Olympiacos has made one of the biggest moves of the European basketball offseason, officially signing Jean Montero to a three-year contract after the Dominican guard completed a standout campaign with Valencia Basket that established him among the EuroLeague’s elite young stars.
The reigning EuroLeague champions are adding a 23-year-old playmaker coming off an extraordinary first season in the competition. Montero was named the 2025-26 EuroLeague Rising Star, earned All-EuroLeague First Team honors, and was voted the EuroLeague Playoffs MVP after leading Valencia to its first Final Four appearance.
Montero averaged 14.4 points, 4.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals across 38 EuroLeague games while playing 23.0 minutes per contest. He emerged as Valencia’s primary creator on a team that finished second in the regular season with a 25-13 record, trailing only Olympiacos (26-12).
His playoff performances cemented his reputation as one of Europe’s premier guards. In Game 4 of Valencia’s quarterfinal series against Panathinaikos, Montero produced an 89-86 road victory with a playoff-record 45 Performance Index Rating, the highest PIR recorded in the postseason since the current playoff format was introduced in 2004-05. Valencia eventually eliminated Panathinaikos in five games before falling to Real Madrid in the Final Four.
Montero was equally influential in Spain, averaging 15.5 points, 4.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals in Liga Endesa. He elevated his production during the championship series against Barcelona, posting 23.8 points and 5.5 assists per game to earn Finals MVP honors as Valencia captured its second Spanish League title.
His rise has been remarkably consistent. Before making his EuroLeague debut, Montero was selected to the All-EuroCup First Team and won the EuroCup Rising Star award during the 2024-25 season. He has also captured the Liga Endesa Best Young Player award in three consecutive seasons, first with Real Betis while on loan from Gran Canaria, then with MoraBanc Andorra, and finally with Valencia.
Olympiacos strengthens a backcourt that already features Thomas Walkup, Tyler Dorsey and Evan Fournier while replacing several departing veterans. The club has already seen Alec Peters, Moustapha Fall, Frank Ntilikina, Shaquielle McKissic, Kostas Antetokounmpo and Monte Morris leave this summer, with Codi Miller-McIntyre previously announced as another addition.
The Greek champions enter the new season after winning both the EuroLeague regular season and the title. Olympiacos finished first with a 26-12 record before sweeping Monaco in the quarterfinals, defeating Fenerbahce 79-61 in the Final Four semifinal and overcoming Real Madrid 92-85 in the championship game.
Valencia, meanwhile, continues a significant roster transition following Montero’s departure. The Spanish champions have already parted ways with Darius Thompson, Braxton Key, Jaime Pradilla, Xabi Lopez-Arostegui, Isaac Nogues and head coach Pedro Martinez as the club reshapes its roster after a historic season.
