By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Following the votes of fans, media, players and coaches, it’s time for the All-Decade EuroLeague Team to be revealed!
First on the list comes Kyle Hines, undoubtedly one of the most influential centers in European basketball this past decade.
Per euroleague.net:
First up is the defensive force who won the most titles in the last decade – not to mention the first player in history to win two Final Fours with different teams – none other than little big man Kyle Hines!
A perfect decade
Kyle Hines debuted in the EuroLeague as a virtual unknown on October 20, 2010, but showed signs of things to come by scoring 20 points and pulling 7 rebounds for Brose Baskets Bamberg despite an 83-65 road loss to Lottomatica Roma. In the decade since, he became the biggest winner in the competition, compiling four EuroLeague titles – matching the record in the Final Four era since 1988 – and tying the record for consecutive Final Fours with eight. He won back-to-back titles with Olympiacos Piraeus in 2012 and 2013, his second and third seasons, then lifted two more trophies, in 2016 and 2019, amid six consecutive Final Four appearances with CSKA Moscow. He was honored as the Best Defender, as chosen by EuroLeague head coaches, after the 2015-16 and 2017-18 seasons.
The Numbers
Hines ranked first from 2010 to 2020 in offensive rebounds (516), second in blocks (211), third in total rebounds (1,160) and fifth in PIR (2,789).
The Moment
Only one team and a handful of players won back-to-back EuroLeague titles last decade. Hines delivered one of the biggest plays of the season in the 2013 championship game as Olympiacos rallied from 17 points behind to eventually beat Real Madrid 100-88 and complete the historic repeat.