By George Orfanakis / info@eurohoops.net
The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague teams are getting ready for the upcoming season, and many organizations have already made many moves in the off-season and the summer window. Thus, the rosters for many teams have been almost completed, and EuroLeague fans are having their discussions and debates based on their first impressions.
As it happens every year, it is fascinating to present the players, who are rookies in Europe’s best competition, regardless of age and experience.
Eurohoops singled out the ten most essential rookies for the upcoming season.
Alec Peters (CSKA Moscow)
D.O.B.: 13 April 1995
Height: 206 cm
Position: F
Alec Peters was drafted as the 54th pick of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, and a year later he decided to join CSKA Moscow. Peters, 23 is expected to help the ‘Army Team’ significantly in an effort to achieve the ultimate goal, which is to win the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague competition.
The American forward played 20 NBA games with Arizona’s team last year and has characteristics that head coach Dimitris Itoudis can utilize for the sake of his team. He can score from deep, post up smaller defenders, but can also facilitate the offense.
The 23-year old had an impressive game last season with the Suns, scoring 36 points (eight three-pointers) against the Dallas Mavericks.
Shavon Shields (Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz)
D.O.B.: 5 April 1994
Height: 201 cm
Position: G/F
Shavon Shields is a talented scorer that will definitely help Baskonia‘s team with this skills offensively. The 24-year old had an incredible season last year with Trento, and will now have to take the step forward in order to be equally effective in the EuroLeague competition.
Last season, Shields averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, and was one of the most significant players of the team, leading his squad to the Italian League finals. Shields can penetrate excellent around the basket and is also an excellent mid-range shooter. The question is how can he step up from the 7DAYS EuroCup competition to the EuroLeague.
Tyler Ennis (Fenerbahce Istanbul)
D.O.B.: 24 August 1994
Height: 191 cm
Position: G
In the last couple of years, many players decide to leave the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague competition and continue their career in the NBA. This off-season, however, many players decided to do the exact opposite and join Europe’s best competition. One of them was Tyler Ennis.
After Fenerbahce lost Brad Wannamaker to the Boston Celtics, Obradovic‘s team pursued Tyler Ennis into joining the 2017 EuroLeague champs. The 23-year old eventually signed with the Turkish side and next to Kostas Sloukas, they could become the best backcourt duo in Europe.
Ennis is an excellent playmaker, can create for his teammates, loves to play the pick and roll game and plays with energy on the defensive side of the court.
Johnny O’Bryant (Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv)
D.O.B.: 1 June 1993
Height: 206 cm
Position: F/C
Just like Tyler Ennis, Johnny O’Bryant also decided to join Europe’s best competition and leave the NBA. Along with Alex Tyus, the 25-year old ex-NBAer wants to cover the center position. O’Bryant’s skill set is unique. Standing at 206 cm, he can score the basketball in various ways from inside the paint, but also uses his athleticism when receiving the basketball near the basket.
The opponents, however, will also have to follow and defend O’Bryant many times away from the paint, making him a tough player to defend. In the 2017-2018 NBA season, he averaged 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per contest.
Jordan Mickey (Khimki Moscow region)
D.O.B.: 9 July 1994
Height: 203 cm
Position: F/C
Head coach Georgios Bartzokas is known for his excellent ability to select foreign players, and Jordan Mickey is a great pick up for the Russian team.
Mickey, 24 played in 23 games with the Miami Heat last season and averaged 4.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He is expected to help Khimki in the rebounding department as well as in scoring down low and affecting the paint positively. His presence will also be seen on defense.
If the former NBAer has a great relationship with his teammates, Khimki will benefit as a team.