Four Titles Didn't Save Atanasov After the Defeat in Strumica, Oklahoma Lose Holmgren

MZT and Atanasov: parting a day after the defeat in Strumica

The 87:79 defeat to Strumica was MZT Skopje's first in the Super League this season and the last for Vasko Atanasov. A day later the club said the cooperation had ended "by mutual agreement", a phrase that rarely tells you what really happened. Atanasov, a Strumica native, had led the team since 2023 and leaves behind four championship titles, three Cups and three Super Cups. Dominance at home, but not a single international win this season. Until a new name is announced, the team is led by assistants Dejan Srbinovski and Tino Danevski, and the club has also immediately brought back Adem Mekić from Kumanovo, for his third spell with the "Storks". Pelister await on Sunday, then a trip to Warsaw on 4 November. Will the new coach arrive before the plane leaves?

Holmgren out for months, and Oklahoma are already counting injuries

Chet Holmgren underwent biologic treatment for a small tendon tear in his right knee and will be re-evaluated in eight to ten weeks. That's not a return date, just the date when more will be known. Oklahoma's injury list already includes Jalen Williams, with a fractured left fibula and a sprained ankle, and Cason Wallace, with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Holmgren averaged 12.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in his three games, and his minutes now belong to Kenrich Williams, Jaylin Williams and Aday Mara. How many injuries can a rotation take before it shows on the table?

Valančiūnas writes to Jokić: "Hi, šta ima?"

Žalgiris beat Partizan 87:80 in round 9 of the EuroLeague, having also beaten Crvena Zvezda this season. Jonas Valančiūnas finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and a rating of 25, his highest since joining Žalgiris. After the game he was asked what message he had for his former teammate Nikola Jokić. "He doesn't write to me, but tonight I'll write to him," he replied with a laugh, and immediately delivered the message in Serbian: "Hi, what's up?" A jab wrapped in a greeting. Žalgiris are on three straight wins after a 2-4 start, and both Belgrade clubs have already fallen to them, in round 9 at that.

Hapoel: Satoranský on a stretcher, and Itoudis and Micić not speaking

Tomáš Satoranský jumped for a ball in the game against Dubai, fell on his back and, it seems, hit his head, and was carried off on a stretcher. According to first reports he's conscious, a concussion is suspected, and he's been sent for further tests at a hospital in Dubai. "The most important thing is to pray that Sato is well," said coach Dimitris Itoudis. Meanwhile Israeli media report that Itoudis and Vasilije Micić are barely talking, and club sources say the tension can be felt. The sources are unnamed, but the number is public: Micić, on almost 5.5 million dollars, is the highest-paid player in the EuroLeague. Before this game Hapoel had six wins and two losses. How long will that record hold if the coach and the highest-paid player aren't speaking?

A new head coach, without the entire starting five: Petrovski starts from zero

Viktor Petrovski is the new head coach of Macedonia's senior women's basketball team, after Aleksandar Ašadanov stepped down for personal reasons. Petrovski won the title with Kriva Palanka last season, and the inheritance he's taking on is a headache: Mitrašinović, Kmetovska, Stojanovska, Hempe and Selcova, the entire starting five so far, have ended their international careers. Rejuvenation is a nice word when there's someone to step up. Will there be enough players ready for a jump like that?