By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
Saben Lee’s last dance in the Basketball Champions League was one to remember. Dragging Manisa to a perfect 2-0 away start in the competition, he first put up 36 points over UCAM Murcia in his tournament’s debut and then tied the all-time scoring record for a single game in Belgrade.
His 43 points over FMP SoccerBet came incredibly. But he wasn’t the first to score as many points in Basketball Champions League history; another small-sized American guard like Keifer Sykes once did it in January 2019, and one Turkish team was still in the mix.
Following Saben Lee and Keifer Sykes, there are five more players to complete the Basketball Champions League 40-point scoring club: Martin Zeno, Jimmy Baron, Braian Angola, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, and finally Rion Brown. Let’s check them all in detail.
| Player (Team) | Points | Opposing team | Date |
| Saben Lee (Manisa) | 43 pts | vs. FMP | 9 October 2024 |
| Keifer Sykes (Avellino) | 43 pts | vs. Bandirma | 22 January 2019 |
| Martin Zeno (Oradea) | 42 pts | vs. Kataja | 18 January 2017 |
| Jimmy Baron (Neptunas) | 42 pts | vs. Usak Sportif | 6 December 2016 |
| Braian Angola (Pinar Karsiyaka) | 41 pts | vs. UCAM Murcia | 3 January 2023 |
| Mindaugas Kuzminskas (AEK) | 40 pts | vs. Hapoel Holon | 5 March 2024 |
| Rion Brown (Kataja) | 40 pts | vs. Maccabi Rishon LeZion | 6 December 2016 |
Saben Lee (Manisa Basket) – 43 points vs FMP SoccerBet
Very few before him have had such an impact on overseas basketball on the offensive end, showcasing a full package when it comes to adding points to his scoreboard.
Able to draw fouls while driving to the lane and collect points at the line (14/18 FT in Belgrade yesterday), he’s effective in traffic near the rim, quickly attacking drop defenses or pulling up from three-point range. Completing his score, yesterday he had 10/17 from two and 3/4 from deep.
Unfortunately enough for Basketball Champions League fans, this will likely be his last game in the competition, as he’s set to replace Jordan Loyd in Maccabi Tel Aviv. What a way to leave the stage.