Baskonia faces Olympiacos without a center in their debut

The Baskonia has received the most complicated draw to open its season in the top European competition. Facing Olympiacos at home, in the first official game of the season at the Fernando Buesa Arena, represents a maximum difficulty test for a team that is still under construction. Paolo Galbiati will have to resolve the structural issues revealed during the Supercopa Endesa, where Baskonia fell to Joventut after a disastrous second half.

The fixture is not a coincidence either. Exactly one year ago, the EuroLeague also kicked off in Vitoria against Olympiacos, and the result was a 96-102 that marked the start of a calamitous season. That initial 0-6 was the worst start in Baskonia's history in the competition, a wound that took months to heal. Although the team recovered in the final stretch, especially at home with the conquest of the Copa del Rey in February, the ghost of that beginning looms over the Buesa once again.

The reconstruction in progress

Summer has brought significant changes to the roster. Baskonia lost two key figures from that Copa del Rey: Trent Forrest went to Fenerbahçe and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot signed with Real Madrid. In their place, reinforcements have arrived mainly on the perimeter: DJ Stewart, Chris Duarte, AJ Lawson, and Damion Baugh bring versatility and exterior talent, while Kenneth Faried and Alex Len were supposed to bolster the paint.

However, the project has been compromised by an unexpected injury. Alex Len, announced on September 14 for two seasons, suffered a foot mishap during his first training session, an ailment he has been dragging since May. According to specialized reports, the injury seems long-term, which leaves Baskonia in a precarious situation in the paint. The club is exploring options such as paying for Zacharie Perrin's transfer to iLerna Lleida, although his clause for EuroLeague teams does not activate until January.

For now, Kenneth Faried is the only natural five available. The 36-year-old veteran arrives from the Puerto Rican league and already requested a full Buesa for the debut against Olympiacos during his presentation. Galbiati will need to manage his minutes carefully, as the player is not in a position to exceed twenty minutes of play according to available information.

The warning from the Supercopa

The first official test of the season came just days ago in the Supercopa Endesa. Baskonia showed some positive things in the first half against Joventut, going into halftime leading 38-41 and playing at their pace with a five-man lineup without a center, using Sedekerskis and Kurucs inside, supported by AJ Lawson and Kobi Simmons' talent. The proposal was clear: high pace, quick transitions, and defensive pressure.

Everything crumbled in the second half. Joventut signed a cumulative partial of 58-43 after halftime and took the victory 96-84. Galbiati did not shy away from criticism after the game. He admitted that the team lacks work and physical condition, that the players finished short of breath and without fuel. The newcomers still have to learn what EuroLeague is, and a troubled preseason with injuries to Kurucs and Markus Howard has not helped to accelerate that adaptation process.

That second half in Badalona will be the nightmare that Baskonia wants to avoid against Olympiacos. If the game turns slow and physical, the lack of height and limited rotation in the paint will weigh too heavily against a rival that can change defenders without losing size.

Olympiacos, a consolidated machine

Across from them will be a team that represents the complete opposite: continuity, experience, and depth. Olympiacos conquered its fourth EuroLeague title last season and became the first team to win the competition while leading the regular season. Georgios Bartzokas remains on the bench, and the club has kept the core that lifted the trophy in Athens, only adding specific pieces like Jean Montero, Codi Miller-McIntyre, and Mbaye Ndiaye.

The only significant absence was that of Thomas Walkup, who ended up in Dubai after a lengthy standoff with management. Beyond that, Olympiacos arrives with its machine intact and recent competitive rhythm. Last week, they participated in the Abu Dhabi Supercup, where they came back against Fenerbahçe in the semifinals to win 92-90. Evan Fournier, MVP of the last Final Four, was decisive in the closing minutes. In the final, they lost 89-93 to Real Madrid, but Sasha Vezenkov's 22 points, MVP of the last regular season, showcased the team's offensive potential.

The most evident difference between the two rivals is clearly in the paint. Olympiacos features a roster of big men: Nikola Milutinov, the leading rebounder in last season's EuroLeague, Donta Hall, Tyrique Jones, and young prospect Antonis Karagiannidis. Baskonia can only counter with Kenneth Faried as a natural five, a disparity that completely influences the strategy of the game.

Keys to the game

Baskonia needs the game to resemble the first half in Badalona. High tempo, quick transitions, and the talents of Simmons, Lawson, and Duarte to disrupt Olympiacos's game. This offensive proposal without a center, with constant movement, could be the only way to compete without suffering too much on the defensive rebound.

If the game slows down and becomes physical, Baskonia will be in serious trouble. The lack of height and limited rotation in the paint weigh too heavily against a rival that can change defenders without losing size or control capacity. The management of Faried's minutes will be a determining factor: he cannot be on the court for more than twenty minutes, which leaves wide gaps where Baskonia will be vulnerable in the paint.

The schedule does not give any respite afterward. The first doubleheader comes immediately: Baskonia visits Valencia Basket on September 29 and hosts Armani Milan on October 2. Winning against Olympiacos would be a statement of authority; losing would not be a surprise, but it would leave the team in a complicated position to face those upcoming commitments.

Match: Kosner Baskonia-Olympiacos, round 1 of the EuroLeague 2026-27. Date and time: Thursday, September 24, 20:30 (peninsular time). Arena: Fernando Buesa Arena, Vitoria-Gasteiz.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Baskonia afronta al Olympiacos sin pívot en su debut