Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv bolstered its froncourt by inking big man Roman Sorkin to a one-year deal with an option for another season, the club announced Wednesday. Sorkin (2.08 meters, 24 years old) arrives from Maccabi Haifa, where he averaged 13.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in 29 Israeli League games last season, his third with his former club. Before that, Sorkin helped the University of Oregon reach the NCAA Tournament Final Four in 2017. Sorkin has also been a member of the Israeli national team. "As an Israeli player who grew up in Israeli basketball, this is a very exciting day for me - the day I signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv," Sorkin said after the agreement. "The amazing Maccabi, which is well-known throughout Europe."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome <a href="https://twitter.com/RomannSorkin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RomannSorkin</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreMaccabi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreMaccabi</a> <a href="https://t.co/ydo79o6uQA">pic.twitter.com/ydo79o6uQA</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC (@MaccabitlvBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabitlvBC/status/1417789730977112077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Maccabi brings in big man Sorkin

FC Bayern Munich added size and experience to its roster by inking center Othello Hunter to a one-year deal, the club announced Wednesday. Hunter (2.03 meters, 35 years old) arrives from Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, where he averaged 8.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in 27 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season. In his two seasons with Maccabi, Hunter helped his former team win back-to-back Israeli League titles, lifting the Israeli Cup in 2021. He started his professional career with Atlanta of the NBA and also played for Ilysiakos of Greece, Dinamo Sassari and Montepaschi Siena of Italy, Shandong Flaming Bulls and Jiangsu Tongxi of China, Azovmash Mariupol of Ukraine, Baloncesto Valladolid and Real Madrid of Spain, Olympiacos Piraeus of Greece and CSKA Moscow of Russia, to which he helped win the EuroLeague title in 2019. He also reached the EuroLeague Championship Game with Olympiacos in 2015 and made it to two other Final Fours - with Real in 2017 and CSKA in 2018. Hunter helped Olympiacos win the Greek League title in 2015, lifted the Spanish Cup trophy with Real in 2017, and claimed back-to-back VTB League crowns with CSKA in 2018 and 2019. In 216 EuroLeague career games with Siena, Olympiacos, Real, CSKA and Maccabi, Hunter averages 8.3 points and 5.3 rebounds. He ranks fifth all-time in offensive rebounds (482).

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">𝑺𝑬𝑹𝑽𝑼𝑺 𝑶𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑳𝑳𝑶 👋<br><br>Welcome to the Bayern Family, Othello Hunter!<br><br>🔗 Mehr dazu <a href="https://t.co/xGI19Y8iwL">https://t.co/xGI19Y8iwL</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/O_hunter5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@O_hunter5</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1417782182400208897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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"When the offer from Bayern came with Coach Trinchieri, whom I've been following and known for a long time, I didn't think twice about it. We have spoken - and we just have the same views. I'm looking forward to playing for Bayern and we should definitely be a playoff team again, which they did for the first time last season," Hunter said after the agreement. "But actually my goal is always to reach the Final Four and win championships and trophies. I will do the same with Bayern."

Bayern adds veteran big man Hunter

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FC Barcelona strengthened its backcourt by inking combo guard Rokas Jokubaitis to a four-year deal, the club announced Wednesday. Jokubaitis (1.93 meters, 20 years old) arrives from Zalgiris Kaunas, where he averaged 7.0 points and 2.5 assists in 31 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season. He finished in second place in the Rising Star voting by EuroLeague head coaches, right behind Usman Garuba of Real Madrid. Jokubaitis started his career with Zalgiris's youth teams.

<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="lt" dir="ltr">✅🙌 Acord per a la incorporació de Rokas Jokubaitis per a les quatre pròximes temporades, fins al 30 de juny de 2025<br><br>👋 Rokai, sveikas atvykęs į Barseloną!<br><br>👉 <a href="https://t.co/j1hn48MyyC">https://t.co/j1hn48MyyC</a><br><br>🔵🔴<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/For%C3%A7aBar%C3%A7a?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForçaBarça</a>! <a href="https://t.co/b3OtoJrf44">pic.twitter.com/b3OtoJrf44</a></p>&mdash; 🏆 Barça Basket 🏆 (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1417771518164144128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

He also played for Neptunas Klaipeda's second squad before making his Zalgiris first team debut in the 2017-18 season. He became a full member of Zalgiris's first squad in 2019. Jokubaitis helped his team win three Lithuanian League and two Lithuanian League titles, as well as reaching the EuroLeague Playoffs in 2019. He has also been a member of the Lithuanian national team. Jokubaitis helped Lithuania get a silver medal at the 2016 U16 European Championships, and a bronze medal at the 2017 U18 European Championships.



Barcelona tabs combo guard Jokubaitis

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After helping the team reach the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs last season, big man Anton Pushkov will continue for two more seasons with Zenit St Petersburg, the club announced on Wednesday. Pushkov (2.08 meters, 32 years old) averaged 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds in a limited role last season, which was his sixth in a Zenit uniform. He arrived to St Petersburg in 2015 and has since played three 7DAYS EuroCup and two EuroLeague seasons with Zenit. He had debuted in the EuroCup with Khimki Moscow Region back in 2011-12 and was rewarded with that competition's title at the end of the season. Pushkov also won the FIBA Euro Challenge title with Krasnie Krilya Samara in 2013.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🧭 Anton The Push stays with Our Club. +2.<a href="https://t.co/5RfplalYpf">https://t.co/5RfplalYpf</a> <a href="https://t.co/U5VyV2XdRH">pic.twitter.com/U5VyV2XdRH</a></p>&mdash; Basketball club Zenit (@zenitbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/zenitbasket/status/1417854535981281280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Zenit, Pushkov stay together til 2023

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Luigi Datome's long, fruitful Turkish Airlines EuroLeague career began more than 15 years ago with Montepaschi Siena and Virtus Rome, then resumed with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul before he returned home to Italy recently with AX Armani Exchange Milan.

His unique versatility as a true all-around threat has put Datome in the orbit of true EuroLeague superstars. The proof is in his five Final Four appearances, selection to the 2015-16 All-EuroLeague team and, of course, his strong role in lifting the title with Fenerbahce in 2017. The numbers bear out Datome's uniqueness, too. Last season, he became the first player in EuroLeague history to combine for 800 rebounds, 400 two-pointers and 300 three-pointers. A true jack-of-all-trades, Luigi Datome!

Versatility put AX Armani Exchange Milan forward Luigi Datome in the orbit of true EuroLeague superstars, and last season he passed a milestone that belongs to him alone.

Datome set new versatility milestone in 2020-21

On Tuesday morning, 7DAYS EuroCup champ AS Monaco announced the comeback of guard Yakuba Ouattara for next season

AS Monaco brings back Ouattara

Ouattara (1.92 meters, 29 years old) arrives from Betis of Spain, where last season he averaged 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 30 Spanish League games. Ouattara had already played four seasons in Monaco prior, including 7DAYS EuroCup appearances in 2018-19 and 2019-20, but also in 2013-14 with his former team, Chalon. Ouattara is set to make his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut this season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">✍️ Welcome back 𝗬𝗮𝗸𝘂𝗯𝗮 𝗢𝘂𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗮 ! 💣 Le numéro 24 est familier en Principauté : &quot;Yak&quot; a déjà revêtu la tenue 🔴⚪️ à 𝟮𝟬𝟭 reprises ! Un retour aux sources pour notre arrière/ailier (1,92 m, 29 ans) 😍<br>🔙 𝘽𝙤𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙞 𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙨 <a href="https://twitter.com/yakubaouattara?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YakubaOuattara</a> 🇲🇨 <a href="https://t.co/EFt5ublERW">pic.twitter.com/EFt5ublERW</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1417364290340851712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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On Tuesday morning, 7DAYS EuroCup champ AS Monaco announced the comeback of guard Yakuba Ouattara for next season.

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LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne continued filling out its roster with the addition of combo guard Chris Jones for next season, the club announced on Tuesday. Jones (1.88 meters, 28 years old) debuted last season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, coming off the bench to put up 7.0 points, 2.8 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 17:30 minutes averaged over 34 games. He won the Israeli League crown with Maccabi at season's end after putting up 11.8 points per game in domestic play, which has been the norm in his career. Jones turned pro with Starwings Basel of the Swiss League, spent two seasons with Mons-Hainaut of France, and then played one for Bursaspor in Turkey before his year in Tel Aviv. Until last season, he never averaged fewer than 14.0 points in his domestic leagues. Prior to turning pro, Jones played university ball at North Texas and Angelo State.



"We are very happy that Chris made the choice to join us," ASVEL head coach T.J. Parker said. "We have been following him since last year. He is a leader and a floor general, with high-quality passing and a very strong pick-and-roll game. His average points during his season at Bursaspor (15.4) prove that he can score, too, when needed, and that makes him very complete in attack. On defense, he can defend both guard spots."

<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">❗ Effectif 2021-2022 👉 Chris JONES à la mène !<br><br>En provenance du Maccabi Tel-Aviv, le meneur de jeu Américain rejoint LDLC ASVEL pour la prochaine saison !<br>✍ <a href="https://t.co/SWezI7Md4B">https://t.co/SWezI7Md4B</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/1417393630906572801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

ASVEL puts Jones in backcourt

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Panathinaikos OPAP Athens announced on Tuesday the addition of young Nikos Chougkaz for the next four years, even if he will be sent on loan right away to see more playing time in Ionikos Nikaias, the team where he also played last season. Hougaz (2.08 meters, 20 years old) is a forward that started as a player in Peristeri but made his pro debut with Panionios in 2018-19, averaging 3.4 points and 1.1 rebounds. In the summer of 2019 he went to the United States, playing college ball with Northwestern State. He finished the year averaging 9.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/DjDqOjkiHI">https://t.co/DjDqOjkiHI</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1417441211024125952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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After that, Hougaz joined Ionikos last season and he averaged 10.6 points and 6.3 rebounds in the Greek League with solid shooting averages and that earned him the Best New Player award in the competition. Hougaz has also been a member of the U19 Greek national team.

Panathinaikos inks Chougkaz long-term

Zenit St Petersburg strengthened its backcourt by signing playmaker Shabazz Napier to a one-year deal, the club announced Monday. Napier (1.85 meters, 30 years old) last played for Washington of the NBA, averaging 11.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 20 games in the 2019-20 season. He started that campaign with another NBA team, Minnesota, averaging 9.6 points and 5.2 assists in 36 games before joining Washington. Napier has also played for Miami, Orlando, Portland and Brooklyn of the NBA, as well as for Sioux Falls of the G League. Before that, he helped the University of Connecticut win two NCAA Tournament championships in 2011 and 2014. He was chosen as the NCAA All-Tournament MVP in 2014. Napier has also been a member of the Puerto Rican national team.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">📝 Please, Welcome!<br> Shabazz Napier is Our New Player.<a href="https://t.co/0segM6PUbC">https://t.co/0segM6PUbC</a> <a href="https://t.co/12wXCBqFRL">pic.twitter.com/12wXCBqFRL</a></p>&mdash; Basketball club Zenit (@zenitbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/zenitbasket/status/1417048778801045506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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