International Rumors | Hoops Rumors

International Notes: J. Robinson, Winston, Ramsey, More

July 24th, 2025 at 6:45pm CST by Rory Maher

Former NBA point guard Justin Robinson has signed a two-year contract with Paris Basketball, according to a press release from the French team (hat tip to Eurohoops).

Robinson bounced around during his three NBA seasons, appearing in 43 games for Washington, Oklahoma City, Milwaukee, Sacramento and Detroit from 2019-22. He holds modest career averages of 2.6 points and 1.1 assists in 10.3 minutes per contest.

The 27-year-old has spent time in Australia and Spain since his last NBA job. During the 2024/25 season, he played in Italy’s top basketball league (Lega Basket Serie A) with Trapani Shark, averaging 14.4 PPG, 6.0 APG, 3.0 and 1.1 SPG in 29 games (25.9 MPG).

Paris Basketball competes in both the LNB Élite (France’s top league) and the EuroLeague. Robinson will be replacing T.J. Shorts, who was named MVP of the LNB Élite each of the past two seasons.

Here are a few more overseas items of interest:

Former Michigan State star Cassius Winston has signed a one-year contract with Hapoel Jerusalem, the Israeli team announced. The 53rd pick of the 2020 draft, Winston spent two years on two-way contracts with the Wizards after going pro. He has spent the past three seasons playing in Germany, Turkey and Italy, respectively.
Another ex-NBA guard, Jahmi’us Ramsey, is nearing a contract agreement with Italian club Pallacanestro Trieste, according to Superbasket (hat tip to Sportando). Ramsey, 24, was selected 10 picks before Winston (No. 43 overall) in 2020. He holds three years of NBA experience, having played in Sacramento and Toronto. Ramsey spent last season in the NBA G League with the Oklahoma City Blue, averaging 20.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.3 APG and 1.3 SPG on .496/.363/.685 shooting in 34 appearances (28.6 MPG).
The decision on where to host the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four has been postponed a second time after league shareholders were unable to reach a consensus agreement, reports Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews. The Final Four will either be held in Athens, Greece, or Belgrade, Serbia, according to Urbonas, who says another vote could occur in September.

Shake Milton Signs With Partizan Belgrade

July 24th, 2025 at 3:03pm CST by Luke Adams

3:03pm: Milton has officially signed a two-year deal with Partizan, the team announced (via Twitter).

8:45am: Just a few days after being waived by the Lakers, veteran NBA guard Shake Milton is reportedly engaged in serious talks with KK Partizan. The Serbian outlet Meridian Sport reported that Milton and Partizan Belgrade were discussing a possible deal, while Telesport (Twitter link) and Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com classified those negotiations as “advanced.”

A second-round pick in 2018, Milton has appeared in 359 NBA regular season games for six teams over the past seven seasons. After spending the first five years of his career in Philadelphia, the 28-year-old has bounced around the league since 2023, playing for the Timberwolves, Pistons, and Knicks in 2023/24 before suiting up this past season with the Nets and Lakers — he was sent to Los Angeles along with Dorian Finney-Smith in a mid-season trade.

In 57 total outings for Brooklyn and L.A. in 2024/25, the 6’5″ guard averaged 5.5 points, 1.8 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per night, with a .453/.358/.797 shooting line. He was released by the Lakers because his $3MM salary for ’25/26 was non-guaranteed and the team needed to create extra breathing room below the first tax apron to sign Marcus Smart.

If Milton does end up signing with Partizan or another European team, it would be the first time the former SMU star has played overseas.

Partizan Belgrade, which competes in the EuroLeague and the ABA League, is coming off an ABA League title this spring but went just 16-18 in EuroLeague play. The club’s roster features no shortage of former NBA players, including Jabari Parker, Sterling Brown, Isaac Bonga, Aleksej Pokusevski, Frank Ntilikina, Duane Washington, and Carlik Jones.

Lonnie Walker IV To Join Maccabi Tel Aviv

July 24th, 2025 at 12:57pm CST by Dana Gauruder

12:57pm: Walker’s contract is for three years and approximately $10MM, according to Urbonas. It includes an NBA exit clause until Aug. 1 for this season and exit clauses for 2026 and 2027 until July 15 of those years.

12:19pm: Free agent forward Lonnie Walker IV is signing with Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, NBA insider Marc Stein tweets.

The Sixers declined their $2.9MM option on the 26-year-old at the end of last month, making him an unrestricted free agent. Terms of the contract are yet to be disclosed but he’ll be one of the highest paid players in the EuroLeague, according to Stein. It will be a multiyear contract, Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com tweets.

Interestingly, Walker was linked to another Israeli club this month. He reportedly received a two-year offer from Hapoel Tel Aviv. Real Madrid also showed interest in Walker.

Walker was productive for the injury-riddled Sixers during the second half of the season. He appeared in 20 games and averaged 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists. However, Philadelphia had major salary cap concerns heading into free agency, which undoubtedly factored into the front office’s decision.

After being waived by Boston just before the start of last season, Walker spent time with Zalgiris Kaunas in the EuroLeague while awaiting his next NBA opportunity. He signed a two-year contract with Philadelphia in late February.

Prior to his stint with the Sixers, Walker appeared in 322 regular season games with the Spurs, Lakers, and Nets from 2018-24.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Confirmed For EuroBasket

July 23rd, 2025 at 12:48pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has confirmed his participation in EuroBasket, according to a tweet from FIBA EuroBasket.

Antetokounmpo was already on Greece’s 19-man preliminary roster for the tournament, but this indicates he’ll once again represent his home country. He’s been on the country’s national team since 2014, appearing in a total of 37 official games in major FIBA tournaments.

Antetokounmpo was the leading scorer at EuroBasket 2022 but Greece was eliminated by Germany in the quarterfinals. He averaged 29.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks in six games.

It was a similar story in last year’s Summer Olympics. The two-time NBA MVP averaged a tournament high 25.8 points along with 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists in four games but Greece was once again knocked out by Germany.

Speculation regarding his status with the Bucks has cooled this summer. Team president Peter Feigin said this month that the organization was in a “good place” with its franchise player. Milwaukee was eliminated by Indiana in the first round of the playoffs despite Antetokounmpo averaging 33 points, 15.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists during the series.

Ricky Rubio Signs With Joventut Badalona

July 22nd, 2025 at 7:32pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Ricky Rubio isn’t retiring after all. He has signed a contract with Spain’s Joventut Badalona, according to an announcement from the team.

Rubio ended his NBA career in January 2024 and returned to his home country of Spain, where he finished that season with Barcelona. He didn’t play for Barcelona this past season after taking a hiatus for mental health reasons.

Rubio indicated in June after posting a thank-you message on social media that he was still deciding whether to play again.

“Everything is open. I might play again – why not? – or I might not, and that wouldn’t be a bad idea either,” Rubio said. “It’s something I’d like to consider in the near future. For now, I just wanted to say thank you and also see how it affects me as a person, and if it gives me energy to move in one direction or another.”

Playing for Joventut Badalona represents a full circle move. Rubio started his pro career with the organization in 2005 and remained there until he signed with Barcelona in 2009.

Rubio was the fifth pick of the NBA draft in 2009 and came stateside two years later. He played for Minnesota, Utah, Phoenix and Cleveland over the course of 12 seasons, averaging 10.8 points and 7.4 assists in 698 career games.

International Notes: Cancar, Metu, Magnay, Young, Fall

July 22nd, 2025 at 1:55pm CST by Luke Adams

Olimpia Milano has officially confirmed its multiyear deal with veteran forward Vlatko Cancar, announcing the signing in a press release.

Reporting near the start of the month indicated that Cancar was on the verge of finalizing a two-year deal with Olimpia Milano, with the longtime Nugget confirming days later that he would be headed to Italy for the 2025/26 season.

The 49th overall pick in the 2017 draft, Cancar came stateside to join the Nuggets in 2019. Across six years and 143 regular season games with the team, the 6’8″ forward averaged 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per night.

Here are a few more updates from around the international basketball world:

Veteran center Chimezie Metu was said earlier this month to be nearing a deal with the Turkish team Feneberbahce, but those talks broke down in the final stages, reports Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com. According to Urbonas, Metu had arrived in Istanbul and was prepared to sign with the reigning EuroLeague champions before the deal fell through. While Urbonas doesn’t provide specifics, it’s worth noting Metu is making his way back from an Achilles tear that he sustained in March and his agreement with Fenerbahce reportedly hinged in part on how his recovery was going.
Despite reportedly drawing some interest from the Grizzlies, the team he played for at the Las Vegas Summer League, Australian big man Will Magnay is returning to the Tasmania JackJumpers for the 2025/26 season, the team announced in a press release. “Summer League was an amazing and really valuable opportunity for me; I loved the experience. But I’m now excited to get home and get after it with the new group,” Magnay said in a statement.
The Perth Wildcats are pursuing free agent guard Jahmir Young, sources tell Olgun Uluc of ESPN. Young finished the 2024/25 season on a two-way contract with the Bulls and scored 40 points on 13-of-18 shooting in a Summer League game for Chicago last Wednesday, but was waived on Saturday to make room for newcomer Yuki Kawamura.
The New Zealand Breakers have parted ways with veteran center Tacko Fall, the team announced on social media (Twitter link). A former Celtic and Cavalier, Fall averaged 11.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game for the Breakers in 18 outings last season.

Former Thunder Wing Alex Abrines Announces Retirement

July 22nd, 2025 at 9:56am CST by Luke Adams

Spanish guard/forward Alex Abrines has decided to end his playing career, announcing his retirement on Tuesday in a social media post (Twitter link; hat tip to Sportando).

Abrines, who will turn 32 next month, was the 32nd overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft and came stateside three years later. He played for the Thunder from 2016-19, appearing in 174 regular season games across three seasons and averaging 5.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in 16.0 minutes per game, with a .387/.368/.880 shooting line.

Abrines missed time during his third and final year in Oklahoma City for personal reasons and was eventually waived in February 2019, ending his time in the NBA. He later spoke about struggling with his mental health during his time in the league.

Abrines’ NBA run was sandwiched by two extended stints with FC Barcelona. He played for the Spanish club from 2012-16 and again from 2019-25, winning three Spanish League (Liga ACB) championships and three Spanish Cup titles. The 6’5″ swingman also played extensively for Spain’s national team, winning an Olympic bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

“Thank you, Barça! Culers, the time has come to say goodbye,” Albrines wrote in his farewell message (translated from Catalan). “The most complicated moment for me has arrived after so many years of proudly defending this shirt. I have been through a lot and, although I will miss many things, many places and many people, I know that my life path must continue in another direction.

“After an intense professional life in which I have burned through stages very quickly, it is time to live the life I want to live, to choose my path. And this is none other than wanting to spend more time with my family and my loved ones.”

Lamar Stevens Signs With Paris Basketball

July 22nd, 2025 at 7:20am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent forward Lamar Stevens has signed with Paris Basketball, the team announced today in a press release.

Stevens, who went undrafted out of Penn State in 2020, will be competing in Europe for the first time after spending his first five professional seasons in the NBA and G League. He has made 220 total regular season appearances for Cleveland, Boston, and Memphis, averaging 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game during that stretch, with a .463/.287/.726 shooting line.

Stevens spent much of last season with the Motor City Cruise in the G League before catching on with the Grizzlies after the All-Star break, first on a pair of 10-day deals and then on a rest-of-season contract.

The 28-year-old had a very limited role in his first 16 outings with Memphis, logging 118 total minutes, but got extended run in the team’s regular season finale — he scored a career-high 31 points on 14-of-25 shooting in 36 minutes in a blowout win over Dallas on the final day of the season before becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Stevens will be joining a Paris Basketball squad that is coming off the most successful season in its seven-year history. The club won its first domestic championship in France’s top basketball league (LNB Élite) in 2024/25 and made the postseason in its first year in the EuroLeague.

Summer League Standout David Jones-Garcia Turns Down Olympiacos Offer

July 21st, 2025 at 6:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

David Jones-Garcia turned down a three-year offer from Olympiacos and let all other European suitors know he’s committed to continuing his NBA career, Dusty Garza of SpursReport tweets.

A report from Eurohoops.net confirms Jones-Garcia’s decision to pursue NBA opportunities.

Interest in Jones-Garcia, who doesn’t currently have an NBA deal, grew after some standout performances in the Las Vegas Summer League for the Spurs. The swingman averaged 21.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.8 APG and 1.2 SPG while shooting 52.9% from deep in five contests (24.9 MPG) this month.

After going undrafted out of Memphis in 2024, Jones-Garcia signed a two-way contract with Philadelphia last July but was waived in September. He also spent about a month-and-a-half on a two-way contract with the Jazz prior to being released on January 1.

The 23-year-old wing didn’t appear in any NBA games with Utah last season. However, he was one of the top performers in the G League, finishing runner-up in voting for NBAGL Rookie of the Year.

Jones-Garcia, who is from the Dominican Republic, was named to the All-California Classic Summer League team earlier this month after averaging 22.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 47.1% from three-point range in three games for San Antonio.

Jonas Valanciunas ‘Fully Committed’ To Honoring Nuggets Contract

July 21st, 2025 at 10:50am CST by Luke Adams

After having avoided directly addressing his contract situation in recent weeks, Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas offered clarity on his plans for the 2025/26 season in remarks to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com on Monday.

“I want to clear the air about my playing situation next season now that Denver has made their decision to keep me,” Valanciunas said. “The idea of playing for Panathinaikos, closer to home, was very exciting to me, but that will have to wait. I am fully committed to honoring my contract with the Nuggets this season and will give it my all to compete for a championship.”

The Nuggets reached a trade agreement with the Kings on July 1 to acquire Valanciunas in exchange for Dario Saric, solidifying their backup center spot behind Nikola Jokic by landing a player they had reportedly coveted in recent years.

However, the Lithuanian big man’s future became a hot topic of discussion a couple days later when word broke that he was close to accepting a three-year contract offer from the Greek team Panathinaikos.

While it initially appeared that a buyout might be in the works for Valanciunas, the Nuggets made it clear they wanted him to play in Denver in 2025/26. They officially pulled the trigger on the trade on July 13, with general manager Ben Tenzer telling reporters this past Friday that the Nuggets had had “great conversations” with the center and his camp and that Valanciunas had expressed excitement about the upcoming season.

In order to play for Panathinaikos or any other non-NBA club, Valanciunas would have to secure his release from his current contract and then get a letter of clearance from FIBA. With the Nuggets unwilling to buy him out, his only option to force the issue would have been to hold out and not report to his new team. His comments today indicate he won’t be taking that route.

Valanciunas’ contract will pay him $10.4MM in 2025/26 and includes a non-guaranteed $10MM salary for the ’26/27 season. He’s expected to play a significant role as part of a revamped second unit in Denver that will also include recently added free agents Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr.