Best and McKoy Defy Criticism, Stay Starters at BC MoraBanc

Aaron Best and Justin McKoy remain active players for BC MoraBanc despite public criticism from club president Gorka Aixàs before Christmas, who indicated both would no longer wear the team's jersey.

On December 22, Aixàs singled out the pair, stating McKoy's performance had fallen short of expectations and that the recent signing of Kostas Kostadinov made him expendable. He expressed similar frustration with Best, the 33-year-old Canadian guard from Toronto, saying he hoped the veteran would not play many more games for the club. Both are non-EU players, and Aixàs emphasized the team could not afford their underwhelming output after 11 ACB League matches.

Coach Joan Plaza initially benched McKoy for games against Casademont Zaragoza and Valencia Basket. However, an ankle sprain sidelined Yves Pons, opening the door for the American forward from Raleigh. McKoy returned against Hiopos Lleida, starting and logging 16:49 minutes with four points, two rebounds, and a +7 plus-minus. In the following match in Vitoria, he outperformed Kostadinov, playing 22:38 minutes for nine points, five rebounds, two steals, and an 11 valuation rating with a +2 plus-minus.

Best has since become a regular starter. Post-criticism, he scored 10 points in 20:36 minutes against Zaragoza, including two three-pointers, with two assists and a +9 plus-minus. Against Lleida, he added nine points but struggled from deep (1/6), finishing with three rebounds and a four valuation. In the latest game, he led a comeback with 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, and a 15 valuation rating, earning a +2 plus-minus.

Injuries have kept Pons out indefinitely, leaving McKoy and Kostadinov as the healthy options at power forward. BC MoraBanc faces Real Madrid on Sunday at 7pm, where they will match up against top European talent like ex-NBA player Trey Lyles, Best's Canadian national team teammate. Next comes Rio Breogan Lugo, featuring former MoraBanc forward Mihajlo Andric, who has performed solidly under coach Luis Casimiro.

Plans to replace Best with Daryl Macon fell through as Maroussi blocked the move; Xavier Castañeda has instead joined to cover for captain Ferran Bassas, now excelling at BAXI Manresa.

In other club news, center Artem Pustovyi reached 3,000 career ACB valuation points on Sunday, earning 24 against Kosner Baskonia. The 33-year-old Ukrainian, who debuted in the league with Obradoiro in 2015, has played 295 games, with his personal best of 35 coming for Joventut Badalona this season against Casademont Zaragoza.