By Melikşah Bayrav / info@eurohoops.net
We’ve now reached the most critical stretch of the regular season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. With just two games remaining, we are witnessing an exceptionally intense battle for the top four, the Playoffs, and the Play-In Showdown at an unprecedented level.
Naturally, at this point in the season, every team is fighting hard to reach their goals. However, one team specifically has managed to stand out from the rest, thanks to the remarkable form they’ve shown in recent weeks.
As you might have guessed, that team is none other than Anadolu Efes Istanbul.
In fact, the 2024–25 EuroLeague season has been full of ups and downs for Efes. Especially during the stretch when team captain Shane Larkin was sidelined due to injury, Efes appeared to be one of the league’s most inconsistent teams on the court.
But since the national team break, that picture has completely changed. Just a month or two ago, even making the Play-In Showdown seemed like a long shot for Efes, yet they have now won six straight games and can even get homecourt advantage in one of the many end-of-season scenarios.
Right now, no team in the EuroLeague is hotter than Efes. Eurohoops takes a closer look at the key reasons behind the Turkish side’s recent surge.
1. The Captain’s return
First, we need to rewind the tape a bit. Shane Larkin, one of the greatest stars in EuroLeague history, was recently—and rightfully—named among the 25 best players in the history of the league.
Even though his team missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season last year, Larkin had one of the best individual seasons of his career. As a result, Anadolu Efes extended their captain’s contract for another four years after it expired in the summer of 2024.
Naturally, the expectations for Shane Larkin were to continue leading the team and to play a central role in Efes’s return to the playoffs. However, the American had an unlucky streak with injury problems during the season, which caused things to unfold differently than expected.
The star guard appeared in 21 of Efes’s 32 EuroLeague games this season. Moreover, injuries had a clear impact on his overall performance, which remained below the elite level we’ve come to expect from him.
It was obvious that Efes would not be able to achieve its goals this season without Larkin’s leadership. That’s why his return just before the most critical phase of the season has become a turning point for the remainder of Efes’s campaign.
The good news is that the star guard stepped up precisely when his team needed him most. After that string of injuries, Larkin now looks much healthier and more confident on the court. Unsurprisingly, this has been directly reflected in Efes’s recent results.
Larkin scored in double figures in five of the team’s last six wins. The only game in which he didn’t reach double digits was the home game against ALBA Berlin. But considering how early Efes built a comfortable lead in that game, it’s fair to say they Larkin’s scoring wasn’t needed that night.
Perhaps the most important aspect of Larkin’s return is his readiness to take responsibility in big games. Just two weeks ago, Anadolu Efes faced FC Bayern Munich—one of the toughest home teams in the EuroLeague—on the road. Larkin led his team to victory with a season-high 25 points, delivering a performance that arguably saved their season.
In a post-game interview with EuroLeague TV after the Bayern win, Larkin made it clear: “We’ve switched into playoff mode,” sending a strong message to the rest of the league.
2. The Addition of PJ Dozier
For Efes, the backcourt rotation was one of the biggest question marks, especially in the early stages of the season. With Larkin sidelined, Efes struggled to get consistent contributions from their guards.
Darius Thompson, who joined the team with high expectations a year ago and is now in his second season, hadn’t yet found his rhythm or defined role. Elijah Bryant, the most consistent player on the team since the beginning of the season, had to take on a new role as the main ball handler—something he hadn’t done previously in his career. While this shift was reflected positively in Bryant’s stats, it created issues in the overall role distribution within the backcourt.
One of the players most affected by this was Rodrigue Beaubois. A long-time contributor for Efes and traditionally a valuable secondary scorer, Beaubois had trouble consistently producing on offense. The state of the backcourt made it difficult for the French guard to find and settle into his role.
Considering that Efes also failed to get steady contributions from players like Justus Hollatz, Doğuş Özdemiroğlu, and Rıdvan Öncel, it became clear that the team needed one more piece in the backcourt. They required a player who could contribute to ball movement, provide an extra scoring threat, and enhance team defense—someone who could bring balance to the rotation.
That player turned out to be PJ Dozier. The American guard, who played for Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade last season, had some consistency issues but remained one of the team’s core pieces throughout the year. After leaving Partizan in the summer to return to the NBA, Dozier found limited opportunities there and then took the option to restart his EuroLeague journey.
From the moment he joined, Dozier proved to be a perfect fit for Efes. Averaging 16 minutes per game, the American guard has made solid contributions in scoring, rebounding, and assisting off the bench. More importantly, with his 1.98-meter frame, Dozier has significantly elevated Efes’s on-ball defense.
Adding a “glue guy” like Dozier brought much-needed balance to Efes’s backcourt. Thompson—who had been a frequent subject of criticism since the start of the season—is now arguably going through the most consistent stretch of his Efes career. Beaubois, having rediscovered his role, is providing significant scoring off the ball. And Larkin is playing his best basketball of the season.
As a result, the addition of Dozier has had a direct and tangible impact on the course of Efes’s season.
3. A more well-defined rotation
One of the most talked-about issues for Efes from the beginning of the season has been the lack of contribution from key players in the rotation. Frankly, several of the summer signings who arrived with high expectations failed to deliver the impact that was hoped for.
At the forefront of this list are Jordan Nwora and Stanley Johnson. Johnson, who brought considerable NBA experience, was expected to play an important role in the rotation with his defensive capabilities and three-point shooting. However, his time at Efes fell well short of expectations.
The situation with Nwora was a bit different. Last season, the 26-year-old forward averaged a respectable 7.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game with the Toronto Raptors. Given his production and age, he was expected to remain a solid rotational player in the NBA. So, when Nwora signed with Efes in the summer and came to the EuroLeague, it generated significant excitement among fans of the team.
Nevertheless, Nwora’s time with Efes has also been far below expectations. Tasked mainly with providing defense and knocking down open threes, he has struggled to adapt to this role. At times, Nwora has tried to take on responsibilities as one of the team’s primary creators—something that has disrupted the team’s offensive rhythm.
In recent weeks, however, we’ve seen Efes making some decisive calls in this regard. The team parted ways with Johnson during the season and Nwora’s minutes have been significantly reduced. Efes, which has now won six straight games in the EuroLeague, has trimmed its rotation down to about nine players.
At the small forward spot, Bryant has started to take over Nwora’s minutes. Earlier in the season—especially in Larkin’s absence—Bryant acted as the team’s primary ball handler. Now, he’s playing a more off-ball role, which has led to greater efficiency. This shift has also positively impacted his scoring average over the past six games.
Dozier’s arrival has further strengthened Coach Banchi’s hand. As mentioned, thanks to his 1.98-meter frame, athleticism, and physical edge, Dozier—though naturally a guard—can also slot in at the three. Most importantly, he doesn’t create defensive mismatches in that role, allowing Efes to keep a third ball handler on the floor without compromising their defensive structure.
At the four, Ercan Osmani and Rolands Smits are sharing minutes, while the five spot is covered by Vincent Poirier and Dan Oturu. As a result, Efes has become a much more balanced team in this second half of the season compared to the first.
Now, we can talk about Efes as a team with a clearly defined rotation. Moreover, the fact that players in the rotation have settled into their roles is directly reflected in the team’s performance on the court.