By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
There are those who may have been destined for this role, some who are just getting used to it, while others seized the chance to stand out. Yet all of them played key roles.
DANILO ANDJUSIC
AS Monaco | Guard | 22 April 1991 | Serbia
13,5 pts | 55,6% 2PT | 57,1% 3PT | 71,4% FT
Some might not remember, but Danilo Andjusic is not a EuroLeague rookie. His debut in the competition came on October 20, 2011, when he was still playing for Partizan Belgrade. Andjusic appeared in 25 more games (Partizan 2011-13, UNICS Kazan 2016-17) before joining Monaco. Now, however, he is making a buzz. Just like his new team.
Andjusic scored 17 points on 4-for-4 three-point shooting in the historic win against Panathinaikos (75-63) in the opener and he also had 10 points in the victory over UNICS Kazan (80-88 OT) in Round 2. With an average of 13.5 points per game, he is now Monaco’s top scorer, slightly ahead of Donta Hall (13 ppg.) and Mike James (12.5).
NIKOLA KALINIC
Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade | Forward | 8 November 1991 | Serbia
14 pts | 47,1% 2PT | 33,3% 3PT | 100% FT
Nikola Kalinic needs no introduction. If anything, he was one of the protagonists of Fenerbahce Istanbul’s historic EuroLeague title in 2017. To be exact, he was the leading scorer (14.5 ppg) at the Final Four. His return to Crvena Zvezda after six years (Fenerbahce 2015-20, Valencia 2020-21) is no less enthusiastic.
And even though Kalinic didn’t manage to “hurt” his former team (9 points in a 61-57 loss to Fener in the opener), he made a difference against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv with 19 points (75-63). Kalinic was a starter in both games, with the most time on the court (33:09).
JORDAN LOYD
Zenit St Petersburg | Guard | 27 July 1993 | USA
14,5 pts | 75% 2PT | 25% 3PT | 100% FT
Jordan Loyd was the third-best scorer in the EuroLeague last season (17.3 ppg.) and this only sounds fair for a player with such an ability to put the ball to the basket. It’s only unfair for the opposing teams defending him, be it in Valencia in the past (2019-20), Crvena Zvezda (2020-21) and now Zenit.
Loyd started the season with 10 points in a tough win over UNICS (70-69) and dropped 19 with 6-of-8 shooting from mid-range in the 70-64 win against Zalgiris Kaunas. He leads Zenit’s scorers ahead of Billy Baron (14 ppg.) and is currently seventh in two-point efficiency.