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Representatives from Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, two soccer and basketball heavyweights, Olimpia Milano, Panathinaikos, ASVEL, Bayern Munich and Alba Berlin were participants, signaling their interest in joining NBA Europe. NBA officials met privately with Fenerbahce, a top European team from Istanbul, last week in Berlin. Additionally, representatives from English soccer giant Manchester City were there, as were executives from Italian soccer powerhouse AC Milan, signaling their intent to either create new teams in their cities or invest further in existing teams.
Kostas Antetokounmpo is set for a loan assignment at Aris Betsson. Seeking an upgrade in his playing status for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, Olympiacos is expected to soon officially confirm the loan of the 28-year-old center. A former NBA and EuroLeague champion, the brother of Milwaukee Bucks teammates Giannis, Thanasis, and Alex, is entering the BKT EuroCup for the first time in his career. Switching to the second tier of Euroleague Basketball, he meets the Thessaloniki outfit at 6-6 in Gro
Panathinaikos Aktor Athens have decided to retain Omer Yurtseven and Kenneth Faried through the end of the current season, head coach Ergin Ataman confirmed on the eve of the Greek Derby against Olympiacos Piraeus.
According to the website Iefimerida, the guard of the Kolossos Rhodes, Andrew Goudelock, was arrested after a quantity of hashish was found in his possession.
The 37-year-old guard is in his third season with the Rhodes team, while this year (having also suffered an injury) in 7 appearances in the Stoiximan GBL, he has 14.1 points and 3 assists. In the past, he has worn the jersey of the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as Fenerbahce, with whom he played in the Euroleague.
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He also expressed his desire to finish his career with Olympiacos and reflected on how he managed to adapt so quickly to Giorgos Bartzokas’ playing style. “When I was younger, I was really emotional on the court. I played with a lot of emotion — maybe too much. In the NBA, there are simply too many games for that. You’re going to get crushed, you’re going to have crazy ups and downs because you feel and absorb all those emotions. And even though I’m more stoic now, the passion here allowed me to reconnect with that side of myself. It felt amazing to play with that ‘fire’ and that energy again… I really missed it. I’m truly happy that here I got to feel alive again!”
An unusual visit was registered in the EuroLeague game between Panathinakos and Valencia. The NBA Europe Managing Director, George Aivazoglou, attended the game in Athens, where he spent the past few days. Aivazoglou, who is also Greek, was present for the first time in a game of the EuroLeague, as a guest of Panathinaikos.
Tatum also laid out countries that will likely host the 10-to-12 permanent NBA Europe franchises, identifying France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Greece. He also specifically singled out potential Euroleague clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and LDLC ASVEL (owned by former NBAer Tony Parker). “Almost like the Champions League of basketball in Europe,” Tatum said. “So brands like Real Madrid and Barca and Man City and PSG and AC Milan playing basketball. That’s pretty compelling. Not only premium live sports content that’s relevant in Europe, but it’s relevant globally. It’s relevant in Asia, it’s relevant in the United States and North America because some of the brands that we’re talking to have tremendous global followings.” He also mentioned there would likely be a bridge year before four other teams qualify for the league in Year 2, saying, “If you’re in Lithuania, if you’re in Serbia, if you’re in Croatia, other clubs in those markets, we want every team to have an opportunity to play into that top tier league.”
Before the game between AEK and VEF Riga for the Basketball Champions League, the signing of Greg Brown III was announced. The 24-year-old American, who plays both forward positions, signed a contract with the Greeks until the end of the current season.
Olympiacos and Panathinaikos both have history and tradition, but only one of them, on paper, could have a guaranteed spot in the new NBA league. According to several Greek media outlets, Panathinaikos has recently been in contact with the NBA during its preseason games in Abu Dhabi. On paper, PAO has everything the NBA is looking for: a large, newly renovated arena, a prestigious and well-known brand, and owners willing to invest the resources needed to build an increasingly ambitious roster.
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On September 12, Turkiye routed Greece in the EuroBasket Semifinals, before falling to Germany and settling with a silver medal. Greece and Giannis went on to capture bronze. In contrast to one-sided traffic in Riga’s Xiaomi Arena, ensuing statements created tension between Sengun and Giannis, with both players later apologizing for their actions. “I got motivation in every game now. I want to win in every game. I want to be a winning player. I don’t care who’s on the other team,” Sengun further downplayed any kind of lasting strain in his relationship with the 30-year-old Greek point forward.
Kenneth Faried landed in Athens to complete his move to Panathinaikos Aktor. Following a Eurohoops report regarding a deal between the Manimal and the Greens, head coach Ergin Ataman confirmed his transfer on Saturday. On Sunday, the former NBA player and FIBA World Cup 2014 gold medalist with the United States arrived in the Greek capital.
NBA Europe managing director George Aivazoglou confirmed that the project will launch in October 2027, adding that teams from Rome, Milan (Italy), London, Manchester (United Kingdom), Paris, Lyon (France), Madrid, Barcelona (Spain), Berlin, Munich (Germany), one team from Athens (Greece) and Istanbul (Turkiye) will be playing in the competition.
Aivazoglou didn't specify which current (if any) EuroLeague teams will be competing. "We're talking with some existing basketball teams. We're also talking with football clubs that have a strong brand but don't have a basketball team—talks we're having in this country [Italy] and in this city [Milan] as well. And there are places where we'll be starting from scratch," he said.