Basketball season is underway, each in Champaign and all over the world. This offseason, six former Illini (Jakucionas, Riley, Goode, Hawkins, Curbelo, Melendez) exhausted their school eligibility or declared for the NBA Draft and joined the skilled ranks, bringing the overall variety of Illini at the moment being paid to play basketball to someplace between 18-20. As soon as the G-League season will get going, I’ll have one other article for ex-Illini plying their commerce within the US, however for now seize your passport and see the place to plan your travels with a purpose to meet up with Illini favorites (or not-so-favorites). Journey trumps expertise on this energy rating, as I’ll undergo every participant from least to most fascinating trip vacation spot.
Honorable Point out:
Kipper Nichols performed final yr for Čačak 94 in Serbia after 4 years in England enjoying for the Sheffield Sharks, however I’ve not been capable of finding any info on him signing for the 2025-26 season.
Commercial
8. Andre Curbelo: Ironi Ness ZionaWhere He’s Enjoying
Ness Ziona is a small metropolis six miles from the Mediterranean coast in Israel. I can’t discover something notably notable in regards to the metropolis.
How He’s Enjoying
Curbelo is beginning the season on the injured listing, with a groin harm anticipated to maintain him out six weeks. Earlier than heading to Israel, Curbelo performed within the Puerto Rican League which runs from March-July, the place he put up 12.7 factors per recreation, 5.9 assists per recreation and 5.5 rebounds per recreation for Atleticos de San German, who did not make the playoffs.
Who He’s Enjoying With
Isaiah Whitehead was a star at Seton Corridor who had a brief, two-year NBA profession with the Brooklyn Nets earlier than bouncing round Europe. Desi Rodriguez is their main scorer and was Whitehead’s teammate on these Seton Corridor groups. Udoka Azubuike was an All-American at Kansas earlier than having a brief NBA profession with the Utah Jazz. Damion Lee had a seven-year NBA yr, together with an NBA championship with the Warriors in 2021-22.
Commercial
7. Trent Frazier: Zenit Saint PetersburgWhere He’s Enjoying
St. Petersburg has lovely baroque and neoclassical structure which have remained nicely preserved by way of two World Wars and might be the perfect place to reside in Russia. However it’s nonetheless Russia. Ice, 20-hour nights, brutal jail sentences for weed, and poisoning of political dissidents are a part of the tradition there.
How He’s Enjoying
Frazier is now in his fourth season with Zenit Saint Petersburg. A championship has been simply exterior of his grasp in his time with Zenit, as they fell within the semifinals his first two years and misplaced 3-2 within the finals final yr. Zenit Saint Petersburg has been barred from European competitors, attributable to Russia invading European territory. This yr, Frazier is off to a sluggish begin, averaging career-lows of 6.8 factors per recreation, 1.8 rebounds per recreation, 3.5 assists per recreation over his first 4 video games.
Commercial
Who He’s Enjoying With
Andre Roberson is essentially the most acquainted title. The 34-year-old is understood for beginning on the Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook Thunder as a defensive stopper with a damaged jumper. Moreover Andre, Zenit additionally predictably has an Andrey (Martyuk) and an Andrei (Vorontsevich). Different People embody Levi Randolph, their main scorer who had a forgettable profession at Alabama earlier than they have been good, and Alex Poythress, who performed on the Kentucky workforce with Karl-Anthony Cities and Devin Booker that went undefeated till shedding to the Frank Kaminsky Badgers.
6. Brandon Paul: Fuerza RegiaWhere He Is Enjoying
Fuerza Regia is a workforce within the Mexican Basketball League, based mostly out of Monterrey. The second-largest metropolis in Mexico, Monterrey has some great benefits of Metropolitan life with out a number of the chaos of Mexico Metropolis. Positioned within the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the skyline is fairly superior in Monterrey. Throughout Mexico, meals is assorted and incredible, and in Monterrey he can get some grilled goat child, which I guess tastes means higher than you suppose it does. If BP3 sticks round, he’ll be capable to catch some World Cup video games in Monterrey subsequent summer season.
The oldest Illini nonetheless enjoying professionally, Paul has had an unbelievable globetrotting profession, with stops in Russia, Canton, Spain, Turkiye, a two-year NBA stint with San Antonio, China, Greece, Australia, again to Spain, Montenegro, and France earlier than heading to Monterrey. Whereas the Mexican League is a decrease stage than a few of his earlier stops, BP3 continues to carry out. Whereas I can’t discover season stats, a fast take a look at recreation logs reveals he’s scoring within the teenagers constantly and is one among Fuerza Regia’s higher gamers. The workforce finds themselves within the semifinals of the playoffs proper now, with a 3-2 collection lead within the best-of-7 collection.
Commercial
Who He Is Enjoying With
There are a handful of People on the workforce, as proximity to the USA most likely makes it an attractive spot for some professionals who aren’t enjoying within the high leagues the world over. They largely herald from lower-level school groups although or have been pretty nameless on the greater ranges. Paul is definitely essentially the most embellished participant on the workforce.
5. Kofi Cockburn: Hiroshima DragonfliesWhere He Is Enjoying
Hiroshima is usually recognized for being the location of the primary atomic bomb dropping, however for the reason that battle has been rebuilt into an exquisite coastal metropolis. With a mix of shrines and temples going again centuries, monuments and parks to recollect the bombing, and fashionable Japanese infrastructure, Kofi has just a little little bit of all the pieces to get pleasure from in Hiroshima. Additionally, for nerds of their mid-30s, Hiroshima is understood for a music.
After a few seasons getting informal 20 and 10 double doubles in Seoul, Kofzilla is again to wreak destruction on the Japanese League. By way of 9 video games, Kofi is averaging 17 factors, 10 rebounds, and a couple of assists for Hiroshima, who sit in third place within the league at 6-3.
Commercial
Who He Is Enjoying With
The highest 4 gamers on the workforce are all American imports (and one is known as Nick Mayo which I’ve to imagine his household selected to shorten from Nicholas Mayonnaise), however none of them had memorable collegiate or professional careers for me.
4. Giorgi Bezhanishvili: AEK LarnacaWhere He Is Enjoying
After ending his season final yr enjoying in Granada, I can’t assist however suppose Giorgi is utilizing basketball as a car for his suntanning passion. Larnaca is a coastal metropolis on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Whereas the Cyprus Basketball League won’t be the highest stage in Europe, Giorgi gained’t be capable to complain in regards to the comforts. Larnaca boasts temperate climate, lovely seashores, Historic Greek historical past, and a fusion of Greek and Turkish delicacies. Not a nasty place to spend a yr or two dribbling a basketball.
Data on the Cyprus Basketball League is scarce. He signed with Larnaca in September, and performed quarter-hour of their Champions League Qualifying recreation, which they misplaced, placing Larnaca within the 2nd tier or European competitors. Since then, Giorgi has not performed. I can solely assume he picked up an harm, however I can’t discover any info on it. Larnaca is the dominant pressure in Cypriot basketball, profitable the league final yr and beginning the 2025-26 marketing campaign undefeated by way of 4 video games. Final yr, Giorgi averaged 8.1 factors and three.9 rebounds for Gravelines-Dunkerque in France earlier than transferring to Coviran Granada in Spain and averaging 5.3 factors and three.3 rebounds per recreation.
Commercial
EDIT: The explanation Giorgi has not been enjoying is he’s again stateside with the Windy Metropolis Bulls. The season hasn’t began and the rosters haven’t been finalized but, so we are going to see if he sticks in Hoffman Estates or heads again to Europe or elsewhere.
Who He Is Enjoying With
The one recognizable title on the squad is Ta’lon Cooper, a convention foe for one yr at Minnesota in 2022-23.
3. Andres Feliz: Actual MadridWhere He Is Enjoying
It’s becoming that Feliz is enjoying in a metropolis recognized for his or her bullfighting, as Andres performs like a bull attacking the basket at occasions. Madrid is a significant historic and cultural hub in Europe. On his off days, Andres can get pleasure from wine and tapas, medieval castles, and flamenco dancing between siestas.
Andres is off to a sluggish begin to the season, solely averaging 3.5 factors per recreation in 2 league video games, and 5.2 factors per recreation in 5 EuroLeague video games. Nonetheless, on a loaded roster Feliz is a vital function participant, averaging 17 minutes per recreation. Final yr, Feliz averaged 6.5 factors per recreation, 2,8 rebounds and a couple of.3 assists. Actual Madrid had a disappointing EuroLeague efficiency, shedding within the quarterfinals to Olimpiakos. Nonetheless, they dominated the Spanish League, ending 5 video games away from second place and shedding solely as soon as in 3 playoff collection (8-1). Feliz stepped his recreation up within the playoffs, averaging 9.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, and a couple of.2 apg in 21 minutes.
Commercial
Who He Is Enjoying With
Did I point out Actual Madrid is stacked? They boast 9 gamers with NBA expertise, headlined by ex-lottery picks Trey Lyles and Tremendous Mario Hezonja. Ex-Maryland Terp Bruno Fernando is on the roster, in addition to one of many extra enjoyable gamers on the earth, former Denver Nugget Facundo Campazzo.
2. Alfonso Plummer: Baxi ManresaWhere He Is Enjoying
Manresa is a small city within the coronary heart of Catalonia in Spain. He’s simply 45 minutes from Barcelona, one among my favourite cities on the earth, with nice meals, parks, seashores and nightlife. Moreover proximity to Barcelona, Manresa gives nice climate and is within the coronary heart of Spanish wine nation. Manresa surprisingly doesn’t have a soccer workforce above the fifth stage within the Spanish soccer pyramid, so BAXI Manresa is the most important sporting recreation on the town. Plummer appears to get pleasure from quiet cities in lovely areas close to distinctive larger cities, as final yr he was in Ulm, not very removed from Munich.
As anticipated, Plummer is filling a microwave scorer function off the bench. Between EuroCup (the 2nd stage of European competitors) and league play, Plummer is just averaging 16 minutes per recreation however scoring 12.5 factors per recreation. Doing just a little simple arithmetic, {that a} ridiculous 25 factors per 32 minutes tempo. He’s taking pictures over 50% from three to date, so he has to chill off sooner or later. Final yr, Plummer and Ratiopharm Ulm fell within the Basketball Bundesliga ultimate to Bayern Munich.
Commercial
Who He Is Enjoying With
The one different American participant on BAXI Manresa’s roster is Grant Golden, who was an excellent huge man for Richmond within the Atlantic-10, and the inspiration behind that earworm from Ok-Pop Demon Hunters.
1. Kendrick Nunn: PanathinaikosWhere He Is Enjoying
Within the shadow of Zeus. Athens is a incredible place to spend time between video games and practices. Steeped in historical past, near the Mediterranean, and with scrumptious olive and feta cheese-based dishes, Athens has a little bit of all the pieces. If I used to be to dock it for one thing it might be their sweltering summers, however Kendrick might be on trip elsewhere at the moment of the yr, so it doesn’t matter.
Like the perfect participant in Europe. Final yr, Kendrick Nunn gained EuroLeague MVP, going for 20.1 factors per recreation, 3.5 rebounds per recreation, and 4.2 assists per recreation earlier than Panathinaikos bowed out within the semifinals. This offseason, Nunn signed a brand new contract for 13.5 million Euros over three years, making him the best paid participant in Europe briefly (Vasilije Micic surpassed it later in the summertime). Because the begin of the brand new season, he has picked up the place he left off in EuroLeague, averaging 18.9 factors per recreation, 3.4 rebounds per recreation, and three.7 assists per recreation over his first seven EuroLeague video games, with Panathinaikos at the moment sitting in fourth place within the desk, comfortably in a playoff spot to date.
Commercial
Who He Is Enjoying With
Together with Nunn, there are six ex-NBA gamers on the Panathinaikos roster. Juancho Hernangomez is extra recognized for appearing throughout Adam Sandler within the film Hustle but in addition had a strong eight-year NBA profession. Cedi Osman had a seven-year NBA profession, which began with LeBron’s final yr in Cleveland. Richaun Holmes simply left the NBA for Europe this offseason after a 10-year profession, with the perfect of these years performed in obscurity for the Sacramento Kings. Jerian Grant is the much less profitable older brother of Blazers ahead Jerami, who was despatched to the Bulls from the Knicks within the Derrick Rose commerce.