Panathinaikos OPAP Athens comes off a difficult season in which the Greens ranked 16th overall with an 11-23 record. New coach Dimitris Priftis together with a very balanced squad featuring several hungry signings ready to make their Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debuts alongside a core of players that know the competition inside out have fans in the Greek capital feeling optimistic for 2021-22.

### BACKCOURT

There have been significant changes at the point guard position. Kendrick Perry arrives from Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana to provide athleticism, intense defense, court sense and leadership. He ranked third in PIR (19.2) in the 7DAYS EuroCup last season, averaging 16.1 points, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals in 16 games. Panathinaikos also added combo guard Daryl Macon, a great scorer with excellent shooting selection. Perry and Macon are EuroLeague newcomers and should be helped by Lefteris Bochoridis at point guard. In his second stint with the Greens, Bochoridis offers size, intensity and strong driving skills. Nemanja Nedovic is expected to play a leading role due to his experience, all-around scoring skills and unlimited shooting range. Right at the prime of his career, Nedovic has all it takes to have a huge season. Howard Sant-Roos is a special player; he provides versatility, elite defense, aggressiveness and a high basketball IQ. Sant-Roos should do a little bit of everything to help Panathinaikos succeed. Eleftherios Mantzoukas is a young, ambitious talent ready to fight for significant playing time. He is quite quick for a player his size (2.07 meters) and is an excellent three-point shooter.

### FRONTCOURT

Ioannis Papapetrou and Okaro White are versatile, experienced forwards who can play multiple positions. Papapetrou comes off a strong 2020-21 campaign (12.1 ppg., 4.1 rpg.) and is fully established as one of the best small forwards in European basketball. White already played for Coach Priftis in the EuroCup with Aris Thessaloniki and UNICS Kazan. He helps under the boards and can open the floor with his outside shooting, too. Leonidas Kaselakis provides energy and a winning mentality off the bench. Center Georgios Papagiannis returns to lead Panathinaikos's frontcourt, providing much-needed effectiveness at both ends. Just like Papagiannis, Jehyve Floyd is a terrific shot-blocker who can change games through defense. Jeremy Evans spreads the floor with his deep shooting range and can also finish high above the rim due to his outstanding athleticism.

### PLAYER TO WATCH

Georgios Papagiannis took a huge step forward last season. He worked hard to become a mobile center, finishing alley-oops and moving better around the basket. It paid off at the defensive end, too, as Papagiannis ranked second in blocked shots last season at 1.6 per night, only trailing two-time EuroLeague Best Defender Edy Tavares. Papagiannis was also ninth in two-point shooting percentage (67.4%) as he averaged 8.8 points and 5.4 rebounds in 32 EuroLeague games. At age 24, Papagiannis is already an experienced EuroLeague player ready to make a difference at both ends of the floor. His size 2.20-meter frame and quick feet give him an advantage in the paint and Papagiannis looks ready to make the most out of it.

### OUTLOOK

Panathinaikos needed a fresh look and made a lot of roster changes to achieve that. Coach Priftis is also a EuroLeague newcomer but is experienced enough and has his trademark style, in which defense comes first and foremost. It may take some time for players like Perry, White, Macon and Floyd to adjust to the competition, but Panathinaikos also managed to keep stars Nedovic, Sant-Roos, Papagiannis and Papapetrou, who will carry the team from the very beginning of the season. Of course, Panathinaikos fans will be back in the stands and that is great news for the Greens, as they know how to be their team's sixth man.

Roster Rundown: Panathinaikos OPAP Athens

AS Monaco penned a deal with veteran big man [Brock Motum](https://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=006599&seasoncode=E2021#!careerstats) for the 2021-22 season, the club announced Friday. Motum (2.08 meters, 30 years old) returns to the EuroLeague after playing five straight seasons in Europe's premier competition between 2015 and 2020 with three different clubs: Zalgiris Kaunas, Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Valencia Basket. He averaged 7.9 points on 41.3% three-point shooting in 134 EuroLeague games in that time. Motum made his professional debut with Virtus Bologna in 2013 and played one season with Adelaide in his native Australia before joining Zalgiris. He has also won national championships and cups in both Lithuania and Turkey. Motum is a long-time member of the Australian national team, too, and has played for the Boomers at both the Olympics and the World Cup.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">✍️ 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝘂𝗺 signe avec l’ASM ! 💥 Finaliste <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> en 2019 avec l&#39;Anadolu Efes, l&#39;international australien 🇦🇺 (2,08 m, 30 ans) est avec le groupe depuis le début de la pré-saison à Bormio 👀 Il renforce officiellement le poste 4 💪<br>👋 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 <a href="https://twitter.com/brockm12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrockM12</a> 🇲🇨 <a href="https://t.co/rNfkLgqiRe">pic.twitter.com/rNfkLgqiRe</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1433765226760003613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Monaco signs veteran big man Motum

brock-motum-celebrates-valencia-basket-eb19.jpg

UNICS Kazan returns to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague after four dominant campaigns in the 7DAYS EuroCup and new head coach Velimir Perasovic has a long and talented roster with which to take the competition by storm. 

### BACKCOURT

The secret to the backcourt may be that so many players can fill either guard role. Lorenzo Brown brings point guard skills to a shooting guard's body, while Isaiah Canaan can be a go-to scorer in a point guard's body. When playing together, they will have opposing defenders on their heels. Vyacheslav Zaytsev brings bounds of EuroLeague experience and was Khimki Moscow Region's leader for stretches last season. Marco Spissu, a member of the Italian team at the 2020 Olympic Games, is a natural playmaker who will play outside his native country and in the EuroLeague for the first time. The rest of the team should benefit from his passing skills. Sharpshooter Artem Komolov is also new to the EuroLeague and his deep range will earn him minutes. Swingman Mario Hezonja is a thundering offensive force with a complete package to attack the rim and knock down perimeter shots. The ever-physical Georgy Zhbanov should be a defensive ace Coach Perasovic can call on to slow down opposing stars. Dmitrii Uzinskii returns for a third straight season with UNICS as a reliable and heady reserve. 

### FRONTCOURT

An All-EuroCup selection last season, John Brown will rely on his toughness and athleticism to make waves in the paint in his premier EuroLeague campaign. He will team up with a few veterans in the power forward rotation. Three-time champion Andrey Vorontsevich wrote the book on the prototypical modern '4' and after a season outside the competition will be hungry. Evgeny Valiev is a beast on the offensive glass who will do all the blue-collar work needed. Old-school center Tonye Jekiri is also an elite offensive rebounder. Between Jekiri and Artem Klimenko, UNICS will have size and power at center, though Perasovic can always get creative by using some of his forwards at the '5' for a smaller, quicker lineup. 

### PLAYER TO WATCH 

For whatever team he has played for at whatever stage in his career, Mario Hezonja has always been a player to watch. He plays with a mix of power and finesse, but is as aggressive as they come about getting the ball in the basket. Because of those traits, fans seem to fall in love with Super Mario at every stop, too. That will likely be the case in Kazan, too. The plethora of weapons UNICS has should only make Hezonja more dangerous, though there will be a natural learning period as the perimeter stars on the team learn to play off of one another. When they have it all figured out, UNICS will be fun to watch with Hezonja as one of its big leaders.

### OUTLOOK 

Even though UNICS Kazan has not played in the EuroLeague since 2016-17, Coach Perasovic and co. will not be overwhelmed by the moment when the season tips off at home against fellow Russian side Zenit St Petersburg on October 1. The team has plenty of experience in the locker room and endless talent on the court. The challenge for a team with a new coach and nine new players will be coming together quickly and establishing on-court chemistry. Perasovic has proven to be a master in overseeing that department and getting his teams to challenge for big goals quickly. That is surely the goal this season in Kazan. 

Roster Rundown: UNICS Kazan

With new coach Sasa Djordjevic accompanied by a batch of highly talented new signings, this season has the feel of another fresh beginning for a Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul team that will never settle for anything less than a serious push for the title.

### BACKCOURT

Fenerbahce’s attack will continue to be powered by arguably the consistently greatest offensive weapon across the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague over the last decade, Nando De Colo. Although he is now 34 years, the two-time champion showed no sign of slowing down last season, averaging 15.8 points per game and enjoying his best-ever season in two-point shooting accuracy (58.5%). Swingman Marko Guduric is another top-quality performer whose size, toughness, versatility and scoring prowess will be valuable. Ball control and distribution will be controlled by new signing Pierria Henry, who ranked second in the league in assists last season with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz with an average of 7.3 per night. Another promising newcomer in the backcourt is Marial Shayok, who showed outstanding form during his first half-season in European basketball by averaging 18.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists over 12 Turkish League games with Frutti Extra Bursaspor and will now be eager to prove himself at a higher level. The same applies to another new arrival, Ismet Akpinar, after he made just a handful of appearances in the competition with ALBA Berlin in 2014-15. Three-point shooting and leadership will be provided by long-serving team captain Melih Mahmutoglu, while youngsters Ekrem Sancakli and Ergi Tirpanci complete the backcourt options for Coach Djordjevic.

### FRONTCOURT

In the same way that De Colo provides a reliable presence in the backcourt, the same applies in the paint to Jan Vesely. One of the most exciting and dominant big men in competition history delivered another strong campaign in 2020-21 with 13.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game to show he can still be a major force. Two new faces will greatly assist Vesely, starting with Achille Polonara following his summer move from Baskonia. The all-action Italian is a big threat at both ends of the court; he scored in double digits on 21 occasions last season while also ranking third in the league for defensive rebounds and fifth in blocked shots. Fener can also expect a significant contribution from new signing Devin Booker, whose power and athleticism in the paint will rotate perfectly with Vesely and ensure opponents are never given a moment’s respite. Another key player is Dyshawn Pierre, who does a bit of everything and had the team’s third-best PIR last season after De Colo and Vesely. With Danilo Barthel, Tarik Biberovic, Ahmet Duverioglu and the returning Metecan Birsen also in the roster, there is no shortage of size or power in the Fenerbahce ranks and this will not be an easy team to compete against.

### PLAYER TO WATCH

De Colo will score points and Vesely will dominate the paint – that much can be guaranteed. But in terms of controlling the tempo and rhythm of the action, a huge amount of responsibility will rest on the shoulders of new signing Pierria Henry. The American point guard has been getting better and better with every passing season since first appearing on the European stage with ratiopharm Ulm in the 2015-16 EuroCup. He is an extremely reliable presence, appearing in all 34 games for Baskonia last season and averaging nearly 27 minutes on the floor. Importantly, Henry also provides an energetic presence on defense; he led the league in steals in each of the last two seasons and his all-round ability to orchestrate the offense with creativity while stifling the opposition with energy will be crucial in allowing De Colo and Vesely the freedom to do what they do better than practically anyone else.

### OUTLOOK

After missing out in the playoffs last season – ending a run of five straight Final Four appearances – Fenerbahce will be determined to launch a competitive challenge for the title and to please its ferociously loyal horde of fans. Indeed, having supporters back across Europe will benefit few teams more than Fenerbahce, which can count on receiving an extra boost of energy both at home and on the road. With the new recruits adding a fresh spark while the reliable returning quartet of De Colo, Vesely, Guduric and Pierre continue to provide the heartbeat, if injuries to key players can be avoided there is every potential for the Turkish team to fight for another title – although, with three of its four last games coming away from home, it will be vital for Fener to establish a strong position heading into the final weeks of the season.

Roster Rundown: Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Coach T.J. Parker and his LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne charges have plenty to be excited about this season. ASVEL boasts a team that is deep and combines speed and size, strength and outside shooting, and youth and experience. Coming an impressive regular season in which the team swept eventual EuroLeague runner-up FC Barcelona, ASVEL looks to be in the playoff hunt this year.

### BACKCOURT

Coach Parker can rely on different guards to run the offense in different ways in their time on the floor. Veteran playmaker Antoine Diot is a pass-first leader who comes off a career-best season in terms of three-point shooting (42 of 80, 52.5%). Chris Jones showed off his scoring chops as a EuroLeague rookie last season with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and is hungry for a bigger role. Still a teenager, Matthew Strazel has been a part of the ASVEL rotation for two seasons already and continues to improve. He's a nuisance on defense and growing his offensive game all the time. Combo-guard Elie Okobo returns to his native France after three years in the United States and can play alongside any of the other guards in the ASVEL backcourt, making an impact at both ends of the floor. David Lighty enters his seventh season with ASVEL and was second on the team in scoring last season with 11.3 points per game. His versatility is a great weapon for Coach Parker. Veteran swingman Paul Lacombe brings confidence and maturity off the bench. The senior-most player on the team is Charles Kahudi, who at age 35 remains a physical presence, tough defender and effective shooter. Teenage prospect Kymany Houinsou will train with the senior squad, but is not expected to see many minutes this season.

### FRONTCOURT

ASVEL's frontcourt players give the team many ways to attack defenses thanks to the mix of stretch-shooters and size. William Howard (51.5%) was among the best three-point shooters in the EuroLeague last season, while Dylan Osetowski was among the leaders in the 7DAYS EuroCup. However, Osetowski did most of his damage in the paint, just like Raymar Morgan, who will debut in the EuroLeague after averaging 12.9 points in five EuroCup seasons. That trio will ensure that opposing defenses will constantly worry about ASVEL's scoring from the '4' spot. Youssoupha Fall has been a game-changer in the paint the past two seasons with fellow EuroLeague side Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz thanks to his 2.21 meters. Victor Wembanyama is already considered one of the best prospects in the game due to his combination of size speed and hard work. He will get his first taste of the EuroLeague this season. For a different look at the center position, ASVEL can turn to the high-flying Kostas Antetokounmpo, who at age 23 will make his EuroLeague debut, too.

### PLAYER TO WATCH

Dylan Osetowski was virtually unstoppable at times last season in the EuroCup with ratiopharm Ulm, where he posted eye-popping statlines on a regular basis. He simply did it all; in only 10 games, he made at least 5 two-pointers four times, had multiple threes on four occasions and knocked down 10 free throws three times – including twice without a miss. Osetowski shot 55.1% on two-pointers, 52% on threes and 85.7% from the line. He also twice dished 6 assists. The ability to take whatever opposing defenses gave him and make the most of it while only 24 years of age is just as impressive. Not a year older and surrounded by elite talents, Osetowski has a chance to climb another rung and perhaps to emerge as a EuroLeague star.

### OUTLOOK

Half of the ASVEL roster is comprised of new players and there are as many as six who could make their EuroLeague debuts, so it may take time in the beginning for the team to come together. However, the talent, hunger and depth are all there to make a lot of noise in the EuroLeague. Starting strong may be imperative, however, because ASVEL plays seven of its first 11 games at home. Even though that stretch includes games against three of last season's Final Four sides, if ASVEL can protect its home floor and build off of that, it could be a historic season in Villeurbanne.

Roster Rundown: LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

AS Monaco added depth to its roster by inking small forward Alpha Diallo to a three-year deal, the club announced Monday. Diallo (2.01 meters, 24 years old) arrives from Lavrio Aegean Cargo, where he averaged 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 33 Greek League games last season, helping the club reach the finals. Lavrio was the first stop in his professional basketball career. Before that, Diallo finished his college career at Providence College, averaging 14.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 31 NCAA games in the 2019-20 campaign. He helped USA get a bronze medal at the 2019 Panamerican Games.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">✍️ 𝗔𝗹𝗽𝗵𝗮 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼 rejoint l’AS Monaco Basket ! L’ailier américain 🇺🇸 (2,01 m, 24 ans) sort d’une très belle saison en Grèce (12,9 pts, 5,4 rbds) menant <a href="https://twitter.com/LAVRIO_BC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Lavrio_BC</a> jusqu’en finale du championnat grec contre le Pana 💥<br>👋 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝘼𝙡𝙥𝙝𝙖 🇲🇨 <a href="https://t.co/m5viEV9II9">pic.twitter.com/m5viEV9II9</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1432292938730676224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Monaco adds Alpha Diallo

After a solid season in which the team jelled in a stellar way, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz had to face a rebuilding challenge during the summer after losing some key pieces of the old squad to other Turkish Airlines EuroLeague teams. Once again, however, the club and head coach Dusko Ivanovic have managed to put together a group that should become a threat to any other EuroLeague squad when the machine is well-oiled.

### BACKCOURT

The backcourt of the Basque team is virtually new from top to bottom. Of course, the name drawing the most attention is Wade Baldwin, whose second EuroLeague season with FC Bayern Munich saw him explode to average 15.3 points, 3.0 boards and 4.0 assists and help the team become the first German squad ever in the EuroLeague Playoffs. Baldwin will have valuable help from Jayson Granger, a fan-favorite who returns to Baskonia after one season in ALBA Berlin. Another new face is that of shooting ace Vanja Marinkovic, who played 42 games in Valencia in the last two EuroLeague seasons and now joins Baskonia at the prime of his career. A product of the youth system of the club, young Arturs Kurucs returns after having appeared in 21 EuroLeague games last season, looking to gain more and more experience. At small forward, the team will continue relying on scoring machine Rokas Giedraitis, whose debut last season with Baskonia saw him average 12.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in 34 games as a starter. Tadas Sedekerskis just extended his contract with the club this summer to prove he has found a solid place on the team that he first joined as a youngster back in 2016.

### FRONTCOURT

The cornerstone of Baskonia's frontcourt will probably be Alec Peters, who had a breakthrough season in his debut with the team in 2020-21. He averaged 11.5 points and 3.9 rebounds and is expected to forge a deadly duo with Baldwin. Big man Matt Costello arrives from Gran Canaria to contribute size and experience, and Simone Fontecchio will do the same in his fifth EuroLeague appearance after a solid double-figure season in Berlin. Steven Enoch and Landry Nnoko will bring centimeters and power to the Baskonia paint. The former will make his competition debut at only 23 years old, while Nnoko arrives with already 38 EuroLeague games under his belt in Berlin and Belgrade. The team placed a bet with Sander Raieste in 2020 signing to a long-term deal, and he will have another season to keep rounding those rough edges with minutes on the court. He had a testimonial presence last season with a total 45 minutes.

### PLAYER TO WATCH

It's probably no surprise that all eyes will be on Wade Baldwin IV when he starts playing with Baskonia. Last season he started in 38 of his 39 games with Bayern, and even increased his numbers to 15.8 points in the playoffs, the first series ever played by a German team, which went to the wire in Game 5. He scored 17 and 13 points, respectively in two games against Baskonia last season, and he was a leader in Munich all season long. However, Baldwin lands in Vitoria-Gasteiz with big shoes to fill. Pierria Henry left a big mark by leading the team to new heights, and since he left -- together with Achille Polonara -- to Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Baldwin will be counted on to run the show in Vitoria-Gasteiz from the get-go.

### OUTLOOK

As in the past, the trademark Baskonia Character will be something the team needs to draw upon to become a solid entity early in the season. After a Rount 1 trip to Olympiacos Piraeus, there are two straight home games, against AX Armani Exchange Milan and Panathinaikos OPAP Athens, that could be the starting push that the team needs to get the ball rolling. Is is hoped that for the first time in more than one year, there will be fans -- loud fans -- again at Fernando Buesa Arena for a EuroLeague game. Due to the rebuild, Coach Ivanovic has a hard task in front of him, but nothing that he has not handled before, and with the help of those fans, this team will not be ignored as the season gains strength.

Roster Rundown: Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

Reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Anadolu Efes will have its work cut out as it attempts to defend the crown. While every team will bring its best when they face the champs, some games will be tougher than others. Here are five games that fans of both teams will surely have marked on their calendars.

### Round 1: A rivalry in the making

These sides played a memorable playoff series last season with Efes dominated at first before Real Madrid had a pair of come-from-behind wins at home to even it. Then Efes survived a thriller in game 5 to reach the Final Four. In their first clash since then, Real will be hungry to establish itself by downing the champs at home, while Efes looks to keep Los Blancos under its thumb with s season-opening victory in the Spanish capital.

### Round 2: The last two champions meet

Not only did these teams square off in the 2019 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game, but they played a thriller in last season's semifinals, where CSKA Moscow rallied from a 21-point deficit for a shot to win it in the closing seconds before Anadolu Efes Istanbul prevailed and went on to win the championship. In between, they traded blowouts with CSKA winning by 35 in Moscow and Efes by 30 in Istanbul. Something exciting seems to always happen when Efes and CSKA meet and this time it will be Efes's home opener.

### Round 8: Facing the Zenit test

Though Efes made history last season, it came up empty every time it faced Zenit St Petersburg. Coach Ergin Ataman’s side was held to 69 points in an opening-night home loss and Zenit made it a season sweep in Round 21 in Russia. The champs remember those games well and will be motivated to exact revenge in 2021-22.

### Round 12: The Istanbul derby

The rivalry between the two strongest teams in Turkey runs deep and the matchups between Efes and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul show that regularly. Last season, Fenerbahce beat Efes the first time they played before Efes roared for a 74-106 rout in the Asian side of the city in Round 26. Before last season, Fenerbahce had reached five consecutive Final Fours. Now Efes is on top after winning the EuroLeague and then sweeping Fenerbahce in the Turkish League finals. There may be fireworks when these teams meet again.

### Round 13: Championship game rematch

FC Barcelona had the best record in the league last season, but has lost four straight games against Efes, including the 2021 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game. The defending champs will be eager to show their dominance by extending that streak, making the championship game rematch must-see basketball. Especially because these two enter this season with lofty goals once again.

Reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Anadolu Efes will have its work cut out as it attempts to defend the crown. While every team will bring its best when they face the champs, some games will be tougher than others. Here are five games that fans of both teams will surely have marked on their calendars.

2021-22 Games to Watch: Anadolu Efes Istanbul

# This is a podcast article

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