The EuroLeague is chaos wrapped in poetry, a weekly collision of rhythm, genius and grit. You don’t just watch it; you feel it. You feel it in the roar of Kaunas, in the flash of Musa’s crossover, in the snap of Bertans’ release that cuts through the silence like a blade. Week 1 didn’t simply begin a season, it reminded everyone why this league is basketball’s purest theatre. Every possession mattered, every rotation had purpose and every newcomer arrived with a statement carved in fire.
Dubai BC didn’t tiptoe into the EuroLeague; they crashed through the front door and left their footprints on Partizan’s floor. Bertans caught flames, Musa closed like a surgeon and the message was unmistakable, this isn’t a novelty act, it’s a team built to belong. Then there was Hapoel, playing at the speed of adrenaline, turning Barcelona’s defense into a blur of red and regret. Blakeney’s buckets came with exclamation marks, Micic’s orchestration with a conductor’s precision. Every sequence screamed identity.
And just when you thought you could exhale, Zalgiris reminded everyone what substance looks like. Discipline, shooting, resilience, they turned Fenerbahce and Monaco into stepping stones and looked like a team that’s been ready for this fight all summer. Through one week, the stories are already unfolding: new blood shaking old empires, veterans finding new gears, and the sense that every game this season might carry playoff weight. This is EuroLeague basketball: unpredictable, electric, and completely, irresistibly alive.
Games of the Past Week in the Euroleague:
Bertans Ignites, Musa Closes and the Newcomers Announce Themselves in the EuroLeague
For a first-ever EuroLeague game, Dubai BC looked like a team that had been here before. From the opening tip, they came out blazing, hitting seven of their first eight shots and running up an 18–10 lead midway through the first quarter. Davis Bertans, the Latvian laser, couldn’t miss: 11 points on 3-of-3 from deep in that span, the kind of heat check that instantly sets a tone.
Partizan, meanwhile, looked like they’d shown up to a gunfight with only one weapon, Jabari Parker. The former NBA forward carried the Serbian attack early with 9 of their 18 points, but it was a lonely battle. Zeljko Obradovic’s switching defense, usually a problem-solver, had no answers for Dubai’s crisp ball movement. The newcomers racked up seven assists on nine made field goals in the first ten minutes and were a perfect 6-of-6 from deep, taking the opening quarter 28–18 and making a loud statement: this wasn’t beginner’s luck; this was structure, confidence, and precision.
The second quarter brought course correction. Obradovic sat Jabari to open the frame and went inside to Tyrique Jones, who delivered four quick points. More importantly, Partizan’s defense finally started to bite. Dubai drifted from their flowing sets into isolation and mismatch hunting, exactly what Obradovic wanted. That shift slowed their offense, generated transition chances for Partizan, and opened the door for them to crash the offensive glass. Nine second-chance opportunities later, Dubai’s once-sizzling rhythm cooled and the halftime lead was trimmed to seven.
Then came what felt like a turning point. Partizan opened the third quarter on a 6–0 run, capped by Shake Milton’s free throws for the team’s first and only lead at 47–48. Golemac immediately called timeout, a subtle moment that may end up defining Dubai’s early EuroLeague identity. Out of that timeout, Dubai flipped the switch and never looked back.
A 21–8 run followed, fueled by the Musa–Kabengele two-man game and a deliberate uptick in pace. Musa orchestrated, Kabengele finished, and the defense? Relentless. Dubai’s half-court pressure completely stifled Partizan, who had struggled all game to generate clean looks but now looked entirely out of rhythm.
By the fourth, it was all about maintaining control and Dubai did it like veterans. A 10–2 burst in just over three minutes pushed the lead beyond reach, the only blemish being an unsportsmanlike foul on Prepelic that gifted Bonga two free throws. Obradovic threw in a wild card, enter Aleksej Pokusevski for his first minutes and the gamble paid temporary dividends: back-to-back threes and a flicker of hope as Partizan pressed full-court, mixing man-to-man and 1-2-2 looks to force turnovers. They got as close as ten, but never closer.
Musa’s calm from the line sealed it and when Wright IV splashed a dagger triple with 44 seconds remaining, the story was written: Dubai 87, Partizan 76.
Musa and Kabengele were excellent in their respective roles, one commanding the tempo, the other anchoring both ends, but it was Davis Bertans who swung the game’s geometry. His shooting opened everything up, forcing defensive overreactions and bending the floor in Dubai’s favor. Twenty points, five triples on seven attempts, and four assists, a quintessential Bertans outing.
For Partizan, no one truly stood out, but Shake Milton deserves a quiet nod. Ten points, disciplined shot selection, and the kind of composed play that hints at a higher ceiling once he fully adapts to the Euro rhythm.
Dubai didn’t just win their first EuroLeague game, they announced their philosophy: movement, spacing, and poise. It’s early, but the message is clear. The new kids might not just belong here, they might be here to shake things up.
Hapoel’s Offensive Symphony Drowns Out Barcelona in a High-Octane Shootout
If EuroLeague debuts are about setting a tone, Hapoel’s message was loud, fast, and utterly fearless. From the opening tip, this one screamed track meet, both teams dropped 26 in the first quarter, but while the scoring was balanced, the control belonged to Hapoel. Their defensive strategy was deceptively sharp: Oturu’s high hedges blew up Barcelona’s pick-and-roll rhythm, while the backline tagging of Barça’s rolling bigs snuffed out their short-roll flow before it even started.
Micic’s return added another layer of composure. Five early points, smart pace control, and that familiar mix of mobility and vision that turns good possessions into great ones. He was dissecting Barcelona’s collapsing defense, forcing rotations, and making them pay whenever they overcommitted. And then there was Blakeney, coming off the bench like a cheat code nobody else in Europe seems to have. Instant offense, foul-drawing gravity, and the kind of microwave scoring that punishes even momentary lapses.
Barcelona, for their part, weren’t completely out of rhythm early. The threes were falling, enough to disguise their off-ball stagnation and Shengelia’s frustration trying to create with little movement around him. But the cracks were showing, every defensive over-help, every slow tag, every late closeout was being magnified by Hapoel’s crisp decision-making.
The second quarter, though, turned into a red wave. Hapoel opened on a 9–0 run in just two minutes, breaking open the tempo while Barça scrambled to respond by hammering the boards. But it was a losing battle of attrition. Hapoel’s plan to make Kevin Punter uncomfortable worked to perfection, 4-of-12 from the field and rarely in rhythm.
By halftime, Hapoel had 51 points and a rhythm that Barcelona couldn’t match. Barça’s defense kept collapsing to prevent easy rolls or straight-line drives, but Micic’s playmaking sliced through those traps. When the defense pinched in, Hapoel’s shooters punished them. When they stayed home, Micic danced in space.
Clyburn did everything he could to pull Barcelona back. This was vintage Clyburn, aggressive on both ends, hunting mismatches, cutting with purpose instead of standing idle as he sometimes did in his Efes days. But even that level of play couldn’t offset Hapoel’s collective firepower.
Blakeney was the dagger. Not just hitting shots, drawing them. Eleven free-throw attempts, eleven makes, many of them the kind that make defenders question whether to even contest. And defensively, he and Micic weren’t the liabilities skeptics feared, they held up, rotated, competed.
By the end, Barcelona’s hot shooting masked some issues, but Hapoel’s balance, energy, and tactical clarity told the real story. They didn’t just outscore Barça, they out-thought them, out-hustled them, and looked like a team built to make a lot of elite defenses feel the same kind of helpless.
Zalgiris Find Their Range and Hand Monaco Another Frustrating Loss
It took just one night in Kaunas for Zalgiris to rewrite their early-season narrative. A team that had been shooting a frigid 25% from deep in domestic play suddenly turned flamethrower. By the second quarter, they were 5-of-8 from three and Monaco looked dazed trying to process how quickly the game had flipped.
The tone was set by Zalgiris’ guards, steady, poised, and surgical. Nigel Williams-Goss orchestrated with the control of a seasoned maestro, his pick-and-roll chemistry with Laurynas Birutis slicing Monaco apart possession after possession. Monaco had no real counter; they couldn’t contain the ball, couldn’t defend the roll, and never found a defensive rhythm.
On the other side, Monaco’s offensive issues felt all too familiar. Their first made three-pointer came in the final minute of the second quarter, a painful déjà vu from last season’s perimeter woes. Worse, their body language told the story: Daniel Theis and Elie Okobo pointing fingers, visible frustration creeping into every miscommunication. The only consistent offense came through Theis’ pick-and-rolls, where his Gortat-style seals freed lanes for the guards, but beyond that, Monaco’s creators, Okobo, Strazel, and company, offered little.
The second half brought a spark, though it came almost entirely from one man. Nikola Mirotic flipped the switch, playing with purpose and urgency. He hunted shots, attacked mismatches, and single-handedly dragged Monaco back within striking distance. For a stretch, he and Theis carried the offense, combining to push Zalgiris onto their heels and into the corners.
But the Lithuanians didn’t panic. This is where experience mattered. The new additions to the roster showed composure that last year’s squad might not have had. The ball kept moving, the open threes kept falling, and Moses Wright’s relentless work on the offensive glass gave Zalgiris the easy points they needed to steady the ship.
In the closing minutes, Monaco’s defense, porous all night, finally cost them. Zalgiris executed, hit their shots, and closed the game with the kind of calm and structure that speaks to a mature team identity forming early in the season.
Zalgiris started hot and finished smarter. For Monaco, the shooting struggles and chemistry cracks remain unresolved, while Zalgiris looked every bit the composed, confident outfit their home crowd expects, one that can win even when the momentum briefly swings the other way.
Zalgiris Outlast Fenerbahce in a Tactical Grinder
From the opening tip, Zalgiris made it clear they weren’t just hosting, they were dictating. The Kaunas crowd fed off a deliberate defensive plan: full-court pressure on Fenerbahce’s ball-handlers, not to force turnovers but to throttle tempo. The payoff came quickly. A 9–2 run built on six early points from Nigel Williams-Goss set the tone. When Fenerbahce tried to punish smaller guards by posting up Sylvain Francisco, Zalgiris coolly morphed into a 2–3 zone, a neat little mid-possession shape-shift that threw the Turks off rhythm.
The first quarter was a shootout, but Zalgiris controlled the terms. They hit 8-of-9 from two, while Fener went just 6-of-15. That efficiency gap told the story of a 29–20 lead after ten minutes.
The second quarter flipped the pace entirely. Fenerbahce’s guards, Talen Horton-Tucker and Wade Baldwin IV in particular, started to find seams in Zalgiris’s drop coverage. They attacked the bigs, hit from mid-range, and slowly clawed back. But Fener still had a defensive leak they couldn’t plug: straight-line drives from Zalgiris’s guards to their strong hands. Even with the improved effort, they went into halftime still trailing by six.
Whatever Jasikevicius said in the locker room didn’t stick long enough. Less than a minute into the second half, Zalgiris opened with a 4–0 run, both buckets generated by Francisco collapsing the paint and bending the defense. Saras burned an early timeout. Then came the first major chess move: Melli checked in, and Fener shifted to a smaller, more versatile lineup. Masiulis countered by sliding Wright to the five, but that gambit backfired. Jasikevicius’s guards went straight at Wright in the pick-and-roll, forcing tough switches and exploiting mismatches.
Still, Zalgiris wouldn’t buckle. Francisco and Tubelis caught fire from deep, four threes between them, to stretch the lead to 14, their largest of the game.
But this is Fenerbahce. They don’t go quietly. Three consecutive turnovers from Brazdeikis cracked the door open, and Wade Baldwin IV blew it wide with a “big head mode” scoring surge that trimmed the deficit to five. The game tightened, possession by possession, until the final minute demanded execution over talent.
That’s where Zalgiris blinked less. On a critical possession, Francisco ran a pick-and-pop with Ulanovas. Both Fener defenders chased the Frenchman, forcing a desperate rotation from the weakside corner. Ulanovas swung the ball there instantly, and Arnas Butkevicius buried the corner three to break the tie with 46 seconds left, a classic EuroLeague extra-pass dagger.
Fenerbahce had their chances. Three opportunities to tie, three misses, and only after the third offensive rebound did they finally get two points from Jantunen under the rim. But when it came down to free throws, Williams-Goss was perfect. Two makes, a three-point cushion, and Melli’s final attempt to force overtime rimmed out.
Final: Zalgiris 86, Fenerbahce 83.
Williams-Goss and Francisco combined for 38 points, the dual engines of a balanced, poised Zalgiris attack. Their only blemish: a shaky 18-of-27 as a team from the line, an Achilles heel that nearly spoiled a statement win.
For Fenerbahce, it was the Wade Baldwin show and little else. His 36 points were electric, his aggression relentless, but the lack of secondary scoring and a cold shooting night from 3 (6/21), doomed any comeback hopes. In the end, Zalgiris’s full-court discipline, defensive adaptability, and timely shot-making proved just enough to fend off one of Europe’s giants.
Partizan Nearly Let a 16-Point Lead Slip Against Milano in a Nail-Biter
Partizan started this one looking like a team in midseason rhythm. Guards moving seamlessly, spacing disciplined, and Jabari Parker always free to score or create, anyone could shoot, anyone could make a play. Better than their showing against Dubai, this group understood floor spacing and ball movement, building an early 16-point lead that seemed comfortable.
But the familiar structural issues remained. Inside, Partizan’s impact was limited. Tyrique Jones was average on both ends, and Osetowsky provided solid but non-transformative backup. Simply put, they need a center who can do more than grab three rebounds in 20 minutes to complement their perimeter firepower.
Milano, by contrast, spent most of the first half in stagnation. Ball movement was minimal, and the offense flowed only when Shields ran Spanish pick-and-rolls. Still, hot shooting, 6-of-9 from three, kept them alive despite a sluggish start.
The third quarter saw Partizan extend the lead to 18, but then Milano turned up the aggression. They attacked on both ends, while Partizan eased off just enough to allow Guduric and Shields to heat up from deep. Suddenly, the gap shrank, tension grew, and the game teetered.
The finish was dramatic: Guduric had the last shot to snatch victory for Milano, a near miss that left Partizan with relief instead of a clean slate. The scare left a small stain on a game that had otherwise been dominated by their perimeter excellence.
In the end, both teams had reasons to feel hard done by. Milano worked harder in the second half, but in the EuroLeague, it’s not enough to play 20 minutes well, you need to sustain it. Partizan showed the talent and spacing to control games, but the inside deficiency and lapses in focus remind everyone why closing out a 16-point lead is rarely automatic at this level.
Real Madrid Grind Out a Key Win Over Olympiacos
Real Madrid survived an early storm from Olympiacos, a game that began with Kevin Dorsey rediscovering his EuroBasket form. The Olympiacos wing was electric, dropping 16 early points and pairing his scoring with Fournier’s perimeter shooting. Ball movement was crisp, and the early lead felt fully deserved.
Enter Real’s adjustment. Kramer was tasked with containing Dorsey, and as the doubles came, space opened up for others to shoot. The second unit, more athletic, mobile, and versatile, entered with Bruno as a switchable big, capable of attacking mismatches. Okeke and Kramer pushed the tempo and attacked gaps aggressively, and suddenly Olympiacos was uncomfortable, their early rhythm disrupted.
That said, size across the board remains a concern for Olympiacos. At times, Madrid ran Feliz, Hezonija, Abalde, Lyles and Tavares together, five wings and versatile forwards, while Olympiacos countered with three guards and Sasha at the four. That mismatch potential could haunt them long term.
Real exploited these mismatches brilliantly. Henzoja hunted the paint with aggression, and Madrid’s ball movement became a weapon. Set plays for Kramer, ghost screens, staggered actions, side switches, freed him for open looks and kept the defense scrambling.
Campazzo orchestrated like a true point guard: 0 turnovers in a team that has historically struggled with ball security. The combination of smarter play and increased shot quality led to Real shooting 10-of-24 from three, a significant upgrade over last season. The reason? They were searching for the right shots, moving the ball to create rhythm rather than forcing bad looks.
In the end, Madrid’s depth, movement, and tactical patience allowed them to weather Olympiacos’ early surge, neutralize Dorsey, and pull away without letting turnovers dictate the story. It was a blueprint in adjustment, spacing, and execution that shows why they remain a EuroLeague contender.
Key Performances of the Past Week:
Andreas Obst: A Masterclass in Shooting Against Crvena Zvezda
Andreas Obst’s 31-point explosion against Crvena Zvezda isn’t just a stat line, it’s a statement. A guard who spends most of his time off the ball, Obst has an almost gravitational pull that manipulates defenses, creating space not just for himself but for teammates. Against the Serbians, that gravity was on full display: 9-of-16 from three, each shot a mix of precision, timing, and intelligence.
The beauty of his game lies in its variety. Three of those threes came after off-ball screens, where his speed off the pick and quick footwork into shooting motion made him virtually unguardable. Another three were open spot-up opportunities, letting him get those looks is akin to inviting a flamethrower to light the paint. He even nailed PnR threes, demonstrating the ability to pull up off the dribble efficiently, a skill that doesn’t require wizardry, just smart footwork and quick release.
The final three? A handoff three, exploiting a defense that chose to go under on the hottest shooter in Bavaria. Every shot was a lesson in spacing, timing, and reading the defense. Watching Obst operate is watching a virtuoso at work: as effortless as a Van Gogh painting, as cinematic as a Spielberg film, as stirring as a Beethoven symphony. It’s not just shooting, it’s artistry, and it’s breathtaking.
In short, Obst didn’t just score; he orchestrated, punished defensive errors, and reminded everyone that elite shooting is as much about intelligence and timing as pure mechanics. Against Crvena Zvezda, he didn’t just play basketball, he composed it.
Facundo Campazzo: Calm, Controlled and Turning the Corner
Facundo Campazzo has long been a fascinating player to watch, brilliant, aggressive, but often turnover-prone. Under Chus Mateo, the deck was stacked against him: he had to create for the majority of the team, and the set plays rarely facilitated his strengths. The result was a lot of forced passes, risky drives, and unnecessary mistakes.
But the last two games? A different story. Only two turnovers combined, and a noticeable shift in decision-making. Campazzo has been calmer, more collected, and consistently making the right plays, even under pressure and with the referees in the mix. He’s not just managing possessions; he’s managing the game, choosing when to push, when to pass, and when to let the offense flow naturally.
It’s a subtle evolution, but an important one. When Campazzo is in this mode, disciplined, intelligent, and composed, Real Madrid’s offense feels sharper, more efficient, and far less dependent on heroics. For a player who thrives on creativity, learning to balance brilliance with control is exactly the kind of development that turns a great player into a truly elite one.
Standings Watch:
Zalgiris Leading the Early Pack, Crvena Zvezda Struggles Inside
Zalgiris has started the EuroLeague schedule like a team on a mission. Facing two Final Four contenders, last season’s finalists Monaco and Fenerbahce, they emerged victorious in both games and are now one of just three teams with a perfect 2-0 record, alongside Hapoel and Valencia. The Kaunas crew has been scorching from deep, shooting 43.5% from three, an eye-popping 11.5% above the league average through four games. Whether that efficiency is sustainable remains to be seen, but it’s been a key differentiator.
Equally impressive has been their late-game execution. With three elite point guards orchestrating the offense, Zalgiris has shown poise in crunch time. Nigel Williams-Goss, in particular, deserves a huge shoutout for his combination of calm, playmaking, and scoring in pressure moments, he’s been near flawless so far.
Meanwhile, Crvena Zvezda has shown cracks despite Nwora playing at a spectacular level reminiscent of Michael Jordan. The glaring issue? Size and interior support. Izundo, while active, commits too many defensive errors, and beyond him there’s little help inside. Ojeley has even been forced to play the five at times, never ideal. Screens aren’t being set effectively, and Izundo’s habit of switching every pick exacerbates the problem. When you’re short-handed in the center position, exposing your big on the perimeter is a dangerous gamble, and so far it’s been costly.
Early returns suggest that while Zalgiris is blending firepower, experience, and execution into wins, Crvena Zvezda’s lack of interior stability could define their season unless adjustments come quickly.
Games to Watch – Round 3:
Baskonia vs Panathinaikos: A EuroLeague Offensive Showcase in the Making
If you’re an offense junkie, this is the kind of game that makes your jaw drop. Baskonia, despite an 0-2 start, leads the EuroLeague in points per game. Scoring isn’t the problem here. Fast pace, unselfish ball movement, and a willingness to push every possession define the Basque identity. For fans, it’s a reunion with a team that wants to delight at every opportunity, but defense will need major upgrades if Baskonia wants to turn high-octane offense into wins.
Panathinaikos, on the other hand, offers elite offensive depth. They have two MVP-level guards in Nunn and Shorts, though the latter is still finding his rhythm with this squad. Cedi Osman and Juancho Hernangómez provide complementary firepower capable of swinging games, while Holmes, Lessort, and Yurtseven form arguably the EuroLeague’s strongest trio of centers.
When these two meet, expect pace, spacing, and constant movement. If you like offense and tempo, this is a must-watch game, high scoring, high stakes, and a chance to see some of Europe’s best creators and finishers go head-to-head. Defense? Maybe secondary. Entertainment? Guaranteed.
Partizan vs Efes: A High-Octane Guard Duel on the Horizon
When two heavy guard teams meet, sparks are guaranteed and Partizan vs Efes looks like it could be a scoring bonanza. Both squads have backcourts loaded with creators who can shoot, drive, and punish defensive lapses, so expect the pace to be fast and the points to pile up.
The key factor will likely be the battle on the glass. Partizan’s ability to control rebounds and limit second-chance opportunities could dictate how much Efes’ offensive firepower translates into scoreboard dominance. On paper, Efes still holds the edge in both depth and defensive cohesion, but if Partizan manages the boards and keeps their guards executing, they can make this a very tight, high-scoring contest.
In short: guard play sets the tempo, Efes sets the ceiling, but glass control may decide who comes out on top.
Barcelona vs Valencia: Spanish Clash in a Rematch
This isn’t just another game, it’s a rematch of the weekend’s Liga Endesa clash, with plenty on the line. Valencia comes in unbeaten in EuroLeague play, looking to pull off a 2-0 sweep over Barcelona in just five days. Meanwhile, the Catalans are aiming to avenge their domestic loss and carry forward the momentum from their recent win against Panathinaikos.
One key battle stands out: the offensive glass. Both teams rank at the very top of the EuroLeague in OReb%, and whoever dominates this area could very well dictate the outcome. Second-chance opportunities will be precious, and controlling the boards could create the extra possessions necessary to swing a tightly contested game.
Expect a fast, physical matchup with high stakes, momentum, morale, and mastery of the glass will likely determine which side emerges victorious in this Spanish showdown.
Olympiacos vs Dubai BC: Size, Switching, and a Clash of Mismatches
Olympiacos has shown so far that they aren’t elite in any single facet of the game. Dorsey and Fournier can mask some deficiencies with scoring and movement, but against a team like Dubai BC, those cracks could be exposed.
Dubai brings a tall, versatile lineup stretching from shooting guard to center, reminiscent of Madrid’s length and switching schemes. Davis Bertans has the potential to punish Sasha Vezenkov off the ball, while Musa can probe switches and create mismatches. Kabengele can slide onto Donta, though Milutinov presents a bigger challenge, but Dubai has multiple options to adjust.
In the end, expect a tactical chess match with switching, size advantages, and matchup adjustments at the forefront. It should be close, but with their depth, length and versatility, even without Avramovic, Dubai BC looks slightly favored to come out on top.
What’s at Stake:
Crvena Zvezda’s Playoff Push Faces Early Hurdles
Crvena Zvezda came into the season with high ambitions, signing key pieces to solidify a playoff berth. But an 0-2 start and a looming trip to the defending champions’ house have put the Red and Whites in a precarious position.
Injuries have only compounded the issues. Canaan tore his ACL before the season even began, and former NBA guard Devonte Graham has yet to make his debut, leaving the team light on creation in the backcourt. Yago dos Santos’ return should help, but it remains to be seen how quickly he can integrate and stabilize their guard play.
The frontcourt has its own set of problems. Rivero’s injury deepens the void at center, and mismatches inside have been exposed. On the defensive end, the numbers are grim: 137 Defensive Rating through just two games, a glaring vulnerability that undermines any offensive output.
Time is already ticking. The longer Zvezda delays addressing these holes, guard creation, interior defense, and overall defensive cohesion, the steeper the climb will become. This week may provide the first real chance to start turning the tide, but the clock is unforgiving, and early mistakes could define their playoff hopes.
Olympiacos Struggling Without a True Offensive Guard
Olympiacos has shown flashes, but one thing is clear: they’re missing a legitimate offensive guard. Ntiliktina helps, he’s better offensively than Walkup, but he’s not enough to carry playmaking and scoring responsibilities in crunch moments.
The gap is particularly visible against Spanish teams. In the closing stretches, the absence of a guard who can both create and score became glaring, leaving Olympiacos predictable and easier to defend. Until they address this, their offensive ceiling is capped, and late-game execution will remain a recurring challenge.
EuroLeague Headlines:
Montiejunas Joins Crvena Zvezda, Impact and Concerns
Crvena Zvezda made a notable addition this offseason, bringing in Donatas Montiejunas. On paper, he fills a clear void: a center who can match up against anyone, hold his ground in the post, and set effective screens. For a team that has struggled inside, Montiejunas immediately upgrades their interior versatility and offers a better option than what was previously available.
Comparisons to Rivero are favorable, yes, Domantas is the more skilled, assertive center, so that’s a tangible win for Crvena Zvezda. He’s not a vertical rim protector, but with Inzudo covering that role, Montiejunas’ profile complements the roster well. He brings upside as a post-up option and can improve their pick-and-roll execution, at least on the roll.
Concerns remain. His recent injury history raises questions about consistency and availability. Defensively, he doesn’t offer elite pick-and-roll coverage beyond drop coverage, which could leave Crvena Zvezda exposed against elite guards.
Overall, though, Montiejunas represents a meaningful upgrade inside and gives Crvena Zvezda a tool to stabilize both offense and spacing. If he stays healthy, he could be the missing puzzle piece to shore up their interior and help them compete at a higher level.
Nico Laprovittola Out Three Weeks, A Big Blow for Barcelona
FC Barcelona will feel the absence of Nico Laprovittola acutely over the next three weeks. The Argentine guard brings a combination of scoring and playmaking that the Catalan backcourt desperately relies on, especially in moments when the offense needs rhythm or a decisive push.
So far this season, Laprovittola has averaged 10 points and 6 assists in just over 17 minutes per game, production that won’t be easy to replicate with other rotation pieces. His absence could lead to stalls in the offense, particularly in tight, high-leverage situations where his quickness, vision, and shot creation make a difference.
For Barcelona, this is more than just missing a scorer, it’s losing a dynamic playmaker who helps orchestrate the floor, maintain pace, and unlock teammates. How the team adjusts in these three weeks could define their early EuroLeague trajectory.
This article was written by the European Hoops team: Tiago Cordeiro, João Caeiro, Diogo Valente and André Lemos. Make sure you give us a follow on Twitter at @EthosEuroleague!
