Cedevita Olimpija has officially announced the contract extension of young Slovenian center Žiga Daneu, securing his commitment to the club until the end of the 2026-27 competitive season. This move reinforces the Ljubljana club’s dedication to nurturing homegrown talent and developing players within its system.

Daneu, a 2.10-meter big man who is 22 years old, comes from a distinguished basketball lineage. His grandfather, Ivo Daneu, is a legendary figure in European basketball history, known for helping former Yugoslavia win the 1970 World Cup and a silver medal at the 1968 Olympics, earning a spot among FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991. His father, Jaka Daneu, also made significant contributions to Olimpija, helping them reach the 1997 EuroLeague Final Four and secure eight consecutive Slovenian League championships.

Žiga Daneu is a product of Cedevita Olimpija’s youth system. He honed his skills further with fellow Slovenian clubs Nutrispoint Ilirija Ljubljana and Kansai Helios Domžale before returning to Cedevita Olimpija ahead of the 2024-25 season. Upon his return, he quickly made an impact, earning opportunities in both the BKT EuroCup and the AdmiralBet ABA League. A testament to his strong preseason and early-season performances, he was named the MVP of the Slovenian SuperCup in Laško last September, where he recorded 16 points with perfect shooting (5/5 for two, 2/2 for three) and grabbed three rebounds.

Despite an unfortunate injury sustained in the first game in Železnik, which impacted his rhythm, Daneu’s hard work and individual efforts paid off, earning him a call-up to the Slovenian senior men’s national team. He played in four official matches during the EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers. In the 2024-25 season, Daneu appeared in 19 regional league games and nine EuroCup matches. In the EuroCup, he averaged 1.4 points and 1.1 rebounds in just under nine minutes per game, while in the regional league, he averaged 1.0 points and 1.2 rebounds in 6.6 minutes per game.

He also played a crucial role in the Dragons’ successful domestic championship playoffs, where he received increased playing time. In the quarterfinals against GGD Šenčur, he averaged 11.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, followed by 6.0 points in the semifinals against Podčetrtek, and 2.5 points per game in the finals against Krka. Overall, Žiga Daneu contributed to Cedevita Olimpija winning all three domestic titles in the 2024-25 season.

Chechu Mulero, Cedevita Olimpija’s sports director, expressed satisfaction with the extension, stating, “Žiga is an important part of our team, and his dedication greatly contributes to the development of the team and the club. We look forward to continued collaboration and believe he will continue to successfully represent Cedevita Olimpija’s colors. We certainly expect even more from him in the upcoming season compared to what he showed in the past season.” Head coach Zvezdan Mitrović echoed similar sentiments, highlighting Daneu’s strong preseason and SuperCup performance despite the injury, and anticipating significant contributions in the next season.

Žiga Daneu himself conveyed his enthusiasm for the upcoming season, emphasizing his desire to show greater enthusiasm and achieve more success, while also hoping for continued strong fan support at Stožice. With Daneu’s contract extension, Cedevita Olimpija solidifies its roster with a promising talent, as the Ljubljana outfit prepares to compete in the BKT EuroCup, AdmiralBet ABA League, and other domestic competitions in the 2025-26 campaign.