By Giorgos Orfanakis / info@eurohoops.net
The number of players who choose to leave Europe to continue their career in the NBA or the Chinese league is growing all the time, leaving considerable gaps in the rosters of most teams.
This particular development is forcing coaches and managements to search for new replacements who are either coming from the other side of the Atlantic or from the Eurocup, and as a result they are not as well known to the general public.
Eurohoops presents the cases of 5 players who have already signed a contract with EuroLeague clubs and are expected to play for the first time in the top European competition.
Jordan Theodore (EA7 Emporio Armani Milan)
Jordan Theodore was a sight for sore eyes in the colors of Banvit throughout the season last year and cashed in his amazing performances with a transfer to Armani Milan.
In the Turkish club he proved that he has the skills to lead, winning the Cup abroad and reaching the final of the Champions League, while his impressive numbers (16.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists) reveal that we are dealing with a player who is just as good in execution as he is in creation.
At 27 years of age, Theodore is strong, fast, can drive to the basket, has a reliable shot and very good ball handling skills, but above all, he’s ready to step up to the plate. It’s going to be very interesting to see the amount of time it will take him to gel with his teammates but also the way he will respond to the new requirements.
Janis Timma (Baskonia)
After many years of working and constantly improving, Janis Timma is ready to take the big step from Zenit and the Eurocup to Baskonia and the EuroLeague.
The Latvian forward was selected with the No.60 pick in the 2013 draft (Grizzlies), while last season he averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, executing with the excellent 44.3% from outside the three-point line.
His physical qualities, his speed, his ability to score in combination with his flair for rebounding, as well as the way he moves on the court, are elements that can secure him enough playing time in his rookie season.
At this point, it’s worth mentioning that, in case Baskonia keep Adam Hanga on their roster, then an amazing duo will be formed in the 3 position, with the competition being very good for Timma.
Josh Adams (Anadolu Efes)
The name of Josh Adams was among the top stories in sports news last summer but unfortunately for him, the reason didn’t have to do with basketball. In August of 2016 the American point guard lost control of the jeep he was driving, which resulted in a series of severe injuries, among them a fractured neck in the A5 and A6 vertebrae.
Now, a year later, the player has signed with Anadolu Efes and counts backwards for his debut in the EuroLeague, proving that, with enough courage and willpower, you can do anything.
Adams had 13 appearances with Avtodor Saratov last season, averaging 12.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, while it is certain he’s going to give us numerous impressive plays.
His speed, the force with which he attacks the basket, his shooting after a dribble, but also his ability to “see” the court, help him stand out and are, in essence, the elements that secured him this important transfer.
Anthony Gill (Khimki)
Georgios Bartzokas has proven in the past that he’s an excellent coach when it comes to choosing foreign players and the addition of Anthony Gill may vindicate him and then some.
Last season, the 24-year-old power forward/center played in the highly competitive Turkish league in the colors of Yesilgiresun, where he averaged 14.4 points and 6.9 rebounds in a total of 30 appearances. He graduated from the University of Virginia in the summer of 2016 and despite the fact that he has only one year of experience in Europe, he’s ready to swim in the deep waters of the EuroLeague.
Like any self-respecting player, Gill starts with defense, produces a lot of energy, and goes after every rebound on both ends of the court. Offensively, he will threaten mostly with his back against the basket and close to the paint, he will help out in the pick-and-roll, but he’ll have to improve his percentages in mid- and long-range shooting, especially if he wants to get more time in the ‘4’ position.
Marcus Denmon (Panathinaikos)
Marcus Denmon led Stefanos Dedas’s Gaziantep to the playoffs of the Turkish league, averaging 15.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, and as a result he convinced the Greens that he deserves a spot on the roster ahead of the new season.
The name of the American guard hadn’t been heard, and as a result, his signing came as a surprise to the people of Panathinaikos, who are going to see on the court a player who scores mostly through shooting and less through one-on-one situations. He will mainly cover the shooting guard position and will provide some help in the ‘1’ position as well, while, according to information, he is a down-to-earth character and a smart athlete.
One could say that Denmon is Xavi Pascual’s big bet, since his offensive game (shooting, transition) can raise the team’s level and provide one more important solution from the perimeter. Besides, the way the roster of Panathinaikos has been shaped so far this year is expected to give the players who have a reliable shot a lot of opportunities to score.