By Utkan Şahin / Translation: Mehmet Bahadır Akgün
Dominant players like Milos Teodosic, Sergio Llull, Nikola Jokic, Nemanja Bjelica, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ersan İlyasova, Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum and Danilo Gallinari will not participate, and therefore will not be able to help their teams contend for a metal.
Especially after deciding to take part in the tournament and help their teams, the fact that Llull, Teodosic and Antetokounmpo will not play due to injury has dissapointed many fans.
Although, there are many key players who can contribute to their teams at a certain level, all 20 players on this list are capable of taking over any game and they are aiming high!
So, let the countdown begin!
20- Zaza Pachulia – Georgia
Age: 33
EuroBasket Experience: 4 times
Current Team: Golden State Warriors
Last season’s stats: 70 games, 6.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Zaza Pachulia is a living-and-playing legend of Georgian basketball, and he’s heading to EuroBasket 2017 as a member of the reigning NBA champs.
After a successful season in the States, he put his national team’s jersey on and he is ready to lead his tough teammates. The goals are high for Georgia in a very open tournament.
Even though the team fell short from matching the expectations during the last championships, Pachulia put his best on the court to help them.
If he performs at 100% he will likely play the key role in carrying the team to the final round, thanks to his basketball I.Q., defence and experience.
19- Cedi Osman – Turkey
Age: 22
EuroBasket Experience: 1 time
Current Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Last season’s stats: 70 games, 10.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist
The MVP of the U20 EuroBasket 2014, Cedi Osman, will be doing his best to carry Turkey throughout the tournament.
With Ilyasova being out, Cedi has a big burden on his shoulders and he will be playing heavy minutes and try to make Turkish fans forget the absence of the Hawks‘ forward.
Osman, who scored 12,7 points and grabbed 5,0 rebounds in the EuroBasket 2015, will be one of the main faces of “12 Giant Men”, the nickname of the Turkish national team, along with Sixers‘ rookie Furkan Korkmaz.
He is fully ready to demonstrate what he’s capable of with his unlimited energy, before heading to the overseas for the Cavs.
18- Omri Casspi – Israel
Age: 29
EuroBasket Experience: 4 times
Current Team: Golden State Warriors
Last season’s stats: 36 games, 5.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Being one of the greatest figures in Israeli basketball history, Omri Casspi’s goal is simple: To carry his team at least in the Top8 of the tournament.
More than 30 years have passed since the silver medal in 1979 and for the last 14 years, Israel couldn’t even make it to the quarter finals. This time, Israel has the home court advantage in the first phase, by hosting one of the four groups, but they are optimistic and their biggest asset is, without any doubt, Omri Casspi!
He was not able to perform at his best during the NBA regular season because of injuries, yet, his performance at the national team level has always been spectacular. After averaging numbers of 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists during the last tournament, Casspi will be focusins on team success rather than personal.
Israel won nine out of 11 preparation games on the way to the Eurobasket. Defeating notable opponents like Russia, Slovenia and Poland, the burden for similar results in official games is shouldered by Casspi.
After committing himself to the NBA champions, Casspi would also like to achieve something big with his national team.
17- Georgios Printezis – Greece
Age: 32
EuroBasket Experience: 3 times
Current Team: Olympiacos Piraeus
Last season’s stats: 63 games, 11.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists
The last-minute-injury of Giannis Antetokounmpo has delivered the Greece’s leadership role to the hero of last-second-shots.
Olympiacos‘ power forward is fully aware and proved it by being the top scorer for his team by averaging 13.3 points in the prep games.
Far from any doubt, he is one of the best forwards in Europe, and he will try to lead his team both mentally and in terms of scoring. Ath this point, his moves in the post are the best option Greece has for easy buckets.
Just a reminder: Ιf Greece advances through the group phase as expected, Georgios Printezis has beautiful memories at Sinan Erdem Dome from 2012.
16- Luka Doncic – Slovenia
Age: 18
EuroBasket Experience: –
Current Team: Real Madrid
Last season’s stats: 80 games, 7.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists
Players of his age are generally trying to prove themselves at U20 or U18 tournaments before entering the NBA Draft. He is a unique case. Doncic will be taking his chances at the EuroBasket 2017 because he is more than ready for this!
Europe has not seen such a phenomenal player at this age for a long while. The 18-year-old youngster has stormed the old continent during last season and now his main target is set: after a memorable season with Real Madrid, a memorable EuroBasket 2017!
Doncic, along with Dragic, will be trying to get the first ever medal for Slovenia. And judging by the prep games, he is more than ready.
15- Marco Belinelli – Italy
Age: 31
EuroBasket Experience: 4 times
Current Team: Atlanta Hawks
Last season’s stats: 74 games, 10.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists
During the tournaments of recent years, the argument of who is the team leader for the “Azzurri” had many answers. Heading into the EuroBasket 2017, there is no need at all for this anymore! Simply, there’s no question.
With Andrea Bargnani and Alessandro Gentile not even called in the team and Danilo Gallinari injured, Marco Belinelli is by far the best player on the roster.
Belinelli was the top scorer of his team in 6 out of 11 prepersation games. Things are not easy but the 31-year-old scorer will be aiming to carry the “Azzurri” into, at least, quarter-finals!
14- Sergio Rodriguez – Spain
Age: 31
EuroBasket Experience: 4 times
Current Team: CSKA Moscow
Last season’s stats: 74 games, 10.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists
If Sergio had not gone through an average year in terms of his performance, he would definitely be at a higher rank in this list. Yet, his adventure at Sixers was not a remarkable and worth to remember.
In the middle of the season, he lost his place in the starting five, and didn’t receive an offer to extend his stay in the NBA.
However, things are not bad for the 31-year-old point-guard who returned to Europe for CSKA Mosco as he remains one of the top play makers in Europe. With Llull out, Sergio can get back to his old self as a member of the Spanish national team.
13- Nikola Vucevic – Montenegro
Age: 26
EuroBasket Experience: 2 times
Current Team: Orlando Magic
Last season’s stats: 75 games, 14.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists
The most important figure of Montenegrin basketball, Nikola Vucevic, will be looking to take his revenge after one more season without entering the playoffs with the Orlando Magic.
Playing a key role in both wins Montenegro got during the prep games, the 26-year-old player will be doing his best to make himself and his teammates advance through the Group C.
Make no mistake, Vucevic can emerge as one of the best players of the tournament and the question is what kind of help he will have from the rest of his team.
12- Jonas Valanciunas – Lithuania
Age: 25
EuroBasket Experience: 3 times
Current Team: Toronto Raptors
Last season’s stats: 80 games, 11.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists
He cemented his place at the memories of European hoops lovers thanks to his performance at U19 World Championship in 2011, and his aim is no different from the role he took back then: Leading the Lithuanian national team to the medal round!
After all, he achieve it in 2015 alongside Jonas Maciulis against all odds and they can do it again. The fact that he comes from a mediocre season with the Raptors, is giving him an even bigger motivation to prove in Europe that he remains one of the best players in the continent.
His performance will make or break the tournament for Lithuania.