By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
This foursome stands out on the court. The shortest among them stands at 2.13 meters, the tallest reaches 2.20. But it’s not only that. Their performances in the first half of the regular season in the EuroLeague have placed them in the Top 13 in PIR, going against the cliches about their height and in the face of the era of undersized centers.
Eurohoops presents four players who stand tall at the 5 position.
GEORGIOS PAPAGIANNIS
Panathinaikos OPAP Athens | Center | 2.20m | July 3, 1997 | Greece
9.3 pts | 6.5 reb | 1 ast | 0.4 stl | 1.9 blk | 1 tov | 23:57 min | 15.3 PIR
Georgios Papagiannis was only 15 years old when he made his professional debut and 18 when he made his EuroLeague debut. At just 23 years of age, he’s better than ever and has become a reference point in Panathinaikos‘s game in the paint on both ends of the court. He is putting up career-high averages in almost all the main statistical categories and he’s third in points in the team, and fifth in rebounds, first in blocks and is ranked 13th in the competition in PIR. He’s one of the most improved players in the EuroLeague and the present and future of Greek basketball at his position.
MOUSTAPHA FALL
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | Center | 2.18m | February 23, 1992 | France
10.3 pts | 5.3 reb | 2.1 ast | 0.5 stl | 0.8 blk | 1.6 tov | 22:45 min | 16.5 PIR
Moustapha Fall had to wait until he was 28 years of age to play in the EuroLeague, but after 15 games with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, it’s obvious that good things take time. His presence dominates the key and he often looks unbeatable. He shoots with the third-highest average in the competition on field goals (72.2%), he’s just 0.2 rebounds outside of the top 10 and is ninth in PIR. His index rating of 42 against ALBA Berlin is the third highest this season.
NIKOLA MILUTINOV
CSKA Moscow | Center | 2.13m | December 30, 1994 | Serbia
9.3 pts | 8.8 reb | 0.7 ast | 0.5 stl | 0.5 blk | 0.6 tov | 23:06 min | 17.6 PIR
Nikola Milutinov is one of those players who doesn’t need an introduction. He was second in rebounds in 2019, first last season and he continues at the top again this season. He just demolished the all-time record for offensive rebounds in a game with 16. This achievement was recorded in his fifth consecutive double-double and sixth in 14 games with CSKA Moscow, helping them climb into first place in the standings. At the same time, he has reached seventh in PIR, even though he’s not having the best season in his career. This means that there is room for even bigger numbers in all statistical categories, with all that this implies for rival teams.
WALTER TAVARES
Real Madrid | Center | 2.20m | March 22, 1992 | Cabo Verde
11.4 pts | 7.8 reb | 0.7 ast | 0.9 stl | 1.9 blk | 1.5 tov | 24:43 min | 19 PIR
A EuroLeague champion in 2018, Best Defender and member of the All-EuroLeague Second Team in 2019. If his name was a question in a game of knowledge the answer would be easy for anyone since few players have accomplished what Walter Tavares has in recent years. Even fewer have the kind of impact on their teams that he has on Real Madrid. With five double-doubles, he has plenty of career-high averages in his stats; he is seventh in the competition in field goals (68.8%), second in rebounds and first in blocks. If you’re wondering how his team has managed to get to the point where they are now with six consecutive wins, 11 in the last 12 games, and second place in the standings, look no further.