Not every player is lucky enough to play in the 7DAYS EuroCup year after year. For some, the reason they leave is for a chance to play in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. For others, it may be playing outside of Europe or maybe for a team that did not qualify for the competition. On this list, we take a look at 10 men who have previously shined in the EuroCup and are back hoping to do so again after at least one season away.
Semaj Christon, ratiopharm Ulm
Semaj Christon introduced himself to the EuroCup with a bang in 2019-20 with Limoges CSP. He averaged 17.6 points and 8.0 assists in seven games and his PIR of 19.7 was fourth-best in the EuroCup regular season. Chiston’s strong run was only halted by a mid-season move to Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Under the tutelage of Jaka Lakovic, a EuroLeague champion as a point guard in his playing days, Christon will be in an environment to shine again.
Martynas Echodas, Umana Reyer Venice
2019 EuroCup Rising Star award winner Martynas Echodas brings three seasons of EuroCup experience with him from his time with Rytas Vilnius. With quick feet, a high motor and a nose for rebounds, he has been extremely effective whenever he’s on the floor. Now Echodas heads abroad to play for the first time and his skills and work ethic should help him thrive on an Umana Reyer Venice squad loaded with veterans.
Diego Flaccadori, Dolomiti Energia Trento
After a pair of seasons in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with FC Bayern Munich, Diego Flaccadori returns home. He first joined Dolomiti Energia Trento as a teenager, helped the club on its historic run to the EuroCup Semifinals in 2016 and was a double-digit scorer in 2018-19. Now more seasoned at age 25, Flaccadori promises to have a big role for Coach Molin and Trento this season.
Aaron Harrison, Turk Telekom Ankara
When Aaron Harrison signed with Turk Telekom Ankara, he was returning to a country and a competition he knows well. Harrison made his European basketball debut with Galatasaray Istanbul, where he averaged 14.9 points and buried 63 three-pointers over 25 EuroCup games between 2018 and 2020. He continued to light it up from long distance last season in the EuroLeague with Olympiacos and should be an elite scorer this season with Turk Telekom.
Mam Jaiteh, Virtus Segafredo Bologna
A force in the paint at every step in his career, Mam Jaiteh sampled the EuroCup over four seasons – two each with JSF Nanterre and Limoges CSP. He has spent the last three seasons abroad with clubs in Italy, Russia and Turkey. Last season Jaiteh led the Turkish League in rebounding. This season he should have a big role in the middle for Virtus Segafredo Bologna where his size and strength will help the team on its quest for a title.
Dragan Milosavljevic, Frutti Extra Bursaspor
Dragan Milosavljevic brings a wealth of experience with him to Frutti Extra Bursaspor. In addition to four seasons in the EuroCup, he played five campaigns in the EuroLeague. Milosavljevic may need time to return to peak condition after missing most of last season recovering from a knee injury, but when in form, his experience, team-first attitude and plentiful skills as a scorer and creator make him a joy to watch and a nightmare to defend.
Amine Noua, MoraBanc Andorra
Amine Noua is a product of the LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne system and had spent his entire professional career there until now. The sweet-shooting big man averaged 10.8 points on 43.2% three-point shooting in his last EuroCup season, 2018-19, to help his team reach the quarterfinals. Now back in the EuroCup after two campaigns in the EuroLeague, Noua will look to pick up where he left off and, at age 24, to have his best season yet.
Brandon Paul, Joventut Badalona
Brandon Paul made his professional debut in 2013-14 with Russian side Nizhny Novgorod, for which he averaged 6.4 points as a part-time starter in 12 EuroCup games. Two years later he spent a season with Joventut Badalona and Paul has also played in the EuroLeague with Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Olympiacos as well as in the NBA, China and Australia. Now, this veteran shooting guard returns to Joventut and the EuroCup eager to leave his mark as a scorer and a leader.
DJ Seeley, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica
Combo-guard DJ Seeley has been a magnet of success in the EuroCup, having played in the semifinals twice and two other times in the quarterfinals in just five seasons in the competition. Last season he helped FC Bayern Munich get to the EuroLeague Playoffs and come within a whisker of the Final Four. He figures to have a big role at Buducnost VOLI Podgorica for Coach Dzikic thanks to his experience, scoring ability and winning mentality.
Greg Whittington, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar
When he debuted in the EuroCup for Galatasaray in 2019-20, Greg Whittington was a force with 12.5 points on 48.4% three-point shooting plus 6.4 rebounds in 11 games. The year before, he led the Israeli League in rebounding. Whittington returns to the EuroCup after a season with Denver in the NBA and he will be anxious to show what he’s worth both in terms of numbers and wins on a team with high aspirations.
Quelle: 7DAYS EuroCup, 14. September 2021
