AS Monaco powered up its frontline with the signing of veteran center Donatas Motiejunas, the club announced on August 18th 2021.

Monaco plugs in Motiejunas at center

Motiejunas (2.13 meters, 30 years old) will make his return to the EuroLeague after nine seasons away. 

In his previous EuroLeague campaign, Motiejunas set the competition record with 18 rebounds in a game for Asseco Prokom Gdynia in December 2011. He finished that season second in the regular season with 7.9 rebounds per game.

Motiejunas has spent most of the past four seasons in China. First came two seasons with the Shandong Golden Stars and then a season each with Shanghai Sharks and the Xinjang Flying Tigers. 

Last season he averaged 21.5 points and led the Chinese League with 13.7 rebounds per game. He also posted 4.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game. 

Motiejunas is a product of the Zalgiris Kaunas youth system and has played professionally for Aisciai Kaunas in his native Lithuania, Benetton Treviso in Italy, Asseco Prokom in Poland, and for Houston, New Orleans and San Antonio in the NBA. 

He also won a silver medal with Lithuania at EuroBasket 2013.



<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">✍️ 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗷𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘀 renforce l’AS Monaco Basket ! 🏹 Doté d’un shoot et d’une capacité au rebond, l’intérieur lituanien 🇱🇹 (2,13 m, 30 ans) apportera sa grande expérience de la <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBA</a> (262 matchs) et de la scène internationale 🔥<br>👋 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 <a href="https://twitter.com/DonatasMot?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DonatasMot</a> 🇲🇨 <a href="https://t.co/KInIwLRhPp">pic.twitter.com/KInIwLRhPp</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1427897273657217024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

AS Monaco powered up its frontline with the signing of veteran center Donatas Motiejunas, the club announced Wednesday.

donatas-motiejunas-asseco-prokom-eb11.jpg

Olympiacos Piraeus had a golden age in the 2010s when it won two of its three Turkish Airlines EuroLeague titles (2012, 2013) and reached championship games in 2015 and 2017. The Reds, however, have not been to the playoffs in the 2020s. As the club looks for a quick turnaround, here are five important dates marked in red on the Reds' 2021-22 EuroLeague calendar.

## ROUND 2: Pure history

Some of the best - and worst - moments in Olympiacos history are linked to Real Madrid. Olympiacos has played in eight EuroLeague championship games and three of them were against Los Blancos. Olympiacos prevailed in 2013, rallying from a 17-point deficit to defeat Real 100-88 behind 22 points from Final Four MVP Vassilis Spanoulis. Real beat Olympiacos in the 1995 and 2015 championship games. These teams will face each other this season for the 45th and 46th times; Real has won its last four games against Olympiacos.

## ROUND 4: A traditionally tough matchup
In recent years, things have not been easy for Olympiacos when Zalgiris Kaunas stood in its way. Zalgiris eliminated Olympiacos in the 2018 playoffs despite not having the home-court advantage. In 2019, Zalgiris won again at Peace of Friendship Stadium late in the regular season and that victory eventually helped the Lithuanian champs make the playoffs. Last season, Olympiacos lost against Zalgiris twice. The good news for Olympiacos, however, is that Thomas Walkup switched teams and will be wearing Red this time.

## ROUND 18: A modern classic

Olympiacos and CSKA have faced each other 42 times, but their rivalry took off in earnest on May 13, 2012, when the Reds rallied from a 19-point deficit in the final 13 minutes to lift the EuroLeague trophy. Olympiacos went on to beat CSKA in the semifinals in 2013, 2015 and 2017. All those legendary moments for Olympiacos fans should be the talk of the town when CSKA visits Piraeus because it is always special for the Reds’ faithful when the Russian powerhouse checks in at Peace and Friendship Stadium.

## ROUND 30: Greece's biggest game

Olympiacos and Panathinaikos OPAP Athens have not faced each other many times in European competitions - only 19 previous clashes. In the last two seasons, however, the Greek derby could only be seen in the EuroLeague, which makes each showdown between the teams even more important. Last season, Panathinaikos stole a 77-88 road win at Peace and Friendship Stadium and that will be in the back of everyone's mind when they meet again in that arena. This is a unique rivalry between true rivals that only gets better with fans back in the stands.

## ROUND 33: A great rivalry
Olympiacos has enjoyed great battles against FC Barcelona over the years. The fifth showdown between the teams was the 1997 EuroLeague championship game. Olympiacos topped Barcelona 73-58 behind 26 points from Final Four MVP David Rivers. It took Barcelona 13 years to take revenge, but eventually, it did, downing Olympiacos 86-68 to win the 2010 EuroLeague crown. Olympiacos knocked off Barcelona in the 2012 semifinals and the 2015 playoffs. Last season, the teams traded road victories. Olympiacos's last home win against Barcelona came in 2016.



Here are five important dates marked in red on the Olympiacos Piraeus calendar for 2021-22. 

2021-22 Games to Watch: Olympiacos Piraeus

ALBA Berlin appointed Israel Gonzalez as the new head of bench, replacing Aito Garcia Reneses who has taken a sabbatical.

ALBA appoints Gonzalez as new head coach

Gonzalez, 46, has been with ALBA for the past four years as part of coach Garcia's staff. He was promoted to an associate head coach position in November, and now takes over the team from the German capital. 

Last season Gonzalez served as a head coach for five mid-season EuroLeague games and six domestic fixtures when coach Garcia was out due to COVID-19, and ALBA won seven of those clashes.



ALBA sports director

With Israel as head coach, we are opening a new chapter at ALBA. We have prepared for this step in the long term, starting with his role as assistant coach and then switching to associate head coach last fall. 
Israel has a great understanding of the game, he shares our basketball idea and our values in the club. We look forward to going into the future with him. Our big thanks go to Aito, with whom we have had great pleasure over the past few years and who has helped to decisively develop the club. A door will always be open to him at ALBA.

<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Israel González ist neuer ALBA-Headcoach und übernimmt den Posten von Aíto! Mit González Beförderung zum Associate Headcoach vor einem Jahr wurde eine behutsame Staffelübergabe eingeleitet, die sich nun vollzieht. Wir freuen uns auf dieses neue Kapitel mit dir, <a href="https://twitter.com/Israelcoach?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@israelcoach</a>! 🎉 <a href="https://t.co/nATJzLtEAT">pic.twitter.com/nATJzLtEAT</a></p>&mdash; ALBA BERLIN (@albaberlin) <a href="https://twitter.com/albaberlin/status/1427562951217668098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Gonzalez started his coaching career in 2004 as an assistant with Spanish second division club Cantabria Baloncesto, and became a head coach there in 2007. 

A year later he moved to Gran Canaria, where he worked for a year with U20 team, then spent eight years as an assistant coach before coming to Berlin. 

During the past four years with Gonzalez as part of the staff, ALBA reached 7DAYS EuroCup in 2019, won German League and Cup titles in 2020, and defended the German League crown earlier this year.

Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade announced on Monday night the addition of swingman Austin Hollins, who signed a one-year deal

Zvezda adds scoring punch with Hollins

Hollins (1.93 meters, 29 years old) has spent the last two years with Zenit St Petersburg, and last season he started in 34 of his 38 appearances, helping the team reach the EuroLeague Playoffs averaging 8.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals. With his unlimited range, Hollins knocked down more than 50 triples in each of the last two seasons. He also posted 10.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in VTB League action. Hollins started his pro career in the French second division, with Denain Voltaire, between 2014 and 2016. He spent the following year with Kauhajoen Karhu of Finland before making his stop in Germany, first with Geissen 46ers then with Rasta Vechta.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Američki košarkaš Ostin Holins novo je pojačanje KK Crvena zvezda!<br><br>Welcome to Crvena zvezda! 🔴⚪️<br><br>Detaljnije: <a href="https://t.co/RAp4HLAdqb">https://t.co/RAp4HLAdqb</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeCan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeCan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://t.co/Zht6CzPQfR">pic.twitter.com/Zht6CzPQfR</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1427390583769813001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade announced on Monday night the addition of swingman Austin Hollins, who signed a one-year deal.

austin-hollins-zenit-st-petersburg-eb20-be77y9ogmmat6hnp.jpg

Reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul added more power in the paint by signing ABA League MVP Filip Petrusev on Tuesday

Efes inks ABA League MVP Petrusev

Petrusev (2.11 meters, 21 years old) dominated last season with Mega Bemax to the tune of 23.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 21 games played. He led the league in scoring and performance index rating (28.0), was second in rebounds and third in blocks. Petrusev also made 1.2 threes per game at a 41.9% success rate.

Petrusev played high school basketball in the United States and spent two seasons playing college ball for Gonzaga University. He was the West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2020. Petrusev has been a member of the Serbian national team and many age groups, including the senior national team at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament earlier this summer. He helped the U-18 side to back-to-back European championships in 2017 and 2018.

<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Sırp pivot - uzun forvet <a href="https://twitter.com/PetrusevFilip?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PetrusevFilip</a> ile 1 yıllık sözleşme imzaladık!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Welcome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Welcome</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhereIStand?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhereIStand</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1427688695994404871?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul added more power in the paint by signing ABA League MVP Filip Petrusev on Tuesday.

filip-petrusev-photo-mega-soccerbet-ivica-veselinov.jpg

The Serbian powerhouse is ready to embark on its third consecutive EuroLeague season – and seventh in the last eight years. Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade has a reputation and a proven record as a tough opponent, home and away, for any team. This season should be no different as Zvezda aims to return to the EuroLeague Playoffs for the first time since its lone previous postseason trip in 2016. Along the way, some games will be especially intriguing as the team, and its faithful fans, get ready for another season.

## Round 11: Conquering the kings

The last two times Zvezda traveled to play Real Madrid – it won. Zvezda first waited for nearly 45 years to claim a road win in Madrid before a memorable 83-87 triumph in December 2017 against that season's eventual EuroLeague champs behind a club-record 17 three-pointers. Then, in January of last season, Zvezda stunned Real on the road once again, 77-79 behind 18 points from Cory Walden. There will be no counting out Zvezda when it visits Madrid this season.

## Round 18: Fan favorite's homecoming

Jordan Loyd quickly became a fan-favorite in Belgrade when wearing the Zvezda uniform last season. Loyd set the Zvezda single-season club record in scoring by averaging 17.3 points per game and helped the team win the domestic triple crown. Billy Baron is another favorite of Zvezda fans, having spent two seasons there. Both now wear Zenit's uniform and will be treated to warm welcomes in the Serbian capital.

## Round 21: Kaunas trip

Aaron White was one of Zvezda's biggest signings this summer and this high-flying forward has a special status in Kaunas. White spent two seasons with Zalgiris, from 2017 to 2019, and helped the team reach the 2018 Final Four and make the EuroLeague Playoffs a year later. Add to the mix that Zvezda has had its share of success in Kaunas, winning two of its last four visits there, and it will be a matchup circled on the calendars of many fans from both teams.

## Round 29: Keeping the streak alive

Maccabi is always a big draw in the Serbian capital and Crvena Zvezda is proud that it has enjoyed plenty of success in recent years against the Israeli champions. Zvezda beat Maccabi in each of the last five meetings at home. That streak, which started back in 2015, consists of four wins of 12 or more points, including an 83-58 drubbing in 2016 as well as a 76-64 victory last season.

## Round 34: MVP in the house

Vasilije Micic is a former Zvezda player who spent half a season with the club. Micic stated several times how important in his career the opportunity he got as a 22-year-old with Zvezda was and he helped the team make history by reaching the 2016 EuroLeague Playoffs. He now returns to play Zvezda for the first time as the reigning EuroLeague MVP leading the reigning EuroLeague champions. That will be a fun night in Belgrade.



As Crvena Zvezda aims to return to the EuroLeague Playoffs for the first time since its lone previous postseason trip in 2016, some games will be especially intriguing. 

Games to Watch: Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade 

crvena-zvezda-mts-belgrade-celebrates.jpg

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz became the first Turkish Airlines EuroLeague team to officially open practice for the coming season on Tuesday. After conducting physical examinations for its players over the weekend, the team held its first joint practice on Tuesday under the watchful of head coach Dusko Ivanovic. In the morning, the squad had worked on conditioning and strength before hitting the hardwoods in the afternoon.

More clubs will join Baskonia and get their preparations officially started soon; more than half-dozen other EuroLeague teams have started their players' medical tests and will be begin on-court practices later this week.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Motivated. <br>Determined. <br>Hungry.<br><br>🗣 <a href="https://twitter.com/Sedekerskis_11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sedekerskis_11</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PreseasonBKN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PreseasonBKN</a> | <a href="https://t.co/muQFVjhx9g">https://t.co/muQFVjhx9g</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y07pbiWUEW">pic.twitter.com/Y07pbiWUEW</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1427612993299357706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz became the first Turkish Airlines EuroLeague team to officially open practice for the coming season on Tuesday. 

Baskonia hits the floor for first practice

wade-baldwin-iv-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz-preseason-21.jpg

Panathinaikos OPAP Athens and defensive ace Howard Sant-Roos have come to terms on a two-year contract extension, the club announced Monday. Sant-Roos (2.01 meters, 30 years old) averaged 7.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 32 EuroLeague games last season, his first with the Greens. He ranked fourth in the league in steals per game.


Sant-Roos became the first Cuban native to play in the EuroLeague this century when he joined CSKA Moscow during the 2019-20 campaign. He has also played for Bernareggio, Broni and Casalpusterlengo in Italy, Braunschweig in Germany, Nymburk in the Czech Republic and AEK Athens in Greece. He helped AEK win the 2019 Intercontinental Cup and led Nymburk to Czech League crowns in 2016 and 2017.

<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sant-Roos 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ ☘<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/panathinaikosbcopap?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#panathinaikosbcopap</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreenOurHome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GreenOurHome</a> <a href="https://t.co/ehcwPOYFNI">pic.twitter.com/ehcwPOYFNI</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1427239664067432450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>

Panathinaikos, Sant-Roos announce 2-year extension

howard-sant-roos-panathinaikos-opap-athens-eb20-b4lesyt8i47flvdf.jpg

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne bolstered its frontcourt by adding center Youssoupha Fall on-loan from Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, the French powerhouse announced Monday. Fall (2.21 meters, 26 years old) averaged 7.0 points on 62.8% two-point shooting and 3.2 rebounds in 32 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games with Baskonia last season. He ranked fourth overall in PIR per 40 minutes (27.7), sixth in rebounds (10.9) and eighth in scoring (24.0) in the 2020-21 EuroLeague campaign, his second in the competition.

Fall helped Baskonia win the Spanish League title in 2020. He started his career with Le Mans Sarthe Basket and also played for two other French teams, Union Poitiers Basket 86 and Strasbourg. He helped Le Mans win the French League title in 2018 and lift the French Cup trophy in 2016. Fall also won the French Leaders Cup crown with Strasbourg in 2019.

<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">❗️ Effectif 2021-2022 👉 De la taille dans la raquette ! <br><br>Le pivot international sénégalais Youssoupha Fall (26 ans, 2m21) vient renforcer le secteur intérieur de LDLC ASVEL ! <br>✍️ <a href="https://t.co/WXwfMrzy8v">https://t.co/WXwfMrzy8v</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LDLCASVEL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LDLCASVEL</a></p>&mdash; LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1427266316675817475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>

ASVEL completes roster with big man Fall

youssoupha-fall-td-systems-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz-eb20-berv4bcikkfclgfu.jpg