Valencia Basket has signed veteran big man Jasiel Rivero to a one-month contract, bringing the Cuban international back for a second stint with the club.
Valencia announced the agreement Monday, saying Rivero will reinforce the roster through the preseason and opening portion of the official schedule. The 32-year-old had already been practicing with the first team since August 24 while several players were away on international duty.
Rivero returns to Valencia after previously spending two seasons with the club from 2021 to 2023. He made 105 appearances during that stretch and averaged 10.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and a 12.2 performance index rating.
His first Valencia stint included a productive 2022-23 EuroLeague campaign. Rivero averaged 9.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in 18.8 minutes over 24 games while shooting 54.7% from the field.
He was even more efficient in Liga Endesa that season, producing 11.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 19.6 minutes while converting 62.2% of his field-goal attempts and 44.0% from three on limited volume. Rivero was also named Liga Endesa MVP of the Month twice during the 2022-23 campaign.
After leaving Valencia, Rivero spent two seasons with Maccabi Tel Aviv before joining Crvena Zvezda for 2025-26. His season in Belgrade was disrupted by a foot injury that limited his availability.
Rivero appeared in only eight EuroLeague games for Crvena Zvezda, averaging 5.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 10.8 minutes while shooting 59.3% from the field. He became a free agent after parting ways with the Serbian club this summer.
The short-term agreement gives new Valencia coach Xavi Albert an experienced frontcourt option during a period of major roster turnover. The club has lost several members of last season’s rotation, including Jaime Pradilla, Matt Costello, Jean Montero, Brancou Badio and Darius Thompson, while adding players such as TJ Shorts, Dylan Osetkowski and Mouhamadou Gueye.
Valencia is coming off of its strongest EuroLeague season. The club finished second in the 2025-26 regular-season standings at 25-13, then defeated Panathinaikos 3-2 in the quarterfinals before losing 105-90 to Real Madrid in the Final Four semifinal.
