By Stelios Toromanidis / info@eurohoops.net
One can see from statistical records that all the teams of the EuroLeague draw more than 50% of their offensive output from basketball players of a different nationality. In fact, five of the 16 participants are almost fully dependent on non-native players, since they score more than 90% of total points, while they also get the greater portion of playing time.
Some years ago, one would notice only two or three foreign players on the rosters of organizations. Now, times have changed and, as a result, in some cases, the tables have turned completely. To be more specific, there is a team in the competition that has only two native players, one of whom was born in another country, while several rosters have “local” players in a more “decorative” role.
The teams that stand out for fulfilling the above characteristics are found in Spain, Turkey, Russia and Israel, as opposed to countries like Greece, Serbia and Lithuania, whose organizations rely more heavily on local players.
Through tables and useful data, Eurohoops showcases the team that trusts “domestic products” the most.
But let’s begin the countdown by starting with the teams that are getting the less “help” in scoring from “local” basketball players.
16. Anadolu Efes
Games: 22
Total of players with playing time in the EuroLeague: 18
Total of native players: 6
Total of foreign players: 12
Percentage of points from native and foreign players:
| Points | Native players’ points | % | Foreign players’ points | % |
| 1708 | 28 | 1,6% | 1680 | 98,4% |
Percentage of playing time of native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 4400 | 297 | 6,8% | 4103 | 93,3% |
Efes isn’t doing well at all in the EuroLeague this season, since so far they occupy the last position in the standings. One of the reasons for this is perhaps the lack of good Turkish players from Ergin Ataman’s team.
Aside from Balbay and Batuk, the other four native players are young and cannot offer quality minutes and so Efes relies almost exclusively on the foreign players on the roster.
The biggest contribution in the Turks’ game comes from the Americans Dunston and McCollum, who is debuting in the competition this season at the age of 32.
15. Baskonia
Games: 22
Total of players with playing time in the EuroLeague: 16
Total of native players: 2
Total of foreign players: 14
Percentage of points from native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 1798 | 50 | 2,8% | 1748 | 91,2% |
Percentage of playing time of native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 4400 | 130 | 3% | 4270 | 97% |
For years now, Baskonia, with Jose Antonio Querejeta as their president, have been relying on excellent foreign players who are chosen to shape the roster. The Spanish element is almost nonexistent, with this season not being an exception.
Only two native players are amongst the Basques’ choices and one of them is Diop, who, even though born in Senegal, has a Spanish passport.
Inevitably, the offensive output comes more from the foreign players, with the highest percentages coming from Shengelia (Georgia) and Beaubois (France).
Games: 22
Total of players with playing time in the EuroLeague: 16
Total of native players: 5
Total of foreign players: 11
Percentage of points from native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 1808 | 91 | 5% | 1717 | 95% |
Percentage of playing time of native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 4475 | 307 | 6,9% | 4168 | 93,1% |
With the best Italian players competing either in the NBA or other European leagues, Milan prefers foreign players as first fiddles for the team, with the few native players having complementary roles.
In contrast to Baskonia, this model isn’t working well for the famous designer’s team, since the two-time European champions (1987, 1988) are constantly cutting their journey short very early in the season and don’t measure up to their high budget nor their fans’ high expectations.
This season, headlining the offense are the Americans Goudelock and Theodore, but Milan are in the bottom positions of the standings
13. Maccabi
Games: 22
Total of players with playing time in the EuroLeague: 13
Total of native players: 5
Total of foreign players: 8
Percentage of points from native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 1809 | 141 | 7,8% | 1668 | 92,2% |
Percentage of playing time of native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreingers | % |
| 4400 | 590 | 13,4% | 3810 | 86,6% |
Maccabi have been established in the minds of European basketball fans as a team “Made in the USA,” in combination with other experienced foreign players and a few top native ones who usually do not come forward though.
At times, usually in the past, this model was very effective and brought the Israelis titles, but in recent years Maccabi’s course has not been especially successful.
This season, they have been making an earnest effort to get themselves in the playoffs and fight for their chances to return to the Final Four, and the ones leading this effort are Cole and Jackson, who come from the other side of the Atlantic and specifically the USA.
12. Fenerbahce
Games: 22
Total of players with playing time in the EuroLeague: 13
Total of native players: 4
Total of foreign players: 9
Percentage of points from native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 1751 | 165 | 9,4% | 1586 | 90,6% |
Percentage of playing time of native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 4475 | 440 | 9,8% | 4035 | 90,2% |
Fenerbahce’s captain might be Turkish, but he and the other two of his three compatriots have a secondary role in coach Obradovic’s rotation. We’re talking of course about Mahmutoglu, who, together with Duverioglu and Guler, only get a few minutes of playing time in the EuroLeague.
The only one who has more time and contributes more points is the naturalized Dixon, who was out of action for a long time because of an injury.
11. Unicaja
Games: 22
Total of players with playing time in the EuroLeague: 15
Total of native players: 4
Total of foreign players: 11
Percentage of points from native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 1704 | 247 | 14,5% | 1457 | 85,5% |
Percentage of playing time of native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 4425 | 1030 | 23,3% | 3395 | 76,7% |
The second “worst” Spanish team in terms of the contribution of native players after Baskonia is Malaga.
With Suarez being the most experienced and quality Spaniard on the roster, with Diez and Diaz following behind, the Andalusians mostly rely on the help coming from the US and other European countries to get the best they can in the EuroLeague this season.
At the top in terms of performances and playing time are this season’s signings, McCallum and Augustine, both hailing from the USA.
10. Real Madrid
Games: 22
Total of players with playing time in the EuroLeague: 16
Total of native players: 3
Total of foreign players: 13
Percentage of points from native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 1859 | 348 | 18,7% | 1511 | 81,3% |
Percentage of playing time of native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 4425 | 782 | 17,7% | 3643 | 82,3% |
So far, Llull has been missing from Real this season and, on top of everything else, he has been depriving them of valuable help from the native element. Rudy and Reyes are trying but the years are passing, injuries make it hard on their bodies, which, in turn, cannot perform as well.
As for the young forward, Yusta, he still hasn’t reached the level where he can offer extra solutions in the EuroLeague. In this way, the Whites get almost four fifths of their points from the total of 13 foreign players on the roster.
Of course, the Slovenian, Doncic, is ahead of the pack, as his unlimited talent helps him lead a top team in the competition, while the experienced American, Carroll, always serves well too.
9. CSKA Moscow
Total of players with playing time in the EuroLeague: 16
Total of native players: 9
Total of foreign players: 7
Percentage of points from native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 1973 | 381 | 19,3% | 1592 | 80,7% |
Percentage of playing time of native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 4425 | 1246 | 28,2% | 3179 | 71,8% |
CSKA Moscow may have nine native players on their roster, but some of them are more useful in training than they are in games.
Of course, some of them are top class players – like Vorontsevich, Fridzon, Kurbanov, Khryapa and Antonov – but those who score more are the foreign players.
The Spaniard, Rodriguez, and the Frenchman, De Colo, are trademarks in scoring, while the American, Clyburn, gets the most minutes on the court.
Games: 22
Total of players with playing time in the EuroLeague: 16
Total of native players: 6
Total of foreign players: 10
Percentage of points from native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 1650 | 427 | 25,9% | 1223 | 74,1% |
Percentage of playing time of native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 4400 | 1186 | 27% | 3214 | 73% |
Bamberg gets a fourth of their points from their native players, with Lo and Radosevic being the best the German team has to offer when it comes to local players.
The foreign players offer most of the points, with the Americans Hickman and Wright leading in scoring, though, as it seems, without being able to take Bamberg to the playoffs.
7. Barcelona
Games: 22
Total of players with playing time in the EuroLeague: 16
Total of native players: 5
Total of foreign players: 11
Percentage of points from native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 1773 | 463 | 26,1% | 1310 | 73,9% |
Percentage of playing time of native and foreign players:
| Total | Natives | % | Foreigners | % |
| 4400 | 1190 | 27% | 3210 | 73% |
Barca look bewildered once again this season, with players coming and going from the rotation, coaches changing and the season slipping away regarding the qualification to the playoffs of the EuroLeague.
The Spanish Cup winners have the native Oriola, Claver, Ribas, and Navarro and Garcia providing help in offense, but most of the points come from the foreign players.
Heurtel (French) and Hanga (Hungarian) get the most minutes and score the most points.