By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
It’s funny how things come full circle in life when they are least expected to. After playing last year with FIAT Torino in what turned to be a failed experiment despite the presence of Larry Brown on the bench of the Italian team, James McAdoo signed last week with Partizan NIS Belgrade and will return to the 7DAYS EuroCup.
McAdoo’s parents, Ronnie and Janet, both played basketball professionally in Europe. However, it’s his uncle who left a deep mark on the Old Continent. Bob McAdoo had a long and successful career in the States that included, among numerous other accolades, two NBA titles and three seasons at that competition’s top scorer.
At the same time, McAdoo finished his playing days in Europe, spending six seasons in Italy, four of them with Olimpia Milano. And he was a two-time champion in the EuroLeague, too, leading Milan to back-to-back titles in 1987 and 1988. The second of those came in the first Final Four of the modern era to decide the EuroLeague winner.
It was a historical event and a format that still endures to this day. And guess which other club was part of that 1988 Final Four? Yes, it was Partizan, which at the time finished third over Greek club Aris, while Milan beat Maccabi Tel Aviv in the final.
Now, the nephew of Bob McAdoo is playing for Partizan. And like his uncle, he already has two NBA championship titles under his belt, in 2015 and 2017, as a member of the Golden State Warriors.
His new team is a contender for the EuroCup trophy and already started the Top16 on the right foot, winning last week’s game against big favorite Segafredo Virtus Bologna by 18 points.
Bob McAdoo was a prolific scorer, while James McAdoo is a much more versatile forward and a player that also contributes heavily in rebounding and defense.
He may not be as flashy as his uncle during his glory days of the 70s and the 80s, but he might be what Partizan is seeking to become even more competitive.
With coach Andrea Trinchieri on the bench, Partizan started to make a push to get back to the European elite, and they can do that if they manage to go all the way in the EuroCup and get a ticket for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
It’s not the same as entering and winning the Final Four, however, if James McAdoo can contribute to that, then for sure, you can argue that the European legacy of his uncle is alive and kicking.