By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Anadolu Efes updated the injury list on Tuesday morning, a few hours before tip-off against Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv in Moraca Sports Center.
PJ Dozier has been ruled out of the Regular Season Round 1 fixture of the 2025-26 EuroLeague. The 28-year-old winger is undergoing treatment following an injury to the pinky finger of his left hand. Returning to Europe’s premier club continental competition in January, following his introduction with Partizan Mozzart Bet in the 2023-24 installment, Dozier logged 18 appearances, including four starts, averaging 8.3 points per game with Efes.
Vincent Poirier is also out, projected to be sidelined for several more months. In more early-season injury woes for the team based in Istanbul, captain Shane Larkin will be a game-time decision due to ankle discomfort.
In contrast to the team guided by Igor Kokoskov, every member of the roster is available for the Yellows and the opposite head coach, Oded Kattash. In the bottom half of the opening double-game week, Efes stays in Podgorica to take on fellow Israeli club Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv and Maccabi moves to Belgrade’s Aleksandar Nikolic Hall to face Paris on Friday.
With the playing field expanding to 20 teams, the double-legged round-robin schedule of the Regular Season will last until April 24, with 38 fixtures for each team instead of the previous 34. The top six seeds will progress directly to the Playoffs, with the clubs ranking seventh through tenth getting a second chance via the Play-In Showdown.