Red Star and Olympiacos set for final: NBA newcomers shine

The Torneo de Creta basketball tournament on the island of Crete is not just a venue for teams to test their lineups, but also a stage for remarkable individual performances. When Red Star (Estrella Roja) staged a spectacular comeback against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan with a 91-85 scoreline, observers sensed something bigger than a typical friendly match. This preseason tournament brings together many EuroLeague giants: Olympiacos (Greece), Fenerbahçe (Turkey), Red Star (Serbia), EA7 Milan (Italy), Anadolu Efes (Turkey), Paris Basketball (France), along with local teams. It provides an opportunity for teams to integrate high-quality new signings from the NBA, such as Jordan Nwora, Evan Fournier, Bruno Fernando, and Dario Šarić. Red Star entered the final quarter trailing 61-67 but exploded with a 30-18 run in the fourth period, fueled by Moses Wright (22 points) and newcomer Jordan Nwora (23 points). The combination of physical strength and outside shooting helped the Serbian side turn the game around. In the other semifinal, Olympiacos edged past Fenerbahçe 82-77. Former NBA player Evan Fournier led with 19 points, while Donta Hall contributed 16 points and 8 rebounds. This victory showcased the team's depth and the tactical adjustments of coach Georgios Bartzokas. Data shows that both finalists demonstrated strong closing ability in the fourth quarter, a positive sign for the regular season. However, one should not overrate these results. Preseason basketball often does not reflect true strength. Teams experiment with rotations, defense is looser, and the intensity is below EuroLeague standards. Red Star's win over Milan might simply be due to Milan not playing at full effort. Moreover, it is expected that NBA newcomers like Nwora and Fournier score heavily when facing incomplete defensive systems. The final between Red Star and Olympiacos will be the first real test for both. Can the new stars maintain their form when the opponent raises the intensity? Or is this just a summer mirage? The answer will come in October when the 2026-25 EuroLeague season officially begins. Meanwhile, Anadolu Efes, despite boasting an impressive roster of newcomers including Bruno Fernando (14 points, 10 rebounds), Dario Šarić (11 points, 5 rebounds), and Daron Russell (11 points, 6 assists), suffered a surprising loss to Esenler Erokspor, a much weaker team. This indicates that the integration process for new players still faces many hiccups, and coach Tomislav Mijatović will have to work hard to find the winning formula. In contrast, Paris Basketball, a EuroLeague newcomer, made a strong impression by crushing Hestia Menorca 95-62, even though the opponent was a lower-tier Spanish team. This could be a sign that the Paris basketball project is on the right track. Tactically, both Red Star and Olympiacos showed offensive flexibility. Red Star effectively utilized pick-and-roll situations with Moses Wright, while Olympiacos operated a continuous passing system under Fournier's guidance. However, both teams have a weakness in perimeter defense, allowing opponents to score many mid-range points. If not improved, they will struggle against teams with good shooters like Fenerbahçe or Real Madrid in the regular season. Another notable story is the wave of NBA players moving to EuroLeague. Jordan Nwora (26) and Bruno Fernando (26) are prime examples of young players choosing Europe for bigger roles instead of being benchwarmers in the NBA. This not only raises the quality of EuroLeague but also creates fiercer competition for starting spots. Evan Fournier (31) chose Olympiacos as a final career destination to pursue titles, rather than staying in the NBA with a limited role. Overall, the Torneo de Creta has provided the first signals of form for the big teams, but these should be viewed with caution. What happened on the island of Crete could be the start of an exciting season, or just meaningless numbers when real competition begins. Let's wait and see if Red Star can replicate their final heroics, or if Olympiacos will assert their dominance in Greek and European basketball.