By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
After 14 weeks of action, the regular season of the Basketball Champions League is over. Sixteen teams made it to the playoffs and the bar is set high as they have already shown remarkable quality. There was excitement in all four regular-season groups and the fans were lucky enough to witness numerous games ending in the last seconds or after multiple overtimes.
A lot of players had outstanding nights and plays that made everyone go wild. And the best of them were able to play on a high-level week after week leading their teams to the next round.
Here are the five players that stood up above the rest in the regular season of the Basketball Champions League.
D. J. Kennedy (Pinar Karsiyaka)
Karsiyaka finished the regular season with an 11-5 record. They were the only team that was good enough to beat AS Monaco so far. And Kennedy was their go-to-go guy every single night. He was doing everything for the Turkish team and he was their true leader.
In the game against Enisey Krasnoyarsk, Kennedy came close to record a triple-double. He had 24 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists which were enough for 37 in PIR. A week before that, he nailed 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against UCAM Murcia.
Kennedy was the most efficient player in the regular season as he was averaging 24,5 in PIR per game.
Kennedy is averaging 19,5 points per game and grabbing 9,1 rebounds per game. He is the best rebounder of the Basketball Champions League and clearly the biggest favorite to grab MVP Award this season.
Rickey Paulding (EWE Baskets Oldenburg)
Paulding was a real force for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. The American guard proved that he is like a fine wine. He gets better as the times passes. He is the oldest player on this list as he is 35-years old. That didn’t prevent him from making magic on the floor on the regular base.
All the fans remember his performance against Juventus Utena in November. He nailed 34 points in that game on 6/7 shooting from the three-point territory. His 34 points set the record this season as no one scored yet more in a single Basketball Champions League game.
Paulding scored 18,6 points per game in the regular season and everyone is checking if there’s a time machine hidden somewhere in the lockers.
Led by Paulding, Oldenburg had no trouble to qualify for the next round.
Vladimir Dragicevic (Stelmet Zielona Gora)
Stelmet Zielona Gora caught the last train for the playoffs and also they had luck on their side. They had the same record (6-8) as Sigidas Avellino, but they were 2-0 in the games against the Italians and that clinched their spot in the next round.
The team from Poland had four straight wins down the last stretch and Vladimir Dragicevic was one of the reasons for that.
Whenever Zielona Gora needed production from the low post, Dragicevicvic was their guy. He was consistent thought the whole regular season.
He was scoring in double-digits in every single game as he averaged 16,5 points per game. He was also an asset in rebounding with 6,9 boards per game.
Oostende will remember Dragicevic for a long time as he completely destroyed them. He had 24 points on 11-13 shooting from the field and 12 rebounds which were enough for 37 in PIR!
Jamal Shuler (Nanterre 92)
It was the 20th December when Nanterre 92 beat Sigidas Avellino 106-102 after a double overtime thanks to Jamal Shuler. He poured in 23 points and had 9 assists.
That week he was named MVP of Round 9.
Nanterre made it to the Play-Offs with a 9-5 record and their captain Shuler had a big impact to it. He was scoring 14,4 points per game with a marvelous 46,3% from the three-point line.
He had four 20+ points games so far in the season and he is a true leader for the French club.
Mike Tobey (Iberostar Tenerife)
The reigning champion Iberostar Tenerife showed their strength this year as well. The Spanish side had no problems making to the playoffs. They finished the regular season on the top of the group B with a 12-2 record.
The man who stood up in Tenerife is Mike Tobey. He demonstrated true consistency, scoring in double-digits in 13 out of 14 games during the regular season. His presence in the paint and in the defense helps Tenerife to make another championship run.
Tobey averaged 13,9 points per game and 6,6 rebounds per game in the regular season. He was making 62,7% of his two-point shots.