By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
2017 is gone, the “European Player of the Year” is here. The only thing you have to do is vote for that player by picking him out of 20 candidates as chosen by Eurohoops’ editorial team.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (23 years old, 2.11m.)
Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Position: F
2016-17 NBA stats: 22.9 points | 8.8 rebounds | 5.4 assists | 1.6 steals | 1.9 blocks | 2.9 turnovers | 35.6 minutes
The Greek Freak gets better every year. After killing it last season as an All-Star for the first time in his career, NBA Most Improved Player and member of the All-NBA Second Team as well as NBA All-Defensive Second Team, he’s now moving along MVP of the season levels.
Nicolas Batum (29 years old, 2.03m.)
Team: Charlotte Hornets
Position: G/F
2016-17 NBA stats: 15.1 points | 6.2 rebounds | 5.9 assists | 1.1 steals | 0.4 blocks | 2.5 turnovers | 34.0 minutes
He completed last season with career-high averages in points and rebounds and helped the Hornets return to the playoffs. Even though his stats have dropped, they’re getting close to those levels again in the first half of the new season.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (25 years old, 1.98m.)
Team: Fenerbahce/Sacramento Kings – National team of Serbia
Position: G
2016-17 EuroLeague stats: 14.6 points | 3.8 rebounds | 3.6 assists | 1.1 steals | 0.3 blocks | 2.4 turnovers | 27.9 minutes
2017 EuroBasket stats: 20.4 points | 3.4 rebounds | 5.0 assists | 1.2 steals | 0.1 blocks | 1.7 turnovers | 31.8 minutes
A EuroLeague Champion and member of the All-EuroLeague First Team with Fenerbahce, runner-up with Serbia in Europe, member of the All-Tournament Team and fifth best scorer in the EuroBasket, and a contract in the NBA with the Kings. 2017 had a bit of everything for the “Leader of the Horde”.
Bojan Bogdanovic (29 years old, 2.03m.)
Team: Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers – National team of Croatia
Position: F
2016-17 NBA stats: 13.7 points | 3.4 rebounds | 1.4 assists | 0.4 steals | 0.1 blocks | 1.6 turnovers | 25.7 minutes
2017 EuroBasket stats: 22.5 points | 4.8 rebounds | 1.0 assists | 1.2 steals | 0.0 blocks | 2.7 turnovers | 32.1 minutes
He spent last season in three different teams, the last one being the Pacers, where he had already become a key player. His summer wasn’t very different and even though the national team of Croatia didn’t manage to stand out in the EuroBasket, he himself was able to do so as the fourth best scorer of the competition.