Real Madrid strengthened its backcourt by inking point guard Nigel Williams-Goss to a two-year contract, the club announced on Tuesday. Williams-Goss (1.91 meters, 26 years old) arrives from Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar, where he averaged 17.0 points on 50.0% three-point shooting, 5.2 assists and 2.3 steals in six 7DAYS EuroCup games this season. He split in the 2019-20 campaign between Utah in the NBA and its G-League team, Salt Lake City. Williams-Goss appeared in 10 games with Utah in limited capacity, but averaged 15.3 points, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 17 games for Salt Lake.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🙌 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BienvenidoWilliamsGoss?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BienvenidoWilliamsGoss</a> 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/HoF93X5h0t">pic.twitter.com/HoF93X5h0t</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1414892181513547802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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He made his professional debut with Partizan NIS Belgrade in the 2017-18 season. His first EuroCup campaign lasted for only nine appearances as Partizan failed to reach the Top 16, but in that regular season Williams-Goss ranked fourth in average PIR (20.1) and second in assists (6.7 apg.). He also tied for fifth in scoring (17.0 ppg.) and averaged 1.6 steals. Williams-Goss then moved to Olympiacos Piraeus where he averaged 9.2 points, 4.2 assists and 2.0 rebounds in the 2018-19 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. "It's wonderful to be on this team and in a club with the most titles in Europe," Williams-Goss said. "It's an honor, and for that reason, I have to be in the best shape. I am a team player who likes to win above all else, which is why I think this is the perfect place for me."

Real Madrid signs playmaker Williams-Goss

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CSKA Moscow got more size in the paint by signing big man Vladimir Ivlev to a one-year deal, the club announced Monday. Ivlev (2.07 meters, 31 years old) arrives from fellow Russian side Parma Basket, where he averaged 4.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in VTB League aftion, while also posting 6.2 points and 6.0 rebounds in FIBA EuroCup last season. Ivlev returns to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague where he made 17 appearances with Nizhny Novgorod in the 2014-15 campaign. Ivlev also has seven 7DAYS EuroCup seasons under his belt, making 102 appearances in that competition, having made his debut with Dynamo Moscow, the club he grew up with. Ivlev also played two EuroCup seasons with Nizhny and four others with Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar. He has EuroCup career averages of 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds. During his career, he also played a season with Ryazan, and has been a member of the Russian national team.

"We are bringing to our team a big man who has plenty of experience playing in the VTB League. I talked to Vladimir and I see that he is motivated and thrilled, he understands his role, and he's ready to make the next step in his career," CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis said after the agreement. "He is aware of the responsibility, expectations and amount of work he has to do here. We are looking forward to working together and welcome Vladimir to our team."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Russian National Team center Vladimir Ivlev (31 years old, 207 cm) signed a one-year contract with our club. <a href="https://t.co/f5jIW3wJLe">pic.twitter.com/f5jIW3wJLe</a></p>&mdash; CSKA Moscow (@cskabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/cskabasket/status/1414858933026557953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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CSKA adds frontcourt depth with Ivlev

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On Tuesday afternoon, 7DAYS EuroCup runner-up and Turkish Airlines EuroLeague returnee UNICS Kazan announced that big man Artem Klimenko will stay with the team one more season with an option for another. Klimenko (2.14 meters, 27 years old) averaged 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 14 EuroCup games last season. He already played the EuroLeague with UNICS in 2016-17 and then he played three more EuroCup seasons with the Kazan team. Aside from UNICS, Klimenko only played with his club of origin, Avtodor Saratov of Russia, where he made his EuroCup debut in 2015.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ru" dir="ltr">⚡️Артём Клименко остаётся с нами<br>⠀⠀<br>БК УНИКС и центровой Артём Клименко подписали новое соглашение, рассчитанное по системе 1+1. <a href="https://t.co/KlgaSRix0e">pic.twitter.com/KlgaSRix0e</a></p>&mdash; BC UNICS Kazan (@unicsbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/unicsbasket/status/1414979910569971718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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UNICS, Klimenko stay together

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Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul announced on Monday extending guard Ekrem Sancakli and forward Ismail Karabilen on two-year deals. Sancakli (1.94 meters, 20 years old) has spent last season with Afyon Belediyespor where he averaged 3.6 points and 1.5 rebounds in the Turkish League action. He previously appeared in one Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game, when he scored 5 points in 6 minutes in a big road loss at FC Barcelona. Sancakli grew up with Fenerbahce, just like Karabilen (1.06 meters, 20 years old) who also spent time with Afyon last season, making five appearances in limited fashion. Both players have been members of the Turkish national teams in youth categories, and both now continue with Fenerbahce.



Fenerbahce extends youngsters Sancakli and Karabilen

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Real Madrid bolstered its frontcourt with the signing of power forward Guerschon Yabusele on a one-year deal, the club announced Monday. Yabusele (2.02 meters, 25 years old) played for LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne last season and averaged 11.0 points and 4.2 rebounds in 30 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games. He also helped ASVEL win the French League and Cup double. "I am very grateful to be in such a great club with so much history", Yabusele said. "It is something very important to me. Everything that Real Madrid has, the titles, the history of the club… It is very special and being part of it is also very special for me and my family. I really want to start playing with the team."

Yabusele came to ASVEL from Nanjing Tongxi Monkey Kings, where he averaged 17.9 points and 7.2 rebounds in 15 Chinese League games in the 2019-20 season. He started his career with French side Chorale Roanne. Yabusele has also played for SPO Rouen Basket of France, Shanghai Dongfang Sharks of China, Maine of the D-League and Boston of the NBA. Yabusele has been a member of the French national team, too.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🙌 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BienvenidoYabusele?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BienvenidoYabusele</a> 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/bxUJfNOo5T">pic.twitter.com/bxUJfNOo5T</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1414524634603655168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Real tabs power forward Yabusele

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Panathinaikos OPAP Athens added firepower to its perimeter by inking combo guard Daryl Macon to a one-year deal with an option for another, the club announced on Monday. Macon (1.90 meters, 25 years old) arrives from AEK Athens, where he averaged 18.2 points on excellent shooting percentages (63.4% 2FG, 45.7% 3FG, 90.2% FT) and 3.7 assists in 19 Greek League games last season. He started the 2020-21 campaign with Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul, averaging 15.7 points and 5.5 assists in 17 Turkish League games before joining AEK. Macon has also played for Dallas and Miami of the NBA, as well as for Texas and Sioux Falls of the G League. He is set to make his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut with Panathinaikos next season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="el" dir="ltr">Welcome <a href="https://twitter.com/_dmacon4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_dmacon4</a>! ☘<br><br>Η ΚΑΕ Παναθηναϊκός ΟΠΑΠ ανακοινώνει την απόκτηση του Ντάριλ Μέικον για τα επόμενα 1+1 χρόνια.<br><br>Διάβασε περισσότερα εδώ: <a href="https://t.co/tAmd2GS8Iz">https://t.co/tAmd2GS8Iz</a><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/UnitedWeStand?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnitedWeStand</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/panathinaikos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#panathinaikos</a> <a href="https://t.co/N62c1zhuqR">pic.twitter.com/N62c1zhuqR</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1414502448497102849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Panathinaikos adds guard Macon

Real Madrid center Walter Tavares led the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague in blocked shots last season with 1.8 per game. That marked the third season in a row in which he paced the competition in both blocks per game and total rejections.

Tavares's 63 total blocks were the second-most in one season in EuroLeague history, trailing only the 68 shots that Ekpe Udoh blocked with Fenerbahce Istanbul in 2016-17. In fact, Tavares owns three of the top five single-season block totals.

In January, Tavares added to his list of accolades when he became the fifth player in EuroLeague history to reach the 200 blocks milestone. He accomplished the feat against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv on January 21, 2021. Tavares was the youngest player on record and needed fewer games than anyone before to reach that number.

Fran Vazquez, who led the competition in blocks for many years, was the first player to block 200 shots and now sits third on the all-time charts with 249. The other three members of the 200-blocks club claimed their membership in the 2018-19 season. They are Bryant Dunston, who leads the all-time standings with 273 blocks; Kyle Hines of AX Armani Exchange Milan, who is second with 262; and Tavares's Real teammate Alex Tyus (217), who is fifth. Tavares is fourth with 224 career rejections.

Tavares was 28 years and 305 days old when he blocked his 200th shot. Vazquez had been the youngest by recording his 200th block at 30 years and 170 days of age. Tavares only needed 112 games to register its 200th block, which is considerably fewer than the other members of the club. Dunston reached that figure in 157 games, Tyus needed 168, Vazquez did so in 186 and Hines had his 200th block in his 241st EuroLeague showdown.

Since Tavares made his EuroLeague debut in Round 7 of the 2017-18 season, his 224 blocks are nearly as many as the next two players over that span combined! In that time, Dunston has blocked 131 shots and Hines has rejected 98. Thus, it should come as no surprise that Tavares was chosen as the EuroLeague Best Defender for both the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons, as he changed games on defense like no other center due to his size, timing, quick legs and extraordinary coordination.

Nicknamed "Sergeant Swat" by EuroLeague TV commentator and former champion Joe Arlauckas, Tavares has blocked 1.76 shots per game for his career. That is good for second place overall; Udoh had 129 blocks in 58 games for an average of 2.22. The late Grigorij Khizhnyak did not play enough games to qualify, though with 83 blocks in 26 career games for Zalgiris Kaunas from 2000 to 2002, he averaged 3.19 blocks per game.

With four of the top five shot-blockers in EuroLeague history active last season, the numbers at the top of the charts continue to rise. However, if Tavares maintains his current pace, the top of the charts awaits him, one blocked shot at a time.

Real Madrid center Walter Tavares led the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague in both blocks per game and total rejections. for the third season in a row.

Milestones: Tavares's block party

Panathinaikos OPAP Athens and small forward Ioannis Papapatrou are set to keep working together until the end of the 2022-23 season, the club announced Sunday. Papapetrou (2.03 meters, 27 years old) averaged 12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 27 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague last season. In his three seasons with the Greens, Papapetrou has helped Panathinaikos win three consecutive Greek League titles, and also lifted the Greek Cup trophy in 2019 and 2021.

Before that, Papapetrou played for archrivals Olympiacos Piraeus for five years. He helped Olympiacos reach – and played in – the EuroLeague championship game in both 2015 and 2017. Papapetrou played high school basketball in Florida and one year of college basketball at the University of Texas before beginning his professional career with Olympiacos. His trophy case with Olympiacos includes a pair of Greek League titles in 2015 and 2016. Papapetrou has also suited for the Greek national team at the junior and senior levels.



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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Captain stays home for 2 more years! ☘🏠<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/UnitedWeStand?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnitedWeStand</a> <a href="https://t.co/RsomltAQrM">pic.twitter.com/RsomltAQrM</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1414170147103903752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Panathinaikos re-signs Papapetrou

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One of the top 15 performers in the competition last season, Wade Baldwin IV, is switching Turkish Airlines EuroLeague teams as Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz on Saturday announced the signing of the high-flying point guard for the 2021-22 season

Baskonia lands Baldwin in backcourt

Baldwin (1.93 meters, 25 years old) wowed a lot of observers in his second full season by averaging 15.3 points, ninth-best in the EuroLeague, while helping FC Bayern Munich become the first German team to reach the playoffs this century. Baldwin also put up 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 27 minutes per game for an average PIR of 13.4, which was 15th best among all EuroLeague players. Baldwin had debuted in the EuroLeague a year earlier with 5.5 points and 1.8 assists on average in 17 minutes per game. After two years at Vanderbilt University, Baldwin had begun his pro career in the NBA, playing parts of three seasons with Memphis and Portland, appearing in 62 total games.

One of the top 15 performers in the competition last season, Wade Baldwin IV, is switching Turkish Airlines EuroLeague teams as Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz on Saturday announced the signing of the high-flying point guard for the 2021-22 season.

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