By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Shane Larkin has been medically cleared for Round 27 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.
The captain of Anadolu Efes sat out the previous two fixtures of the continental schedule due to an injury in his left foot. After recently returning to action with the senior national team of Turkiye, he suffered a hand injury during practice and is dealing with swelling and pain, but he will play against ALBA Berlin in Istanbul’s Basketball Development Center later Friday.
Before being forced to the injury list, the two-time EuroLeague champion logged 15 appearances, including five starts in the Regular Season of Europe’s premier club continental competition. He averaged 10.1 points, 4.5 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per contest.
Similar to Larkin, Derek Willis (ankle), Vincent Poirier (knee), and PJ Dozier (knee) are also cleared. In contrast, Ridvan Oncel (ankle) will be sidelined, along with Salih Altuntas (left ankle surgery).
At 12-14 during the midseason break, Efes is 1.5 games away from the lowest seed leading to the Play-In Showdown and 3.5 games away from a direct berth in the 2025 Playoffs. With eight games left in the double-legged round-robin schedule, a solid finish starting with a win over ALBA is necessary to extend the continental campaign beyond the Regular Season.
At the domestic level, the team coached by Luca Banchi ranks second behind crosstown rival Fenerbahce Beko with a 14-4 tally, three games shy of the top of the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi standings.