Euroleague: Ukrainian center Oleksii Len sets record for Real Madrid
Oleksii Len (photo: instagram.com/realmadridbasket)
Ukrainian center Oleksii Len delivered the best performance of his career for Real Madrid. In a Euroleague clash against Panathinaikos, the Ukrainian legionnaire became the main offensive force for the Spanish side, according to the game result.
New scoring career high for the Ukrainian
Oleksii Len continues to show rapid progress in the colors of the Royal Club.
Only recently, the big man set a mark of 15 points in a Spanish league game against Zaragoza, but he surpassed that figure in the very next EuroLeague contest.
Against Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos, Len finished with 18 points. He needed just 16 minutes and 43 seconds of playing time to reach that total.
The center’s efficiency was impressive: he made 5 of 6 shots from the field and was highly accurate from the free-throw line, converting 8 of 10 attempts.
Len also added 5 rebounds and 2 assists to his stat line.
Dramatic finish and standings
Despite the Ukrainian’s individual success — he was the top scorer for his team — Real Madrid failed to hold on to the win.
The Madrid side held a narrow lead late in the game but conceded a decisive basket in the final seconds. The final buzzer confirmed an 81–82 defeat for the Spanish giant.
This result marked Real’s second consecutive loss in the EuroLeague.
At the moment, Los Blancos sit fourth in the overall standings, with 16 wins and 10 losses.
Statistics and plans
The game was the 13th EuroLeague appearance this season for the 32-year-old Len. Before this night, his personal best in the tournament had been 8 points, recorded against Milan.
After moving from the NBA — where he posted modest numbers last season with the Los Angeles Lakers — Oleksii Len has become a key rotation player for the Madrid club.
Real Madrid will play their next EuroLeague game on Thursday, February 5. Their opponent will be tournament debutants Dubai.
It is worth recalling that Len’s current contract with the Madrid side runs through the summer of 2027.
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