By Nikos Varlas / varlas@eurohoops.net
Let’s get started for another season! A concept established in Europe by Eurohoops.net regarding the top league and which is, by nature, subjective! It can generate disagreements, objections, agreements, and, above all… interest!
In recent seasons, the choices are becoming even harder and more torturous to make! Because all the good players are packed in 16 teams and the top clubs in Europe have greater depth in their rosters in order to manage the new format of the EuroLeague and the levels of energy it requires. Which makes the ranking very difficult and leaves out of the list of the EuroLeague’s Top 100 players, athletes that could have easily been among our choices.
As we wrote last season, there are at least 50 players who could have been objective and subjective choices, especially between 100 and 80, and we ask for your understanding because, unfortunately, there is not enough room for everyone.
However, we promise that after the first 15 rounds, when we will have a substantial sample by the end of the first phase, we will rank the Top 100 players based on their performance up to that point, and so, any possible mistake will be rectified! You are familiar with our criteria from previous seasons. The only footnote is that, some players who are coming back from a long absence due to injury (for example, Zoran Dragic) were not ranked and that this will happen during the season. With the exception of Sergio Lull, who is in a category of his own!
Criteria
1. The individual quality of the player IN COMBINATION with the role and playing time we anticipate he will get in his team.
2. The strength of the club he plays for. The players of the teams that are in the Top 8 and that are title contenders every season always have an edge because they combine individual quality with their club’s high aspirations.
3. What each player has achieved in his career in the EuroLeague combined with the prospects he has for the 2017-18 season.
Year of birth: 1989
Height: 2.06m
Position: F/C
In Lokomotiv he unfolded his talent, in Panathinaikos he was impressive and he proved that he rightfully has a place in the elite. Last season he tallied 12 points and 5.9 rebounds on average, with 43.6% from the three-point line, as a matter of fact, which is an excellent performance for a big man. He can play in both positions of the frontline with ease, put the ball on the floor, contribute in defense. His rarest element? Even from the ‘5’ position, he sets up his own shots and makes them with consistency, something that isn’t easy to be dealt with for any defense.
Year of birth: 1990
Height: 2.13m
Position: F/C
The frontline of the European champions was dominated by Ekpe Udoh last season and this had an effect on Vesely’s stats, as he dropped to a single-digit scoring average (9.6) with 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists. This season, we believe that, playing more in his natural position, he will be more productive and effective. A monster of energy and athleticism, he has the ability to impact the game in many ways. He protects his team’s rim with consistency, he keeps up in transition and finishes plays in a dynamic fashion, mostly in pick-and-roll situations.
Year of birth: 1985
Height: 2.05m
Position: F
In recent years he has consistently been among the Top 3 power forwards in the league and last season he was named to the All-EuroLeague First Team! He had 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and, after 7 seasons, over 40% in three-point shooting. Now, he has an even tougher assignment, since almost all defenses deal with him by sending help or double-teaming. Charismatic in the post with lots of pivot moves and the characteristic, strange but effective, hook. Also good in defense, either in the post or after switches in screens, he has proven that he can score the big shots.
#7 Nick Calathes (Panathinaikos)
Year of birth: 1989
Height: 1.98m
Position: G
One of the most versatile guards in the EuroLeague. A very effective defender, he can “erase” excellent scorers, a high-level creator, a consistent rebounder and charismatic in transition situations. Last year he scored 9.8 points per game, with 5.5 assists and 4 rebounds. In terms of execution, in set plays, he prefers to finish plays from up close with a layup or a floater. His weakness is his shooting, something that is betrayed by the 24.6 % in three-point shooting and the 50% in free throws. However, he has many ways he can impact games and what he needs is to improve his leadership in those showdowns that will define Panathinaikos’s goals in the league.
Year of birth: 1999
Height: 2.01m
Position: G
The boy wonder not only of European basketball, but also of world basketball, at the age of 18! We saw him have a significant role last season, we marveled at him in the EuroBasket, where he had a leading role, and we can imagine the things he will do this season with Real and, in fact, without Sergio Llull for a long period of time! An amazing guard who can do everything! He creates with mastery, he scores, he threatens from short- as well as long-range, he gets rebounds, he plays defense in at least 3 positions. His perception and maturity in his decision-making at this age is an unprecedented experience for all of us! Let’s enjoy him now because he will most likely move to the NBA in the summer and he has serious chances of becoming the No.1 selection in the next draft.
