Basket rumors

10/04/202011:51

Ethan Happ may get Italian passport, agent says

Big man Ethan Happ could become Italian soon, according to his agent Mario Scotti.

“Ethan may get Italian passport. We are working on it. His great-grandparents are from Sicily” Mario Scotti told La Provincia di Cremona. “His status would change and also his market value. Virtus Bologna and Olimpia Milano would be the front runners”.

Happ was averaging 18 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists in 16 Serie A games with Vanoli Cremona where he landed on loan from Olympiacos.

10/04/202011:44

Fenerbahce reportedly offer a contract with salary reduction to Zeljko Obradovic

Conflicting rumors from Turkey about Zeljko Obradovic’s future in Fenerbahce.

In recent days there had been talk of a possible farewell between the Serbian Head Coach and the Turkish powerhouse with Sarunas Jasikevicius as a possible replacement candidate.

In fact Jasikevius and Obradovic will be free agent this summer.

But, as reported by Aksam, Fenerbahce offered a 1.650 million euros contract during the season to Obradovic. A 50% reduction on the previous contract and on the club’s budget.

Obradovic has not yes responded to the proposal.

08/04/202009:55

Sloukas: I have one year left with Fenerbahce, but if Obradovic leaves…

Kostas Sloukas has one year remaining on his contract with Fenerbahce and he doesn’t want to leave. But if coach Zeljko Obradovic won’t remain at the helm of the team, the situation could rapidly change.

Sloukas has been linked to both Panathinaikos and Olympiacos.

Via Eurohoops, “There is a rumor that I will return to Olympiacos or play for Panathinaikos. I read and listen to the scenarios that are out there but what I know is that I have a guaranteed contract with Fenerbahce for one more season. Because of the unique case, there are various fleeting thoughts on my mind but there is a contract. If, of course, coach Obradovic leaves, as it is strongly rumored, the discussion changes,” Sloukas said in an interview with Greek newspaper “Ta Nea.”

06/04/202019:20

Italian Basketball Federation to cancel Serie A, Serie A2 season?

The Italian Basketball Federation is expected to cancel the season for the Serie A and Serie A2, FIP advisor Marco Tajana told Italian podcast “Cantieri Aperti”.

06/04/202016:47

Aaron Craft says in Belgrade he may have played his final career game

Aaron Craft said that in Belgrade he may have played his final game.
The point guard announced that he was retiring at the end of the season to pursue a degree. But he did not imagine to finish his career due to coronavirus pandemic.

“The game in Belgrade could have been my final one. I am trying not to think too much about that. I am trying to remain focus if the season resumes. I can’t be disappointed, it is a difficult situation for everyone. I won’t change my mind but it will be sad to think that my career has finished in Belgrade and in this way. I was dreaming something different but I can’t change what is happening” Craft told L’Adige.

06/04/202013:48

Joel Ekamba to enter 2020 NBA Draft

Belgian prospect Joel Ekamba has decided to enter the 2020 NBA Draft, a source told Sportando.
The guard born in 2001, with a 6’9 wingspan, spent the season in LNP Espoirs with Limoges where he averaged 13 points per game adding 3.2 rebounds and 2 assists.
Ekamba spent the 2019-2020 season in Belgian league with Belfius Mons-Hainaut.
He averaged 8 points at Under 19 European Championship Division B in 2019.

05/04/202009:44

ASVEL owner Tony Parker considered as Olympique Lyonnais next president

According to L’Equipe, Tony Parker is being openly considers to succeed to Jean-Michel Aulas as football powerhouse Olympique Lyonnais president by 2023.

French football team purchased, in the recent years, a 25% stake in ASVEL, plus a 10% stake in the women’s team, and has built additional connections between the 4-times NBA champion and the football division as well.

02/04/202019:13

LaMelo Ball becomes new owner of Illawarra Hawks

LaMelo Ball and his manager Jermaine Jackson have purchased Australian NBL team Illawarra Hawks, Jackson told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

“Melo loves the Illawarra fans,” Jackson told Givony. “He loves that community. They opened their arms to him. They made us feel like we are at home. When we started hearing about the issues they were going through, we talked about it and decided, ‘Let’s own the team.’

Ball, 18 years old, is a potential top-3 pick in this year’s NBA Draft. He averaged 17 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7 assists per game for Illawarra this season.

31/03/202016:47

CBA doesn’t want to cancel season, to have a meeting late in April

Chinese government issued a new order today to restrict resumption of team sports due to the coronavirus pandemic. China has almost erased new infections but the fear of a new spread is high in the Asian country.

Despite new order, CBA is not planning to cancel the season, as of now.

According to a league source, the CBA will have a meeting late in April, around 20th, to discuss the future of the season that was expected to resume early in May.

 

Several Americans have already returned to China and are in a two-week self-isolation as ordered by the Government.

30/03/202011:20

Petrucci says FIP is pushing with FIBA to have Banchero as local player (not naturalized)

Italian Basketball Federation president Gianni Petrucci said that they are in talks with FIBA to have Paolo Banchero to be counted as local (Italian) player and not as naturalized player.

“We are pushing with FIBA to have him as local player” Petrucci told Tuttosport. “We have been unlucky because we had a meeting in Italian Consulate (but it has been postponed due to coronavirus outbreak). “He becomes Italian, so he is Italian from birth, it doesn’t matter that we ask FIBA after he turned 17” Petrucci added. “About DiVincenzo we are a bit far but with the work of GM Salvatore Trainotti we’ll obtain his Italian passport”.

29/03/202009:37

Former NBA guard OJ Mayo poised to join Liaoning Flying Leopards

Former NBA guard O.J. Mayo is close to joining the Chinese Basketball Association to play for powerhouse Liaoning Flying Leopards, pending medical and other procedural clearances.

Mayo, 32, landed in the northern Chinese city of Shenyang, home to the No. 3-ranked Flying Leopards, from Taipei on Friday. He has since entered a 14-day quarantine, as mandated by government medical officials.

28/03/202011:12

Slovenia NT part ways with Trifunovic, eyes Itoudis for top job

Rado Trifunovic is no longer Slovenia National Team head coach, as confirmed by KZS president Matej Erjavec in an interview with Dnevnik.

Erjavec also confirmed that Slovenian Federation is in talks with two-times Euroleague champion with CSKA Moscow Dimitris Itoudis to lead Slovenia NT, and added that Itoudis is “honoured” by KZS interest in him. 

27/03/202020:28

Ekpe Udoh eyeing a Euroleague comeback?

In an Instagram story, former NBA big man Ekpe Udoh has expressed his will to comeback to Euroleague, whether with Fenerbahce (with who he was Euroleague champion and Final Four MVP in 2017) or a different team.

Udoh is currently under a contract with Chinese side Beijing Ducks, and has made his return to China in order to be ready for the eventual restart of CBA.

25/03/202016:49

Fenerbahce president Ali Koc says six members of the teams may be positive for Covid-19

Fenerbahce president Ali Koc said that six members of the team may be positive for Covid-19.
The Turkish powerhouse is still waiting for the results from the Minister of Health.

 

“There  are no results from the Ministry of Health yet, we still waiting this. Six people were suspected of COVID-19, and there was no one to stay in the hospital, except for Cenk Renda” Koc said.

Fenerbahce is waiting for the results since last weekend.

25/03/202015:48

Joe Alexander sues Besiktas, takes club to BAT

Representatives for Joe Alexander have filed an official FIBA BAT claim for outstanding salaries and fees in excess of $100,000 against Turkish FIBA BCL club Besiktas, a source told Sportando.
Alexander has played for Besiktas in 2018-2019 averaging 11.7 points per game in BSL and 5.7 points in FIBA BCL and was one of the lone imports that didn’t leave the club during due season to late payments.

The former NBA forward has been with Le Portel and Hapoel Holont his season.

24/03/202012:32

Thomas Scrubb would like to extend his contract with SIG Strasbourg

During a podcast, canadian forward Thomas Scrubb said that he would like to extend his contract with SIG Strasbourg.
“We love the city, and would like to stay there for more than two years. It is certain that there will be big changes so we are waiting to see what the club will plan”
This year Scrubb averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals in Jeep Elite, shooting 60% from the field, 42% from long range and 73% from the foul line.

23/03/202013:28

Valencia signs Bojan Dubljevic to a three-year contract extension

Center Bojan Dubljevic (2.05m, Niksic, 10/24/1991, 28 years old) and Valencia Basket have reached an agreement for the Montenegrin international player to extend his contract with our Club for three more seasons, until June 30, 2023, with an team and player option for a fourth. In this way, Bojan Dubljevic will reach at least eleven seasons defending the Valencia Basket jersey, being the team captain from the beginning of this 2019/20 season.

22/03/202016:00

New Belgian/Dutch basketball league expected to start in 2021-22

After a unanimous vote in both countries, the Belgian Pro Basketball League and Dutch Basketball League clubs have decided to take the next step towards the creation of a BeNeLeague as of the 2021-2022 season.

This next move is the result of a three-month process under the guidance of company Hypercube during which numerous meetings were held with the most important stakeholder groups involved in an eventual BeNeLeague. Discussions were held with clubs, but also partners, press, rights holders and federations. A fan survey was also organized to which 1200 fans from both countries responded.

A number of working groups will now be formed to treat the most important aspects of the collaboration from a sports, commercial and financial point of view. Also in the area of regulations such as licensing terms both leagues will be looking to grow closer together. Finally an efficient organizational model will need to be set up including the operational functioning.

The final decision by clubs of both countries will be made in the fourth quarter of 2020. In the event of a positive decision, we can look forward to the start of the BeNeLeague mid-September 2021.

Ramses Braakman, Dutch Basketball League president: “The DBL clubs and board are always looking to improve quality from a sports, commercial and organizational point of view. Many have also long desired to increase the number of clubs in the league. We feel that a combined competition with the Belgian league will contribute largely to our ambitions. We’re especially looking forward to the next steps.”

Arthur Goethals, Pro Basketball League president: “We are delighted about the enthusiasm in both leagues in order to create a great product. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all stakeholders who have collaborated to the process so far. Much work has been done under the guidance of Hypercube, but the real work is only just beginning. Important steps now have to be taken these next few months in order to create a good basis for a great BeNeLeague as of the 2021-2022 season. In the meantime preparations are under way for the 2020-2021 EuroMillions Basketball League season. Clubs are deliberating on how to offer more basketball to fans after the current season was cancelled last week. An earlier start to the season with more games is among the options. More news to come at the end of April.”

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