Italian coach Luca Banchi is reportedly moving closer to a return to Anadolu Efes, less than a year after his previous spell on the Istanbul bench ended. A report published by Pianeta Basket said the EuroLeague club has entered an active search for a new head coach and has already opened advanced talks with Banchi about a reunion.
According to the Italian outlet, Efes views the 60-year-old as one of the leading candidates to guide the team after a difficult 2025–26 campaign that included coaching changes and inconsistent results. The report stated that negotiations have accelerated in recent days, making a return a realistic possibility.
The move would represent a familiar reset for the Turkish side. Banchi previously coached Efes during the second half of the 2024–25 season after arriving midyear, leaving what Pianeta Basket described as a positive internal impression before departing.
Efes spent much of 2025–26 searching for stability on the sideline. The club opened the season under Igor Kokoskov before later replacing him with Pablo Laso, but the results never fully turned.
In the EuroLeague regular season, Efes finished 19th with a 12–26 record and a minus-160 scoring differential, missing postseason contention in a season defined by inconsistency on both ends of the floor. The club struggled to build continuity despite experienced talent across the roster.
Guard play remained a bright spot at times. Shane Larkin averaged 15.3 points and 4.2 assists in limited appearances while shooting 43.1 percent from three-point range, and Jordan Loyd added 11.4 points per game across 34 appearances.
Frontcourt production also offered stretches of balance, with Ercan Osmani averaging 10.9 points and 4.6 rebounds, while Vincent Poirier and Kai Jones provided interior support in shorter roles.
