Olympiacos has secured its first signing for the 2025-26 season, inking a two-year contract with forward Tyson Ward, Eurohoops reported on May 25, 2025, following sources close to the deal (per euroleaguebasketball.net). The 27-year-old American, who previously played under coach Tuomas Iisalo at Bonn and Paris Basketball, joins the Greek powerhouse after a strong debut EuroLeague season, averaging 11 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 38 games with Paris (per prior web results). Ward’s arrival comes as Olympiacos prepares for a third-place game against Panathinaikos at the 2025 Final Four in Abu Dhabi, following their semifinal loss to Monaco (78-68, per prior recap).
Ward’s journey to Olympiacos follows a successful path under Iisalo, winning the Basketball Champions League (BCL) with Bonn in 2023 and the EuroCup with Paris in 2024, showcasing his versatility as a 6’6” forward (per Wikipedia). In his first EuroLeague season, Ward proved his worth as a reliable scorer and rebounder, with a standout performance in the Play-In against Valencia, scoring 15 points (per euroleaguebasketball.net). His experience in high-stakes competitions, including a 2023 BCL Finals MVP award, makes him a valuable addition to a team looking to reclaim the EuroLeague title they last won in 2013.
Ward is expected to replace Shaquielle McKissic, who becomes a free agent this summer after a five-year stint with Olympiacos, where he averaged 7.5 points in the 2024-25 season (per Wikipedia). With TJ Shorts potentially joining rivals Panathinaikos (per BasketNews), Ward could face his former Paris teammate in the Greek derby next season, adding intrigue to the matchup. Olympiacos, under coach Georgios Bartzokas, aims to rebuild after a disappointing Final Four, and Ward’s athleticism and winning pedigree could be key to their 2025-26 campaign.
Posted on May 25, 2025
