By Utkan Sahin and Semih Tuna/ info@eurohoops.net
It is not always easy to predict when certain players will be ripe to play at the highest level of European basketball. For basketball players, the dream is to reach the sky and for players on the Old Continent, that sky is the EuroLeague, the best basketball competition in Europe. It is, however, very difficult to find that opportunity. Sometimes, a certain player can find that opportunity in the EuroLeague, but that alone does not promise a bright future. The first shot does not always reflect what may follow. For those who initially struggle, there are steps taken throughout a career that can lead to a much brighter future.
In the history of this distinguished competition, fans have witnessed this many times. Many great players were not considered to be good enough at this level early in their careers, but would shine in their second spring. At Eurohoops we decided to take a look at the past and uncover some of the best late bloomers in the EuroLeague. The fact that it took some of them a long time to become stars does not mean that they never had it in them… All the players on this list will be remembered as EuroLeague greats!
Adam Hanga
Even though he is now one of the best players in the EuroLeague, Adam Hanga had to patiently endure certain difficulties in order to get to this point. With his size and athleticism, Hanga was considered an important prospect early on in his career. However, after his first two seasons with Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz he hit a brick wall. Not efficient enough in offense, Hanga found himself loaned to Avellino. There, the forward both improved and found the confidence he needed. Following his return to Baskonia, Hanga showed the kind of all-around player he could be in the EuroLeague. He was one of Baskonia’s best players the last two seasons and he won the EuroLeague Best Defender award in his last season there.
Ricky Hickman
This is a story of a career that was an uphill struggle, all the way from the bottom to the top. Early in his career, Ricky Hickman played in Romania, Germany, Italy, and Finland. During that time, most of us probably did not have a clue who he was. And yet, we all saw him celebrate winning the EuroLeague trophy in 2014. Hickman’s skills and great work ethic allowed him to go a step further in Europe each season, and he found a long-awaited opportunity to play in the EuroLeague with Maccabi Tel Aviv. Being a great leader under Coach David Blatt, Hickman first helped his team reach the Final Four and then, along with Tyrese Rice, to the ultimate goal, the EuroLeague title. That Maccabi team was one of the most surprising title-winners in EuroLeague history. The guard continued his path with Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul, with which he appeared in the Final Four twice.
Devin Smith
Devin Smith is one of those players whose rise started late in his career. Having started his European career in the second division of the Spanish League, Smith showed what he could do in Avellino and then took the next step onto the EuroLeague stage with Fenerbahce. However, his performance was not what was expected of him. Even though he played great defense, Smith underperformed on the offensive end, the result of which was a departure from Fenerbahce. Many thought that he had left the EuroLeague for good, but Smith proved them wrong. He experienced a second spring for six seasons in Maccabi. He was a key part of the championship-winning team of 2014 and he proved what he was capable of on offense when he was chosen to the All-EuroLeague Second Team in 2015.
Pete Mickael
Nobody expected him to become a EuroLeague legend. Pete Mickael fought for his NBA dream for a long time and came to Europe at the age of 25. Moreover, it took a long time for him to play in the EuroLeague. The American wandered around Greece, Russia and Spain, and only after that was he able to find an opportunity in the EuroLeague. Joining a great Baskonia team, Mickael was considered a defensive force in his first season there. He went on to show what he was capable of in the following seasons. Mickael became one of the leaders in the aftermath of Luis Scola’s departure and helped Baskonia win their last league title. Following his move to FC Barcelona Lassa, Mickael became one of the key parts under Coach Xavi Pascual and helped the team win the EuroLeague. Mickael was 29 when he first joined the EuroLeague, but he became one of the most valuable players in the competition with his performances in a short period of time.
Jaycee Carroll
It took a while for Jaycee Carroll to be considered one of the best shooters in the EuroLeague. After playing in college for four years, Carroll arrived on the Old Continent at the age of 25. He performed at a very high level in Italy and made a move to Herbalife Gran Canaria. There, within two seasons, Carroll had commanded everyone’s attention. Having become the leading scorer in the league for two straight seasons, Carroll made the leap to Real Madrid. He has been playing for Los Blancos for six seasons and has been one of the most important offensive weapons the Spanish powerhouse has. Still, it would be wrong to just call him a shooter. When he first came to Europe, nobody expected Carroll would have such a place. He won the EuroLeague in 2015 and became the highest-scoring non-Spanish player in the club’s history. Such a huge achievement for a player who first arrived to the EuroLeague at age 28.
Terrell McIntyre
Terrell McIntyre’s EuroLeague career started very late. He introduced himself to European audiences in the French League. After a short experience in Germany and a period of time at home in America, McIntyre restarted his European career in the Italian second division. His skills were obvious. Each year he climbed more steps and deservedly reached the EuroLeague in 2008. He was 30 when he first came to the EuroLeague and took the league by storm almost immediately. McIntyre was a perfect fit for Siena’s well-known system and spent three great seasons there. Having been chosen to the All-EuroLeague Team twice, McIntyre was, according to many, the best American player of his era in the EuroLeague. In the aftermath of his departure from Siena, he played for Unicaja Malaga.