By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A setback concerning Shane Larkin for Anadolu Efes during preparations, heading to the 2024-25 edition of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and domestic competitions in Turkiye.
Larkin, 31, has been dealing with a sprained ankle and is expected to miss at least two more weeks.
At the top of his seventh campaign with the Istanbul outfit, the two-time EuroLeague champion was on the injury list for against FC Bayern Munich and Panathinaikos Aktor, earlier this week in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Unfortunately for head coach Tomislav Mijatovic, he is projected to sit out more prep games, possibly all until the official start of the new season.
Turkish outlet S Sport first reported the injury.
Moving forward, Efes takes on Karsiyaka and Galatasaray in the TUBAD tournament on Monday and Tuesday in Antalya. In the same city for the Gloria Cup, scrimmages opposite ALBA Berlin on Thursday, Tofas on Friday, and Zalgiris on Sunday add to a busy week. Wrapping up the friendly schedule, they will face Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the 6th annual Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament in Athens on September 21 and welcome Panathinaikos Aktor in Istanbul on September 24.
Larkin joined Efes in 2018. Among the leading stars in the best era in team history, he signed a four-year contract extension, committing until the end of the 2027-28 season in May.
Rodrigue Beaubois, Elijah Bryant, Stanley Johnson, Jordan Nwora, Darius Thompson, Rolands Smits, Vincent Poirier, and Derek Willis are other players on the stacked 2024-25 Efes roster.