Anadolu Efes Rebuilds Ambitiously After Disappointing Season

Following one of its worst EuroLeague seasons, Turkish basketball club Anadolu Efes is actively reconstructing its roster to reclaim its status as a top contender. Unlike many European teams, Anadolu Efes has quietly pursued significant signings this summer. The club began by re-signing Croatian forward Dario Šarić, who returns after a decade in the NBA. Recently, Anadolu Efes surprised fans by acquiring Angolan center Bruno Fernando, a player previously sought by Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The most notable addition came with the signing of Mike James, the EuroLeague's all-time leading scorer, who averaged 16.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists last season. This move raises expectations for the Turkish team, especially combined with new acquisition Matthew Strazel from Monaco and returning guard Jordan Loyd. Alongside P.J. Dozier, this backcourt is shaping up to be particularly strong.

Although Anadolu Efes missed out on signing Jedi Osman, who joined PAOK instead, the club aims to secure another major signing in Mario Hezonja, who is also being courted by Dubai and Hapoel Tel Aviv. The current form of Šarić will be crucial for the team's frontcourt performance, while forwards Isaiah Cordinier and Arcan Osman, bright spots last season, are expected to continue playing key roles.

By the end of the summer, it will become clearer whether Anadolu Efes can return to challenging for the EuroLeague title or at least compete for a playoff and Final Four spot. The current roster includes Mike James, Matthew Strazel, P.J. Dozier, Jordan Loyd, Rodrigue Beaubois, Isaiah Cordinier, Santi Yusta, Arkan Ilmaz, Dario Šarić, Arcan Osman, Bruno Fernando, Kai Jones, and Georgios Papagiannis.