The Games of week 15:

Panathinaikos vs EA7 Milano

Panathinaikos came back to OAKA carrying the emotional weight of the derby loss, and the idea was simple. Reset, reassert, move on. Milano arrived with a different agenda altogether. They were already up 1 0 in the season series and, despite missing Shavon Shields and Leandro Bolmaro, clearly believed this was a game they could control.

Giuseppe Poeta leaned into size right away, starting Ricci, Leday and Booker, while Ergin Ataman countered by putting Grant back in the starting five and tasking him with the Armoni Brooks assignment. Panathinaikos looked more versatile offensively than in recent outings, running cleaner sets and spreading responsibility. Milano, meanwhile, went hunting inside, especially after switches, trying to punish with Booker and Leday. It stayed tight, physical and messy in the right ways, with offensive rebounds everywhere. Seven of them in the quarter alone. Panathinaikos edged it 20 15, but nothing felt settled.

The second quarter was defined by momentum swings and whistles for time outs. Panathinaikos opened with a 5 0 run, Poeta stopped it. Milano answered with their own 5 0 burst in just 37 seconds, and now it was Ataman calling everyone over. This pattern repeated. Panathinaikos found mismatches in pick and roll, punished late rotations and briefly pushed the lead to double digits. Milano responded again, closing the half with another run to keep it at five. The game never breathed. It just jolted. Turnovers piled up, 17 combined in the half, and neither side ever fully grabbed control.

Milano came out of the locker room sharp and decisive. Seven unanswered points forced an early Ataman time out, and while an excellent ATO produced a Cedi Osman three, that shot represented three of the five Panathinaikos points over a six minute stretch. The Milano defense had shifted gears. More active, fewer mistakes, better discipline. The game tilted only when Ataman leaned into Yurtseven, whose impact as a roller sparked a 6 0 run and briefly flipped the lead again. Milano absorbed it. Lorenzo Brown took over the quarter, scoring eight and handing out four assists, and by the time the horn sounded the Italians were back in front 61 58.

The fourth quarter followed the same script, only louder. Milano opened with a 5 0 run fueled by defense and two Panathinaikos turnovers in the first minute. This is where experience matters, and Kostas Sloukas reminded everyone why. He authored a personal run, dragged the deficit down to three and forced Poeta into another huddle. Milano adjusted by leaning hard into Mannion and Nebo, a pairing that gave Panathinaikos real problems. Mannion made plays on both ends, including drawing two straight offensive fouls, while Nebo kept finishing.

Panathinaikos struggled badly in the half court. Turnovers, missed shots, no clean answers. Even the idea of isolating Ricci went nowhere, as he held up just fine. Then came the decisive stretch. Armoni Brooks hit back to back threes, the lead ballooned into double digits with just over two minutes left, and the air left the building. Sloukas found a lane for a layup out of the final time out, but Lorenzo Brown delivered the dagger, a three right in front of Ataman, effectively ending the game. The numbers told the story. Seven turnovers and five made field goals for Panathinaikos in the quarter. One turnover and six of twelve from deep for Milano. Final score 87 74, season sweep complete.

Juancho Hernangomez answered his critics the best way possible, leading Panathinaikos with 17 points and seven rebounds. Sloukas added a steady 13 and 10 assists. Kendrick Nunn had an off night, limited to 10 points with five turnovers. For Milano, Armoni Brooks was the engine again with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists. Lorenzo Brown chipped in 17 and five assists in what felt like a quiet revenge game, and Josh Nebo added 16 and seven.

Milano did not win this game with flash. They won it with control, adjustments and discipline, especially when it mattered most.

Crvena Zvezda vs Valencia

Belgrade delivered exactly what this matchup promised: fast, physical, and high-octane from the opening tip. Valencia arrived in full control of their identity: full-court pressure, relentless ball pressure, and a tempo that forced Crvena Zvezda’s guards into mistakes. Early on, Motiejunas provided a calming presence, scoring four quick points and bullying Neal Sako inside. But when Valencia started punishing the Serbians in pick-and-rolls, Obradovic went small, slotting Semi Ojeleye at the five and switching everything. Against a team like Valencia, that’s a dangerous experiment. Jean Montero went on a 5-0 personal run, the lead ballooned to ten, and a time-out barely slowed the onslaught. Zvezda closed the first quarter in the red, 34-20.

The second quarter gave a glimmer of hope for the home team. Zvezda scored the first four points, but Valencia’s intensity never wavered. Even as baskets fell for the Serbians, the visitors continued to press, force turnovers, and attack in transition. After the media time-out, Montero wreaked havoc again, and a 9-2 Valencia run pushed the lead to 17, forcing Obradovic into another time-out. Valencia ended the half in command at 54-37, capitalizing on five Zvezda turnovers in the quarter alone.

The third quarter started with Zvezda on a mission. They scored the first 13 points and held Valencia scoreless for over two minutes. Badio finally ended the drought from deep, sparking a 9-0 run that brought the lead back into double digits. Zvezda countered with a 6-0 burst of their own, largely thanks to Chima Moneke and Jordan Nwora, who combined for 23 of the team’s 27 third-quarter points. But Valencia landed the final punch, scoring the last nine points of the frame to keep the lead steady in double digits. Notably, Valencia committed as many turnovers in this quarter (4) as they had in the entire first half, a sign of the pressure Zvezda finally applied.

The fourth quarter began slow, with only three points scored in the first two minutes. But Valencia quickly regained rhythm, opening on a 9-3 run to extend the lead to 19 and force another Zvezda time-out. After that, the Red and White found some baskets, but Valencia’s in-sync offense controlled the pace, trading points efficiently and never letting the deficit shrink. The final score: 106-89 in favor of the visitors.

Crvena Zvezda’s 13 turnovers, eight of which led to Valencia steals and fast-break points, ultimately defined the game. Four Zvezda players scored in double digits, with Nwora leading the way at 22. Motiejunas, despite a strong start, played only five minutes. Valencia’s balance was stark: five players in double figures, with Jean Montero leading all scorers at 25 points and adding four steals, a perfect microcosm of why Valencia’s system thrives: pressure, pace, and unselfish, opportunistic offense.

This was a game where preparation met identity. Valencia executed theirs to near perfection; Zvezda struggled to adapt. In a league this tight, details like turnovers and pace can’t be ignored, and tonight they weren’t.

Fenerbahce vs Olympiacos

In a matchup that felt like a chess game at times, Fenerbahce used versatility, size, and intensity to grind down Olympiacos. Without Milutinov on the floor, Hall stepped up inside, scoring nine points in the first half, but the real story was Fenerbahce’s defensive approach. They switched everything, stayed just on the right side of the foul limit, and forced Olympiacos into uncomfortable positions. The Greek side struggled to find rhythm, particularly from deep, shooting just 11 percent in the first half, while Fener’s first three-pointer didn’t come until Melli hit a tough step-back that salvaged a possession and sent the Turkish arena into a frenzy.

Fenerbahçe’s offensive identity early in the game was less about the three-point line and more about creating high-quality opportunities through movement and spacing. THT led the charge, scoring in multiple ways and finishing the first half in double digits despite his team’s cold start from deep, going 0-for-13. Olympiacos’ second unit allowed Fenerbahçe to cut the deficit to just two possessions after trailing by almost double digits, highlighting the contrast in coaching philosophies. Coach Sarunas praised Olympiacos’ aggression and control, while Fenerbahçe’s coach emphasized the need to find pace to prevent stagnation against Olympiacos’ switches.

The third quarter was where Fener pulled away. They made six threes compared to Olympiacos’ one, exploiting defensive lapses and creating easier, rhythm-based shots. Olympiacos, meanwhile, became more isolation-heavy, a problem when their roster lacks creators like THT or Baldwin to consistently generate offense. By the end of the quarter, Fener had taken a slight lead heading into the fourth.

In the final ten minutes, Fenerbahçe pressed the gas. They attacked in transition after defensive stops, forcing Olympiacos to chase the game at a faster pace than they were prepared for. Brandon Boston made a difference, scoring, creating, and crashing the boards. To seal the game, Coach Sarunas ran an impressive set play from his playbook that led to an and-one on a Spanish-style pick-and-roll designed to engage the help-side defense. Boston’s energy and versatility turned what could have been a comfortable win into a statement about Fenerbahçe’s depth.

Baldwin orchestrated the offense like a seasoned veteran, finishing with seventeen points, eleven assists, and two steals. He has evolved into a two-way force, capable of carrying primary defensive assignments and creating efficiently on offense. Boston’s performance was equally eye-catching, though consistency remains the question mark. Sarunas’ touch as a coach also showed, subbing Boston out late to let the arena recognize his impact, a move that could pay dividends for the young player’s confidence.

Fenerbahce’s combination of defensive pressure, depth, and aggressive transition play was the defining factor. Olympiacos had to fight for every point, but the Turkish team’s size and rotation allowed them to maintain the intensity for forty minutes, a luxury few teams can match in Europe.

Monaco vs Valencia

This one had all the ingredients of a classic European battle. Monaco came in with four straight wins, Valencia with three, and both teams had rhythm, depth, and star power on the floor. From the opening tip, the game was a test of patience, pace, and execution.

Valencia pressed full court, switching aggressively on every pick and roll, with Darius Thompson glued to Okobo. Monaco, anticipating the pressure, tried to get back quickly after each basket, but early on the Spanish spacing overwhelmed them. Thompson scored seven of Valencia’s first nine points, mostly in transition, with one half-court three breaking the pattern. Monaco struggled with ball control and turnovers, and Valencia capitalized, racing out to an 11-0 run.

Spanoulis called a timeout, urging Monaco to push the pace, and the adjustments worked. Mirotic knocked down back-to-back threes to cut the deficit to six, and Monaco started to exploit pick-and-roll advantages, particularly through Hayes in the short roll. Valencia, meanwhile, shot poorly from deep early, only hitting three of nine in the first quarter.

The middle quarters turned messy. Both teams rushed shots, but Valencia’s turnovers piled up while Monaco took advantage with better defenders on the court and small-ball lineups that allowed them to control the tempo. Monaco built a double-digit lead, though Valencia never truly surrendered. They clawed back with size and intensity, trying to counter Monaco’s aggression, and at the end of the third quarter, Monaco still led, but Valencia’s resilience kept the scoreboard close enough to suggest a fight.

The fourth quarter, however, belonged to Nemanja Nedović. Trailing by six, he went on a scoring clinic, hitting consecutive threes to push the lead to nine, then a layup to make it eleven, and another three immediately after. In a span of a few possessions, Nedović scored 11 straight points, all while Valencia’s hopes for a comeback withered. His 11-2 run gave Monaco a 15-point cushion and effectively sealed the game with over seven minutes still to play.

From there, the final minutes were just clock management, intense but settled. Valencia had fought and pressured, but the second quarter’s chaos and Monaco’s early intensity had done the damage. Nedović’s fourth-quarter explosion ensured the Monegasques left with the win, turning what was a competitive game into a decisive statement.

Valencia’s turnovers were the story of the night, especially in crunch moments, while Monaco’s ability to capitalize and control the pace turned the tide. It was a perfect example of how effort, adjustment, and star execution, in this case Nedović, can tip a tight game in EuroLeague.

 

Key Performances of the Past Week:

Andreas Obst reminded everyone why he’s one of the most dangerous scorers in Europe. Bayern had been sliding, but Obst’s 37-point explosion versus Baskonia snapped them right out of it. Seven of eleven from deep, relentless movement, and the kind of scoring versatility that makes defenses chase shadows, this was the kind of game where Obst just reminds you he’s often too good for the EuroLeague.

Jean Montero gets an honorable mention for a performance equally electric in its context. The Dominican guard torched Crvena Zvezda for 25 points in only 20 minutes, missing a single shot inside the arc and hitting three of eight from deep. Timing was everything. He opened with a solo 5-0 run to put Valencia in double digits and then repeatedly stifled every run Crvena Zvezda tried to mount. Defensively, Montero was a certified bandit, picking pockets and snatching passes out of the air, finishing with four steals. In those 20 minutes, he controlled the rhythm on both ends of the floor.

And then there’s Nemanja Nedović, who reminded everyone of his T-Mac-like flare. Eleven straight points to extinguish Valencia’s hopes, finishing with 16 efficient points, three assists, and three steals. The scoring burst wasn’t just about numbers, it was about timing and intimidation, showing EuroLeague fans exactly how dangerous Nedović can be when he’s in that zone.

 

Standings Watch:

Crvena Zvezda’s last ten games read like a cautionary tale: three wins, seven losses, and a slide into dangerous territory. The Serbians are now perched on the final Play-In spot, tied with Milano, who for the moment are staring from the outside in. The big question is whether Zvezda can halt this skid or if they’ll continue sliding down the table. Every possession counts for the Red and Whites in the stretch run.

Below the playoff line, little has changed. The struggling teams remain mired at the bottom, and barring a sudden surge, their climb looks long and uncertain. Up top, the pecking order is holding: Hapoel sits at the summit, Valencia, Barça, and Monaco close behind, and with Hapoel having a game in hand versus Asvel on March 3, the top of the table could tighten even further. The middle and top of the EuroLeague are still moving steadily, while the fight to avoid the bottom looks like a marathon more than a sprint.

 

Week 16 Games to Watch:

EA7 Milano vs Crvena Zvezda

Two teams tied in the standings, but sitting on different sides of the Play-In line. That alone changes the stakes. Milano comes in with momentum, winners of their last two games including an impressive road performance against Panathinaikos. Crvena Zvezda, meanwhile, has won just three of their last ten and dropped the last two, so the pressure is palpable.

These teams are almost textbook contrasts. Milano leans on their offense, flowing through pick-and-rolls, spacing, and a mix of guards and wings who can create in a pinch. Zvezda is the other side of the spectrum: defense first, tough on the ball, willing to gamble and make every possession uncomfortable. The real intrigue will be whether Milano can crack that defense or if Zvezda’s stops dictate the rhythm.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid

The Spanish classic lands in Madrid, with Barça sitting fourth in the table and Real in sixth. Every possession here is about pride, league positioning, and revenge from past clashes. Last EuroLeague matchup, Madrid won thanks in part to Lyles’ huge night. On the domestic front, Pascual’s Barcelona already found a win, which sets up a balance of power heading into this one.

Barça is still waiting for Clyburn’s return, and that absence could be decisive, especially against Madrid’s size and versatility. Expect a tight, chess-like game with adjustments on every possession. These aren’t teams content to run and gun; every mismatch will be probed, every rotation tested.

Fenerbahçe vs Valencia

After El Clásico, this is the matchup that could define the round: two top-four teams, one winner, one loser. Both play elite defense: top-five in the league, but the contrast in style couldn’t be sharper. Valencia thrives in transition, supersonic in pace and ball movement, while Fenerbahçe prefers to slow it down, grind possessions, and let their defense dictate the flow.

Coaching will be key here. Every adjustment, every matchup tweak, every small decision could swing the game. If Valencia can push the tempo against a team that wants to control the clock, they might force cracks. If Fener can control pace and impose their defensive will, Valencia’s speed advantage may never matter. This is the kind of game where small edges compound into a huge result.

 

What’s at Stake:

For Fenerbahçe, the Bonzie Colson injury is more than a bump in the road. The Notre Dame alum is out three to six weeks with a patellar tendon strain, and that absence limits Sarunas Jasikevicius’ rotation flexibility. Colson isn’t just a three who can punish smaller defenders, he’s a small-ball four who stretches the floor, sets screens, and gives the team a different dimension. Now Biberovic is the only player who can fill that role, and it’s a completely different profile. Fenerbahçe can survive, but the absence could cost them home-court advantage in the Playoffs, or in a worst-case scenario, tilt a tight series the wrong way.

Meanwhile, over in Athens, Ergin Ataman was being Ataman. He put his job on the line publicly: if Panathinaikos doesn’t win either the EuroLeague or the Greek League, he’s out. It’s classic Ataman, part bravado, part psychological edge, but it’s also a statement of faith in his roster. PAO has the budget, the talent, and the expectations, so the bar is set sky-high. The Greek League caveat? That’s just smart insurance. But make no mistake: he’s betting the big one on his team delivering when it matters most.

 

Biggest News Around EuroLeague

Monte Morris’ arrival in Europe was one of the more intriguing stories of the season, and he was just getting comfortable before running into bad luck. The American guard got injured against Bayern and faces up to four weeks on the sidelines, which is a huge blow for his team’s backcourt rhythm and offensive flow.

In other Greek news, Kostas Antetokounmpo has left Olympiacos, a move that, frankly, feels inevitable given his track record with Greek contenders and will join Aris, making his EuroCup debut. That’s a notable addition for Aris, giving them size, athleticism, and upside in a competition where every edge counts.

Finally, James Nunnally, a former Partizan player, is signing with AEK Athens for the remainder of the season. That’s another player with EuroLeague experience entering the Greek League, adding firepower and depth to a league that’s quickly becoming unmissable. Between these moves, the Greek domestic scene is shaping up to be a must-watch for anyone following European basketball.

 

This article was written by the European Hoops team: Tiago Cordeiro, João Caeiro and André Lemos. Make sure you give us a follow on Twitter at @EthosEuroleague!

The Games of week 14:

Barcelona vs Monaco

The final EuroLeague stop before the calendar flipped gave us Barcelona versus Monaco, a matchup loaded with creators, counters, and coaching nuance. It delivered, just not in the way Barcelona would have hoped.

Monaco looked at Barcelona’s starting five and immediately settled on a clear idea. Spam the pick and roll. Force Willy Hernangomez into space. Make him defend actions again and again. Barcelona, meanwhile, wanted the opposite, involving Willy early on the block to establish some interior rhythm. He scored once, and those two points were the team’s only points over the first four minutes. Monaco’s doubles on Kevin Punter isolations did their job, disrupting Barcelona’s timing, but the visitors did not exactly light up the scoreboard either. At the first media timeout, with 4:40 left in the quarter, the score sat at a very EuroLeague looking 7 to 5.

That is when the game tilted. Out of the timeout, Vassilis Spanoulis’ group rattled off a 6 to 0 run, forcing Xavi Pascual to stop things again. This time the momentum did not swing back. Kevarrius Hayes became a problem as a roller and on the offensive glass, and even though Dario Brizuela chipped in five late points, Barcelona limped to the end of the quarter down 22 to 13.

The second quarter followed a familiar script. Monaco’s defense kept pushing Barcelona deep into the shot clock, while on the other end Nikola Mirotic went to work, scoring seven points in under two minutes. For Barcelona, Brizuela again played the rescuer, scoring the first six points of the quarter just to keep the lights on. A brief 5 to 0 Barcelona run trimmed the deficit to ten, which Spanoulis immediately shut down with a timeout. Monaco answered with a quick 6 to 2 burst, flipped the timeout pressure back onto Pascual, and then kept extending the lead. A Mike James floater pushed the margin to 21, the largest of the night, before Barcelona squeezed in four late points to reach halftime down 47 to 30.

The numbers told a blunt story. Barcelona shot 3 of 14 from three in the first half, turned it over eight times, and recorded only five assists. Kevin Punter had two points. Monaco, meanwhile, had 12 assists against four turnovers, and Mirotic and Hayes combined for 18 points off the bench.

The third quarter teased the idea of a comeback. Brizuela stayed hot, scoring with variety and confidence, dragging Barcelona into its best stretch of the game. Then came the moment that froze everything. A controversial Mike James four point play sparked two technical fouls on Pascual, an ejection, and a six point swing with the clock not moving. Barcelona technically won the quarter 23 to 22, but the emotional air went out of the building. The gap stayed stubbornly at sixteen.

Early in the fourth, Barcelona tried a new look, sliding Parra to the three to hunt interior mismatches. It did not open the floor. Over five minutes passed with the quarter tied 6 to 6. After the media timeout, Barcelona finally surged, ripping off a 7 to 0 run and briefly hinting at drama. Hayes shut the door. An offensive rebound, a foul drawn immediately after, two free throws. The run stopped. The momentum vanished. The rest was clock management and resignation.

Barcelona finished the night 6 of 27 from three. Punter managed just two field goals and eight points. Brizuela was excellent, pouring in 25, with Miles Norris the only other player to reach double figures. Monaco did it together. Four players scored in double digits, and Hayes embodied the difference with 15 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.

On the last EuroLeague night of the year, Monaco looked organized, physical, and composed. Barcelona fought, but the math, the matchups, and the margins never really tilted back their way.

Hapoel vs Zalgiris

Hapoel versus Zalgiris felt like one of those games where the balance of control quietly but decisively shifted over forty minutes, even if the scoreboard stayed tight early.

Hapoel hit the floor sharper. Zalgiris needed time to adjust, picking up early foul trouble and coughing the ball up three times in the opening stretch. The home team’s defenders were flying around, and Zalgiris looked uncomfortable just trying to organize its offense. That early chaos turned into a solid cushion for Hapoel, a double digit lead forming late in the first quarter. The visitors stayed within striking distance largely thanks to Sylvain Francisco, whose ability to get to the line kept the deficit to seven after ten minutes. Moses Wright, though, was a non factor in the opening quarter, and without his interior presence Zalgiris lacked its usual physical anchor.

The second quarter brought cleaner solutions for the visitors. Zalgiris went hunting mismatches, most notably finding Ulanovas inside against Tyler Ennis, which produced two quality looks and trimmed the gap to three. Jonathan Motley responded by reminding everyone why he is such a matchup problem, scoring from everywhere on the floor, including two clean threes without a miss, pushing Hapoel back up by nine midway through the period. Then the texture of the game flipped. Hapoel stopped winning the rebounding battle, and Zalgiris punished them with four offensive rebounds in the quarter, turning those into easier second chance points inside. By halftime, the Israeli side’s early control had evaporated into a slim one point lead.

After the break, Zalgiris finally grabbed the wheel. Moses Wright drilled a three at the 24 second buzzer to give the Lithuanians their first lead of the night, a small moment that felt like a psychological shift. Maodo Lo followed with intent, scoring five straight points to push the margin to seven. From there, Zalgiris never really loosened its grip. Hapoel’s defense grew passive, Wright shook off his slow start, and suddenly the paint belonged to him. Offensive rebounds turned into put backs, penetrations turned into lobs, and a 10 to 0 run stretched the lead to eleven.

Elijah Bryant arrived late, scoring eight straight points in the final three minutes, but until then he had been largely quiet and not aggressively looking for his shot. Zalgiris stayed calm through it all, using time, valuing possessions, and avoiding mistakes. Even the emotional moments tilted their way, with coach Itoudis drawing a technical foul after erupting toward Blakeney for missing a defensive assignment and failing to press full court.

In the end, the difference was simple and decisive. Hapoel could not compete on the glass, and once Zalgiris settled into its switching defense, the home team struggled to generate clean looks. The Lithuanian ball handlers controlled the tempo, scored when they needed to, and methodically turned an uncomfortable start into a composed road win.

Panathinaikos vs Olympiacos

There are few ways to open a calendar year louder than Panathinaikos versus Olympiacos at OAKA, and this one wasted no time reminding everyone why this derby lives in its own category.

Ergin Ataman opened with a curveball, sliding Mitoglou into the starting five over Juancho, but the early script belonged entirely to Olympiacos. The Red and Whites came out sharp, decisive, and physical, ripping off a 5-0 start and immediately hunting Dorsey on the block against the smaller TJ Shorts. That matchup paid off in cash. Dorsey poured in eight early points and Olympiacos surged to a 20 5 advantage midway through the quarter. Panathinaikos had five points total at that stage, all from Faried, and Ataman had no choice but to burn a timeout.

The Greens steadied the damage, throwing different looks at Olympiacos including a 2-3 zone on baseline out of bounds situations after getting carved up by earlier sets. It slowed the bleeding but did not change the tone. Thirteen points in a quarter is simply not survivable at this level, especially when you go 0 for 6 from three and lose the rebounding battle that badly. Panathinaikos finished the quarter with only three defensive rebounds, while Olympiacos grabbed five offensive boards on the way to a 28-13 lead.

The second quarter flipped the game on its head. Panathinaikos raised its intensity, picking up full court after dead balls, and once the first three dropped, OAKA turned volcanic. The Greens fed off it, ripping off a 16-6 run as Olympiacos went cold. Bartzokas resisted the timeout, instead sending Vezenkov back into the fire. The former MVP answered with a massive corner three, but the momentum had already shifted. Kendrick Nunn took over the quarter, scoring 14 points and dragging Panathinaikos to a 30-15 period. The shooting gap told the story. Panathinaikos went 5 for 8 from deep, Olympiacos just 2 for 8. At halftime, it was all square.

The third quarter was messy. Turnovers, offensive fouls, rushed shots, the kind of chaos that often defines derbies when nerves start to creep in. Even in the mess, Vezenkov’s off ball movement stayed surgical, constantly stressing the Panathinaikos defense. Ataman tried different looks, including Mitoglou at the five, but Nunn continued to deliver through pick and roll and isolation. No one could land a real punch. Sixty one apiece heading into the fourth, everything still up for grabs.

Olympiacos struck first in the final quarter, scoring the first six points and nine of the first eleven to open a seven point gap after a huge defensive play from Monte Morris led to Fournier free throws. Panathinaikos answered again with a 7-0 run, refusing to let the game slip. Then Faried checked back in, and Olympiacos smelled blood. Milutinov went to work on the block, while Fournier and Dorsey pulled Faried into pick and roll actions, opening a nine point lead by relentlessly targeting him. Once again, Panathinaikos pushed back, trimming the gap to four and getting a break when Morris missed two free throws.

The break did not fully materialize. Panathinaikos failed to secure the defensive rebound, sent Fournier back to the line, and he split the pair. Nunn responded by drawing a foul on a three and calmly sinking all three free throws to make it a one possession game. Then Dorsey closed the door. He forced the switch onto Faried, drove baseline, slipped under the rim, and rose up for a cold blooded mid range jumper over the contest. Four point game, forty seconds left. Panathinaikos had no answer the rest of the way, and a lone Walkup free throw sealed an 87-82 Olympiacos win.

Nunn was brilliant again with 32 points, five rebounds, and six assists, but this derby tilted red. Dorsey and Vezenkov combined for 45 points, Milutinov chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds, and his plus minus of plus 19 told the deeper story. In a game of runs, adjustments, and emotional swings, Olympiacos executed just a little cleaner when it mattered most.

Key Performances of the Past Week:

Sometimes the performance of the week does not announce itself with fireworks or a box score that slaps you in the face. Sometimes it lives in the margins, in the connective tissue of a game, in the stuff that only really pops if you are watching the details. That was Kevarrius Hayes against Barcelona. He came off the bench and somehow left his fingerprints everywhere. The line reads 15 points, five rebounds, two blocks, two steals, but that is just the receipt, not the story. Hayes was brutally efficient, feasting on Barcelona’s hedge coverage by punishing it in the short roll and even stepping into a midrange jumper when the defense gave it to him. Four of his five rebounds came on the offensive glass, and one of those effectively ended the game, snuffing out the last bit of momentum Barcelona was trying to build. Defensively he was locked in on every possession, protecting the rim, never missing a rotation, getting hands into passing lanes, and holding his own when switched onto guards by staying in front and funneling them exactly where the help was waiting. This was a game plan performance, the kind coaches love and teammates feel. Spanoulis should be delighted, and Hayes deserves his flowers.

At some point we probably need to stop treating Weiler Babb’s season like a quiet side note and start calling it what it is. He has been very good, even if the wins have not followed, and that part is not on him. He has embraced the jack of all trades role and taken a clear step forward compared to previous years. Against Crvena Zvezda, he poured in 17 points while still doing elite work on the other end, racking up five steals and six rebounds. The 28 PIR jumps off the page, especially considering it came in a big loss, and that almost makes it more telling. Babb is doing his job, and then some.

Chima Moneke did not lead his team in scoring against Efes, but this was still a performance that filled every corner of the stat sheet and mattered in the context of the moment. He finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and a plus minus of 20, providing exactly the kind of all around impact his team needed to halt bad momentum and bounce back. It was physical, energetic, and efficient, the kind of night where the influence extends well beyond who took the most shots.

 

Standings Watch:

The top of the table just got a little messier, and that is usually where the fun starts. Hapoel slipped this week and now find themselves sharing the lead with a very familiar enemy in Valencia Basket, both sitting at 13 and 6. That pairing carries some real baggage. These two teams crossed paths in last year’s EuroCup semi finals, a series Hapoel decided with a road win in a tense Game 3 that spilled into ugly moments afterward and led to this season’s matchup being played behind closed doors, a decision that still feels baffling. Fast forward a few months and here they are, not just contenders but the two best teams in the EuroLeague by record. The question now is simple and brutal. Can they actually keep this level, week after week, with everyone circling their names on the schedule.

Right behind them lurks Fenerbahçe, and the defending champions look very much like themselves again. They sit at 12 and 6 with a game in hand, and the early season noise has been washed away by results. Nine wins in the last ten games will do that. After a poor start, they have steadied, tightened, and climbed right back into the top tier, exactly where you would expect them to be when things start to matter.

At the other end of the standings, there is congestion but not much optimism. Paris, Baskonia, Efes, Bayern, ASVEL and Partizan are all tied at 6 and 15, and while that is technically one big group, the math is not kind. Five wins separate them from the play in, and at this point it feels fair to say that none of these teams are about to do the impossible. Never say never, that is always true, but consistency has been missing for too long. Until one of them proves otherwise and strings together real basketball over multiple weeks, they are looking up at better teams who will fight with everything they have to keep that door shut.

 

Week 15 Games to Watch:

Fenerbahçe vs Olympiacos

We are technically in the second round, but this matchup feels brand new. Fenerbahçe and Olympiacos are finally seeing each other for the first time after the game in Piraeus was postponed, and the timing could not be better.

Both teams arrive in a very real groove. Fenerbahçe has dropped just one game in their last ten, quietly rebuilding the aura of a defending champion that knows how to win ugly and win late. Olympiacos counters with a three game winning streak of their own, capped by a derby win on the road that always adds a little extra fuel to the tank.

This is the classic contrast of styles you circle on the calendar. The best offense in the EuroLeague against the best defense. Olympiacos wants rhythm, flow, and execution. Fenerbahçe wants to squeeze the air out of possessions and force you to solve problems late in the clock. This one feels destined to be decided on the smallest details, one missed rotation, one extra offensive rebound, one possession that swings the balance.

Crvena Zvezda vs Valencia

This is the other game you should not skip. Crvena Zvezda is coming off a win last round, and that changes the temperature immediately. Confidence matters, and suddenly things get more interesting.

Expect pace, but maybe not points. Somewhat surprisingly, this could turn into a not so great scoring game, with both teams sitting in the top four in defensive rating. Valencia is likely to switch everything, putting pressure on Red Star’s ball handlers and daring them to beat a set defense.

For Crvena Zvezda, the answer cannot be isolation only. The ball has to move. If it sticks, Valencia will be comfortable all night. Both teams are elite on the glass, and that battle could decide everything. Extra possessions tend to matter even more when points are hard to come by.

Valencia vs Monaco

This may not be a historical rivalry, but purely in terms of basketball quality, it is impossible to look away. Valencia and Monaco play some of the most exciting basketball in Europe, even if they get there in very different ways.

Both teams are strong on both sides of the ball and, more importantly, are very clear about who they are. There is no confusion, no drifting. Every possession has intent. That alone makes this a must watch.

The chess match on the bench adds another layer. Pedro Martinez against Vassilis Spanoulis is the kind of coaching duel where every small decision matters, a timeout here, a substitution there, a coverage tweak that flips the game. This is the kind of matchup that can turn on one adjustment you do not notice until it is already too late.

 

What’s at Stake:

We all heard what Ergin Ataman said after the derby, and he did not mince words. The praise for Sasha Vezenkov was loud and deserved, but it came packaged with sharp criticism of his own power forwards, Juancho Hernangomez and Kostantinous Mitoglou. According to Ataman, Vezenkov showed what a real power forward looks like while Panathinaikos, in his words, played without one. That is the kind of quote that lingers.

On the surface, the box score seems to back him up. Juancho and Mitoglou combined for zero points. That number jumps off the page until you dig a little deeper. Each of them took just three shots. Among players who saw the floor, only Shorts and Kalaitzakis attempted fewer. Watching the game, it was clear that Panathinaikos never made a real effort to get either of them involved offensively. They struggled, yes, but it is hard to place the full weight of the outcome on players who were never put in a position to find rhythm.

The “like every derby” part of Ataman’s quote feels more like emotional punctuation than strict truth. Over the last five EuroLeague derbies, Juancho is averaging nine points, six rebounds and 14.5 efficiency while shooting efficiently from two, from three, and perfect at the line. Mitoglou is at 10.5 points, six rebounds and 13 efficiency with similarly solid shooting splits. These are not star numbers, but they are reliable production for players who often split minutes and are rarely the focal point of the offense.

That context matters. Ataman is clearly trying to light a fire, to provoke a response. Coaches do this all the time. The risk is that it works best when the criticism sits on a firm base of truth. Here, the line between motivation and misdirection is thin. Whether this quote galvanizes the locker room or quietly backfires is something only the next games will answer.

Meanwhile, Olympiacos moves forward with momentum and opportunity. After a huge win against their eternal rival, they now head to Istanbul with a chance to double down and silence critics by beating the defending champions. A win there would pull them level again and reshape the narrative in a hurry. The recent trends favor Fenerbahçe, nine wins in their last ten compared to six and four for Olympiacos, but derbies have a way of resetting confidence, and the Greek side is riding that emotional high.

The blueprint is already on tape. The Olympiacos frontcourt was decisive against Panathinaikos, exactly as Ataman pointed out, and it figures to be just as central against Fenerbahçe. On paper, Fener lacks size inside but compensates by being the best defensive team in the league on two point percentage. Something has to give. The tension between interior force and elite defensive discipline is where this game will likely be decided, and where all these words, critiques, and motivations will finally be tested on the floor.

 

Biggest News Around EuroLeague

Nando De Colo potentially returning to Fenerbahçe is one of those developments that feels bigger than a single transaction. It reads less like a nostalgic reunion and more like a calculated move that could unlock the season all over again. There is a familiar parallel here to last year’s Erick McCollum signing, a midseason adjustment that quietly recalibrated everything Fener wanted to be.

De Colo would not arrive as a savior in the dramatic sense, but as a stabilizer, and those are often more valuable. Veteran leadership matters in this league, especially deep into the season when games tilt on late possessions and emotional control. De Colo brings capable playmaking when things bog down, the ability to organize the offense without forcing it, and an efficient scoring boost that does not need volume to be effective. He knows when to pick his spots and when to simply make the right read.

There are, of course, limitations at this stage, particularly on the defensive end. But this is where roster context matters. Fenerbahçe is one of the best defensive teams in the league, and that allows you to be selective. You can hide certain deficiencies, protect matchups, and ask De Colo to give you what he still does at a high level rather than everything all at once.

 

This article was written by the European Hoops team: Tiago Cordeiro, João Caeiro and André Lemos. Make sure you give us a follow on Twitter at @EthosEuroleague!

The Games of week 13:

Fenerbahçe vs Barcelona

On Christmas Eve eve, Barcelona walked into Istanbul for what felt less like a regular-season game and more like a quiet, tense chess match against the defending champions. Every possession had intent. Every adjustment had a counter.

The game announced itself immediately. On the very first possession, Barcelona switched every single action Fenerbahçe ran, a look they never went back to for the rest of the night. It was a message as much as a tactic. The Turks struck first with the opening four points, but Barcelona answered with a 9-0 run that forced an early Saras timeout. Coming out of it, Xavi Pascual went to a 2-3 zone for just one possession, a deliberate nod to Fenerbahçe’s strength in ATO situations.

All of that early maneuvering produced a grinding first quarter. Defenses dictated terms, possessions stalled into 1×1 basketball, and the only things that cracked the stalemate were Fenerbahçe’s six offensive rebounds and two late Laprovittola turnovers. The locals edged it 17-13 after ten minutes.

The second quarter was about simplification. Fenerbahçe went straight at Willy Hernangomez. The Spanish big held up reasonably well, but Tarik Biberovic did the real damage. Run off the line, he punished Barcelona inside with eight straight points, pushing the lead to nine. For Barcelona, there was only one steady source of offense. Kevin Punter carried everything. Midway through the quarter he had 10 of the team’s 20 points, with Barcelona unable to find their bigs against the switching defense and forced into outside isolations.

Punter made it work. Almost by himself, he dragged Barcelona back with an 8-0 run to close the half. At the break, Fenerbahçe led by two, and the math told the story. Punter had 16 of Barcelona’s 33 points. No one else had more than four. For the defending champions, it was a two-headed offense, with Biberovic and Talen Horton-Tucker combining for 24 of their 35.

The third quarter belonged to adjustments. Jasikevicius made the clearest one of the night, doubling Punter in isolation and daring anyone else to beat them. Shooting from deep ticked up on both sides, but turnovers strangled the flow. After more than six minutes, the score sat at 11-9 for the quarter.

Barcelona briefly found daylight. A sharp ATO freed Dario Brizuela, and moments later his three put the Blaugrana back in front, forcing another Fenerbahçe timeout with 1:20 left. Saras got exactly what he wanted. A 5-2 close to the quarter ensured Fenerbahçe entered the fourth still ahead, 53-52.

Brizuela had been warming up, and he came out blazing. The Basque Mamba poured in 10 points in four minutes, pushing Barcelona to their largest lead of the night and forcing yet another stoppage. Fenerbahçe responded in familiar fashion, with Baldwin scoring out of a crisp ATO. The lead only flipped for good after back-to-back threes just outside the two-minute mark, a sequence that sent Pascual to the sideline for one last timeout.

Crunch time narrowed the game to its stars. Punter struck first, burying a corner three to put Barcelona up two. Wade Baldwin answered by forcing a switch onto Vesely and finishing at the rim. Punter drove again, collapsing the defense and dropping a perfect pass to Vesely, who was fouled but steady at the line. Barcelona back in front.

Baldwin wasn’t done. Fouled on a three-point attempt, he calmly knocked down all three free throws, giving Fenerbahçe a 72-71 lead. One possession left. The night distilled into its final matchup. Punter with the ball. Baldwin in front of him. Punter got into the paint, but when the shot went up, Baldwin was there to block it and seal the win.

The decisive margin came at the line. Barcelona attempted just four free throws all game. Fenerbahçe took 24. In a game defined by small edges, that was the biggest one of all.

Zalgiris vs Panathinaikos

Zalgiris and Panathinaikos turned their meeting into a game about pressure points, and for long stretches Zalgiris knew exactly where to press. From the opening minutes they switched every screen, daring Panathinaikos to adapt on the fly, and PAO never quite found a clean answer early. Kendrick Nunn and TJ Shorts were consistently pushed away from their left hand, funneled right into traffic, and Zalgiris made them uncomfortable possession after possession. The shooting told part of the story right away, with Zalgiris hitting three of five from deep in the first quarter, but the real damage came inside. Moses Wright controlled the glass, scored six points in the opening period, and made life difficult for Kenneth Faried, who simply could not match his presence.

Panathinaikos briefly found oxygen when Sylvain Francisco went to the bench, trimming the deficit to one possession, but Nigel Williams Goss and Maodo Lo answered immediately, steadying Zalgiris before any real momentum swing could take hold. PAO eventually raised its defensive intensity, and Omar Yurtseven became the lifeline. Six straight points from him sparked a run, and after a timeout from Ergin Ataman the Greeks adjusted by playing high low actions from the free throw line, punishing the switching defense with Yurtseven mismatches inside. That stretch helped them climb back after Zalgiris had built a double digit lead.

Still, Zalgiris responded like a team in control. With 3:40 left in the second quarter they were back up 14, outsmarting PAO offensively by consistently hunting the right shots and pounding the ball inside. On the other end Panathinaikos unraveled into poor decision after poor decision. Yurtseven’s perfect quarter, eight points without a miss, acted as a band aid more than a cure, masking deeper issues as Zalgiris’ backcourt carved them up. One on one defense failed, pick and roll coverage collapsed, and the roller was constantly free. Four lob finishes in the first half by Wright and Birutis underlined how easily Zalgiris guards were getting into the paint and delivering the ball. The halftime score sat at 50-40, and Yurtseven admitted afterward that the help side simply was not there, leading to too many uncontested dunks.

The second half initially followed the same script. Zalgiris continued to contain Nunn and kept slicing through PAO’s coverage, with Ataman openly pointing out the same issues during timeouts that never fully went away. Then Panathinaikos changed the tempo. Playing both top guards together sped everything up, and TJ Shorts in particular added a new dimension, pushing the pace, creating angles, and even impacting the game defensively. Coincidentally or not, the run came with Francisco on the bench, where despite scoring only three points he had been disruptive defensively earlier. Without a defensive specialist to slow Nunn, Panathinaikos surged. Three point shooting flipped the math, finishing the third quarter eight of fifteen from deep, and suddenly they were down just one with a minute left in the period.

The fourth quarter belonged to stars and lapses. Cedi Osman opened it with intent, scoring Panathinaikos’ first eight points and giving them their largest lead of the night at three. After an early timeout, Nunn took over, capitalizing on Zalgiris pick and roll mistakes that left him shooting in space. Two straight Zalgiris turnovers extended the lead to nine. From there the Lithuanian defense unraveled. Assignments were missed, rotations were late, and Panathinaikos’ best players walked into production. Zalgiris kept attacking inside but turnovers piled up, mistakes that had not been there in the first half, and the game slipped away.

Monaco vs Real Madrid

In Monaco, the story unfolded differently but ended with a similar theme of structure versus spurts. Walter Tavares opened the night with a chip on his shoulder, and for a moment it felt like a mismatch masquerading as a game. At one point in the first quarter he had nearly as many points as Monaco, finishing the period with 13 on six of seven shooting while grabbing six rebounds, four of them offensive. Monaco tried to push the pace, but offensively they were hanging on rather than dictating, and by the end of the first quarter they had already committed six turnovers.

Monaco steadied itself by leaning fully into defense. Hayes and Tarpey entered and immediately mattered, freeing Nedovic and Mirotic to focus on scoring while also holding their own defensively. With Walter and Campazzo on the bench, Monaco ripped off a 10-2 run. Madrid answered as soon as Walter returned, but still went into the break trailing by four. The underlying issue was clear. Against a good defense, Madrid’s lack of a system showed. They relied on isolations and mismatch hunting, often rushing into advantages and then settling. Monaco did some of the same, but with multiple ball handlers and real playmaking beyond one Campazzo, they could sustain it.

The third quarter tilted toward Monaco as Madrid allowed their scorers too much comfort. Okobo walked into back to back mid range shots with clean spacing, and Mike James followed from the same spot to push the lead to six. Monaco opened the fourth with an 11-5 run, and the difference was clear. Kevarrius Hayes mattered everywhere, switching onto guards, defending Walter, and adding pressure to every Madrid ball handler. Offensively, Mirotic arrived with force, scoring eight points by the middle of the quarter and igniting a 14-2 run.

Campazzo made it interesting late, drilling three after three and adding a layup scoring 14 consecutive fourth quarter points, but it came too late. Madrid simply did not have enough creation beyond him, and without a system to cover those gaps, the comeback stalled. When Monaco needed it, their defense was gold. Their ball handlers delivered, Okobo stepped up, and Mirotic and Nedovic closed the door in the fourth, sealing a win built on structure, balance, and timely execution.

Key Performances of the Past Week:

It is not often the best performance of the week comes wrapped in a loss, but this one demanded the exception. In a game loaded with backcourt talent, Facundo Campazzo still managed to shine the brightest in a 95-100 defeat to Monaco. The line alone pops, 28 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, three steals, a clean double double. Then you look closer and it gets louder. Only three missed shots all night. Brutal efficiency paired with total control.

Campazzo punished every switch Monaco offered and ran the pick and roll with absolute mastery, bending the defense until it cracked. This was not scoring for the sake of scoring. This was orchestration. His feel for space, timing, and angles evoked another small Argentinian wearing a rival shirt in a different sport. There was something Lionel Messi like in the way he sliced through the defense, scissor through wrapping paper clean and precise. The 10 assists were not simple reads. Several of those passes live only in the hands of players born with a special gift. It was a masterclass, even if the scoreboard did not cooperate. Maybe the recognition softens that blow.

McKinley Wright IV deserves his own paragraph for a different reason. He has been on a run, and this round was another data point. On a Dubai team navigating injuries, Wright has been the steady hand, the consistent leader. Against Milano he delivered 19 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and once again looked like the player keeping everything together. No fireworks, just reliability, possession after possession, and over this stretch that consistency matters.

Then there is Okobo against Madrid, a performance that did not need the loudest stat line to register. He scored from everywhere he wanted, and more importantly, when it mattered. When Mike James could not find his shot, Okobo stepped in, contributing on both ends and closing the door late. He ended the last scoring run, then hit the dagger with a floater that felt inevitable. Efficient from two at seven of eleven, one of three from deep, perfect from the line, finishing with 22 points. Sometimes the value is not in the volume but in the timing, and Okobo nailed the timing.

 

Standings Watch:

Four straight defeats have dropped Crvena Zvezda into the most uncomfortable real estate on the EuroLeague table, the middle of the Play In traffic jam where every result feels heavier than the last. The Serbians now sit at 10 and 8, tied with three other teams and clinging to a one win cushion over Milano and Dubai. That margin is thin enough to disappear in a single round. A trip to Istanbul to face Efes can be read two ways. It can be the game that resets their season and stops the slide, or it can be the kind of loss that nudges them to the outside looking in and turns urgency into pressure.

While that race tightens, Maccabi is quietly moving in the opposite direction. Sitting 14th does not usually raise eyebrows, but the context matters. Five straight wins have pushed them to an 8 and 10 record, and the arrow is pointing up. You can argue the schedule helped, with Valencia the only top tier opponent in that stretch. You can point out the comfort of playing at Maccabi. All fair. What is not debatable is the result. They are winning games, stacking confidence, and climbing the standings, which in this part of the season is the only currency that really counts.

 

Week 14 Games to Watch:

FC Barcelona vs AS Monaco

Another round brings another heavyweight meeting between a Spanish giant and AS Monaco, and this one checks every box before the ball is even tipped. When Kevin Punter, Elie Okobo, Darius Brizuela and Mike James share the same floor, you are guaranteed long stretches where defense becomes optional and self creation takes over. That is the kind of talent density that can flip a game in two possessions. On the sidelines it gets just as interesting, with Xavi Pascual and Vassilis Spanoulis treating every timeout like a problem to be solved. Expect counters, re counters and subtle tweaks that only show up if you are really watching. With both teams sitting in Playoff positions, this is not just about style points. It is about staying where you are as the year closes, and there is hardly a better way to do it.

Panathinaikos vs Olympiacos

Then there is Panathinaikos against Olympiacos, a fixture that barely needs an introduction. Passionate fans, elite talent, oversized personalities and two teams built to win now all collide in one of the loudest environments European basketball can offer. The guard matchup tilts the conversation early. Can Panathinaikos guards tilt the game with pace and shot making, or will Olympiacos find ways to slow them down and impose order. Inside, the question flips. Can Panathinaikos limit a frontcourt that has been dominant and physical all season. Every possession feels personal in this one, and that is exactly why it is unmissable.

Virtus vs Milano

Virtus against Milano does not carry the same headline weight, but it is a classic that rewards anyone who sticks around. Playing it in Bologna adds a layer that simply does not exist in Milano, giving the home side a little extra edge. Virtus will need their defense to travel if they want to compete properly, because offensively the numbers are close. Both teams are similarly rated in points per game and three point percentage, but Milano has more weapons at its disposal. Since Ettore Messina stepped aside, Milano’s offense has loosened up, less stagnant and more willing to flow. Add the fact that Milano leads the head to head 2 and 0 this season, and you get a matchup that quietly carries real weight beneath the surface.

 

What’s at Stake:

Cameron Payne showed up in the EuroLeague like someone who had been waiting for this moment. His debut had rhythm and confidence written all over it. Fifteen points, six assists, only three missed shots and all of it packed into just twenty four minutes. The reads were quick, the pace made sense and for long stretches he looked exactly like what Partizan has been missing at the point guard spot.

And yet, the losing streak stayed intact. That is the tension point here. Partizan desperately needed a true point guard and Payne clearly fills that void, bringing structure and creation to a team that has often looked disjointed. The question now is whether one steady hand can pull a group back into the Play In conversation or if the problems run deeper than lineup fixes. Belgrade has its answer at the one, but the standings do not care about potential. Either Payne’s impact starts translating into wins fast, or Partizan risks being defined by the bottom half of the table for the rest of the season.

 

Biggest News Around EuroLeague

Every EuroLeague season has that moment where a name drops and everyone pauses. This week, that name is Isaiah Thomas.

The former NBA All Star has not been quiet about still wanting to play at a high level. His last stop was the 24 25 G League season, where he did exactly what elite scorers do when given the ball and space. Twenty nine point one points per game, five point five assists, and a clear reminder that, at least offensively, he can absolutely still hoop.

Then came the tweet. On the morning of the 26th, Thomas floated the idea of hopping into the EuroLeague, and suddenly the questions started stacking up. Can a five foot eight point guard survive defensively in this competition. Can his scoring gravity bend games enough to justify the matchup hunting that would inevitably follow. Or is this more about visibility, a marketing signing designed to move jerseys and headlines rather than rotations and standings.

The truth probably lives somewhere in between. EuroLeague teams do not hand out minutes lightly, but they also do not ignore shot creation, especially from a player who has been vocal about wanting this challenge. Whether this turns into a real signing or just another Isaiah Thomas moment designed to stay in the conversation, we should not have to wait long to find out.

 

This article was written by the European Hoops team: Tiago Cordeiro, João Caeiro and André Lemos. Make sure you give us a follow on Twitter at @EthosEuroleague!