By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After 134 appearances in the NBA, Saben Lee will play in the Basketball Champions League with Manisa.
Lee, 25, was the 38th overall pick of the 2020 NBA draft. The Vanderbilt product initially joined the Detroit Pistons. After two years at Motor City, he had a cup of tea with the Philadelphia 76ers early in the 2022-23 season, before earning a spot on the roster of the Phoenix Suns. Last season, he averaged 3.0 points per contest.
The Turkish club added 37-year-old Mehmet Yagmur and 25-year-old Cengizhan Ivedi̇ to complete the 2024-25 roster. Other confirmed players for new head coach Ozan Bulkaz are Leon Harun Apaydin, Hugo Besson, Martynas Echodas, Ty Gordon, Jamorko Pickett, Yunus Emre Sonsirma, Fabian White Jr., and Ahmet Safa Yilmaz.
Nanterre welcomes Justin Tillman
Carrying the experience of 14 BCL appearances between AEK Betsson last season and Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari in the 2020-21 campaign, Justin Tillman moved his talents to Nanterre 92 for the next season. The former VCU standout is teaming up with Milan Barbitch, Noa Calabre, Lucas Dussoulier, Lucas Fischer, Frank Jackson, Simeon Kalemba, Paul Lacombe, Roko Prkacin, Desi Rodriguez, and Benjamin Sene.
Gladiators re-sign two players
Returning players, 25-year-old Ian DuBose and 30-year-old Princeton Onwas completed the roster of the Caledonia Gladiators en route to the Qualification Rounds of the Champions League. Fahro Alihodzic, Trevond Barnes, Toto Fagbenle, Isaiah Hill, Theodore Hughes, Kyle Jimenez, Fraser Malcolm, Tanner Stuckman, and Patrick Whelan were already in for head coach Gareth Murray.