Five players making FIBA Europe Cup returns this season

    Preview
    Spissu was Italy's leader in efficiency at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup

    Welcome back to FIBA Europe Cup. There are some familiar faces appearing again this season.

    MUNICH (Germany) - This season's FIBA Europe Cup will showcase plenty of new and exciting stars eager to make an instant impression.

    However, there are many players also making their return to the competition and we've picked out five players looking for success this season.

    Marco Spissu (Casademont Zaragoza)

    Spissu averaged 9.2 points and 3.3 assists during Sassari's title-winning season

    Point Guard

    Birth Date: February 5, 1995 (age 29) Height: 1.84m (6ft 0in) Nationality: ITA

    Previous seasons: Dinamo Sassari (2017-19) Statistics: 8.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 3.0 APG in 20 games

    Having won the FIBA Europe Cup title with Dinamo Sassari back in 2019, Spissu knows what it takes to win this trophy and what it takes to win domestically - also having two Italian titles on his resume.

    The guard brings a deadly three-point shot to Casademont Zaragoza this season and a veteran presence to an already stacked team. He has played some important roles for Italy's senior national team in major tournaments and is always an exciting watch.

    Alex Gavrilovic (Bursaspor)

    Forward

    Birth Date: November 25, 1991 (age 32) Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in) Nationality: FRA/SRB

    Previous seasons: Balkan Botevgrad (2018-19), Tsmoki-Minsk (2019-20), CSM CSU Oradea (2021-22), KK Mornar Bar (2023-24) Statistics: 12.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 0.6 BPG in 44 games

    Gavrilovic arrives with Bursaspor this season with plenty of FIBA Europe Cup experience, as he embarks on a fifth campaign with a fifth different side.

    The veteran has averaged 12.0 points and 6.1 rebounds in this competition and is approaching nearly 50 games in total having been a valuable contributor at every club he has played for.

    Josh Sharma (Bursaspor)

    Sharma is one of the best rim protectors in FIBA Europe Cup history

    Center

    Birth Date: September 28, 1995 (age 27) Height: 2.13m (7ft 0in) Nationality: USA/GBR

    Previous seasons: Spirou Basket (2019-20), Trefl Sopot (2021-22) Statistics: 9.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.8 BPG in 26 games

    The freakishly athletic Sharma arrives in Türkiye after two seasons with the London Lions, where he helped them to back-to-back domestic titles and a Semi-Final appearance in the EuroCup.

    Returning to FIBA Europe Cup action, where he played for Spirou Basket and, more recently, Trefl Sopot, he ranks second all-time for blocked shots with 49 rejections. His defensive presence, along with his useful offensive play under the basket, is exactly why Bursaspor brought him to the team for this campaign.

    Klavs Cavars (BC Sabah)

    Forward

    Birth Date: February 11, 1996 (age 28) Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in) Nationality: LAT

    Previous seasons: Ventspils (2021-22) Statistics: 11.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.3 BPG in 12 games

    The Latvian international joins Azerbaijani side BC Sabah, having played for Ventspils in the 2019-20 season.

    The 28-year-old forward averaged 11.3 points and 7.4 rebounds as he guided the Latvian side to the Quarter-Finals before coming unstuck against Bahcesehir College. With more knowledge and his game ever-developing, maybe Cavars can help BC Sabah past the Regular Season for the first time.

    Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman (Bilbao Basket)

    Shooting Guard

    Birth Date: September 1, 1994 (age 30) Height: 1.93m / (6ft 4in) Nationality: USA

    Previous seasons: Legia Warszawa (2021-22) Statistics: 13.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.6 APG in 14 games

    Having impressed with Legia Warszawa two seasons ago, Abdur-Rahkman returns to the Regular Season, having been part of the Bilbao team that booked its ticket through the Qualifiers.

    With the Polish side, the Michigan standout averaged 14.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. Even though his role will be slightly different this season with Bilbao, he is able to more than play his part should the Spanish side need him to step up.

    FIBA

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