Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv acquired one of the top talents in Israel when it signed point guard Yiftach Ziv on Sunday. The deal is for two years with an option for a third. Ziv (1.91 meters, 25 years old) arrives from Hapoel Gilboa/Gaili, which he led to the Israeli League finals last season where they lost to Maccabi. He averaged 12.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game in the regular season and raised those numbers to 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.6 steals per game in the playoffs.

Ziv grew up in the Maccabi Haifa youth system and also played for Ironi Kiryat Ata, Hapoel Kiryat Tiv’on and Elitzur Ramle in Israel's second division. He has since played for Bnei Herzliya, Maccabi Ashdod and Ironi Nahariya. Ziv is also a member of the Israeli national team.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/lzJrA3rqHW">https://t.co/lzJrA3rqHW</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC (@MaccabitlvBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabitlvBC/status/1411576678619492352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Maccabi signs Ziv ati pont guard

CSKA Moscow announced on Friday that it has re-signed guard Iffe Lundberg for two more seasons with an option for a third. Lundberg (1.93 meters, 26 years old) made his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut with CSKA last season, in which he averaged 11.3 points on excellent shooting percentages (67.7% 2FG, 43.6% 3FG) and 2.2 assists in 15 games. He boosted his scoring average to 14.0 points at the Final Four. Lundberg helped CSKA win the VTB United League, too.

Lundberg joined CSKA from Polish side Stelmet Zielona Gora, which he had helped to the Polish Cup as that competition’s MVP before joining CSKA. Lundberg started his professional career as a teenager with Falcon in his native Denmark and also played for Copenhagen and Horsens before heading abroad, playing for Basquet Manresa and Tenerife of Spain. He is also a member of the Danish national team.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">⚡️ Guard <a href="https://twitter.com/IffeLundberg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IffeLundberg</a> (26 years old, 193 cm) signed a “2+1” agreement with our club. <a href="https://t.co/USSmixEFmH">pic.twitter.com/USSmixEFmH</a></p>&mdash; CSKA Moscow (@cskabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/cskabasket/status/1410926166924578816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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"Iffe is a highly motivated player who established his status on the highest level of European basketball after receiving his chance at CSKA last season," Coach Dimitris Itoudis said, "At the same time, he has plenty of room for improvement. It will be a different situation for him this time as he will be able to start the year with us and go through the preseason. He will be able to improve his skills and help the team win."

"I'm happy to come back and play for CSKA. I really like it and everyone there plus it's a great environment to be in. I’m excited for the upcoming season and of course, there’s some unfinished business that needs to be taken care of," Lundberg added.



CSKA re-signs guard Lundberg

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UNICS Kazan added experience to its backcourt with the signing of guard Vyacheslav Zaytsev, the club announced Friday. The deal is for one season with an option for a second year. Zaytsev (1.90 meters, 31 years old) arrives from Khimki Moscow Region where he spent the past five seasons and is coming off the most productive of his career. A veteran of six seasons and 92 appearances under his belt in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, he started in 26 of 34 games and ranked sixth in the league with 1.3 steals per game last season, while also posting 5.1 points, 2.4 assists and 2.4 rebounds. Zaytsev started his career with Khimki's youth teams and was in his second stint with the club. He also played four seasons for Enisey Krasnoyarsk and one for Krasny Oktyabr Volgograd during his career. He has been a member of the Russian national team, too.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ru" dir="ltr">Вячеслав Зайцев – новый игрок БК УНИКС!✅<br>⠀<br>Контракт с защитником рассчитан по системе 1+1. <a href="https://t.co/klvdlagXoH">pic.twitter.com/klvdlagXoH</a></p>&mdash; BC UNICS Kazan (@unicsbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/unicsbasket/status/1410938432466178049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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UNICS adds Zaytsev to backcourt

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Zenit St. Petersburg and sharpshooter Billy Baron put pen and paper together on a contract extension that will keep them together through the end of the 2022-23 season, the club announced on Friday. Baron (1.88 meters, 30 years old) originally signed a two-year deal with Zenit when he first joined last season. He averaged 9.6 points on 44.8% three-point shooting in 39 games mostly off the bench last season. Baron's 81 three-pointers were third-most in the league.

Baron started his professional basketball career with Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius of Lithuania, and also played for Spirou Charleroi of Belgium, UCAM Murcia of Spain and Eskisehir Basket of Turkey before joining Cvrena Zvezda Belgrade in 2018. He made his EuroLeague debut with Zvezda the following season. He led Zvezda to the Adriatic and Serbian League crowns in 2019. Baron has also been a member of the USA national team, with which he won a gold medal at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">⏳💪🏾 with <a href="https://twitter.com/Billy_Baron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Billy_Baron</a> !<a href="https://t.co/8PWd2v28mp">https://t.co/8PWd2v28mp</a> <a href="https://t.co/dvsy155pnN">pic.twitter.com/dvsy155pnN</a></p>&mdash; Basketball club Zenit (@zenitbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/zenitbasket/status/1410917508584988680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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“My wife and son and I are looking forward to being a part of the Zenit family for two more years,” Baron said. “We love St. Petersburg, it's good that we managed to come to an agreement with the club. I look forward to working with Xavi Pascual and his coaching staff in the future to continue the success we had last season.”

Zenit, Baron agree to contract extension

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LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne announced on Friday the addition of forward Raymar Morgan for next season. Morgan (2.04 meters, 32 years old) arrives from Pinar Karsiyaka of Turkey, where last season he averaged 17.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in the FIBA Basketball Champions League. Morgan is a 7DAYS EuroCup veteran of five seasons with ratiopharm Ulm, UNICS Kazan and Tofas Bursa and will be making his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut with ASVEL. He played college basketball at Michigan State University from 2006 to 2010 and then moved to Europe where he has spent all of his professional career. Morgan has also suited up for Maccabi Rishon LeZion, Ironi Ashkelon and Barak Netanya in Israel, BG Goettingen in Germany and Panathinaikos Athens in Greece.

<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">❗ Effectif 2021-2022 👉 Raymar MORGAN s’engage pour une saison !<br><br>L’intérieur Américain de 32 ans (2m04) vient renforcer le secteur intérieur de LDLC ASVEL pour la saison prochaine. <br>✍ <a href="https://t.co/3oHIHElvrC">https://t.co/3oHIHElvrC</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/1410886656845127680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

ASVEL adds big man Morgan

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FC Bayern Munich has secured the services of shooting guard Ognjen Jaramaz for the next three seasons, the club announced Friday. Jaramaz (1.93 meters, 25 years old) arrives from Partizan NIS Belgrade, where he averaged 9.5 points and 2.6 assists in 11 games in the 7DAYS EuroCup last season. It was his third campaign with Partizan; Jaramaz played under Coach Andrea Trinchieri, his new Bayern coach, in his first two years with the Serbian powerhouse and together they captured back-to-back Serbian Cups.



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝙎𝙀𝙍𝙑𝙐𝙎 𝙊𝙂𝙄 👋<br><br>Welcome to the Bayern Family, Ognjen <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jaramaz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jaramaz</a><br><br>🔗 <a href="https://t.co/JKr0YyAHkP">https://t.co/JKr0YyAHkP</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jaramaz2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jaramaz2024</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></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1410884724768321540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A product of the Partizan youth system, Jaramaz made his professional debut with Mega Leks and also played for Smederevo in his native Serbia and Burgos in Spain. He was a member of Serbia's gold-medal winning team at the 2015 European U-20 Championship.

"I am very happy and can hardly wait to be part of FC Bayern Basketball," said Jaramaz. “I know what goals and ambitions this club has. This definitely gives me extra motivation for the tasks in the EuroLeague and the [German League]. Of course, I am looking forward to working with Andrea Trinchieri again, with whom I have a lot in common since our days at Partizan. I am convinced that we can achieve a lot as a team and bring the [German] title back to Munich."

Bayern inks Jaramaz to 3-year deal

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Former All-EuroLeague selection and 2019 7DAYS EuroCup champion Fernando San Emeterio announced his retirement as a basketball player on Friday at a ceremony at La Fonteta, Valencia Basket's court that has served as his second home for the past six seasons.

With many of his former coaches and teammates in attendance, the 37-year-old hung up his uniform after 20 seasons as a professional player, and will start next chapter of his basketball journey as an assistant on Valencia head coach Joan Penarroya staff.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">📽️🧡 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GraciasSanEme?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GraciasSanEme</a><br>👉 Tributo a <a href="https://twitter.com/saneme9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@saneme9</a><br><br>¡Qué 2️⃣0️⃣ años golpeando la piedra hasta que se rompa!<br><br>Una carrera impresionante merece un vídeo a la altura... o eso esperamos 😊<br><br>3️⃣🏆 como 🍊<br><br>🏆🏆 Liga Endesa<br>🏆🏆 Eurobasket<br>🥈 JJOO<br>🥉🥉 Eurobasket<br><br>¡ETERNO! ⭐<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EAct%C3%ADVate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EActíVate</a> <a href="https://t.co/rfHq6jHyUa">pic.twitter.com/rfHq6jHyUa</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1411040763471962118?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </center>

San Emeterio played a total of 10 seasons in the EuroLeague – seven with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and three with Valencia Basket. His best season came in 2010-11 when he averaged 13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists and led the league in PIR with 19.1 in carrying Baskonia to the EuroLeague Playoffs. San Emeterio earned All-EuroLeague First Team honors that season. He also played four seasons in the EuroCup – one with Akasvayu Girona and three with Valencia.

Over the course of his career, San Emeterio has stuffed his trophy case with all sorts of titles. He was the hero of Baskonia's 2010 Spanish League finals victory over FC Barcelona when he scored the go-ahead, title-clinching basket-plus-foul, which has gone down as one of the most iconic images in club history. He also won the Spanish League in 2017 in Valencia. San Emeterio won the Spanish SuperCup once each with Baskonia and Valencia. He also took home Spanish Copa del Rey in 2009 with Baskonia and the 2007 FIBA Euro Cup with Girona. A long-time member of the Spanish national team, San Emeterio captured EuroBasket gold medals in 2011 and 2015 and EuroBasket bronze medals in 2013 and 2017. He won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. 

Former All-EuroLeague selection and 2019 7DAYS EuroCup champion Fernando San Emeterio announced his retirement as a basketball player on Friday. The 37-year-old hung up his uniform after 20 seasons as a professional player.

San Emeterio announces his retirement

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Reigning EuroLeague champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul will have one of the game's best shooters around for two more seasons after agreeing to a contract extension with Rodrigue Beaubois

Efes, Beaubois pen extension through 2023

The combo guard was already under contract for the coming season and with the new deal he is now committed to Efes through the end of the 2022-23 season. Beaubois (1.90 meters, 33 years old) comes off another fantastic campaign in which he joined the 50-40-90 club, including 49.3% on three-pointers. He averaged 10.6 points and 1.8 assists for the champs, including 15 points in the semifinals at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four against CSKA Moscow.

Beaubois will likely add two more milestones to his achievements early next season as he is just 138 points away 2,000 for his EuroLeague career and just 5 three-pointers from becoming the 26th player in competition history to make 300 career triples. This season was his third with Efes, which he joined from Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz. He has helped Efes to a pair of Turkish League championships in his time there, too.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">📝<br><br>2018-2019 sezonundan bu yana formamızı terleten şampiyon oyuncumuz Rodrigue Beaubois ile olan sözleşmemizi 1 yıl daha uzattık!<br><br>Böylece, nam-ı diğer Babuş ile 2022-2023 sezonunun sonuna kadar birlikteyiz! 😉<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/eAccBf1Lbv">pic.twitter.com/eAccBf1Lbv</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1410885980329066496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Beaubois started his career with Cholet Basket, before leaving for the NBA where he spent four seasons from 2009 until 2013 with Dallas. He played a total of 182 games and was a member of Dallas's NBA championship squad in 2011. Beaubois spent the end of 2013-14 season with Belgacom Spirou Charleroi of Belgium, and also played for Le Mans Sarthe Basket in France before joining Strasbourg for the 2016-16 season, in which he made his EuroLeague debut. He has been a member of the French national team, too.

Reigning EuroLeague champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul will have one of the game's best shooters around for two more seasons after agreeing to a contract extension with Rodrigue Beaubois. 

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Maccabi Playtika remained aggressive in its roster building when it signed swingman Kameron Taylor on Thursday. The contract is for one year with an option for a second. Taylor (1.98 meters, 26 years old) arrives from Hamburg Towers, where he averaged 13.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game in the German League last season. Taylor has played most of his professional career in Germany, with stops at Brose Bamberg, s.Oliver Würzburg, Dragons Rhondorf and Team Ehingen Urspring. He also played for PVSK Panthers Pecs in Hungary during the 2018-19 season. Taylor is Maccabi's third signing of the week after it agreed to terms with James Nunnally on Sunday and Derrick Williams on Wednesday.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🛂Just landed <a href="https://t.co/hO6RIso5ZB">pic.twitter.com/hO6RIso5ZB</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC (@MaccabitlvBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabitlvBC/status/1410479804932034563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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