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Portuguese team Sporting CP has secured former Hawks player Cat Barber for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
While the NBA regular season is well underway, national teams are competing to qualify for FIBA tournaments held next summer. Luka Dončić, who takes pride in competing for his native Slovenia each opportunity he gets, will have a chance to do so again at EuroBasket after the national team’s dramatic 83-82 comeback victory over Portugal in Ljubljana. Dončić was eager to watch Slovenia’s two matches against Portugal, recently telling DallasHoopsJournal.com, “I like [their outlook]. They play in Portugal and then at home against Portugal. It’s exciting to watch. I wish I could be part of it, but obviously, I can’t. It’s going to be fun to watch, and I think we have a great chance.”
Former Magic player Devyn Marble signed with Portuguese team FC Porto for the 2024-25 season.
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He averages 18 hours of screen time a day and was proud of how far that number had dipped on a recent vacation to Portugal with his family, even if he had continued tweeting minor news — “Skal Labissiere has agreed to a partially guaranteed one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings” — throughout the weeklong trip. “I prefer the poolside sit-and-do-nothing vacation, so I can still be on my phone as constant as I wanna be,” Charania said. “But did it get to, like, 14 hours? Yes. Did it get to, like, 12 or 13 hours some days? Yes. I think that’s a win.”
Cesare Milanti: What a debut by Luka Garza (@LukaG_55) with the Bosnian national team, dropping a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds with 5/8 FG in the 84-75 win against Portugal to open the 2023 FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament 🇧🇦
Kings re-sign Neemias Queta to a standard contract
James Ham: According to a league source, the Sacramento Kings have signed Neemias Queta to a standard contract. No details yet, but the 7-footer out of Portugal is back.
NBA viewership outside of North America continues its rapid ascent with year-over-year average growth this season outpacing China in both Portugal (+122%) and Italy (+81%). Mexico (+36%), the Philippines (+31%), Spain (+12%), and Canada (+11%) have also seen upticks in interest. NBA League Pass, which gives subscribers access to live and on-demand games, has also grown internationally, with a 272% increase in Cameroon, the home country of Philadelphia star Joel Embiid, a 203% increase in Turkey and 78% rise in Italy.
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Christos Tsaltas: Great game by Neemias Queta, who led Portugal into an important road win over Romania (75-59). 20 points / 10 rebounds / 10-18 FG Queta showed growth and leadership. #SacramentoProud #Portugal
Nikola Vucevic to play with Montenegro next month
The Montenegrin national team will count on their biggest basketball star Nikola Vucevic in the upcoming FIBA window. Montenegro will face France on July 1 in Podgorica and will play an away match against Portugal on July 4.
Portuguese center Neemias Queta debuted in the NBA Friday evening. He became the first player from Portugal to appear in the NBA game but did not feel pressured by the historic moment. “It’s a great accomplishment just to be able to be on the floor and get some reps in and be able to play,” he said following the 2021-22 NBA Regular Season fixture featuring his Sacramento Kings at home opposite the Memphis Grizzlies, “I feel like it’s been a long time coming. I have been dreaming about this day since I started playing basketball. I am really happy it happened today.”
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