By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
BELGRADE, Serbia – At the beginning of 2018, Dylan Ennis wasn’t as aware of European basketball as he is surely now, six years in the making after his first overseas beginnings.
After making his presence felt with Mega, he moved his office only a few kilometers away in Belgrade, debuting in the EuroLeague with Crvena Zvezda. Getting to know the competition week by week, he had his first great outcome at home against Olympiacos.
Bringing the red-and-white Serbian team to victory against the Greek powerhouse, he provided what would end up being one of his best career performances with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. On the other side, a 35-year-old Vassilis Spanoulis.
Once again in Belgrade, but this time not in the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, Dylan Ennis and Kill Bill crossed paths as UCAM Murcia beat Peristeri in the battle for bronze medal at the 2024 Basketball Champions League Final Four.
In the post-game mixed zone, he shared all of his excitement after meeting again the Greek icon and newly-named BCL Coach of the Year. “It was so amazing. He came up to me and knew my name, I was so excited. He’s a legend, he was as a player and he’ll be as a coach. His guys play so hard, for him to bring this team to the F4 speaks volumes. He’s gonna do great as a coach”, he said to Eurohoops.
“Murcia fans deserve to win”
Despite not making it to the Final after losing against then-champs Unicaja Malaga, the 32-year-old Canadian guard is satisfied with his team’s result. “It feels amazing. Murcia fans deserve to win, and I’m glad we could bring a medal back to the city”, he said after getting his second-ever bronze medal in the Basketball Champions League, conquering the first one with Zaragoza in 2021.
In order to do so, they needed a huge 22-point career-high performance in the BCL by Ludde Hakanson. “That’s why our team is so scary. You never know who’s gonna fight great, and that’s gonna take us far. He has been out for a while, to come back and have this big game, he really deserves it”, Dylan Ennis praised his Swedish backcourt teammate.
Another guard who has been particularly effective for Sito Alonso’s UCAM Murcia is Jonah Radebaugh, who joined the team midway through the season. “He’s big for us because this guy does a little bit of everything. He defends, he can score, pass the ball, and he has a great attitude. The best teams are always deep teams, and I was so happy he’s able, to take the load off me and everybody else”, he said.
Finally, Dylan Ennis – who ended his 4th Basketball Champions League campaign by averaging 10.3 points and 4.3 assists per game – took time to comment on an élite opponent, legend of this competition, who was on the losing side with Peristeri. “Joe [Ragland] is so tough, everybody knows what he does. He’s consistent, he’s a great player, and I think he will continue to do this for even more years”, he said.
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League