Edwards and Alston: From BBL to LBA
On the international basketball circuit, players changing leagues is something far from foreign to clubs. American-born players make the transition from league to league sometimes consistently as they progress through their professional careers. However, there is a pair of players who made the move from one league to another that certainly caught my eye. Guard Carsen Edwards and Forward Derrick Alston Jr. both went from flourishing in the easyCredit BBL (BBL) and Liga Endesa (ACB) to the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). Let’s discuss the significance of the move by these players, along with how they can bolster the new club they have joined.
For Carsen Edwards, he spent his last two professional seasons playing for the top BBL club, Bayern Muenchen. The former Purdue University star was one of Bayern’s top scorers the last two years. He averaged 11.9 ppg in his first season with the club. But his value reached its apex when he took home Finals MVP honors, leading Bayern to a 2023-2024 BBL League Championship. The next season, he was again an offensive weapon, raising his scoring to 14.9 ppg as Bayern won a 2nd straight Championship. His combination of attack-the-rim ability, along with microwave shooting from three, makes him a threat to explode for 25-30 points in any given game. Now you add him to the up-tempo style of play that the LBA presents, and he may be set for his best offensive season on the international stage to date. Plus, add the EuroLeague and BBL Cup experience he has, and he has shown he can raise his level of play on the big stage in big moments.
Derrick Alston Jr. played in two different leagues the past two seasons and found success himself on the international circuit. The Boise State product, in 2023-2024, played for the Rostock SeaWolves of the easyCredit BBL and was highly productive. He averaged 18.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.5 apg, and 1.1 steals being a very versatile frontcourt player for a Rostock club that finished at .500 in their 2nd full year since promotion. The following season, he made the jump to the ACB, playing for Baxi Manresa, and once again, he provided immediate production. In the 2024-2025 campaign, Alston Jr. averaged 16.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, and 1.8 apg for a Manresa club that finished .500 in arguably the best international league in the world. Now the rangy forward looks to continue his stretch of consistent play on the international pro circuit now with a new club.
Both American imports officially joined Virtus Bologna this offseason, meaning the reigning LBA Champions bolstered their lineup in a huge way. For a team that finished as regular-season champions and then went 9-3 through their run to a championship, these are two huge additions. For a Bologna team that saw their leading scorer, Tornike Shengelia, as well as reserves like Ante Zizic, Achille Polonara, and Will Clyburn all departing this past offseason, adding these two players will help make up for these losses. For a team that has made it to the LBA Finals the past 5 seasons to be able to now integrate a pair that combined to average nearly 32 points between them is impressive. Plus, the fact that in their regular season opener, both new additions led the way to a convincing win, 105-88 over Napoli, shows the moves already paying off. The two combined for 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists in their team debuts.
Overall, Virtus Bologna made great decisions by adding these two talented American players. Now we will see just how much this pair can help maintain Bologna’s standing as reigning champs and the class of the LBA.