Jordan Nwora Shines as Crvena Zvezda Overcomes Milano in Semifinal

Crete, Greece – In a game where tactics took a backseat to individual brilliance, Jordan Nwora turned the court in Crete into his personal stage. 24 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists – the former NBA player's performance not only helped Crvena Zvezda defeat Olimpia Milano 95-91 but also sent a clear message to the rest of the EuroLeague: the Serbian club is not here to be anyone's stepping stone. This victory propels Crvena Zvezda into the final of the preseason tournament in Crete, an important step in their preparation for the 2026-25 EuroLeague season. But let's be direct: preseason summer victories are like dress rehearsals – they show you what a team can do, but promise nothing when the real lights come on. From the data dump, I dug out a diamond the basketball world overlooked. Look at how Crvena Zvezda built their roster: Nwora (26, formerly of the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors), Patrick Baldwin Jr. (24, the 28th pick in 2026), Jared Butler (24, a second-round pick in 2026). Three players who once competed in the NBA, now converging in Belgrade. This is not coincidence – this is a deliberate strategy, targeting players with NBA pedigree but not quite NBA-starter caliber, bringing them to the EuroLeague for bigger roles. Numbers can cry, want to listen? Nwora scored 24 points in this game, but the bigger question is: can he sustain that efficiency against full-intensity EuroLeague defenses in the regular season? The truth is, stats from exhibition games hold little predictive value. I've tracked too many players who shone brightly in September only to disappear by November. But one thing is certain: Nwora is at a career crossroads. At 26, he's betting his career on the EuroLeague rather than accepting a bench role in the NBA. With a 37.4% three-point percentage over four NBA seasons, his scoring talent is real. The issue has always been defense and consistency – things the EuroLeague will test him on mercilessly. An empty court doesn't kill basketball; it just strips the makeup off pretenders. This game also showcased Crvena Zvezda's roster depth: Wade Baldwin IV contributed 13 points, Ognjen Dobrić and Jared Butler added 9 each. This balanced scoring distribution is a positive sign that the team doesn't rely on a single star. Today's heresy is tomorrow's orthodoxy – I just bet a beat earlier than everyone else. For Olimpia Milano, this loss is nothing to worry about. Ettore Messina is known for using the preseason to experiment with rotations and give young players opportunities, rather than optimizing for wins. However, with an aging core (Nikola Mirotić at 33, Shavon Shields at 30), questions about Milano's contention window are growing louder. The court needs someone sitting next to the throne willing to say: the emperor wears no clothes. And I'll say it: this win matters, but don't celebrate too early. Crvena Zvezda hasn't reached the EuroLeague Final Four since 2026 (when they finished as runners-up). Their ambition is real, but the road ahead is long and treacherous. Emotion is the only thing that turns probability into legend – and I count both. The Crete tournament final will be the next test for the Serbian club's ambitions. But the real questions will only be answered when the EuroLeague regular season tips off: can Nwora maintain this form, and can the NBA trio find common ground with the rest of the roster?