The EuroLeague Grabs for the ABA League Before the NBA Arrives, and Strumica Celebrate Their First Superleague Win

The EuroLeague wants a stake in the ABA League as NBA Europe speeds up its plan

The EuroLeague is considering entering the ownership structure of the ABA League, with the long-term aim of becoming its majority owner. According to regional media, that was the main topic of Friday's meeting with the clubs that formally own the regional league. Dubai and Cluj were also at the table, even though they aren't among the owners. Talks are at an early stage, with no formal negotiations, and the motive isn't hidden: the announced NBA Europe. Former EuroLeague people have already taken key positions at the ABA - İbrahim Erkan as sports director and Miguel Ángel Pérez as head of the referees' commission. A league that was a regional project for years is now becoming a piece on a chessboard between Barcelona and New York. Who will decide its future: the clubs from the region, or someone else?

Obradović and Panathinaikos: four from four, the best start in 19 years

Panathinaikos – Fenerbahçe 92:74, a fourth win in four rounds and the best EuroLeague start since the 2007/08 season. Mathias Lessort finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds, Sylvain Francisco with 17 points and 7 assists, Nigel Hayes-Davis with 19 points. Yet after the game Željko Obradović singled out a player who didn't score a single point: Isaac Bonga, "incredible on defence". He immediately added that he didn't want to single out names because "the team is what matters". When the coach with the most EuroLeague titles praises a player with zero points, that's a lesson no stat sheet measures.

Redick on Dončić: "Not a normal human being" - but only on the court

Lakers coach JJ Redick, who briefly played with Luka Dončić in Dallas, said again that on the floor the Slovenian "is not a normal human being". Off it, he says, he's completely ordinary: "very low-key and fun to be around, lives his life and doesn't chase anything. That's refreshing." In the same conversation Redick also praised newcomer Sandro Mamukelashvili, who arrived on a four-year deal worth 52 million dollars and is averaging 14 points across three preseason games. In a league where stars are sold like brands, the Lakers' biggest star is most interesting precisely because he doesn't try to be one.

Strumica ride a 26:9 second quarter to their first win

Strumica – Pelister 84:69 in the second round of the Superleague, at the "Park" arena. The Bitola side started better and took the first quarter 21:17, then fell apart: the second quarter ended 26:9 and it was 43:30 at half-time. Pelister came back in the third quarter and got to 67:68 late on, but the hosts answered with another run. Crawford scored 21 points for Strumica, while for Pelister bench player Dimitriev finished with 18 points and 9 rebounds. For Strumica it's a first win, for Pelister a first defeat after beating TFT in the opener. Pelister showed they can come back from thirteen down. The question is why they let themselves fall that far in the first place.

The champions struggle in Gevgelija, Rabotnički flatten Tikveš

Kožuv – MZT Skopje Aerodrom 73:81: the hosts won the first quarter 26:18 and led 43:42 at half-time, but the champions pulled away in the second half, going up by as many as 14. Andrej Maslinko finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds, Dimitrije Nikolić with 19 points, and captain Vojdan Stojanovski returned from injury. There was no tension at the "Gradski Park": Rabotnički – Tikveš 86:70, with a 9:0 start and 49:26 at half-time. Viktor Efremovski scored 21 points and Darrin Govens had 12 points and 11 assists. MZT collect points even when they don't play well, and Rabotnički are flattening everyone for now. The real test comes in their first head-to-head.