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Olympiacos: Champions’ strategy for the next season

Who stays, who leaves, and who might join after their 15th Greek title

Newsroom June 9 05:51

Olympiacos made a strong comeback after the disappointment in Abu Dhabi, returning to the top of Greek basketball by winning their 15th title in a packed Peace and Friendship Stadium (SEF).

It was a celebration for both the team and its fans, while the management and head coach have already begun planning for next season.

Following their fourth consecutive EuroLeague Final Four appearance—falling just short of glory—it became clear changes were needed. As previously mentioned, Olympiacos is looking to add hungry players while parting ways with others whose contracts are expiring.

The Greek championship finals also played a role in shaping some of these decisions.

Who Stays

Everything starts at the top. Coach Giorgos Bartzokas revealed he considered leaving mid-season, but he still has one year on his contract and has the full support of management. Following the title win, he will lead Olympiacos for another season.

The Piraeus team retains a strong core of about ten players—some with caveats. Under contract and staying are: Walkup, Lee, Evans, Larentzakis, Vezenkov, Papanikolaou, Peters, Fournier, and Dorsey.

Dorsey, despite underperforming relative to his high salary, elevated his status with strong playoff performances and is now almost certain to stay.

Stars Vezenkov and Fournier will continue to lead the team. Captain Papanikolaou, now 36, remains a locker room leader. Walkup is signed through 2026, and after recovering from a back injury, he’s expected to return even stronger next season.

Evans also dealt with a serious injury but returned for the critical end-of-season stretch. Olympiacos has high hopes for him. Shaivonte “Saben” Lee, who signed mid-season for 1.5 years, played as a true point guard—despite not being a natural fit for the role—and has earned Bartzokas’ trust.

Similarly, Giannoulis Larentzakis saw reduced playing time but remains vital as a locker room presence and valuable Greek rotation player. Alec Peters recently extended his contract through 2026 and expressed his pride and happiness in staying.

Then come the caveats. Moustapha Fall is out for 10–12 months due to injury, though contracted through 2027. He won’t contribute next season, and a contract renegotiation may be on the table.

Another uncertain case is Shaquielle McKissic. Olympiacos initially planned to part ways, leading him to hint at retirement. However, his finals performance suggested otherwise, and the club is reconsidering keeping the 35-year-old, who has been part of the team since 2019–20.

Who Leaves

Most departures were clear early on. Nigel Williams-Goss didn’t wait for a renewal offer and signed with Zalgiris.

He’ll likely reunite with Moses Wright, who joined mid-season but struggled due to health issues.

Naz Mitrou-Long, who joined mid-season with a Greek passport, is also expected to leave due to his high salary. While he is under contract, a mutual agreement for separation is expected. The same applies to Luca Vildoza. Youngster Stefanos Spartalis is set to transfer to a U.S. college (NCAA).

A special case is Nikola Milutinov. His two-year contract is up, and teams like Armani Milan are pressing hard to sign him. Talks with Olympiacos are expected soon to clarify his future.

Who Might Join

Olympiacos plans to strengthen its roster aiming to reclaim the EuroLeague crown.

The top target is Tyson Ward. The club has approached his agent and talks look positive—an agreement is likely once his season with Paris ends.

They are also closely watching Nick Weiler-Babb, EuroLeague’s Defensive Player of the Year. The Bayern guard has a $700,000 buyout and is attracting interest from multiple clubs, including Olympiacos.

>Related articles

Valencia shocks Olympiacos in Piraeus with late surge to claim EuroLeague victory

Panathinaikos vs Fenerbahce 81-77 victory at the final buzzer (updated)

Kairat – Olympiacos 0–1: Olympiacos now strongly eye qualification after the away win in frozen Astana

Milutinov’s status is pivotal. Filip Petrusev remains under contract, but whether Olympiacos keeps him will depend on his role expectations. If Milutinov leaves, the club may pursue two new centers and retain Petrusev.

Olympiacos is also scouting the Greek market due to limited available local players. One notable name is Omiros Netzipoglou, who had a strong season with AEK.


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#euroleague#Giorgos Bartzokas#Greek Basketball#Nikola Milutinov#olympiacos#player transfers#Vezenkov
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