Luca Banchi: there's another Euroleague bench ready, situation to monitor

In recent days, several rumors have spread from Turkey, and more generally from the European basketball scene, about a possible return of Luca Banchi to the bench of Anadolu Efes. According to some rumors, the Istanbul club has sounded out the ground with the Italy coach’s commissioner to bring him back to lead the team.

Despite the rumors, at the moment there are no understandings between Banchi and Efes, nor with the other clubs that have been accosted to his name in recent weeks. Among them are Aris Thessaloniki, Reyer Venezia and the new Roma, especially in view of the part-time formula that will be triggered by his agreement with the Federation starting with the 2026/2027 season.

Reyer Venezia, in particular, is looking for a top coach to face a strategic season, coinciding with the inauguration of its new 10,500-spectator arena. At the top of the Venetian club’s desires was Banchi himself, who, however, would choose to decline interest as early as April in order to devote himself entirely to the Azzurri national team project.

The Tuscan coach, now 60 years old, had left excellent memories in his recent spell at Efes: in just a few months he had managed to revive the club in the Euroleague, even coming close to making it to the Final Four after a hard-fought playoff series against Panathinaikos ended only in Game 5.