EuroLeague Weekly Dose: Week 10

  • Last Updated on December 10, 2025 4:21 pm by André Lemos | Published: December 10, 2025

    The Games of week 10:

    Monaco vs Paris

    On Thursday, the French Riviera transformed into the French basketball capital as AS Monaco hosted Paris Basketball in EuroLeague Round 14. The Monegasques came out firing, an 8-2 opening run setting the tone, but Paris quickly turned on the turbo. Nadir Hifi led an 8-0 counter, showing why he’s the engine of their backcourt. Yet it was Theis who stole the show early, punishing Paris’ bigs for seven points and dominating the offensive glass, helping Monaco lead 21-16 with just over three minutes left in the first quarter.

    Monaco’s pick-and-roll game looked particularly sharp. Screens flipped at the last second, forcing Paris into uncomfortable rotations and creating easy shots. Paris tried to answer after a timeout, trimming the deficit to a single point, but Monaco ended the quarter on top, 35-29. Both teams combined for 8/10 from deep, yet the difference was clear in how those shots were generated: Monaco’s ball movement and collective execution yielded 10 assists to Paris’ three.

    Quarter two saw Monaco trying to get Mirotic involved with an Iverson-inspired empty-ball screen, and with Diallo converting trips to the line, the lead ballooned into double digits. Paris’ turnovers compounded the problem with five steals on nine turnovers, and Monaco carried a 58-46 advantage into halftime. Tabellini trusted his rotation, swapping a full five-player unit at once, and while Hifi briefly stemmed the bleeding to cut the deficit to 13, Monaco’s offensive glass and transition play kept them comfortably ahead.

    In the second half, Monaco stepped on the gas and never looked back. Guards attacked the paint at will, scoring or facilitating, with Elie Okobo orchestrating masterfully. Defensively, Monaco was decent, allowing 24 points, but excelled at limiting fouls, permitting just nine free throws through three quarters against a team that ranks seventh in free throw frequency. By the end of the third, they led 91-70.

    The fourth was a showcase of offensive basketball, with the first eight possessions all producing points. Monaco maintained elite spacing, moved the ball beautifully, and penetrated effectively. Paris stayed competitive, mostly through their guards’ creation, but it wasn’t enough. The game ended 125-104, marking a EuroLeague points record for a game without overtime. Okobo led the charge with 26 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals, supported by four teammates in double digits, including Strazel, who responded to the preseason “guard with more to prove” debate with 22 points and 7 assists. Paris’ top contributors, Robinson, Rhodes, and Hifi, scored 24, 22, and 17 respectively, but no one else reached double digits.

    Partizan vs Bayern Munich

    Partizan entered the arena under a hailstorm of boos, and the fans didn’t let up for a second. Bayern opened hot, 14-5, exploiting Partizan’s lack of perimeter defense and sluggish rotation on screens, hitting four triples early. The trio of Duane Washington, Tyrique Jones, and captain Marinkovic were jeered even when scoring.

    Partizan’s turning point came when Bayern subbed out Voigtman and Da Silva assumed the center role, giving Jones advantages inside. Nick Calathes anchored the defense, slowing Obst off the ball and helping Bayern cool off from deep. By halftime, Bayern led 43-36.

    Partizan’s bench contributed heavily, outscoring Bayern’s reserves, and they controlled possessions with just one turnover in the first half compared to Bayern’s six. The third quarter was a statement: Washington unstoppable from deep, Jones dominating the paint, and Partizan’s defense tightened, winning the quarter 28-15.

    The fourth was messy. Partizan’s old defensive lapses returned, and the offense stalled at times. Yet, they showed flashes in the final two minutes, with Washington and Jones stepping up. Bayern ultimately survived by two points, outrunning Partizan in crunch time. The win didn’t erase underlying concerns: inconsistency, reliance on isolation plays, and system gaps remain. What won it for Partizan was a mix of careful ball control, six turnovers for them versus 19 for Bayern, and interior dominance, which Bayern simply could not match.

    Key Performances of the Past Week:

    Darius Thompson

    This week the spotlight belongs to Valencia’s PG, Darius Thompson. In Athens, he did everything in his team’s win over Panathinaikos. The Italian-American guard scored 19 points, nine of them in the decisive fourth quarter, on 5/6 from two, 2/5 from three, and a perfect 3/3 from the line. Thompson’s impact went far beyond scoring. He added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals in just 25 minutes, thanks to Pedro Martinez’s rotation patterns, perfectly encapsulating his all-around value.

    One great game from a great player on a great team. Thompson was slightly underrated in the preseason but has consistently proven his worth across Europe.

    Duane Washington

    Despite being booed, Washington played 18 minutes and delivered 22 points, including 5/6 from three, along with 6 assists. His performance raised the question of what could have happened if he had played like this under Obradovic. The attitude was there, and he showed up on defense as well.

    Elie Okobo

    Monaco’s Okobo was monstrous in their high-scoring win over Paris. He finished with 26 points, 8 assists, 3 steals, and a 39 PIR on 80 percent shooting. It was an NBA-style exhibition in Monaco, and he was the centerpiece.

    Nando de Colo

    Even as one of Europe’s most seasoned stars, de Colo continues to show his value. Against Hapoel, he was the focal point for Asvel, finishing with 20 points and drawing 6 fouls. The game highlighted his importance. If he had stayed on the floor a little longer, Asvel might have pulled off the win. Targeted by multiple double teams, he still delivered efficiently, a reminder of why he remains indispensable.

     

    Standings Watch:

    Hapoel took care of business against ASVEL in a game that got tense in the fourth quarter after they trailed by 11. Playing at home, they held on to win, and the timing couldn’t have been better. Crvena Zvezda and Panathinaikos both lost their games, against FC Barcelona and Valencia respectively, allowing Hapoel to retake the top spot in the standings. They are now a game clear of the logjam between second and sixth, where five teams all sit at 9-5.

    The Play-In picture is just as compelling. Anadolu Efes, Baskonia, FC Bayern, Paris Basketball, and Partizan are all in a desperate scramble, already three wins back from a Play-In spot. Every game counts, and the clock is ticking.

    Valencia is trending in the right direction. Their win over Panathinaikos showcased a team that is faster, smarter, and more cohesive than last season’s Paris Basketball. As Fournier said, Valencia is an upgraded version of Paris, and the results are showing. Sitting fifth, they look poised to continue climbing. Next up is Efes, and the matchup favors Valencia. Efes struggles against high pace, concedes too many points in the paint, and has difficulty defending guards who attack the rim. Expect Valencia’s backcourt to exploit those mismatches and push the tempo in a way that could overwhelm the defending champions.

     

    Week 11 Games to Watch:

    Virtus vs Hapoel

    Virtus Bologna’s home magic is about to be tested. Round 15 pits them against Hapoel, the current leaders of the EuroLeague. Virtus tends to elevate every facet of their game at home, defense, spacing, energy, but Hapoel’s offense has been in a league of its own this season. Can Virtus keep the streak alive, or will Hapoel’s firepower be too much to handle? This one promises to be a clash between home-court grit and league-leading execution.

    Serbian Derby: Partizan vs Red Star

    If you love historical rivalries, this is the game. Partizan comes off a statement win over Bayern, finally answering their critics after some early-season boos. Red Star, on the other hand, is coming off a loss to Barcelona, snapping their own winning streak. This matchup will hinge on details: turnovers, rotations, and decision-making under pressure. Partizan has been excellent at controlling possessions and protecting the ball, but they allow 40 percent from deep. Red Star, stacked with shooters and now with Graham back, can punish those lapses. The paint battle will also be critical. Motiejunas can slide in and out, and that could stretch Tyrique Jones and Bruno Fernando, especially with Jabari at PF, who’s not the most reliable defender. On paper, Red Star looks like the favorite, but the game will be decided in the minutiae.

    Monaco vs Fenerbahçe

    This is a rematch nobody has forgotten. Monaco and Fenerbahçe face off for the first time since the 2025 EuroLeague Final, and the Monegasques are looking for revenge on their home floor. Fenerbahçe, coming off a week of rest, is riding a six-game winning streak.

    Net rating tells part of the story: Monaco, statistically the best team, meets Fenerbahçe, the hottest team in the league right now. This game has everything: history, rivalry, elite talent. Best offense against best defense. It could get ugly, because Monaco has shown they can roll up their sleeves on defense, while Fener needs to step up offensively. Monaco controls their possessions beautifully, averaging only 10 turnovers per game. Fener, ranked 18th in offense, will have to navigate a near-perfect defensive system to climb the ladder.

     

    What’s at Stake:

    Partizan is back in the headlines, and it is not just about basketball. Zeljko Obradovic, in an interview with Zona Press, opened up about why he resigned from what he called his “greatest love.” The story reads like a cautionary tale about management, ego, and public pressure.

    Obradovic did not hold back. He called out President Ostoja Mijailovic multiple times, from first accepting his resignation and then reversing course, perhaps bowing to public pressure, to signing players without Zeljko’s approval, like Desan Osetkowski. “Osetkowski was not signed with my approval,” he said, “but I must say he is a very valuable kid. He worked and behaved like a real professional.” There were even seemingly small slights, such as being lied to about airplane seating, which Obradovic highlighted as part of the bigger picture of disconnect.

    Yet even in resignation, he found space to praise the fans, urging them not to forget that they are Partizan’s backbone, the one thing the club cannot live without, and expressing hope that this is not the end of his Partizan story.

    The coaching job remains up for grabs, and the club is not rushing a decision. The dynamic between fans and players is fragile. Two of Partizan’s best players have been booed heavily, which shows the relationship is complicated. If the team keeps winning, things may settle, but the first real stumble or a bad loss will likely expose lingering tensions.

     

    EuroLeague Headlines:

    The EuroLeague clock rolled over another month, and with it came a new Monthly MVP. Kenneth Faried, in his first month back in Europe, claimed the award. The Manimal is back, but was it truly an MVP-worthy performance?

    Statistically, Faried has been excellent. He is averaging 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a 19.8 PIR per game. Those are elite numbers, no question, but we all know box scores only tell part of the story. MVPs demand impact beyond the raw stats, and that is where the debate begins.

    Offensively, Faried has been a force. Panathinaikos’ offensive rating jumps by 19.4 points when he is on the floor, the sixth-best mark among bigs in November. He is extremely efficient on rim attempts with a 2PPS, although his frequency in those attempts is just average at the 52nd percentile. His paint scoring efficiency sits at 1.00 PPS, despite him ranking in the 99th percentile for paint attempt frequency. The volume helps hide some inefficiency. He is also a dominant offensive rebounder, pushing Panathinaikos into the 99th percentile in OREB% and increasing the team’s offensive rebounding by 5.6 percent.

    Defensively, the story is different. Faried blocks two shots per game, which places him in the 96th percentile, yet his overall defensive impact is negative. Panathinaikos allows 24 more points per 100 possessions with him on the floor, and only five bigs in the league have a worse impact.

    Faried is a good player with a clear positive impact, but whether this qualifies as an MVP-level month is debatable, especially for someone who does not create offense for himself.

    Baskonia has quietly added Gytis Radzevicius, a former Rytas Vilnius standout. This is not flashy news, but Radzevicius has the potential to become one of the best role players from last EuroBasket. He can guard any perimeter player full court, apply high-intensity pressure, and bring defensive consistency to Baskonia. He is a reliable three-point shooter as well. On the other hand, Hamidou Diallo is leaving for China, taking his 12 points per game with him. Radzevicius will not replace Diallo’s scoring, but expect better defensive cohesion and improved shooting efficiency.

    Monte Morris is expected to join Olympiacos, potentially filling a long-standing void at the guard position. He will need time to adapt, but his limited NBA minutes showed he can score at the highest level while taking care of the ball. In Denver, he averaged 10-12 points per game while only turning it over once per 30 minutes of play. He has a career three-point percentage of 39 percent, though on very few attempts. Morris is an upgrade over the guards currently available to Olympiacos. He can score, pass, drive, and be a consistent offensive threat. His size may pose some defensive challenges alongside Sasha, but he is a solid on-ball defender and should integrate quickly.

     

    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!

    December 10, 2025, 4:18 pm