Latest news with #EuroLeague
Boston Globe
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Celtics hire Drew Nicholas as executive director of player personnel
As a player, Nicholas was a backup guard for Maryland's 2001-02 national championship team and averaged 17.8 points per game as a senior the following season. He had a lengthy career overseas that included one EuroLeague scoring title and two championships. Last month, longtime Celtics assistant general manager Austin Ainge was hired as president of basketball operations for the Jazz. And in April, director of scouting Remy Cofield was named deputy athletic director and general manager for athletics at the University of Arkansas. Advertisement Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Two-time All-Star Emma Meesseman to sign with New York Liberty in WNBA return: Source
Two-time WNBA All-Star Emma Meesseman has committed to signing with the New York Liberty, a league source confirmed to The Athletic, bringing the European star back to the league for the first time since 2022. When exactly Meesseman will suit up for New York remains uncertain, as her arrival will be subject to the length of time it takes for her visa application to be processed, the source said. ESPN was first to report Meesseman's return. Advertisement Meesseman, according to league sources, also considered signing with the Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury before deciding on New York. Although Meesseman, a 2019 WNBA Finals MVP with the Washington Mystics, last played in the U.S. over two seasons ago, she has been arguably the best player in Europe in recent years. Meesseman led the Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe to EuroLeague championships in 2023 and 2024, and she won EuroLeague MVP honors in each of the past three years. She also led the Paris Olympics in scoring in 2024. Meesseman waited to sign with a WNBA franchise until after the conclusion of the June EuroBasket tournament. She led Belgium to the title after a ferocious comeback in the game's waning minutes, earning not only another title for her native country but also tournament MVP honors. 'We would love to have her, if that's something that she's interested in,' Liberty coach Sandy Brondello told reporters on July 8. 'That would certainly help us, an experienced post player.' Brondello previously coached Meesseman at the Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg, with the two overlapping in 2016 and 2017. Brondello's top assistant in New York, Olaf Lange, was also on the UMMC coaching staff and has familiarity with the Belgian forward. How she fits with New York is worth watching, as the Liberty frontcourt has been led by former league MVPs Stewart and Jonquel Jones, who is expected to return to play from her recent ankle injury Tuesday. Nevertheless, Meesseman is also comfortable playing alongside both players. Stewart and Jones both played with Meesseman in Ekaterinburg, and more recently, Stewart played alongside Meesseman at Fenerbahçe during the 2022-23 season. 'Emma's an amazing player,' Stewart said in early July. 'She's someone who reads the game really well. For a team that wants to play read and react, and play fast, she'd be a perfect fit for us.' Advertisement Meesseman averaged 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game during her season with the Chicago Sky in 2022. The Liberty begin the second half 15-6 on the season, the second-best record in the WNBA. New York also announced it signed veteran forward Stephanie Talbot on Monday morning. The Liberty play the Indiana Fever on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nikola Jokić's backup commits to Nuggets after EuroLeague flirtation
After Denver Nuggets executive vice president Ben Tenzer strongly hinted that Jonas Valančiūnas would stay in Denver following a EuroLeague flirtation, it wasn't clear exactly how Valančiūnas felt about putting off Europe (for now). Valančiūnas has changed all that by taking the professional route. On Monday, BasketNews' Donatas Urbonas shared an unofficial statement from the Lithuanian center in which he "fully" committed to the Nuggets' mission of winning the 2025-2026 NBA championship. While mostly unfounded, there were lingering questions about whether Valančiūnas would continue to spar with the Nuggets over staying in the NBA. Given Valančiūnas's status as a potential quality innings eater to help keep three-time league MVP Nikola Jokić fresh over the course of an entire season, these were more than fair concerns. Valančiūnas has put those questions to rest by proactively stating his full intentions for Denver out in the open, thereby ensuring everyone associated with the Nuggets doesn't have to worry about him pulling out the rug at the last moment through the rest of the summer: After enjoying one of the best offseasons of anyone in the NBA, the Nuggets now have one less problem to worry about. Obstacles will assuredly still arise here and there. You know, like they do for everyone. But Valančiūnas's "will he or won't he?" situation finally coming to an end means this championship contender can start focusing on gearing up for the long haul in earnest. It can start focusing on basketball and basketball alone. How will Jonas Valančiūnas help the Denver Nuggets? Valančiūnas's role with the Nuggets should mostly be pretty elementary. He will be expected to help keep Denver afloat every time Jokić is off the floor. The backup center position has been a major bugaboo for the Nuggets and Jokić, particularly over the last half-decade or so. It had gotten to the point where, most nights, the Nuggets could ill afford to give their best player any extended rest over fears that his backup and a bench lineup would inevitably crater together. Naturally, this setup has led the Serbian superstar to overextend himself in the regular season and use some of his energy that would have been better utilized in the postseason for a franchise that considers itself a championship contender. Valančiūnas won't solve all of the Nuggets' problems. He is not a player without flaws, particularly on the defensive end. But he is an experienced offensive player with a reliable bag of tricks he's polished over the years. He should be enough to actually keep Denver afloat whenever Jokić isn't playing. That, in itself, will be a godsend to a team that relies so much on the best basketball player in the world.
News18
2 days ago
- Sport
- News18
NBA: Valanciunas Saga Ends? Denver Nuggets Confirm Signing Despite EuroLeague Rumors
Last Updated: The Nuggets expect Valanciunas to join their roster despite EuroLeague interest. Acquired from the Sacramento Kings, Valanciunas is seen as a key addition to support Jokic. A contingency plan to sign a backup center for Nikola Jokic appears to be off the table. The Denver Nuggets fully expect newly acquired big man Jonas Valanciunas to be part of their roster when the upcoming NBA season begins, despite recent speculation surrounding his future in the league. Trade Official Amid Overseas Interest Denver finalized a trade with the Sacramento Kings last weekend, acquiring the 6-foot-11 Valanciunas in exchange for veteran forward Dario Saric. However, leading up to the announcement, reports surfaced linking Valanciunas to EuroLeague powerhouse Panathinaikos, raising questions about his commitment to remaining in the NBA. Adding to the confusion was the fact that Valanciunas still has two years and more than $20 million remaining on his current NBA contract. 'There's been nothing but healthy conversations in terms of him honoring his contract and him excited to be a Nugget," Tenzer said of Valanciunas. The acquisition of the 33-year-old Valanciunas caps off what has been a busy and effective offseason for Denver's front-office duo of Tenzer and general manager Jonathan Wallace, who have reshaped the roster in preparation for another title push. Tenzer confirmed that discussions with Valanciunas have been positive. The Lithuanian big man is scheduled to compete in FIBA EuroBasket this summer, and the Nuggets are closely monitoring his schedule. Valanciunas split last season between the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings, averaging 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists across 81 games. Denver is counting on Valanciunas to provide meaningful minutes behind Jokic, who shouldered a heavy load last season. (with AP inputs) view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Arab News
Mfiondu Kabengele becomes Dubai Basketball's 8th signing of the summer
DUBAI: Canadian center Mfiondu Kabengele joins Dubai Basketball for the next two seasons after reaching an agreement with the club starting this September. The Canadian arrives from Reyer Venezia (Italy), where he starred last season in the EuroCup and the Italian League. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport He is the eighth new signing following the announcement of Musa, Avramovic, Wright, Kamenjas, Jaiteh, Bacon, and Anderson joining Dubai's head coach Jurica Golemac. Kabengele had a fantastic season in the EuroCup with Reyer Venezia. He was the top rebounder of the competition, averaging 9.7 rebounds per game. He added 15.4 points, 1.5 assists, and 1 steal per game in 18 matches. His impressive performance earned him a spot on the All-EuroCup First Team. In the Italian League, he was one of the best players on court. He averaged 15.2 points and 9.8 rebounds and had one of the best efficiency ratings in the competition (20.7). Before moving to Europe, Kabengele played in the NBA from 2019 to 2022. The Canadian played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics. In total, he appeared in 55 NBA games. In the G League, he had strong performances and helped the Rio Grande Valley Vipers win the title in 2022. Kabengele is set to play a key role for Dubai Basketball in their debut EuroLeague season. Looking to improve on their third-place finish in the ABA League in their inaugural season, the Dubai side have assembled a roster to compete at the highest level in Europe.
