By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Let’s get started for another season! A concept established in Europe by Eurohoops.net regarding the top league and which is, by nature, subjective! It can generate disagreements, objections, agreements, and, above all… interest!
In recent seasons, the choices are becoming even harder and more torturous to make! Because all the good players are packed in 16 teams and the top clubs in Europe have greater depth in their rosters in order to manage the new format of the EuroLeague and the levels of energy it requires. Which makes the ranking very difficult and leaves out of the list of the EuroLeague’s Top 100 players, athletes that could have easily been among our choices.
As we wrote last season, there are at least 50 players who could have been objective and subjective choices, especially between 100 and 80, and we ask for your understanding because, unfortunately, there is not enough room for everyone.
However, we promise that after the first 15 rounds, when we will have a substantial sample by the end of the first phase, we will rank the Top 100 players based on their performance up to that point, and so, any possible mistake will be rectified! You are familiar with our criteria from previous seasons. The only footnote is that, some players who are coming back from a long absence due to injury (for example, Zoran Dragic) were not ranked and that this will happen during the season. With the exception of Sergio Lull, who is in a category of his own!
Criteria
- The individual quality of the player IN COMBINATION with the role and playing time we anticipate he will get in his team.
- The strength of the club he plays for. The players of the teams that are in the Top 8 and that are title contenders every season always have an edge because they combine individual quality with their club’s high aspirations.
- What each player has achieved in his career in the EuroLeague combined with the prospects he has for the 2017-18 season.
Here are the previous picks: 40-31, 50-41, 60-51, 70-61, 80-71, 90-81, 100-91
#30 Bryant Dunston (Αnadolu Efes)
Year of birth: 1986
Height: 2.03m
Position: C
For another season he will be his team’s cornerstone in the ‘5’. Last season he tallied 10.7 points and 6.2 rebounds on average, but couldn’t… push Efes to the Final Four in the Playoffs. A strong and experienced center, with very strong finishes close to the basket and one of the best defensive big men in the league in recent years.
#29 Facundo Campazzo (Real Madrid)
Υear of birth: 1991
Height: 1.79m
Position: PG
This his big opportunity to get established as a top class guard in the EuroLeague, especially in the absence of Llull for a big part of the season. Extremely fast, with impressive ball-handling skills. A very good creator, he has greatly evolved his repertoire in the offense as well as his shooting from the perimeter. This season looks like a benchmark for the Argentinian, who will be judged in due time, in a season with high demands and many responsibilities.
#28 Nikola Milutinov (Olympiacos)
Year of birth: 1994
Height: 2.13m
Position: C
His stats last season do not justify his presence this high in the rankings. But we are expecting a breakout season from the Serb, who is going to be the team’s most important big man this year and who will move to the Spurs next summer. A charismatic offensive rebounder, who has very good finishes with both hands close to the basket, mid-range shooting, impressive perception of space and who is a very good passer for his size. He has become stronger, improved his foot speed and he looks ready – despite being a 7footer – to respond satisfactorily in defense as well.
#27 Bobby Dixon (Fenerbahce)
Year of birth: 1983
Height: 1.78m
Position: G
He gave a lot in the course to the title last season with 11.4 points, 3.1 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game. A player-fighter who combines his offensive talent and some impressive offensive outbursts – usually through consecutive shots on target – with his dogged defense on the ball and his sacrifices for his team. It’s no coincidence that Zeljko Obradovic putting his faith in him for another season.