown.

\- Baskonia's Ognjen Jaramaz grabbed a career-high 6 rebounds for Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade against Virtus in December 2023.

Game Notes: Virtus vs. Baskonia

In this week’s EuroCupbasketball.com interview, Wolves forward Arnoldas Kulboka spoke about his recovery from his knee injury, what it means to play for a young club in Wolves, his relationship with star guard Anthony Cowan and much more

Arnoldas Kulboka: 'I'm just happy to be back on the court'

After nearly a year and a half away from basketball, [Arnoldas Kulboka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/arnoldas-kulboka/006180/) made his return to action with Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius in Round 9 and since then has been slowly but surely recapturing the form that made him an elite prospect. 

The forward left his native Lithuania when he was just 16 to play in Germany. Basketball has since taken Kulboka to play for teams in Italy, Spain, the NBA and Greece. In the summer of 2023, he suffered a knee injury in training camp with Prometey Slobozhanske and he required a second procedure after joining Wolves. But now all of that is in the past. 

In this week’s [EuroCupbasketball.com](http://EuroCupbasketball.com) interview, Kulboka spoke to Frankie Sachs about his recovery from the injury, what it means to play for a young club in Wolves, his relationship with star guard Anthony Cowan and much more.

**It’s great to see you back in form with Wolves. Can you take us through what the last year and a half have been like for you?**

"It's been an awful period of my life for sure, not just on the court, off the court as well. If I could delete 2024 from my life, for sure I would do that, but it is what it is. I'm just happy right now that I can be back on the court and help as much as I can for my team and if we're winning, it's amazing.

"I had a knee injury, I had some problems that had to be fixed and unfortunately the recovery wasn't going well and it took more time than it was supposed to. At the very end, when I was trying to come back on the court, I still felt some discomfort and I just wasted some time over-thinking what I should do when all I had to do was another surgery and that's it. I had the second surgery and finally after a year and a half, I’m back."

**Recovering from an injury like this can also be very difficult mentally. How were you able to stay focused on the recovery?**

"I mean for every person, it's a different thing how you overcome it. For me it was my family around me - my wife, my son – helping me to go through that. There's a lot of help that you can get everywhere. There are many places that you can go and can help you, but it's difficult for me to tell you. It's different for every person how you overcome them, but for me, also basketball helped me a lot. I have that goal that I want to reach one day and it keeps pushing me forward. So I guess that's how it helped me.

"Basketball players, we've been doing this ever since we were kids, 5-6 years old whatever and that's pretty much all you know. You live with this every day and this is our job. Not only job, but it's our life. So at the end of the day, you have certain goals that you want to reach. If you're strong mentally, you keep pushing no matter what. I guess that's how I did it."

Arnoldas Kulboka highlights, Rounds 9-13, 2024-25

Arnoldas Kulboka highlights with Wolves

**Were you able to shoot during the early stages of the injury, or were you forced to stay off the court altogether?**

“I would say the first maybe four months I couldn't even watch basketball. It was really tough mentally just looking at those games and thinking ‘that should be me right there on the court’, especially after the season that I had before in Greece. It felt like I should be there playing and having a good time, so it was kind of tough. I had some problems in my personal life and everything added up, but after that I started shooting again. I was not able to be running on the court and doing many things, but shooting, I was still doing that.”

**Were you still recovering from the original injury when you signed with Wolves over the summer?**

"Yes. The club knew everything. We tried to do the recovery the last part with the club and like I said in the very beginning I still wasn't able to be back 100% so the last step was another surgery and that's it."

**Would you say that you are 100% back to your pre-injury self?**

"I'm still not back 100%, that's for sure. Though it's still been only a month that I'm back. You know, being out of the court for a year and a half, it's difficult to get into rhythm this quick, but I feel like I'm getting better every day and not just month after month, it feels like I'm a different player after every practice, you know, just getting used to my teammates and all that. Even if you're out for a month, you need some time to be back, you need to feel the rhythm, the speed and everything on the court, so it's taking time but I'm happy. I can see that I can already help my team a little bit, so it feels great.

"Team chemistry is good. We're winning games, so it helps a lot, but you know we have a great group of guys, everybody's friendly. Most of the guys knew each other before the season, I would say, especially you know the locals. It's a small country, everybody knows each other, so it's easy to get going and the last thing, I just need some more time to be back 100% on the court, but I feel like everything's been going well, so it won't take too much time."

"I feel like I'm getting better every day and not just month after month, it feels like I'm a different player after every practice, you know, just getting used to my teammates and all that."

**Can you share your emotions when you entered the game for the first time, which I believe was the EuroCup game against Buducnost?**

"When I was on the court, I didn't feel anything new, nothing special, but I would say when we had the warmups and team presentations, when I heard my name again being called and running on the court, that's where I felt something and I could feel some emotions going up. But once I stepped on the court in an actual game, it felt like a natural thing I would say."

**Wolves have won four straight home games, including against some of the top teams in the group. Tell us about the fan support and atmosphere at your games in Vilnius.**

"It's a brand-new club. It's only the third year that we exist and we're kind of making our own history here on the go and kind of building a legacy. So it's a nice thing to be a part of an organization like this. You could feel the first couple seasons that we don't have that many fans, especially having another great club in Vilnius. The fan base that they have is the biggest in the city, but you know winning games, having a great product to show people on the court, I feel like every game we're having more and more fans and it feels amazing, actually. We have a great group of fans over here celebrating for us and like you said, especially when we play at home, we feel that push and we keep winning games and we’re super thankful for the fans."

**From a personal point of view, you are playing in Lithuania for the first time since you left Zalgiris as a 16-year-old. How much are you enjoying this?**

"I mean basketball is basketball no matter where, but at the same time I'm back home for the first time in many, many years. I have my family around me. It's a little bit different than always and it's nice. I missed the Lithuanian weather, I missed the snow, so it feels great."

"I have my family around me. It's a little bit different than always and it's nice. I missed the Lithuanian weather, I missed the snow, so it feels great."

**Your first EuroCup experience came with Promitheas Patras two seasons ago where you were a teammate of Anthony Cowan. This season Cowan has been one of the best players in the competition. What is it like to play with him and what changes have you seen in his game from the 2022-23 season to now?**

"It's a great pleasure to play with him, especially we had that connection. He's a great passer, great slasher, always looking for me on the court and it feels like this was not lost in those couple years that we didn't play together and we're back here again. He's looking for me, for my shot, and it's amazing. Talking about his game, for sure he's having a great year, but he's been playing great for the last couple of years and you could see that in any competition – domestic league, EuroCup, Champions League. I feel like he's ready to make that big step and go further. I’m just happy to see his progress overall. You know, he's improved a lot and is ready to be the team leader. It's been a great pleasure to play with him and I'm super happy for him."

**What is it like playing for Coach Alessandro Magro and what does he bring to the team?**

"Great leader. Not only on the court but like off the court, it's great to have a coach like this. Not only a coach, but a person. In the locker room or traveling or whatever, it's always great to talk to him not only about basketball. He’s the perfect definition of a player’s coach. It's not all about basketball. Sometimes you just gotta be a friend and help each other. Like I said, it's great to have a coach like this."

**Wolves enter Round 14 in the thick of the hunt for a spot in the EuroCup Playoffs. What would it mean to you and the team to take Wolves to the playoffs for the first time?**

"That's the big goal right now for us, just to make it to the playoffs and I feel like we're able to do that and like you said, for the team, for the organization, for a brand-new organization, that would be a big step forward, making the playoffs and putting ourselves on the European map."

Wolves forward Arnoldas Kulboka is shaking off the rust after missing a season and a half to a knee injury and starting to show the form that made him a star

The Greek giant is targeting a fifth consecutive victory, while Bayern has lost three of its last four. The German team would love [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/) to repeat the 30-points performance that powered [October’s 84-80 home win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/carsen-edwards-leads-bayern-past-olympiacos-84-80/) over Olympiacos, while [Devin Booker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devin-booker/007056/)’s power in the paint will also be crucial in attempting to contain the rebounding prowess of [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/). The Reds demonstrated their title credentials with an outstanding [comeback win at Zalgiris](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-rallies-to-down-zalgiris-85-92/) last time out, with playmaker [Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/) netting a season-high 13 points, and will be fighting hard to stay in first place.

###  Olympiacos Piraeus

 

**Streaks**

Sasha Vezenkov has scored in double figures and had double-digit PIRs in 20 straight games.

Vezenkov has made at least 1 three-pointer in five straight and 14 of his last 15 games.

Vezenkov has posted a PIR of 17 or more in 16 straight games.

Vezenkov has made 15 consecutive free throws.

Evan Fournier has made multiple three-point shots in 13 of his last 14 games.

Fournier has scored in double figures in 13 of his last 14 games.

Nigel Williams-Goss has recorded at least 1 steal in five of his last six games.

Luca Vildoza has made at least 1 three-point shot in 10 of his last 11 games.

Keenan Evans has scored at least 10 points in 10 straight and 21 of his last 22 games.

Evans has posted double-digit PIRs in nine of his last 10 games.

Evans has made at least 1 three-pointer in 17 straight games.

Evans has made 21 consecutive free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

Sasha Vezenkov is ranked second in average index rating with 23.0 per game.

Vezenkov ranks third in scoring with 19.1 points per game.

Vezenkov ranks seventh in rebounding with 6.3 per game.

Nikola Milutinov ranks eighth in rebounding with 6.2 per game.

Milutinov leads the league in offensive rebounding with 3.0 per game.

Moustapha Fall leads the league in two-point shooting at 82.0%.

Evan Fournier is tied for ninth in steals with 1.2 per game.

Fournier ranks fifth in three-pointers made with 2.5 per game.

Alec Peters ranks fifth in three-point shooting at 48.4%.

Olympiacos ranks second in assists with 20.6 per game.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Kostas Papanikolaou is the all-time leader in games started with 320.

Papanikolaou is in eighth place all-time in steals with 313. Pablo Prigioni is seventh with 322.

Moustapha Fall ranks second all-time in two-point accuracy at 73.4%.

Thomas Walkup ranks 16th all-time with a 2.5-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Walkup is ranked 14th all-time in assists with 995. Facundo Campazzo of Real Madrid is 13th with 1,024 assists and counting.

Alec Peters ranks 12th all-time in free-throw shooting accuracy at 89.6%.

Peters ranks sixth all-time in three-point accuracy at 45.8%.

Nikola Milutinov is ranked sixth all-time in offensive rebounds with 616. Bryant Dunston is fifth with 646 and counting.

### FC Bayern Munich

 

**Streaks**

Devin Booker has scored in double figures in 18 of his last 19 games.

Booker has had a PIR of 11 or more in seven of his last eight games.

Booker has pulled down at least 5 rebounds in seven of his last eight games.

Carsen Edwards has scored at least 10 points in seven straight and 11 of his last 12 games.

Edwards has PIRs of 12 or more in six of his last seven games.

Edwards has made at least 1 three-pointer in 16 of his last 17 games.

Edwards has made 25 consecutive free throws.

Nick Weiler-Babb has made at least 1 three-pointer in eight of his last nine games.

Weiler-Babb has posted double-digit PIRs in five of his last six games.

Weiler-Babb has at least 1 steal in six straight games.

Shabazz Napier has made 11 consecutive free throws.

Andreas Obst has made at least 1 three-point shot in 12 straight games.

Johannes Voigtmann has accumulated double-digit PIRs in seven straight games.

Kevin Yebo has made 11 consecutive free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

Carsen Edwards ranks second in scoring with 20.1 points per game.

Nick Weiler-Babb leads the league in steals with 1.6 per game.

Edwards and Andreas Obst are tied for second in three-pointers made with 2.6 per game.

Bayern ranks third in scoring with 86.5 points per game.

Bayern leads the league in free-throw shooting at 84.2%.

Bayern ranks second in two-point accuracy at 59.3%.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Johannes Voigtmann needs 8 assists to reach 500 for his career.

Carsen Edwards ranks third all-time in free-throw accuracy at 91.6%.

Red-hot Olympiacos (13-6) will attempt to maintain its top spot status with a visit from a Bayern team (11-8) that needs to improve on the road to stay in the top four fight.

Game Facts: Olympiacos vs. Bayern

Olympiacos Piraeus v FC Bayern Munich (2025-01-10T19:15:00.000Z)

\- Olympiacos had won seven straight games in this rivalry before Bayern's 84-80 win in Round 5 with Carsen Edwards scoring 30 points by making a career-high 10 two-point shots.

\- When Olympiacos beat Bayern 71-82 in Munich in November 2022, it won behind Sasha Vezenkov's 20 points and 13 rebounds for a career-high PIR of 43, which earned him MVP of the Round honors.

\- In that same win in November 2022, Thomas Walkup collected a career-high 6 steals.

\- Olympiacos's club record for points scored away from home came in its first visit to Munich, in December 2013, when the Reds won a 103-105 shootout.

\- Olympiacos guard Keenan Evans scored 32 points and had a career-best 39 PIR, earning the MVP of the Round honors, for Zalgiris Kaunas against Bayern in December 2022.

\- Olympiacos center Nikola Milutinov and Bayern's Johannes Vogitmann were teammates at CSKA Moscow from 2020 to 2022.

\- Bayern big man Devin Booker and guard Carsen Edwards were teammates with Olympiacos guard Tyler Dorsey at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in the 2022-23 season.

\-  Bayern forward Vladimir Lucic and Olympiacos center Nikola Milutinov were teammates at Partizan Belgrade during the 2012-13 season.

\- Lucic and Milutinov have also been teammates on the Serbian national team.

\- Lucic tied his career high in steals with 3 in a 62-72 loss against Olympiacos in Munich in November 2018.

\- Fall grabbed a career-high 7 offensive rebounds playing for LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne against Bayern in February 2021.

Red-hot Olympiacos (13-6) will attempt to maintain its top spot status with a visit from a Bayern team (11-8) that needs to improve on the road to stay in the top four fight. 

Game Notes: Olympiacos vs. Bayern

Zvezda has the head-to-head advantage between the teams under control after winning [77-80 in the French capital](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/crvena-zvezda-spoils-the-party-for-paris-77-80/) in the opening round of the season, and will look to again restrict a Paris offense that has sputtered in recent weeks despite MVP contender [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) (19 points and 7.4 rebounds) continuing his remarkably consistent season. Zvezda showed great spirit and self-belief to snatch last-gasp road wins from [Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/crvena-zvezda-pulls-out-a-dramatic-win-in-barcelona-74-78/) and [Baskonia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/resilient-crvena-zvezda-edges-out-baskonia-73-75/) in its last two games, and will hope that [Isaiah Canaan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/isaiah-canaan/010612/)’s dramatic game-winner last time out will propel the sharpshooter to a return to top form.

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

 

**Streaks**

Filip Petrusev has at least 1 steal in four of his last five games.

Mike Daum has made all 23 of his free-throw attempts in his EuroLeague career.

Joel Bolomboy has double-digit PIRs in each of his last seven games.

Bolomboy has pulled down at least 6 rebounds in 10 straight games.

Nemanja Nedovic has made at least 1 three-pointer in six of his last seven games.

Yago Dos Santos has made at least 1 three-pointer in nine of his last 10 games.

Luka Mitrovic has double-digit PIRs in seven of his last eight games.

Isaiah Canaan has made 10 consecutive free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

Codi Miller-Mcintyre ranks eighth in assists with 5.1 per game.

Zvezda ranks third in assists with 20.1 per game.

Zvezda's defense has held opponents to 31.4% three-point shooting, the second-lowest in the league.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Milos Teodosic ranks sixth all-time with 586 three-pointers made. Rudy Fernandez is fifth with 594.

Teodosic is ranked fifth all-time in assists with 1,468. Vassilis Spanoulis is fourth with 1,607.

Teodosic ranks 12th all-time in career points scored with 3,383. Shane Larkin of Anadolu Efes Istanbul is 11th with 3,412 and counting.

Teodosic ranks 13th all-time in free throws made with 703. Sergio Llull of Real Madrid is 12th with 711 and counting.

### Paris Basketball

 

**Streaks**

TJ Shorts has scored in double figures in 10 straight and 16 of his 17 EuroLeague appearances.

Shorts has PIRs of at least 10 in 10 straight and 16 of his 17 EuroLeague appearances.

Shorts has PIRs of 22 or more in eight of his last nine games.

Shorts has made at least 1 three-point shot in nine straight games.

Nadir Hifi has made at least 1 three-pointer in 17 of his 18 EuroLeague appearances.

Hifi has made multiple three-pointers in 11 straight games.

Hifi has scored 10 or more points in 10 of his last 11 games.

Daulton Hommes has made at least 1 three-point shot in six of his last seven games.

Tyson Ward has made at least 1 three-pointer in eight of his last nine games.

Maodo Lo has made at least 1 three-pointer in seven straight games.

 

**Season rankings**

TJ Shorts is fourth in average index rating with 22.7 per game.

Shorts ranks fourth in scoring with 19.0 points per game.

Shorts ranks second in assists with 7.4 per game.

Kevarrius Hayes ranks eighth in blocks with 1.1 per game.

Nadir Hifi ranks seventh in three-pointers made with 2.4 per game.

Bandja Sy is tied for third in three-point shooting at 50.0%.

Paris ranks third in rebounding with 36.3 rebounds per game.

Paris ranks second in offensive rebounding with 12.7 per game.

Paris has committed 10.4 turnovers per game, the second-fewest in the league.

Paris has forced 13.0 turnovers per game, the third most this season.

Paris has held opponents to 32.2% three-point shooting, the third lowest in the league.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Kevarrius Hayes needs 3 blocks to reach 100 for his career.

Hayes needs 1 offensive rebound to reach 200 for his career.

Two direct rivals in contrasting form meet in Belgrade as Zvezda (11-8) aims for a fourth straight win against a Paris team (11-7) that has lost four in a row.

Game Facts: Zvezda vs. Paris

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Paris Basketball (2025-01-10T19:00:00.000Z)

\- The first-ever game between these two teams was also the first-ever game for Paris in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, a contest in which Zvezda rallied from 13 down to pull out a 77-80 win behind 21 points from Nemanja Nedovic.

\- Zvezda big man Luka Mitrovic and Paris point guard Maodo Lo were teammates at Brose Bamberg during the 2017-18 season.

\- Zvezda playmaker Yago Dos Santos and Paris head coach Tiago Splitter were with the Brazilian national team – Yago as a player and Splitter as an assistant coach – at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

\- Paris's Daulton Hommes and Zvezda's Rokas Giedraitis were teammates at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz during the 2022-23 season.

\- Paris guard Maodo Lo earned co-MVP of the Round honors, setting his career-highs with 38 PIR and 32 points, and tying a career-high by making 6-of-7 triples, playing for EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in a 71-93 road win at Crvena Zvezda in November 2023.

Game Notes: Zvezda vs. Paris

Arguably the high point of Zalgiris’s season – and Real’s low – came with [an 83-92 triumph in Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-overpowers-real-in-madrid-83-92/) last month, propelled by 21 points from the dangerous but inconsistent [Lonnie Walker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lonnie-walker-iv/013403/). But the fortunes of both teams have changed dramatically since then, and Real will look to keep on climbing by leaning on a strong inside game which has converted [a league-best 61% of two-point shots](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-teams/?size=1000&misc=&seasonCode=E2024&category=FieldGoals2Percent&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=perGame). That includes 10.3 points per game for the incomparable [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=E2024&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=totalRebounds), who also leads the league in both [rebounding](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) and [blocked shots](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=E2024&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=blocksFavour).

### Zalgiris Kaunas

 

**Streaks**

Lonnie Walker has scored at least 11 points in nine of his last 10 games.

Walker had made at least 1 three-pointer in 10 of his last 11.

Sylvain Francisco has PIRs of at least 10 in seven straight games.

Francisco has made multiple three-pointers in seven straight games; He’s made at least 3 in six of those games.

Francisco has scored in double figures in six straight games.

Deividas Sirvydis has made at least 1 three-pointer in 11 of his last 12 games and multiple three-pointers in eight of his last nine.

Brady Manek has made at least 1 three-pointer in six of his last seven games.

 

**Season rankings**

Sylvain Francisco is tied for ninth in steals with 1.2 per game.

Alen Smailagic ranks fifth in two-point shooting at 72.3%.

Lonnie Walker is tied for ninth in three-pointers made with 2.2 per game.

Zalgiris ranks last in the league in scoring with 77.4 points per game.

Zalgiris has shot a league-low 72.2% from the free-throw line.

Zalgiris has averaged a league-low 14.9 assists per game.

Zalgiris's defense has allowed a league-low 76.9 points per game.

Zalgiris's defense has held opponents to 30.9% three-point shooting, the lowest in the league.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Bryant Dunston ranks second all-time with 354 blocked shots. Walter Tavares of Real Madrid is the all-time leader with 450 and counting.

Dunston ranks ninth all-time with 1,544 rebounds. Ante Tomic is eighth with 1,545.

Dunston ranks fifth all-time with 646 career offensive rebounds. Jan Vesely is fourth with 651 and counting.

Dunston is in seventh place all-time with 1,030 two-pointers made. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is sixth with 1,046 two-point makes and counting.

Edgaras Ulanovas ranks fourth all-time with 268 games started. His former teammate Paulius Jankunas is third with 283 starts.

Alen Smailagic ranks 11th all-time in two-point accuracy at 65.3%.

Tomas Dimsa needs 8 points to reach 500 for his career.

### Real Madrid

 

**Streaks**

Facundo Campazzo has PIRs of at least 16 in 10 of his last 11 games.

Campazzo has made at least 1 three-pointer in 18 of his last 19 games.

Campazzo has recorded at least 1 steal in nine straight games.

Mario Hezonja has made at least 1 triple in 29 straight games.

Hezonja has scored more than 10 points in 13 of his last 14 games.

Walter Tavares has had at least 5 rebounds in seven of his last eight games.

Tavares has PIRs of 11 or more in 15 of his last 17 games.

Alberto Abalde has made at least 1 triple in seven of his last eight games.

 

**Season rankings**

Facundo Campazzo ranks fifth in average index rating with 20.8 per game.

Campazzo ranks third in assists with 7.3 per game.

Walter Tavares leads the league in rebounding with 8.2 per game.

Tavares ranks second in offensive rebounding with 2.9 per game.

Tavares leads the league in blocks with 1.4 per game.

Tavares ranks third in two-point shooting at 74.8%.

Alberto Abalde is tied for third in three-point shooting at 50.0%.

Real leads the league in defensive rebounding with 26.8 per game.

Real leads the league in two-point accuracy at 61.0%.

Real is second in blocks with 3.1 per game.

Real has held opponents to a league-low 51.5% two-point shooting.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Walter Tavares blocked 88 shots in the 2022-23 season to set the all-time single-season record.

Tavares is the competition's all-time leader in blocks with 450.

Tavares is fourth all-time in two-point accuracy at 68.2%.

Tavares ranks fourth all-time with 1,769 rebounds. Felipe Reyes is third with 1,799 rebounds.

Tavares ranks third all-time with 665 offensive rebounds. Felipe Reyes is second with 705.

Sergio Llull has made 426 EuroLeague appearances, the most all-time.

Llull is the all-time leader in three-point shots made with 662.

Llull ranks fifth all-time in scoring with 4,071 points. Juan Carlos Navarro is fourth with 4,152.

Llull is sixth all-time with 1,430 assists. Milos Teodosic of Crvena Zvezda is fifth with 1,468 and counting.

Facundo Campazzo is in 13th place all-time with 1,024 assists. Shane Larkin of Anadolu Efes Istanbul is 12th with 1,063 and counting.

Llull ranks 12th all-time with 711 free throws made. Tornike Shengelia of Virtus Bologna is 11th with 736 and counting.

Llull ranks fifth all-time with a 2.7-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Facundo Campazzo ranks 10th all-time with a 2.6-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Dzanan Musa made 178 free throws during the 2022-23 season to set the all-time single-season EuroLeague record.

In a meeting between two of the five teams currently tied for eighth place, fading Zalgiris (10-9) will attempt to end a three-game losing streak with a visit from a reignited Real (10-9), which is looking for a fifth straight victory.

Game Facts: Zalgiris vs. Madrid

Zalgiris Kaunas v Real Madrid (2025-01-10T18:00:00.000Z)

\- Since the turn of the century, Zalgiris and Real Madrid have met 31 times with Real winning 25 times. The home team had won six straight games before Real edged Zalgiris 62-64 in Kaunas last April on a game-winner by Gabriel Deck.

\- Zalgiris beat Real in Madrid 83-92 in Round 15. The only previous time Zalgiris beat Real in Madrid this century was 86-93 in the regular-season finale in the 2018-19 season, a victory with which Zalgiris booked a ticket to the playoffs.

\- When Zalgiris trounced Real 68-47 in Kaunas in February 2022, it held Real to its fewest points ever in a EuroLeague game.

\- Real Madrid and Zalgiris faced each other in the 1989-90 Cup Winners' Cup semifinals. In the two-game total-points series, Real downed Zalgiris 93-80 in Game 1. Even though Zalgiris won Game 2 in Kaunas 89-77, Real won the series on point difference, 170-169.

\- Zalgiris's single-game club record for scoring by a player is 36 points, which Justin Dentmon set against Real Madrid on April 11, 2014. He also tied the club record with 7 three-pointers in that game.

\- The EuroLeague single-game record for free throws made by a player without a miss is 18, which Nikola Mirotic set with Real against Zalgiris in March 2013.

\- Zalgiris guard Sylvain Francisco and Real center Serge Ibaka were teammates at FC Bayern Munich last season.

\- Real's Dzanan Musa was a teammate of Zalgiris big man Bryant Dunston at Anadolu Efes Istanbul during the 2020-21 season.

\- Real point guard Facundo Campazzo made a career-high 5 three-pointers in a 90-93 road win over Zalgiris Kaunas in November 2020.

\- Zalgiris guard Lukas Lekavicius dished a career-high 10 assists in a 95-82 loss against Real in Madrid in November 2021.

\- The last time these two teams played in Kaunas, Zalgiris big man Brady Manek collected a personal-best 3 steals in a home loss last April.

\- Zalgiris big man Bryant Dunston scored a career-high 21 points playing for Olympiacos Piraeus against Real in April 2014.

\- Dunston set a career-high with 4 steals playing for Anadolu Efes Istanbul in Game 4 of the 2021 playoff series against Real.

\- Real swingman Mario Hezonja grabbed a career-high 4 steals for FC Barcelona against Zalgiris in January 2015.

\- Zalgiris big man Alen Smailagic had a career-best 3 blocks playing for Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade against Real Madrid in Game 5 of the 2023 EuroLeague Playoffs.

Game Notes: Zalgiris vs. Madrid

The French team needs to take better care of the ball after committing 21 turnovers in [last week’s loss to Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/mirotic-leday-help-milan-snap-losing-streak-with-win-at-asvel-66-75/) – 13 of those coming from backcourt stars [Nando De Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nando-de-colo/002100/) and [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/). ASVEL will hope that important big man [Joffrey Lauvergne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joffrey-lauvergne/004194/), who poured in 20 points in [a 97-82 win over Efes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/asvel-rallies-to-blow-past-efes-97-82/) earlier this season, is fit enough to return after three games out. Efes was gridlocked in [last week’s derby loss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-downs-efes-in-rivalry-series-matchup-84-76/) to Fenerbahce and needs to create better looks on the perimeter after only making 6 triples in that game, with three of those netted by [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/).

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul

 

**Streaks**

Shane Larkin has at least 1 steal in four of his last five games.

Larkin has made at least 1 three-point shot in four of his last five games.

Rodrigue Beaubois has at least 1 steal in five of his last six games.

Jordan Nwora has made at least 1 three-pointer in five straight games.

Elijah Bryant has at least 1 steal in eight of his last nine games.

Vincent Poirier has multiple offensive rebounds in four straight games.

 

**Season rankings**

Shane Larkin ranks fifth in assists with 5.5 per game.

Darius Thompson ranks 10th in assists with 4.9 per game.

Elijah Bryant is tied for seventh in steals with 1.2 per game.

Vincent Poirier ranks third in blocks with 1.3 per game.

Dan Oturu ranks ninth in blocks with 1.0 per game.

Oturu ranks sixth in two-point shooting at 71.3%.

Rodrigue Beaubois ranks seventh in three-point shooting at 47.9%.

Ercan Osmani ranks ninth in three-point shooting at 47.1%.

Efes leads the league in blocks with 3.9 per game.

Efes's defense has held opponents to 52.4% two-point shooting, the third lowest in the league.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Larkin is ranked 11th all-time in scoring with 3,412 points. Georgios Printezis is 10th with 3,599 points.

Shane Larkin is in eighth place all-time in three-pointers made with 522. Monaco's Mike James is seventh with 566 and counting.

Rodrigue Beaubois is in 10th place all-time in three-pointers made with 491. Vassilis Spanoulis is ninth with 518.

Beaubois is tied with Vasilije Micic in 21st place in career scoring with 3,007 points. He needs 22 points to catch Felipe Reyes for 20th on the all-time charts.

Vincent Poirier ranks ninth all-time in blocks with 198. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is eighth all-time with 216 and counting.

Poirier is in 13th place all-time with 431 offensive rebounds for his career. Ioannis Bourousis is 12th all-time with 439.

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

 

**Streaks**

Theo Maledon has scored at least 10 points in 13 straight and 18 of his last 19 games.

Maledon has scored 17 points or more in 11 straight games.

Maledon has made at least 1 three-pointer in 12 straight games.

Maledon has made multiple three-pointers in 10 of his last 11 games.

Maledon has posted a PIR of 24 or more in 10 of his last 11 games.

Maledon has posted a double-digit PIR in 11 straight games.

Maledon has had at least 1 steal in five straight games.

Maledon has made 16 consecutive free throws.

Joffrey Lauvergne has PIRs of 11 or more in seven of his last eight games. 

Nando De Colo has made at least 1 three-point shot in 10 of his last 11 games.

De Colo has made 11 consecutive free throws.

De Colo has posted PIRs in double figures in five straight games.

Melvin Ajinca has made at least 1 three-pointer in five of his last six games.

 

**Season rankings**

Theo Maledon ranks third in average index rating with 22.8 per game.

Maledon ranks fifth in scoring with 18.7 points per game.

Neal Sako ranks sixth in rebounding with 6.4 per game.

Andre Roberson ranks 10th in rebounding with 5.7 per game.

Sako ranks fourth in offensive rebounding with 2.6 per game.

Shaquille Harrison is tied for ninth in steals with 1.2 per game.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Nando De Colo is the all-time leader in free-throw accuracy at 93.0%.

De Colo is the all-time leader in free throws made with 1,135.

De Colo is the all-time leader in PIR with 5,256 index rating points.

De Colo is in second place all-time in scoring with 4,673 points. Mike James leads the all-time charts with 4,899 points and counting.

De Colo ranks sixth all-time in two-point shots made with 1,046. Mike James is fifth with 1,066 and counting.

De Colo is in fifth place all-time in steals with 351. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is fourth with 363 steals and counting.

De Colo ranks 10th all-time in assists with 1,136. Dimitris Diamantidis is ninth with 1,255.

De Colo ranks 12th all-time with 482 career three-pointers made. Kostas Sloukas of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens is 11th with 484 and counting.

Tarik Black ranks 14th all-time in two-point accuracy at 64.8%.

In Friday's opening tip-off, a pair of teams on the fringes of the playoff places go head to head as ASVEL (8-11) travels to Efes (10-9).

Game Facts: Efes vs. ASVEL

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-01-10T17:30:00.000Z)

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast co-host Frankie Sachs steps in for Javier Gancedo this week to offer some tips for your fantasy teams

Fantasy tips, Round 14: Timing is everything

Timing is everything in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge. If you can predict when a player is about to take off… Or when a superstar is about to have a clunker, it can make the difference between being a fantasy hero and a fantasy zero. This week, I have selected five players who seem poised to put up nice numbers in Round 14, each for different reasons. If they fit into your team, consider yourself lucky!  

 

[**Sam Dekker, Joventut Badalona (13.0 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/)

An All-EuroCup selection two seasons ago, Sam Dekker has yet to put together a monster effort since joining Joventut midseason. At least not in the EuroCup. Over his last three games in the Spanish League, he has averaged 21.7 points with 5 three-pointers and 6.7 rebounds per game. That translates to an average PIR of 26. With Joventut battling to reach the postseason, this could be Dekker’s time to shine.

 

[**Xavier Castaneda, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (11.4 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/xavier-castaneda/013266/)

Well rested and facing a team he torched for 23 points earlier this season, Castaneda is a player to consider seriously. There is little downside; Castaneda has scored in double figures in every game this season, is averaging a PIR of 14.2 and his worst PIR was 6 back in early October. With a pretty safe floor and a high ceiling for the matchup against Lietkabelis, Castaneda may be a player to target.

Xavier Castaneda

[**Nick Johnson, Trel Sopot (10.6 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nick-johnson/007426/)

Trefl has made a few roster changes recently and Johnson has become the team’s playmaker. In that role, he has seen his assists rise in each game he has played, peaking at 10 last week. Johnson has averaged 9.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.5 steals for a PIR of 17.0 over his last two games while not shooting well. If his shots fall in the up-tempo contest against Wolves this week, it could be a monster game.

Nick Johnson

[**Vassilis Toliopoulos, Aris Midea Thessaloniki (10.4 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/vassilis-toliopoulos/004292/)

Toliopoulos returned from injury last week and struggled a bit, but that’s why now is the time to buy him! As recently as Round 10, he was worth 11.1 credits. Between the few games he sat out and last week’s 1 PIR performance, his price has dropped. Toliopoulos already went for 10 points and 5 assists (and a PIR of 13) on Saturday against Turkish Airlines EuroLeague power Olympiacos Piraeus in the Greek League and could be due for a nice performance at Cedevita on Wednesday.

 

[**Davide Moretti, Umana Reyer Venice (7.2 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/davide-moretti/005404/)

Reyer heads to Hamburg to face the team that has allowed the most points in the competition thus far and that could make it the right time to bet on a player with a hot hand. Moretti set season-highs last week with 15 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting in the win over Valencia Basket and he is averaging a PIR of 11.3 over his last three games. For just 7.2 credits, Moretti could net a handsome return.

\- When ASVEL beat Efes 97-82 in Round 12, it was ASVEL's third victory -and by the largest margin - over Efes in their 13 head-to-head games this century.

\- ASVEL beat Efes in Istanbul to take their quarterfinal series en route to the team's first and only EuroLeague Final Four in 1997.

\- Efes beat ASVEL 68-66 in their third and final quarterfinal game on the way to making the first Final Four appearance by any Turkish club in 2000.

\- Shane Larkin made history in January 2020 as the first player with four consecutive MVP of the Round honors. His third MVP in that stretch saw Larkin shine with 29 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds for a performance index rating of 45 in a 101-74 home win over ASVEL.

\- In that same game, ASVEL point guard Theo Maledon dished a career-high 10 assists.

\- Larkin set Efes's single-game club record with a career-best 14 free throws made in an 84-90 road win over ASVEL in November 2019.

\- Larkin grabbed a career-high 4 steals in a 78-72 win over ASVEL in February 2022.

\- ASVEL guard Nando De Colo and Efes guard Rodrigue Beaubois started their careers with Cholet Basket and played together from 2006 to 2009. They led their team to Leaders Cup titles in 2007 and 2008.

\- Nando De Colo was the MVP for Top 16 Round 3 in the 2014-15 season after leading CSKA Moscow to a 69-78 triumph at Efes with 22 points on 12-of-13 free-throw shooting for a PIR of 34.

\- ASVEL center Tarik Black was a teammate of Efes guard Elijah Bryant at Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv during the 2019-20 season.

\- Big men Joffrey Lauvergne of ASVEL and Vincent Poirier of Efes have been teammates on the French national team.

\- Efes guard Darius Thompson earned MVP of the Round honors in Round 33 in the 2022-23 season when he led Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz to a 120-100 win over ASVEL. He had 23 points and 12 assists for a PIR of 36.

In Friday's opening tip-off, a pair of teams on the fringes of the playoff places go head to head as ASVEL (8-11) travels to Efes (10-9). 

Game Notes: Efes vs. ASVEL

Fantasy tips, Round 20: Time to gamble? 

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge have to re-evaluate their lineups every week based on who’s hot, who’s not and who won’t be there. It can be a gamble, however. Team dynamics change, the player expected to fill in for an injured teammate could change rotations. Of course, foul trouble can wreak havoc. For the five recommendations I am offering here, each has significant upside, but there is always some risk. At least three of them play on Turn 1, which minimizes that risk. For the record, two of them are on my team.

 

[**Sylvain Francisco, Zalgiris Kaunas (12.5 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/)

Both of Francisco’s top two scoring games have come in the last three rounds – and in the other he dished a career-high 9 assists to go with 15 points. Now a regular in the Zalgiris Kaunas starting lineup, Franscisco has benefitted from the backcourt partnership with Lonnie Walker and taken advantage to post big numbers. He came up big (17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) earlier this season against Real Madrid, the team Zalgiris will host this week.   

 

[**Omer Yurtseven, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (10.3 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/omer-yurtseven/005353/)

There was always going to be a question about who will benefit the most – fantasy-wise – from the injury to Mathias Lessort. Wenyen Gabriel was a main candidate after he came from Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, but last week Yurtseven staked his claim as the MVP of the Round in a rout of Virtus Segafredo Bologna. The Turkish center played nearly 28 minutes, made 13 of 16 shots and posted a PIR of 34. To put that in perspective, his PIR in the previous six games combined was exactly half of that. If you believe in Yurtseven, buy him now. His price already rose 1.1 credits from his Round 19 outburst. And if you are a sceptic, at least he plays in Turn 1.

Mouhamet Diouf highlights, Rounds 1-19 of the 2024-25 season

Mouhamet Diouf highlights

[**Mouhamet Diouf, Virtus Segafredo Bologna (7.3 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mouhamet-diouf/013374/) 

With the announcement that Ante Zizic will miss time with an elbow injury, the door is wide open for Mouhamet Diouf, who has posted three consecutive games with double-digit PIRs. Diouf is the only other natural center on the Virtus roster and the 23-year-old has made 66.7% of his shots and 72.9% of his free throws. The only downside is that he plays on Turn 2, so if Diouf doesn’t produce, there is no swapping him out. But he could be a very valuable fantasy asset.

 

[**Tarik Biberovic, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (6.0 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tarik-biberovic/006961/)

Coming off a career-best 5 three-pointers made in the derby, Biberovic has his confidence back. And that is all you need for a shooter who has played more than 20 minutes in seven of his last eight games. In what promises to be a fast-paced high-scoring game against ALBA Berlin, the gamble on Biberovic in Turn 1 is one that could pay off nicely.

Elias Rapieque highlights, Rounds 1-19, 2024-25 season

Elias Rapieque highlights

[**Elias Rapieque, ALBA Berlin (4.5 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elias-rapieque/011631/)

Those who listen to the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast know that I am a big believer in finding guys for the end of the bench with upside, even if it’s just getting a few extra credits. Rapieque fits that bill after posting a PIR of 16 in 21 minutes last week against AS Monaco. What I liked most about his line is the 7 rebounds and 4 fouls drawn. If Louis Olinde remains sidelined this week, the opportunity is there for Rapieque to contribute a nice line in Turn 1 against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul for just 4.5 credits.  

The Greens have won four straight behind a potent offense which has reached triple figures in three of those triumphs, most recently netting [a season-high 111 points](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-excels-on-offense-to-beat-virtus-111-90/) to destroy Virtus last week. The depth of options available to [Ergin Ataman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/ataman-ergin/) was shown by the previously under-performing [Omer Yurtseven](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/omer-yurtseven/005353/) leading the way with 27 points in that rout and Partizan will need to repeat the excellence at both ends of the floor that resulted in last week’s [23-points triumph over Maccabi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/rampant-partizan-blows-away-maccabi-98-75/), featuring another strong performance from in-form shooter [Sterling Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sterling-brown/012720/) (21 points) along with 8 assists for key playmaker [Carlik Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carlik-jones/013369/).

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

 

**Streaks**

Kendrick Nunn has scored at least 10 points in 24 straight and 39 of his last 40 games.

Nunn has made at least 1 three-point shot in 24 straight games; he has made at least 4 threes in four straight games.

Nunn has had a double-digit PIR in 23 of his last 24 games; He has a PIR of at least 20 in six of his last seven games.

Nunn has made 19 consecutive free throws.

Kostas Sloukas has at least 1 steal in 10 of his last 11 games.

Sloukas has made 35 consecutive free throws.

Jerian Grant has made 17 consecutive free throws.

Lorenzo Brown has made 12 consecutive free throws.

Mathias Lessort has pulled down at least 5 rebounds in 11 straight and 23 of his last 24 games.

Lessort has had a PIR of 10 or more in 25 of his last 26 games.

 

**Season rankings**

Kendrick Nunn leads the league in scoring with 20.9 points per game.

Mathias Lessort ranks sixth in average index rating with 20.5 per game.

Nunn ranks seventh in average index rating with 19.9 per game.

Nunn leads the league in three-pointers made with 3.2 per game.

Lessort ranks fourth in two-point shooting at 74.1%.

Lessort ranks second in rebounding with 7.1 per game.

Lessort ranks third in offensive rebounding with 2.8 per game.

Wenyen Gabriel ranks ninth in offensive rebounding with 2.2 per game.

Gabriel ranks second in blocks with 1.4 per game.

Panathinaikos leads the league in average PIR with 105.5 per game.

Panathinaikos ranks second in scoring with 87.3 points per game.

Panathinaikos leads the league in three-point shooting at 39.9%.

Panathinaikos ranks second in two-point shooting at 59.3%.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Kostas Sloukas is in third place all-time with 406 games played.

Sloukas ranks third all-time with 1,787 assists. Sergio Rodriguez is second with 1,874.

Sloukas is in fifth place all-time with 948 free throws made. Felipe Reyes is fourth with 967.

Sloukas is eighth all-time with 3,848 career points. Nikola Mirotic of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan is seventh with 3,886 and counting. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is sixth with 4,008 and counting.

Sloukas is ranked fourth all-time with 4,799 index rating points. Mike James of AS Monaco is third with 5,043 and counting.

Sloukas ranks 16th all-time in free-throw accuracy at 89.0%.

With his next steal, Sloukas will tie James Gist and Adam Hanga for 20th place on the all-time charts with 252 career steals.

Marius Grigonis ranks eighth all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.6%.

Grigonis needs 4 steals to reach 100 for his career.

Jerian Grant is the all-time leader with a 3.1-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

 

**Streaks**

Tyrique Jones has pulled down at least 5 rebounds in six of his last seven games.

Tyrique Jones has scored at least 12 points in six of his last seven games.

Tyrique Jones has PIRs of at least 14 in seven straight games.

Sterling Brown has made at least 1 three-point shot in seven straight and 10 of his last 11 games.

Brown has made at least 3 three-pointers in six of his last seven games.

Brown has scored in double figures in six of his last seven games.

Isaac Bonga has at least 1 steal in four of his last five games.

Duane Washington has scored at least 10 points in five straight games.

Washington has made at least 1 three-point shot in five straight games.

Washington has made 9 consecutive free throws.

Carlik Jones has at least 1 steal in eight of his last nine games.

Carlik Jones has had at least 5 assists in four of his last five games.

 

**Season rankings**

Tyrique Jones ranks ninth in rebounding with 5.9 per game.

Tyrique Jones ranks fifth in offensive rebounding with 2.6 per game.

Carlik Jones ranks ninth in assists with 5.1 per game.

Aleksej Pokusevski ranks fourth in blocks with 1.3 per game.

Partizan has committed the third-fewest turnovers with 11.0 per game.

Partizan has allowed the third-fewest points, 80.9 per game.

Partizan forces 13.0 turnovers, the third-most in the league.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Brandon Davies needs 2 steals to reach 200 for his career.

Davies needs 19 rebounds to reach 1,000 for his career.

Iffe Lundberg needs 11 steals to reach 100 for his career.

The legendary Zeljko Obradovic will make his latest return to Athens by attempting to lead ambitious Partizan (9-10) past in-form reigning champ Panathinaikos (12-7). 

Game Facts: Panathinaikos vs. Partizan

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2025-01-09T19:15:00.000Z)

\- The home team has won each of the last four games between these two teams, including Partizan's 91-73 win in Round 14.

\- Panathinaikos center Mathias Lessort became a fan favorite with Partizan fans during the season and a half he played for the team. In the 2022-23 campaign, he helped Partizan reach the EuroLeague Playoffs while earning All-EuroLeague First Team honors.

\- Panathinaikos forward Ioannis Papapetrou also played for Partizan during the 2022-23 season.

\- Zeljko Obradovic cemented his status as a coaching legend during his 13 seasons with Panathinaikos. During that time, he led the Greens to five EuroLeague titles, 11 Greek League championships and seven Greek Cups.

\- Panathinaikos point guard Kostas Sloukas played under Coach Obradovic at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul for five seasons, from 2015 to 2020. They reached four EuroLeague Final Fours together and won the 2017 EuroLeague championship.

\- Panathinaikos center Omer Yurtseven played under current Partizan head coach Zeljko Obradovic at Fenerbahce during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

\- Lessort and Partizan playmaker Frank Ntilikina have been teammates on the French national team; they won silver medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics and bronze medals at the 2019 Basketball World Cup.

\- Panathinaikos guard Marius Grigonis was a teammate of Partizan's Iffe Lundberg at CSKA Moscow during the 2021-22 season.

\- Panathinaikos playmaker Jerian Grant and Partizan center Tyrique Jones played at Turk Telekom Ankara in the 2022-23 season. Together they reached the 2023 EuroCup Finals and Turkish League finals.

\- Partizan's Tyrique Jones earned MVP of the Round honors after leading Anadolu Efes Istanbul to a 71-68 win over Panathinaikos in Round 12 last season, as he had a career-high 22 points, plus 13 rebounds, for a career-best PIR of 36.

\- Partizan playmaker Carlik Jones and Panathinaikos center Wenyen Gabriel have been teammates on the South Sudan national team.

\- In a road loss against Partizan in November of the 2023-24 season, Panathinaikos forward Konstantinos Mitoglou recorded a career-high 4 steals.

\- Partizan guard Iffe Lundberg dished a career-high 8 assists while playing for Virtus Segafredo Bologna in an 88-85 overtime loss in Athens in November 2022.