By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
The annual vote for the best European player of the year is under way and Eurohoops selects its best five in 2014! Read our choices and tell us your opinion in the comments area. The results by FIBA Europe will be announced in late January.
This is the tenth year that FIBA Europe organizes a voting for the best European player and the process is the same. The fans can vote until 16th of January and their choices will be combined with that of a panel of selected experts – with our own Aris Barkas being one of them. The candidates have been selected based on their performances and/or special achievements at both club and international level in 2014.
Each fan can vote 3 players, but Eurohoops voted its best 5 explaining each choice.
1. Boris Diaw (France, San Antonio Spurs)
Despite many absences, France celebrated its first medal in a World Cup thanks mainly to Boris Diaw. He was the leader the team by wearing Tony Parker’s shoes and being the play maker from the post. He played extremely smart in the crucial quarterfinal against Spain. But he deserves this award also, because some months ago he was the key player of San Antonio Spurs in the final series against Miami Heat. His defense on LeBron James turned out to be the secret of Spurs’ triumph.
In the NBA: 9,1 points, 4,1 rebounds, 2,8 assists per game
In the World Cup: 9,2 points, 4,6 rebounds, 4 assists per game
2. Milos Teodosic (Serbia, CSKA Moscow)
He was member of the best five for the second World Cup in a row. Milos Teodosic led Serbia to an unexpected trip to the final in Madrid by playing extremely well. Next to him there was a bunch of young talented guys without experience in the top level and despite being 27 years old, he was one of the oldest players of his team. He couldn’t help CSKA to reach the Euroleague title once again, but during the first months of the current season he’s playing amazingly under coach Dimitris Itoudis.
In the Euroleague: 10,7 points, 2,5 rebounds, 4 assists per game
In the World Cup: 13,6 points, 2,1 rebounds, 4,4 assists per game
3. Tony Parker (France, San Antonio Spurs)
The last winner of this award didn’t play in the World Cup due to an injury but he shined once again in the NBA. He won with San Antonio Spurs his fourth championship, having more rings than any other European player in NBA history. And it wasn’t a surprise that Tony Parker was one of the key players during the season and especially in the final series.
In the NBA: 17,4 points, 2 rebounds, 4,8 assists per game
4. Goran Dragic (Slovenia, Phoenix Suns)
After six seasons in the NBA, Goran Dragic won the M(ost) I(mproved) P(layer) award and became also member of the All-NBA Third team. He found in Phoenix Suns his sanctuary and he exploded during the last two seasons. He was also the leader of Slovenia in the last World Cup.
In the NBA: 20,3 points, 3,2 rebounds, 5,9 assists per game
In the World Cup: 16 points, 2,9 rebounds, 4,3 assists per game
5. Dirk Nowitzki (Germany, Dallas Maverics)
In January of 2014 Dirk Nowitzki entered the top ten of the all-time scoring list in the NBA and in November he surpassed Hakim Olajuwon in the ninth place, becoming the highest-scoring player born outside USA! Some days later he reached the milestone of 27,000 points and he is the fourth player in the NBA history who did that with only one team after Jordan, Malone and Bryant. He prepares himself for the upcoming Eurobasket at home in what may be his last international appearance.
In the NBA: 21,7 points, 6,2 rebounds, 2,7 assists per game
Which is your opinion? You can answer below in the comments area and vote here