Far From Perfect, But Zvezda and Navarro Can Breathe: Partizan Prove Big Names Aren't Needed When You Have "Unc"

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet under Ibon Navarro may not be firing on all cylinders just yet, but they got the job done. In the season's first double-round week, the red-and-whites suffered a narrow 81-80 defeat to Hapoel Tel Aviv before bouncing back at Belgrade Arena to edge out Anadolu Efes 77-72. Zvezda's performances were far from flawless, and it is evident that Navarro is still bedding his system into the squad—understandable after only three rounds. Ultimately, the crucial takeaway is that the red-and-whites are on the board with their first win. With some breathing room secured, their upcoming trip to Dubai looks far less daunting.

Zvezda's biggest bright spot this week was arguably Ognjen Dobric. After seeing limited court time against Zalgiris and Hapoel (sparking immediate grumbles among the fanbase, though Navarro explained he was easing the club captain back in following an interrupted preseason due to national team duties), Dobric was handed his chance against Efes and wasted no time proving his worth.

During a recent appearance on the "6.75" podcast, Dobric noted—to paraphrase—that given adequate minutes, he can consistently drop eight to 10 points on any opponent. Whether from the charity stripe, spotting up from beyond the arc, or finishing in transition off solid defense, he finds ways to put points on the board.

That formula played out to perfection against Efes. The Knin-born forward tallied 10 points while adding seven rebounds (two offensive) and four steals. He also delivered gritty, aggressive perimeter defense on Mike James, and later clamped down on Efes' other guards once the EuroLeague's all-time leading scorer was forced off with an injury.

Alongside Dobric, Tyson Carter deserves significant credit for taking command in crunch time and sparking the decisive run that steered Zvezda to victory. Taking charge of the tempo down the stretch, Carter drilled a clutch three-pointer, scored on a drive, and knocked down three of four free throws in the final two minutes. It is no secret that Carter was Navarro's primary weapon during their time together at Unicaja, so do not be surprised if he continues to share closing duties with Butler and Nwora going forward.

Finally, Chima Moneke's contribution cannot be overlooked. He rattled off 13 consecutive points early in the third quarter, keeping Zvezda level and briefly in front when the rest of the offense went cold. However, what leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste despite a strong stat line (18 points and seven rebounds) is that most of his scoring came from pure isolation. Moneke remains stubbornly tied to his individual play, leaning heavily on the same pump-fakes and contested shots—exhilarating when they fall, but painful to watch when they don't.

Structural concerns also lingered. As highlighted last week, whenever Chris Jones sat, Zvezda struggled severely for offensive fluency and rhythm, often stagnating into heavy isolation sets with little ball movement.

There are also questions surrounding Zvezda's center rotation of Johnathan Motley and Ebuka Izundu.

Following a rough opener, Motley looked out of sorts in rounds two and three, though much of that can be attributed to an injury that restricted him to just seven minutes against Efes. Izundu, meanwhile, looks perpetually out of rhythm. While he did pull down nine rebounds against Hapoel, he managed only seven points across both contests and posed minimal offensive threat, occasionally committing unforced offensive fouls or traveling violations under pressure. He clearly has yet to find his stride under Navarro, and Zvezda fans will be hoping that connection clicks soon—especially if Motley faces an extended layoff.

Defensively, Zvezda had plenty of lapses. Rotations were sluggish at times, conceding numerous open looks to Efes. Fortunately for the hosts, the Turkish side misfired on key opportunities, including Malcolm's potential go-ahead shot in the dying seconds. The foundation is there, but Navarro and his staff have significant ground to cover to tighten up their defensive schemes.

All in all, this victory over Efes should ease the mounting pressure on Zvezda and head coach Ibon Navarro. If a strong response does not materialize next week in Dubai—historically a tricky venue for Zvezda—it should certainly be expected in the subsequent double round against ASVEL and Paris, two sides widely projected to fight at the bottom of the table.

In case you missed it across social media, Partizan's away victories over Paris (92-79) and Bayern Munich (86-84) this week marked their best start to a EuroLeague season in club history, opening 3-0 for the very first time on the continental stage.

Partizan were pushed hard by both Paris and Bayern—especially in Munich, where they only clinched the win in the dying seconds—but coming away with two road victories in the opening double week is a massive haul. That is, if games in Paris and Munich can truly be called away fixtures, given the vocal black-and-white diaspora backing them in both arenas.

Carlik Jones was once again the engine room. Just as he did in round one against Olimpia Milano, he dropped 20 points to power past Paris before igniting in the fourth quarter in Munich following three scoreless frames to break Bayern's resolve. Yet Jones was far from a solo act. Luca Vildoza, Alessandro Pajola, and Kyle Allman all provided vital contributions, but Jones' most reliable partner was Tonye Jekiri—affectionately dubbed "Uncle Jekiri" by teammates and fans.

The "Unc" moniker is not just a nod to Jekiri being one of the roster's elder statesmen at 32; it also reflects how quietly he arrived in Belgrade. He joined as an under-the-radar veteran who had bounced around the EuroLeague without ever locking down a headline role, signed last year primarily as a short-term stopgap for Tyrique Jones ahead of a planned squad overhaul.

However, with Partizan short on frontcourt depth last season—much like this term, where Bruno Fernando is the sole traditional center alongside Osetkowski and Pokusevski at the four—Joan Penarroya had to give Jekiri extended minutes. It proved an ideal match. With his soft mid-range touch, ability to stretch the floor, sharp short-roll distribution, and solid pick-and-roll execution, Jekiri unlocked an offensive dimension Bruno Fernando could never offer. Above all, Jekiri brought consistent production and durability at a fraction of the cost of premier market alternatives. Unlike his previous EuroLeague stints at Fenerbahce, Baskonia, and UNICS, Jekiri found a defined role and creative freedom at Partizan, quickly repaying Penarroya's trust. Extending his stay in Belgrade made complete sense for both sides.

That continuity has paid immediate dividends. Jekiri stayed put, and through three rounds, the Nigerian big man has been fundamental to Partizan's unbeaten run near the top of the standings. Continuing his form from last season, Jekiri punished defenses from mid-range throughout the double-round week (averaging 13 points per game on 69.6% shooting inside the arc) while orchestrating pick actions alongside guards like Luca Vildoza and Kyle Allman. In just 38 combined minutes against Bayern and Paris, Jekiri racked up 32 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals with zero turnovers, and drew seven fouls. Disciplined defensively and relentless on the glass, he provided a complete frontcourt package over both fixtures.

Given the barren center market in recent years and the fact that top-tier big men (Tavares, Lessort, Oturu, Valanciunas) are locked into eye-watering contracts, Partizan struck gold with Jekiri. He provides affordable scoring versatility, an underdog grit, dependable defense, seamless team integration, and zero locker-room friction.

In essence, Tonye Jekiri is proof that teams do not always need lavishly paid superstars. When character and fit are prioritized, having a reliable "Unc" can get the job done just as well.

The EuroLeague week was also clouded by an injury to Mike James. The competition's all-time leading scorer suffered an Achilles tendon injury against Crvena Zvezda and faces a six-month recovery—raising serious questions about his playing future at 36 years of age.

Achilles tendon tears—among the most devastating injuries in sport alongside ACL ruptures—were long viewed as an NBA trend, but they are becoming increasingly prevalent on European courts. James is merely the latest casualty, following similar setbacks suffered by Vanja Marinkovic, Usman Garuba, and Keenan Evans.

According to Dr. Zak Melayes, official physician of the Greek national basketball team, the primary factors driving the rise in Achilles injuries across Europe are severe fatigue, an expanding game calendar, and chronic inflammation.

The Greek specialist points out that age is only one component, with accumulated physical strain playing the decisive role. In his assessment, James was likely carrying minor, undetected damage prior to the full rupture.

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