MUNICH (Germany) - Amongst the teams making their FIBA Europe Cup debuts and players looking to steal the spotlight, there will be some making their comeback to the competition.
We've selected six players who made a name for themselves in previous editions and are making their return to the FIBA Europe Cup, looking to do the same this time around.
Jamar Smith (Pallacanestro Reggiana)
SHOOTING GUARD
Birth Date: Apr 7, 1987 (38 years old) Height: 191 cm / 6'3" Nationality: USA
Previous seasons: Bahcesehir College (2021-22) Statistics: 15.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.9 APG in 18 games
A proven winner wherever he has gone, Jamar Smith returns to the FIBA Europe Cup, having won this event back in 2022 with Turkish side Bahcesehir College and collected Finals MVP honors in the process, averaging 14 points in the two-legged win over Pallacanestro Reggiana.
Three years removed from lifting the FIBA Europe Cup trophy, Smith is back, but this time with the very team he conquered back in 2022, as he looks to make a similar run with the Italian side.
DeAndre Lansdowne (Rostock Seawolves)
GUARD
Birth Date: Jun 6, 1989 (36 years old) Height: 188 cm / 6'2" Nationality: USA
Previous seasons: NINERS Chemnitz (2023-24) Statistics: 13.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.7 APG in 17 games
Another former FIBA Europe Cup champion, DeAndre Lansdowne won this event in 2024 with German side NINERS Chemnitz, prevailing by just one point on aggregate after overtime in one of the most exciting Finals in the tournament's history against Bahcesehir College.
Lansdowne averaged 13 points in the two-legged Finals, but his most memorable performance came in the first leg of the Semi-Finals against Surne Bilbao Basket, where he dropped 22 points, 3 assists and 3 steals that paved the way for a comfortable win over the Spanish side.
Jhonathan Dunn (FC Porto)
SHOOTING GUARD
Birth Date: Feb 17, 1998 (27 years old) Height: 193 cm / 6'4" Nationality: USA
Previous seasons: ZZ Leiden (2021-22) Statistics: 15.4 PPG, 12.4 EFF in 16 games.
Jhonathan Dunn led Dutch side ZZ Leiden to the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Europe Cup back in the 2021-22 campaign and has shown no signs of slowing down ahead of this season, posting 16.5 points across two games for FC Porto in the recent Basketball Champions League Qualifiers.
His scoring touch is still as deadly as ever, especially from three-point land, where if you give him half an inch, he will punish you, as he will look to lead FC Porto this season.
Yannick Franke (Aliaga Petkimspor)
SHOOTING GUARD
Birth Date: May 21, 1996 (29 years old) Height: 196 cm / 6'5" Nationality: NED
Previous seasons: Donar Groningen (2015-16), Trefl Sopot (2021-22) Statistics: 13.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG in 18 games
A prominent scorer whenever he has played, Yannick Franke brings FIBA Europe Cup experience to Turkish debutants Aliaga Petkimspor. Across his two seasons in this competition in the Netherlands and Poland, he averaged 13.5 points per game, with his 16-point average with Trefl Sopot a highlight.
A player who has a smooth release on his jumper and can create space for himself to get the right shot, Franke can also put the ball on the floor and finish well in traffic. His skills will be needed for Petkimspor.
Sadik Emir Kabaca (Casademont Zaragoza)
Birth Date: Dec 13, 2000 (24 years old) Height: 207 cm / 6'9" Nationality: TUR
Previous seasons: Besiktas ICRYPEX (2020-21) Sadik Emir Kabaca was part of the Besiktas side that featured Türkiye superstar Sengun Alperen back in the bubble of the 2020-21 season. The Turkish international went on to spend four years at Galatasaray before making the move to Spain.
Look for Kabaca to have a more involved role with Zaragoza this season, as the Turkish international will play an integral part in their campaign.
Rashawn Thomas (Dinamo BDS Sassari)
POWER FORWARD
Birth Date: Aug 15, 1994 (31 years old) Height: 203 cm / 6'8" Nationality: USA
Previous seasons: Dinamo Sassari (2018-19) Statistics: 15.5 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.2 APG in 22 games
Rashawn Thomas returns to the FIBA Europe Cup, having won the title with Dinamo Sassari back in 2019. Thomas also held the previous scoring record, becoming the first player in competition history to score 40 points in a game.
Thomas exploded for 40 points and 16 rebounds in Sassari's Second Round, second leg win over ZZ Leiden to sail into the Quarter-Finals, en route to eventual success.
His scoring mark was broken a year later by Bahcesehir guard Trae Golden, who scored 41 points in his side's win over Ventspils. What can Thomas muster for the Italian side this season? FIBA