By Dionysis Aravantinos / info@eurohoops.net
The most competitive league in European basketball, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, features some incredible athletes from all over the world, experienced players, young prospects and phenomenal coaches. Every team in the EuroLeague needs a leader to step up in tough situations, use his mentality on and off the court to help his teammates succeed and finally lead his team to victories. The first round of the competition has been completed, with many players shining throughout.
Eurohoops brings you the 16 go-to guys in the competition, one from each team, and analyses their role as leaders in the team as well as the way they became the go-to guys. Scroll down for the answers.
Anadolu Efes Istanbul – Errick McCollum
- Stats: 15.0 points, 2.2 rebounds
- Team Record: 4-12
- Age: 29
- Position: G
Errick McCollum averaged 18.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in the 7Days EuroCup in 2015-2016 with Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul. Last season he played overseas in China with the Beikong Fly Dragons, came back to play for Galatasaray and in the off-season, signed with Anadolu Efes Istanbul to play in Europe’s best competition.
So far in the season in the EuroLeague with Efes, McCollum is averaging 15.0 points (6th in the competition), 2.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, while he is also shooting 43.4% from the field. He has been a bright spot in a mediocre Efes team, which has the worst record in the competition (4-12), tied with Valencia Basket and AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan. Against Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv, he had a night to remember as he finished with 31 points and 8/11 (!) three-pointers, as he was also named EuroLeague Day 7’s MVP.