By Dionysis Aravantinos / info@eurohoops.net
There have been stellar performances, like Pau Gasol’s, Markkanen’s, Schröder’s and Dragic’s have kept the level of play at a high level.
Only three of those players, Israel’s Omri Casspi, Czech Republic’s Tomas Satoransky and Georgia’s Zaza Pachulia, couldn’t lead their team to the round of 16. However, this has more to do with the team abilities and not their individual performance.
So here’s what every NBA player has done so far, as Eurobasket is entering tomorrow in the stage of the knockout games.
(Photo credit: FIBA.basketball)
Goran Dragic (Slovenia / Miami Heat)
Team Record: 5-0 (No. 1 – Group A)
Stats: 24.4 PPG, 5.2 APG
Dragic has led Slovenia to an undefeated record, grabbing the No. 1 seed in Group A, while averaging 24.4 points per game (best in the tournament). He has shown true skills of a leader on both sides of the court, as well as helped young prospect/star Luka Doncic improve his game.
Lauri Markkanen (Finland / Chicago Bulls)
Team Record: 4-1 (No. 2 – Group A)
Stats: 22.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG
The 20-year old power forward has been phenomenal in his debut EuroBasket. In the five games, he has played so far, he has led Finland through to the second round while grabbing the No. 2 seed in a difficult group. His youth, scoring skills (3rd in the tournament), unique talent, athletic skills, three-point shot (50% from downtown (!)) and defensive tenacity has made him one of the biggest storylines of the tournament.